The United States Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) offers internships, planned career paths and training. "Employees reach their professional goals and do some traveling too," says Ronald L. Slaughter, one of two team leaders for the civilian personnel division at the office of the deputy chief of staff for personnel at ATEC's headquarters.
ATEC is responsible for testing and evaluating military systems and products before they are deployed. "For instance, our test center will fire x number of weapons of x caliber rounds into the armament of a Humvee," Slaughter explains. "If the armament can't withstand the impact of rounds according to the design specifications, there is a review to determine necessary improvements, and the testing process continues until the armament is found to be up to design specifications and ready for deployment."
The organization employs civilians and assigned military personnel, and has twenty-nine locations in seventeen states. ATEC has three subordinate command activities (SCAs): the Developmental Test Command (DTC), the Operational Test Command (OTC) and the Army Evaluation Center (AEC).
DTC operates a program at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, where the terrain is similar to the Middle East and buildings are constructed to simulate an Iraqi city. OTC is involved with computers and communications at West Fort Hood in Texas, where communication relay systems are tested. AEC oversees the future force evaluation directorate, which evaluates equipment that future troops might use in the field.
ATEC recruits all over the country for qualified candidates, Slaughter says, and works with various national programs to help promote diversity in the workforce, and with government special emphasis programs as well. "We are always looking for highly motivated, well-qualified applicants. We are actively recruiting for diversity in engineering, scientific and other hard to fill positions," says Slaughter.
Slaughter notes that ATEC participates in several programs that support career development for new hires and long-term employees. Most include rotations through various ATEC activities.
The Federal Careers Intern Program (FCIP) allows ATEC to bring in new hires who have recently completed their degrees. Those entering the workforce with undergraduate degrees can expect to come in at a federal pay grade of GS-5, possibly even higher; the program includes leadership training.
The Department of the Army Fellows Program is for graduates with masters or other post-baccalaureate degrees. Employees usually enter the three-year program at GS-9 with a target of promotion to GS-12. By the end of the program, employees are prepared for management.
Both new and experienced employees can participate in the Competitive Professional Development program, for people who need skills to advance beyond their current pay grades. That three-year program "normally includes a class of diverse participants who come from all over the U.S. There's a formal training plan and lots of mentoring and networking, and people become fully trained in their chosen career path," Slaughter reports.
During their rotations in the program, participants may relocate for periods of two weeks to several months. They shadow mentors, attend meetings and perform a number of other job-related tasks. Participants are required to sign a mobility agreement, and be ready to relocate permanently at the end of the program.
"Relocation isn't always the case, but they have to be prepared," Slaughter says. And many ATEC positions are located in the Washington, DC and Northern Virginia areas, so employees living there can change jobs without needing to relocate. Slaughter says there are people who have been in the same area for the majority of their professional lives.
Both military and civilian personnel can be deployed outside the U.S., but civilians must request overseas assignments. Deployments may involve test and evaluation of equipment in the environment where it's likely to be used, such as in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Slaughter wants potential employees to look at all ATEC has to offer as they weigh a government job against work in the private sector. "Considering employment at ATEC is like running a marathon, whereas employment in private industry is more like running a sprint race. The sprint race may be more attractive, but in the long run benefits like our training programs and job security make ATEC pretty appealing."
Slaughter cites student loan reimbursement and holiday leave, with a minimum of ten paid holidays every year. New employees can expect to earn 104 hours of annual leave, almost three weeks, during the first three years of employment, with increases over time to more than a month. All employees earn 104 hours of sick leave a year.
Slaughter understands that younger employees may not be focused on saving for retirement, but he notes the thrift savings plan offered by the federal government matches up to 5 percent of an employee's payroll contribution.
ATEC, Slaughter say, offers its employees a secure future, professional programs and long-term benefits. And the work they do supports all soldiers and troops in the field.
D/C
U.S. Army Test
and Evaluation Command
www.atec.army.mil
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Headquarters: |
Alexandria, VA |
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Employees: |
10,000 |
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Budget: |
$0.6 billion |
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Business: |
Oversees developmental and operational testing and evaluation of test data |
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