Army Acquisition Support Center (March 2005): Army Acquisition professional development system (AAPDS).

The U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center is pleased to announce the release of the new AAPDS online application system at <https://apps.altess.army.mil/aapds>. This new home to many acquisition training opportunities started with the launch of the spring 2005 Acquisition Tuition Assistance Program (ATAP) announcement. That first announcement closed May 31, 2005, and notifications were made in June 2005. Although the first roll out of AAPDS focused on ATAP, the system will soon include many Acquisition, Education, Training and Experience Programs; Contracting Career Program Office (CP-14) professional development opportunities; and opportunities offered through the Logistics Management Proponency Office (CP-13/-17 LOGPRO).

ATAP is a robust tuition assistance program open to all eligible acquisition, logistics, and technology workforce members who are interested in pursuing their 12-24 business hour requirements for associate's or bachelor's degrees. Army Acquisition Corps members who are Level III certified may also request ATAP funding for a graduate degree in a business, scientific, or technical specialty.

Education funded through ATAP must be pursued through a nationally or regionally accredited school. Participants may attend the institution of their choice within their local commuting area or participate in online classes. Students should complete courses during nonduty hours unless supervisor approval allows for duty hour completion.

Each course of study must underpin an acquisition function. Funding for a master's degree or business hours at the master's level is limited to $1,500 per course ($7,500 per year maximum), and funding for a bachelor's degree is limited to $1,000 per course ($5,000 per year maximum). Students must complete graduate courses with at least a grade of "B" and at least a "C" for undergraduate courses. Reimbursement is required if the grade standards are not met.

Finally, participation in ATAP requires a payback of time, usually three times the length of the actual training period. Exact payback requirements are annotated on the DD Form 1556.

Applicants must still use the Individual Development Plan (IDP) to annotate the courses for which they wish to apply for ATAP funding. AAPDS will be connected to the IDP and will import all supervisory approved training into the AAPDS system. Once in AAPDS, applicants will be required to complete the following for their package to be considered:

* Select the ATAP program for which you are applying.

* Submit your resume.

* Verify your IDP academic plan and funding forecast.

* Enter your statement of interest.

* Verify your curriculum requirements.

* Verify your university/college enrollment/acceptance status.

* Verify the information on your Acquisition Career Record Brief.

The ATAP policy and procedures provide detailed information about ATAP and how the program works. Please view these documents at <http://asc.army.mil/programs/atap/docs.cfm>.

Administrative questions concerning the ATAP program should be directed to National Capital Region Customer Support Office ATAP Coordinator Scott Greene, Science Applications International Corp., at [phone], [phone] (fax) or [e-mail].