Defense Civilian Training Corps

Abstract

The Defense Civilian Training Corps (DCTC) program is directed by 10 U.S.C. Ch 113 with the purpose to prepare selected students for public service and meet critical skill gaps in acquisition, digital and critical technologies, science, engineering, finance and other civilian occupations determined by the Secretary of Defense. Chapter 113 requires the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Office of Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSD(A&S)), to establish units at any accredited civilian educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees. Using Chapter 113 direction and FY 2023 DCTC appropriated funding initiated as an add by Congress (the PB 2024 request did not include a request for DCTC funding), the OUSD(A&S) initiated in August 2023 a pilot two-year (junior and senior) program preparing future acquisition and sustainment civilians, with four DCTC pilot units deployed at four universities starting with a total of ninety undergraduate scholars (juniors). DCTC includes DoD-context undergraduate classes and DoD real-world challenge projects sponsored by DoD field organizations which also host project-based summer internships with mentoring. DCTC classes cover federal government structure and functions, DoD mission and culture, the acquisition ecosystem and functions, ethics and technical literacy. The DCTC program includes completion of scholar security clearances and use of hiring authorities at graduation for immediate placement in jobs at DoD organizations. DoD intends that the DCTC program design serve as a platform completely available for replication by other federal partners. DCTC will strengthen the DoD talent (supply-side) pipeline with new-hire DoD civilians, prepared for DoD acquisition and sustainment careers, accelerated in development and readiness for public service and contributing day-one to the DoD acquisition and sustainment mission.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2025
• Source ID: 0606774D8Z_6_0400_PB_2025
• Change Summary Explanation: Increase from FY 2024 to FY 2025 from $0 to $27 million is due to a strategic decision to not fund the program in FY 2024 while the results and costs of efforts funded by FY 2023 dollars were evaluated. Based on the positive assessment of the initial investment, FY 2025 funding is appropriate.
• Service Agency Name: Office of the Secretary Of Defense

Entities

Organizations

• Office of the Secretary of Defense

Tags

Readers

• Defense Acquisition Program Management
• STEM Education