1. Hiring Criteria Compensation Package
VA ACQUISITION ACADEMY
ACQUISITION INTERNSHIP SCHOOL (AIS)
WARRIORS TO WORKFORCE (W2W)
Awarded by the VA Office of the Secretary
for excellence in serving the VA mission
through the design and delivery of the
W2W program
Awarded by the Chief Acquisition Officers
Council (CAOC) for acquisition excellence
in management for establishing the W2W
program and contributions to the VA &
Federal Community
.
Year One: W2W Program
Interns are hired as grade level 5 federal
government employees. The year one curriculum
includes four main components; Business
Education, Professional Development, Mission
Service, and Peak Performance Training. The
Business Education component provides the
necessary knowledge and college credits to meet
the positive education requirements to enter into
the Contract Specialist (GS-1102) career field.
Years Two & Three: AIP
Once interns have successfully completed the first year of
the program, they are converted to grade level 7 Contract
Specialists (GS-1102) and advance to the AIP. In the AIP
they learn the essential technical and professional
competencies for contracting professionals. AIP also
provides the training required for Federal Acquisition
Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) Levels I and II
Certification in an experiential learning environment with
real-world work scenarios and products. Upon successful
completion of the program, interns are strategically infused
into the Acquisition workforce to meet the needs of VA
contracting organizations throughout the country.
• OEF / OIF Veteran with a service-connected
disability & Honorable Discharge
• High school diploma (or equivalent) with little
to no post-secondary education (i.e. no
college degree)
• Flexibility to move for training in Frederick
MD, and for final placement at a VA
contracting organization within the U.S.
Warriors to Workforce (W2W) is the entry point into a 30 month program that offers Veterans an
opportunity to build a new career in the federal government by applying their military experiences and
skills to the Contract Specialist field. The first phase of the program focuses on transitional support,
mentoring, professional development, and foundational career training activities. In phase two, interns
advance to the two-year Acquisition Intern Program (AIP) which equips them with the skills and
experiences they need to become full-time Contract Specialists. Interns complete the program as a
cohort, experiencing a built-in support system that mirrors the team environment and camaraderie
that they experienced in the military. These relationships create a foundation for a lasting professional
network throughout their career. Through the W2W Program, Veterans are empowered to obtain in-
demand skills and competencies to continue serving their country with a new mission as a civil
servant.
• Full-time, paid position
• Health, vision, and dental insurance
plan options
• Flexible spending accounts
• Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
• Annual leave
• Sick leave
• Life Insurance
Excellence in
Partnership
Award
2014
Awarded by the
Coalition for Government
Procurement for Best
Veteran Hiring Program
Awarded by the Chief Acquisition Officers
Council (CAOC) for excellence in
acquisition management for design and
delivery of the Acquisition Internship
Program
Acquisition
Excellence
Award
2013
Secretary’s
Award
2013
Acquisition
Excellence
Award
2009
About the Program
For more information contact the W2W program at VAAAW2W@va.gov
Bright Ideas
Award
2015
Awarded by Harvard’s University
Ash Center for
design and delivery of the W2W program
Learning in
Practice
Gold Award
2013
Awarded by Chief Learning Officer
Magazine for excellence in customer
service for design and delivery of the
Acquisition Intern Program and W2W
Program
Learning in
Practice
Silver Award
2010 & 2011
Awarded by Chief Learning Officer
Magazine for excellence in vendor
collaboration for design and
delivery of the Acquisition Intern
Program and W2W Program