An analysis of when officers should enter the Army Contracting Career Field

Abstract

The purpose of this MBA project is to determine when active duty officers should be allowed to enter into the Army Acquisition Corps' Contracting Career Field. Contracting is a highly specialized career field that requires a technically proficient workforce with extensive contracting experience. Given the existing career timeline format, contracting military occupational specialty officers may only have approximately six years of experience working in contracting-related assignments, including staff positions, prior to being eligible for promotion to lieutenant colonel. In order to improve officers' technical proficiency before their promotion to contracting leadership positions as lieutenant colonels and colonels, the Army Acquisition Corps may need to admit officers into the career field earlier in their careers. Officers would then be afforded more contracting assignments, thus obtaining more experience prior to receiving contracting leadership positions. This project examines several courses of action that the Army Acquisition Corps can utilize to establish the most cost-efficient period for officers to join the Contracting Career Field.