The Acquisition Corps is intended to be a pool of highly qualified members of the acquisition workforce who are able to fill critical acquisition positions (CAPs). These individuals have met the grade, education, training, and experience standards prescribed by the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) and the implementing regulations promulgated by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). They are admitted to the Acquisition Corps by the Service’s designated Director of Acquisition Career Management, which for the Air Force is SAF/AQXD (USAF, 2008, pg. 20).

It is essential that the Air Force have a fully trained and qualified Acquisition Corps able to manage programs to deliver the complex warfighting systems needed to protect the nation. These programs must meet requirements and be completed on time and within budget. Congress passed the DAWIA to ensure that all the military Services had a fully trained and experienced acquisition workforce to competently acquire the complex war fighting equipment needed for national security. DAWIA covers several career fields beyond Program Manager (63A for officers) and includes positions for scientists and developmental engineers (61S and 62E, for officers).

The qualifications of the military officers selected for the Acquisition Corps are expected to be sufficiently high that the promotion rate for this group should, on average, match the rate for all Air Force line officers. This statutory requirement does not mean that members of the Acquisition Corps will be given special treatment but rather that the quality of their records must meet or exceed that of other line officers (USAF, 2008, pg. 20).

In addition to meeting all other Acquisition Corps requirements, new entrants must have achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel (select), GS-14 (or NSPS pay band equivalent), NSPS pay band 3, or above. Supervisory NSPS³ pay band 2 personnel who meet Acquisition Corps requirements and are selected for assignment to a CAP will automatically be admitted to the corps. These individuals are eligible for Acquisition Corps membership after they have reached Level II APDP certification in any functional discipline (including acquisition management), accumulated four years of acquisition experience, and met all educational requirements.

Civilians assigned to GS-13 (or pay band equivalent) and above APDP coded positions must request a review and update for Acquisition Corps data elements once they have met eligibility requirements to enter the Acquisition Corps at the proper level.