Education Student Trainee (Training Specialist)

Summary

Interested in a career in national security? DCSA is offering a paid internship: the DCSA Student Experience (DSE) '26 Cohort. Open to undergraduate and graduate students with a 3.0 GPA, students must maintain full-time status through October 2027. The program runs 1 OR 15 June - 21 August 2026, requiring a minimum of 10 weeks of participation.

This announcement is selecting a student for the Security Academy.

Duties

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This is a temporary position NTE 1 year from appointment.

Duties

The DCSA Student Experience is looking for a Education Student Trainee (Training Specialist) to join our team to perform the following duties:

• Assist in the administration and facilitation of the DCSA agency-wide Leadership Development Program (LDP), supporting in-person and virtual training for all personnel during training workshops, conferences, events and other associated activities.
• Coordinate systems and processes for delivery of the Leadership Development Program including resources, program communication, rosters, coordination with other service providers, and employee support activities.
• Assist in approaches in measuring and evaluating effectiveness and efficiency of the Leadership Development Program and associated services as a learning experience.
• Assist in soliciting, collecting and integrating evaluative information from multiple sources and present briefs, papers, studies, etc. that support decisions, actions, and strategies.
• Speak on behalf of the Department and Agency level leadership development programs, associated policy, and program operations.
• Assist other training and development representatives in/with corollary programs or assignments as directed.
• Assist in the occasional instruction or facilitation of sponsored or other employee development programs, course, event, or activity.
  
  

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must be a US citizen
• Selective Service Requirement: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. For more information http://www.sss.gov
• Resume and supporting documents received by 11:59PM EST will be considered
• This is a Drug Testing designated position
• Position is a (DCIPS) position in the Excepted Service under U.S.C. 1601
• Work Schedule: Full Time
• Overtime: Occasionally
• Tour of Duty: Flexible
• PCS (Permanent Change of Station): Not Authorized (Relocation expenses or housing will NOT be provided by the agency)
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Non-Exempt
• Financial Disclosure: Not Required
• Telework Eligibility: This position is telework eligible but is not a full-time telework position. The incumbent will be required to report to the office on a routine basis.
• Supervisors may approve situational telework on a case-by-case, temporary basis for limited situations.
• If selected, the incumbent must obtain and maintain appropriate security clearance as indicated in job announcement.
• Incumbent must be enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program with a full-time course load at the time of application, for the semester prior to the Summer Cohort, and following participation in the Summer Cohort.
• Selected students must maintain full-time enrollment through October 2027.
• Incumbent must have and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale.
• The DSE Summer ’26 Cohort runs from June through August with start dates of 1 or 15 June. The end of cohort is officially 21 August. Students are required to complete a minimum of 10 weeks in the cohort.
• Students selected for the internship program must send an official transcript with spring 2026 semester/quarter grades and proof of full-time student status to Student Programs prior to their onboarding date.
• This is not a developmental career ladder opportunity - this position will be filled at the GG-05 or GG-07 depending on applicant qualifications and organizational requirements.
  
  

Qualifications

To qualify at the GG-05 level, you must meet the criteria specified below:

• Completion of 1 full academic year of post-high school study by May 2026 (spring quarter/semester);
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher at time of application. A GPA of 3.0 or higher must be maintained throughout the duration of the program; and
• Maintain a full-time student status (as defined by your university or college) through October 2027.
  
  

To qualify at the GG-07 level, you must meet the criteria specified below:

• Completion of 4 academic years of post-high school education leading to a bachelor's or equivalent degree (expected graduation date of May 2026 or earlier); and
• Enrolled as full-time student in a graduate program for Fall 2026; and
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher at time of application. A GPA of 3.0 or higher must be maintained throughout the duration of the program; and
• Maintain a full-time student status (as defined by your university or college) through October 2027.
  
  

Students who successfully complete the Summer 2026 Cohort may be considered for participation with the Summer 2027 Cohort, pending educational qualification status. Students graduating prior to October 2027 from their current college/university must intend to continue their education and be enrolled as full-time students through October 2027. Proof of this enrollment and full-time status will be required prior to returning for the Summer 2027 Cohort.

Education: All applicants must submit college or university unofficial transcripts as proof of enrollment in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program, current enrollment in a full-time course load and to confirm GPA requirements. See below for further instructions on transcripts.

• PLEASE NOTE** - This is not a developmental career ladder opportunity - this position will be filled at the GG-05 or GG-07 depending on applicant qualifications and organizational requirements.
  
  

Specifically You Will Be Evaluated On The Following Competencies

• Communication: Written and oral communication techniques sufficient to develop and deliver briefings, project papers, status/staff reports and correspondence to managers to foster understanding and acceptance of findings and recommendations
• Interpersonal Skills: Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations
• Teamwork: Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals
• Problem Solving: Identifies and analyzes problems; uses sound reasoning to arrive at conclusions; finds alternative solutions to complex problems; distinguishes between relevant and irrelevant information to make logical judgments
• Attention to Detail: Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail
• Ability to research, analyze and present information.
  
  

Relocation expenses or housing benefits are NOT offered for our student positions. This position does not offer remote work. If you are selected, you will have to report to the office throughout your internship and be living within commuting distance of the office during the summer program.

Education

Education Requirement

All applicants must submit college or university unofficial transcripts as proof of enrollment in an accredited undergraduate or graduate program, current enrollment in a full-time course load, and to confirm GPA requirement. Official Transcripts and other required Official supporting documentation will be submitted by selected students as soon as available by their institution to continue in program.

COLLEGE FRESHMAN will be required to ALSO provide high school transcripts to confirm GPA requirements.

1st YEAR GRADUATE STUDENTS will be required to ALSO provide their transcript from their previous undergraduate program to show they meet the GPA requirement.

TRANSFER STUDENTS may also need to provide their transcript from their previous institution if their GPA is not included on the unofficial transcript from their current institution.

Superior Academic Achievement does not apply to DCIPS positions.

Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.

Foreign Education: For further information, click on the following link:

https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/

Additional information

VETERANS PREFERENCE/CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL

In accordance with DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, veterans preference is not required to be applied when considering candidates with prior Federal competitive or excepted service who have completed a probationary or trial period and have not been separated for cause. Therefore, veterans preference will not be applied to applicants with current federal service, or former federal civilian service meeting the above criteria.

Re-employed Annuitant: This position does not meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf

Applicants selected from this announcement may be required to serve a two-year trial period.

If selected, Federal employees currently serving in the competitive service must acknowledge that they will voluntarily leave the competitive service by accepting an offer of employment for a DCIPS excepted service positions.

If selected, non-DCIPS candidates must acknowledge in writing that the position they have been selected for is in the excepted service and covered by DCIPS.

All Defense Intelligence positions under the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) are in the excepted service by specific statue, 10 U.S.C. 1601. This position is in the excepted service and does not confer competitive status.

For more information on the DCIPS occupational structure click here.

For more information about career advancement in DCIPS click here.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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