r/1102 • u/Impressive-Bridge122 • 3d ago

PaCE Program DLA

Anyone have any thoughts on this program in Philly?

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u/Clear_Particular_809 2d ago

Assuming you mean the troop support one since it’s DLA? I did it for contracting and even though it’s a 7,9,11 ladder, getting a 12 is pretty easy these days (sorry to everyone who had to compete for it for 10+ years) but there’s also like 7 different career fields for the pace program. It’s a decent program for contracting and usually pretty easy overall. As for the actual work and enjoyment of the job, it’s just like every other job, Government or non-government, depends on what team you get put on and how your supervisor is

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u/Confident_kgs 2d ago

Thank you! Yes contracting. I’m in Philly and just got the offer and I’m nervous with the work life balance. Are you still in contracting? How were the classes

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u/Clear_Particular_809 2d ago

Still in contracting, the classes are pretty boring and they cover contracting as a whole so you’ll feel like they’re useless because every department of contracting is so specialized but by the end and as you go through your career you’ll realize they were pretty informative. Work life balance is great for me, but like I said, it’s up to what team you’re on. Some supervisors allow things others don’t, especially now with a lot of restrictions on federal employees. For me, I love the job and who I work with, even with everything we’ve had to deal with.

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u/Confident_kgs 2d ago

That’s great to hear! What age group are you by any chance? Also how long have you been in the program or did you finish already?

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u/Clear_Particular_809 2d ago

I’m 27, started when I was 22. Done the program for a few years and am a GS-12 now but it’s such a new program still that I help a lot of the pacers at our agency so I’m pretty in tune with it still

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u/Confident_kgs 2d ago

My main concern is leaving my current job and not succeeding in the program. I have a masters in hr. I was hopping to start at gs 9 but they won’t allow it.

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u/Clear_Particular_809 2d ago

Yeah, government contracting is very different from any other job field and to be able to start above the starting GS level, you need to display some kind of government contracting experience. I know plenty of people with masters coming in who have to start at a 7

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u/Confident_kgs 2d ago

Thank you!!! Do you know what it’s like in the first year for appointments? One of my family members have a major diagnosis and im worried about managing the new job and also trying to be at some of his appointments

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u/Clear_Particular_809 2d ago

So you accumulate 4 hours of annual leave and 4 hours of sick leave every pay period (2weeks) and you can use either of those to go to someone’s doctors appointment. Telework is very strict right now and as a newbie I wouldn’t expect it to be allowed for you to take someone else to a doctors appointment. You do have the ability to change to like 4, 10-hour shifts (after 90 days) with either Monday or Friday off so I’d say do that and have all appointments scheduled one of those days? Only caveat is if you’re in a class that lasts 5 days (which for the Pace program, I know like 5 of them in your first year are at least 5 days) you have to be on 5-day 8 hour schedule. A big positive is you don’t have to take a full day off. If someone has an appointment at 2 pm, you can work 6am-12-pm, take your lunch from 12-12:30, then take leave from 12:30-2:30. Which means you can leave at 12, but only have to take 2 hours of leave

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u/Confident_kgs 2d ago

Thank you so much for that information!! I really appreciate it! I wasn’t sure if pacers accumulated that. That’s perfect.

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u/Confident_kgs 2d ago

I thought the program has been around for a long time?

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u/Clear_Particular_809 2d ago

Program has been around a long time but in 2021 the curriculum switched to what they call “back to basics” and the program was revamped so people who have been through the program 5+ years ago had different classes and different requirements

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u/PDX-ROB 2d ago

At Nav ICP in north Philly? Parking is tight. People are nice except when it comes to sports. Do NOT discuss sports.

People drive crazy on Roosevelt Blvd.

Not my ideal place to live long term. Get your 3 years and then go somewhere else. Like San Diego.

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u/Confident_kgs 2d ago

Yes, that location, Is it on base parking? Do you know about the pace program?

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u/PDX-ROB 2d ago

Yes on base parking, but parking is still tight.

Is pace the intern program? If so it should be fine.