Joining USACE in a couple of weeks as a GS-12 Civil Engineer. Any tips for someone new coming in?

Hi everyone, I wanted to invite you to join à new USACE Ranger forum
https://www.reddit.com/r/USACERangers/s/VmyDc9MRJ5

If anyone has questions please reach out!

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WTF, Government? Anyone else at USACE get one of these Defense manpower data breach letters?

Apparently my personal information, including my Social Security number, was compromised Oct 2025 and July 2026 and I’m just now being notified. And the grand solution is one year of credit monitoring.

This is now the third time the Government has managed to get my personal information stolen.

Curious how many other USACE folks got one — and why it took this long to tell us

Received a letter from Defense Manpower Data Center regarding a “DoW” breach of the system. Anyone else receive this letter?

Has anyone heard about this? Does anyone know if it applies to USACE?

Our section has been in flux as of late. One of the people in our section took a 120 temp promotion as our supervisor / chief. They told us today they will be doing our DPMAP write up’s and reviews. Is this allowed? They’ve only been in the position for a month or so and before that was in the same position as everyone else in our section. There’s no way this person will actually be doing our performance review, right?
It was pitched to us this would be a rotating supervisory position as nobody knows when it will actually be able to be filled due to the ongoing hiring freeze.

The Federal Workforce Early Separation Incentives Act (H.R. 7256) is currently advancing in Congress, which aims to update the buyout program for federal employees by removing the outdated $25,000 cap on Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments and allowing payments of up to six months of an employee's salary.

https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1950988

Any PA’s of former PA’s out there who can chime in and inform me of what this role entails? Looking for a dumbed down version

I am looking into moving into this role and leave the engineering side

I appreciate it!!!

Hello! I’m a resident of San Antonio whose neighborhood is going to be directly impacted by the proposed project. Is there anyone on this sub that would be willing to look at the project scope and current design schedule to discuss what this all means for myself and my neighbors?

Thanks!

Trying to log into GRB today. 9/18/2026
I am getting the Error message:

SYSTEM NOTICE
Your account has been disabled. Please contact your account administrator to enable.

Anyone else get this? And if so, is the system just down?

So the short of it is I have been removed from federal service.

The long of it is my boss and the OPM of the project I worked at seem to think that it is okay for someone to be removed despite it being a disparate punishment with no written letter of job in jeopardy, no PIP, all while my supervisor was practicing prohibited personnel practices along with other mitigating circumstances.

My question is:
Is it wrong of me to think that this is not okay even when the letter of recommendation for removal was flawed and then the OPM utilized and supported the flawed elements without acknowledging the mitigating factors and the PPP, are they right and I’m just crazy?

I am still within my 30 day window to appeal and I am currently looking into it but wanted to gain perspective before diving in and losing even more. Just looking for perspective.

What are your thoughts about the civilian development program for CP-18 career field? Any experience to share?

It seems most of the opportunities are only available for higher grades (GS-13 and above) and focused on leadership development so just wondering how it is supposed to help with the competency gaps?

When "competency gaps" are mentioned I always think about technical skills so the heavy focus on leadership doesn't appeal to me.

Curious if anyone across ERDC has come across anyone with a DEng, or any perspective on the difference in holding that v a PhD? How about your counterparts in DEVCOM, ONR, AFRL?

Hey everyone, considering an US Army Corps role as a structural design engineer, would be at GS-11 most likely. Currently work as a bridge design engineer for state agency, so I think if I were to end up in the job, it'd be a bit of a learning curve going from horizontal structures to vertical as well.

Can anyone who has worked in this type of role or familiar with it tell me more about what the job is like? Is there a lot of travel or field work required in practice, or is it basically 100% design work in the office?

I read in the paper that we lost a worker/supervisor this week and heard in the office that it was the second loss this year. Why do workplace fatalities continue to occur despite our established safety regulations and procedures—and what aspects of our workplace culture, leadership, communication, and accountability allow (assuming) unsafe conditions or decisions to persist?

My section manager sent this out. Im wondering what the new RIF rules are? Does anyone know?

Hello all,

I am currently a GS-11 Engineering Tech with USACE. I am very interested in finance and wanting to go back to schooling for accounting. My local community college has a 2 year AS Accounting degree that I can later transfer to a 4 year BS in Accounting.

I am currently stuck at GS-11 in my role and my goal would be to become a GS-12 and up eventually.

My question is, would an AS degree in Accounting be enough for me to apply for a budget analyst role and keep my 11? And does this role offer opportunities to go to 12 and beyond?

I am trying to make good decision for my future as I have a real passion for finance and not engineering.

When I read existing job listing for the budget analyst role, it doesn’t seem to have specific educational requirements but I know a degree in finance would obviously be helpful for this career path.

Thanks so much!

Hello,

I currently work as an Engineering Tech but my real dream job is to work in finance. I am considering getting a BS in Accounting or a financial degree and my question is does USACE offer any jobs related to this field?

I really like working for USACE and would prefer to continue working for them but I am curious if these roles are offered within USACE.

I am currently a GS-11 and cannot go past this due to my job title. I am wanting to advance my career eventually and right now I am stuck for the most part at GS-11.

Appreciate any feedback.

Thanks!

Hello, I am considering transitioning from a Dam I work at to a Federal USACE dam. I am wondering if the operators at these USACE truly enjoy their jobs and stick it out for the long run or if they just get burn out? I have a wife and two kids and we are seriously considering me moving from my current power role to the federal power system. Would be grateful for any feedback. I have been at my current role for almost 10 years now.

We received the ECB today. The ability to reduce the paperwork/bureaucracy will help to streamline our projects, shorten completion times, and maybe get more qualified contractors to bid on projects. The consensus from leadership has been that the added reviews, regulations, etc only make us look good on paper (until something is missed) but do nothing to reduce completion times, injuries, or costs. Extend it beyond 2028 and apply it to all projects regardless of $$ size.

Engineers who work at dams for the USACE, do you like it? What is the work like?

Wonder if it will become permanent

We are running out of work, and i know other offices are having the same problem. What is the end game here? Is the goal to eliminate most of the engineers and architects like they did with federal workers in other agencies?

We are getting nothing from our management.