Workforce Development & Training

ABOUT DCP

The Defense Comptrollership Program (DCP) is a resident graduate program at Syracuse University, combining business and public administration theories during a rigorous 14-month schedule.

The application period for DCP Cohort 2026 is open for military and civilian personnel.

• Military applications due: July 31, 2024
• Civilian applications due: October 28, 2024

Key Takeaways

• DCP Cohort 2026 begins 7 May 2025 and concludes 24 July 2026.
• DCP graduates will be awarded a Syracuse University Master of Business Administration with a concentration in business analytics, an Executive Master of Public Administration and one industry-recognized professional credential.
• The program is fully paid for by the Army as a long-term training assignment, with temporary duty at the 100% per diem rate.
• Applicants without a master’s degree will be prioritized for selection; those who already have a master’s degree in another discipline are also encouraged to apply and will receive consideration on a case-by-case basis.
• Begin gathering required documents early, including GMAT or GRE test scores, if applicable, and college transcripts, to avoid delays.

HOW TO APPLY

Review Eligibility Requirements

• Valid Secret Clearance
• Undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5
• Minimum 500 GMAT or 304 GRE score or waiver (GMAT/GRE scores remain valid for 5 years following the test date).
• NOTE: Applicants who earned a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (or higher) and a successful completion of a bachelor’s degree in either Engineering, Mathematics, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, or Accounting are granted a GMAT/GRE submission waiver.
• Must meet requirements of AR 600-9, The Army Body Composition Program
• No more than a total of 17 years Active Federal Service (AFS) upon entry into the ACS program. (ETP/Waiver required)

Gather Required Documents

• Proof of secret clearance
• Official college transcripts
• GMAT/GRE score OR waiver
• DA 700 (and DA 5500 if required)
• DA Form 1618 with endorsement from battalion commander and a second endorsement from another senior leader (MAJ/GS13 or above)
• Updated Soldier Talent Profile
• Last five OERs/NCOERs

APPLICANT SELECTION AND NEXT STEPS

Selection Process

• A panel will convene to evaluate and select candidates.
• Military Officer selection priority is for Active and Active Guard Reserve (AGR) Finance and Comptroller (FC) Soldiers in the grades of Senior Captain through Major. The target YGs for Academic Year (AY) 25-26 DCP are YG 2014 and YG 2018. Officers in other YGs are welcome and encouraged to apply.
• NCO selection priority is for senior Sergeant First Class, Master Sergeant, and junior Sergeants Major.
• Personnel who have already obtained a master’s degree may be considered for the DCP by submitting a waiver request; however, priority will be afforded to those without a master’s degree.
• Personnel who have already obtained a master’s degree in either program (Master of Business Administration or Master of Public Administration) will not be considered.

Reassignment

• Officers are required to serve in a utilization assignment immediately following the conclusion of DCP. Exceptions to the policy will not be granted for Officers in YG 2016 requesting to defer utilization to attend PME (if selected for resident).
• Selected military personnel will incur a three-for-one (approximately 42 months) additional service obligation for participation in the program with a minimum of 24 months in a follow-on comptrollership position or utilization tour.
• Sergeants Major that are nominated and selected to participate may have their utilization tour deferred due to their selection on a CSL board.

Continuation in Army Service
Per the Continued Service Agreement, if participants of the DCP voluntarily leave the Department of Army to enter service to another DoD Component or other organization in any branch of federal government before completing the period of service agreed to in the document, the individual will reimburse the agency all associated training costs listed in the agreement excluding salary.

HOW TO APPLY

Review Eligibility Requirements

• GS-11 through GS-14
• Valid Secret clearance
• Undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5
• Minimum 500 GMAT or 304 GRE score or waiver (GMAT/GRE scores remain valid for 5 years following the test date).
• NOTE: Applicants who earned a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (or higher) and a successful completion of a bachelor’s degree in either Engineering, Mathematics, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, or Accounting are granted a GMAT/GRE submission waiver.
• Three (3) years federal government financial management experience and a total of five (5) years government service by application due date.
  • Graduate Fellows who meet the two-year fellowship requirement and have three years journeyman-level experience are also eligible to apply.
  • To utilize ACTDP funding, all applicants must meet the Competitive Professional Development eligibility requirement of three (3) years permanent, full-time employment as an Army Civilian at time of application.

Gather Required Documents

• Application for ACTDP Training Opportunity
• Command Endorsements (Memorandum through applicant’s chain of command must not be older than one year.)
• Nominee’s Statement of Interest
• Supervisor’s Statement Validation of Requirement Utilization Plan
• Functional Review Form
• Continued Service Agreement
• Operational Assignment Worksheet
• Comptroller Functional Community Resume
• Official college transcripts submitted with application
• GMAT/GRE score or Waiver
• Last three (3) performance appraisals
• SF 181, Ethnicity and Race Identification

Submit DCP Application

APPLICANT SELECTION AND NEXT STEPS

Selection Process

A senior Army panel of financial managers will evaluate nominations, interview candidates, and provide the approved selection list for processing. Approved candidates will receive an offer to participate in the education program at Syracuse University with same-grade assignment to either:

1. a new position anywhere in the Army
2. assignment in a different role in the same organization
3. assignment to a different organization/location. Candidates must accept the long-term training (e.g., DCP) and the new job assignment before admittance into the program.

Upon notification by the Army of selection to the DCP, applicants must also apply to Syracuse University. Receipt of acceptance to the DCP is required to initiate the application process to attend Syracuse University under this program.

Reassignment

Army Civilian DCP selectees are reassigned by Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50, to their accepted operational assignments.

Unless an operational assignment is overseas, the DCP selectee will in-process at the Civilian Personnel Advisory Center (CPAC) servicing the new activity and sign a transportation agreement when incurring a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) for an extension of one year beyond the DCP graduation.

Before reporting to Syracuse University, the new DCP student will sign a Continued Service Agreement committing to continue Army employment upon graduation for a period of service equal to three times the length of the training (e.g., 42 months) to begin upon the employee’s return to duty after training completion. The DCP selectee will also sign an agreement covering contingencies in the event of failure to complete the DCP. All documents will be on file with the CPAC.

Continuation in Army Service
Per the Continued Service Agreement, if participants of the DCP voluntarily leave the Department of Army to enter service to another DoD Component or other organization in any branch of federal government before completing the period of service agreed to in the document, the individual will reimburse the agency all associated training costs listed in the agreement excluding salary.

ABOUT SYRACUSE SHORT COURSES

Syracuse University is committed to the education and development of the Department of Defense (DoD) civilian and military workforce. Along with the Defense Comptrollership Program, the Whitman School of Management offers short-term trainings that focus on management concepts in the DoD.

Click the dropdowns below for course descriptions and view the tabs above for more information about how to apply.

Eligibility:

How to Apply:

Submit application packets (endorsement memo and SF182 with supervisor signature) to the appropriate POC below:

• AC Military Applications: Contact the ASA (FM&C) Workforce Development and Training mailbox.
• Army National Guard Applicants: Contact Ms. Janet Marie West and the ARNG Comptroller Proponency mailbox.
• Army Reserve Applicants: Contact Ms. Gwendolyn Harris.

Application Resources:

• Endorsement Memo
• SF182 (do not complete sections A2, A3, C, E, and F)

Eligibility:

How to Apply:

Submit application packets through the ACOM, ASCC, or DRU Deputy Chief of Staff, Resource Management to respective Comptroller Junior Executive Council (CJEC) member for forwarding to the Comptroller Functional Community. (Please do not apply directly to the Comptroller Functional Community Manager.)

For AC Civilian inquiries, contact ACCMA HCRM.

Application Resources:

• Nomination Memo
• Comptroller Funtional Community Resume