Premier College Intern Program opportunities are available at Hanscom AFB. Hanscom AFB is in the greater Boston area, fifteen miles north-west of the city of Boston and lies predominantly within the town of Bedford, Massachusetts. At Hanscom Air Force Base, we acquire critical warfighting systems for the Air Force and our sister services. These systems provide the connectivity for and between our warfighters with items such as radar, communication and intelligence systems, command and operations centers and network infrastructure and cyber defense. It’s critical work that helps our men and women in uniform prevail in battle and return home safely.
About the Premier College Intern Program
Learn more about the Contracting Career Field at Air Force Civilian Service (AFCS) here. The Premier College Intern Program (PCIP) targets individuals who are seeking a dynamic career with the Air Force Civilian Service by gaining real-world experience. You will be given the opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to pursue a successful career with the Air Force Civilian Service. Upon graduation and program requirement completion, a Premier College Intern may be converted to a career, career-conditional appointment into the Air Force Copper Cap Internship Program without further competition. Details regarding the follow on Copper Cap internship opportunity are list later in this announcement.
This Premier College Intern Program opportunity is specifically designed to prepare college graduates for a potential career as AFCS Contract Specialists. The program will provide you an opportunity to experience the daily activities of a Contract Specialist through a formal training program tailored to fit the needs of the PCIP intern as well as the organization. It may include the following experiences:
- Shadow a Contracting Officer throughout the program
- Schedule – Help build/manage a schedule
- Price – Evaluate Pricing
- Solicitations – Review solicitations
- Attend briefings
- Read/review contract documents
- Site visits
- Special Projects: Research, lead a study, build briefing slides, and/or brief subject to Contracting Officer
- Shadow a Copper Cap (COP) Intern
- Assignment of a Mentor
- Local Leadership Training
PCIP Qualifications & Eligibility
- S. Citizen
- A full-time student currently enrolled in an accredited college or university
- Pursuing a degree
- Be in your Junior year of study
- In good academic standing with a GPA of 2.95 (or better) overall
- OR a graduate student who is currently enrolled in a full-time graduate program and who can provide documentation that you will have completed a minimum of 15 semester hours prior to starting the summer internship
PCIP Entry Grade
- To qualify for a GS-04: Completion of 3 academic years of post-high school study $16.82 hourly, $35,097 annual*
- To qualify for GS-05: Completion of 4 academic years of post-high school study leading to a bachelor’s degree or completion of 4 academic years of pre-professional study $18.82, hourly, $39,268 annual*
*2021 pay table- includes current Boston area locality pay
Copper Cap Internship Information upon Graduation
As a Copper Cap intern, you will perform developmental assignments and complete formal, informal, and/or on-the-job training in the Contract Specialist (1102) occupation. You will serve as a Contract Specialist in a developmental capacity in order to acquire the competencies required to develop and recommend acquisition and sourcing strategies for supplies and services. Working closely with a journeyman level Contract Specialist, you will learn to solicit, evaluate, negotiate, and recommend award of procurements; analyze and evaluate cost or price proposals; administer contracts ensuring compliance with terms and conditions; and develop and recommend business solutions to day-to-day contractual challenges. Special projects will be assigned to you in accordance with the formal Training Plan, along with other assignments of similar or gradual difficulty, in order to develop the skills necessary for advancement to the target grade. Learn more about a Copper Cap intern’s personal experience here.
Copper Cap Career Progression
Entry-Level is GS-7 (or equivalent) with bachelor’s degree. The Copper Cap Program offers a three- to four-year formal training plan with annual promotion opportunity based upon meeting time-in-grade requirements, successful performance and supervisory approval at each grade level. Progression is to the GS-12 (or equivalent) levels at the end of the training program. Candidates having a Master’s degree are eligible to apply for the GS-9 target GS-12 positions, which consist of a three year training program.
Benefits of the Copper Cap Program Include
- Starting grade/salary: GS-07 with a Bachelor’s degree $48,641* or GS-09 with a Master’s degree $59,498* (*2021 pay table- includes current Boston area locality pay)
- Fast progression. The program offers a three or four-year formal training plan with annual promotion opportunity, based upon successful performance, to the GS-12 level at the end of the training program (annual salary currently $86,283).
- Student Loan Repayment Program: The student loan repayment program permits agencies to repay federally insured student loans as a recruitment incentive for well qualified candidates.
- An intensive training program. You will earn valuable experience and federal contracting certifications by taking classes in Contract Negotiation, Contract Law, The Federal Acquisition Regulation, Contract Pricing and others. Classes are held via distance learning, on-base classes, and at other locations. In addition, you rotate annually to different buying offices, enabling you to experience different types of contracting.
- Competitive advancement opportunities to mid- and senior-level management positions.
- Outstanding benefits and entitlements such as paid sick leave, paid vacations, paid Federal holidays, health and life insurance, a retirement plan, and a tax deferred investment plan equivalent to a 401(k) with matching Federal contributions. And, due to the uniqueness of working on an active-duty military installation, we are proud to offer you access to a full-range of recreational and support facilities: Fitness Centers, Swimming Pools, Jogging Tracks, and Bowling Alleys; Hobby Shops (Arts & Crafts, Woodworking, Automotive); On-base Credit Union; Family Support Center, Social Clubs, and Libraries.
Interested candidates can email their resume to: aflcmc.pkxa.resumes@us.af.mil.