About This Position
This position is part of DFAS's Pathways Program, for current students/individuals accepted for enrollment in a qualifying educational program in an accredited institution, full or half-time basis. This is a PAID summer internship, running May - August. Applicants who indicate they meet the minimum qualifications will receive an email from [email protected] to complete online assessments. Check your "Spam"/"Junk" folders. See below for more information!
Qualifications
Requirements: Enrolled or formally accepted for enrollment as a full-time or half-time (Half-time basis is defined by the academic institution that the student is enrolled or accepted into) student into an accredited college or university in a qualifying degree-seeking program, or enrolled or formally accepted for enrollment in a qualifying certificate program; Students must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) at time of application and must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA throughout the entire Pathways Student Trainee Internship appointment to remain in the Program; Applicants MUST submit a transcript or proof of enrollment with the online application (see Required Documents for additional details). Please
Note: If you are graduating from your current academic program prior to September 2027 you will not be eligible for this student appointment unless you are accepted for enrollment at a qualifying educational institution seeking an ADDITIONAL qualifying degree, diploma, certificate, etc., OR an advanced degree.
You MUST submit proof of acceptance along with your current transcripts for consideration. If selected, must sign a Pathways Participant Agreement; provide course registration information at the start of each school term; and provide verification of academic status (official transcript) at the end of each academic term. The following are preferred degree categories: Human Resources Data Analytics/Analysis Information Systems Management Mathematics Industrial Psychology Organizational Behavior/Management Public Administration Business Administration Management
NOTE: The degree does not have to be related to the position/series to participate in the internship.
In addition to meeting the above requirement, applicants must meet one of the following minimum qualifications: A. Two years of successfully completed education (by the end of the Spring 2027 term) above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation, or the equivalent, is a prerequisite may be substituted to meet the general experience required. Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total experience requirements.
NOTE: If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: You MUST submit a copy of your transcript if you want to substitute your education for experience. If you claim qualifications based on education, and do not submit a transcript, your education will not be used in making a qualification determination and you may be found "not qualified".
OR
B. One year of generalized experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position, is required. General experience is defined as: progressively responsible clerical, office, or other work that indicates ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position to be filled.
Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills, and can provide valuable training and experience that translates to paid employment.
You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Major Duties
As a Management Support Student Trainee, you will do or all of the following:
Performs a full range of administrative and management support assignments involving related processes or methods in varying sequence to provide support to the Defense Finance and Accounting Services
Applies knowledge of data collection techniques and evaluation tools sufficient to produce reports for specialists
Establishes and maintains effective working relationships
Assist in the preparation of recurring and special reports.
Assignments are data focused and data driven.
Education
Undergraduate Credit Information: 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours is equal to 1 academic year above high school. For Study at a Business or Technical School: 36 weeks of study (20+ classroom hours per week) is comparable to 1 academic year above high school.
You MUST provide proof of education or of certification to be considered for this position.
Click here for more information about acceptable documentation: Transcripts and Certifications. Education MUST be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications.
Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States.
It is your responsibility to provide such evidence at the time of application. Late submissions of proof of accreditation will not be accepted.
Click on the link for a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications and education requirements above.
You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Flexibility Interpersonal Skills Learning Problem Solving Self-Management Technology Application Applicants who indicate they meet the minimum qualifications will receive an email invitation from [email protected] to complete online assessments. The email may appear in a "Spam" or "Junk" folder. Please plan to set aside three (3) hours for the assessments; however, most people are expected to complete the assessments in about 90 minutes.
You must complete all of the required assessments within 48 hours after the close of this Job Announcement to be eligible for this position.
Your results will be kept on record for use when applying for future jobs that require these assessments.
You will not be allowed to re-take an assessment for one year.
Applicants should view sample items to determine if the computer they are using is likely to experience any issues during testing. The sample items can be found at https://cdn.apps.pdricloud.com/cdn/v1/files/pub/inline/7e5/6/15/f/5f7a7b45-d373-4126-8738-aa5c07cadd92.html. If you have questions about the computer requirements or require technical assistance, please email: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/HelpTicket.
Your results on these assessments will be used to place you into one of the three quality categories listed below according to Category Rating and Selection Procedures. In addition, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to verify you meet the qualifications for this job. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and may be interviewed prior to selection.
You will be notified of the outcome. Qualified Category - Meets the minimum qualifications as described in the Qualifications section of this announcement. Highly Qualified Category - Exceeds the minimum qualification requirements and demonstrates proficiency in some of the job-related competencies based on the answers to the occupational questionnaire.
Best Qualified Category - Exceeds the minimum qualification requirements and demonstrates a high level of proficiency in the job related competencies based on the answers to the occupational questionnaire. Application of Veterans Preference: The Category Rating Method does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three," but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible's who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher.
A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Qualified) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied.
Additional Information
Selections are subject to restrictions resulting from the DoD Program for Stability of Civilian Employment. The General Schedule (GS) basic pay schedule may vary by geographic locality. To view pay rates in a specific location visit the Office of Personnel Management pay tables at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2024/general-schedule/ Telework availability will be based upon the mission requirements and supervisory determination.
This internship opportunity will not start until May 2027 or later. This announcement will be used to fill Management Support Intern positions. Individuals selected from this vacancy announcement will work a full-time work schedule for at least eight weeks between the months of May through August.
We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of the closing date. A trial period may be required.
This position is Non-Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act.
This position is not covered by a bargaining unit. Retired Civil Service Employee: Employment of retired Federal employees receiving an annuity is subject to the requirements of the Department of Defense (DoD) policy guidance. Pay for first time hires to the Federal Government will typically be set at step 1 salary range for their respective grade level. If you are unable to apply online, view the following link for information regarding Alternate Application.
How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: 1. To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
- Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
3.
Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/02/2026.
4.
After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you both on screen and via email notification.
- If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments. Note, set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found on the Additional Application Information page that can be located in the application record in your USAJOBS account.
To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by return to your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login). There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Update Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an Additional Application Information page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application.
The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application.
Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments.
You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)
Required Documents
You must provide a complete Application Package which includes: ReΜsumeΜ: You are required to submit a 2-page maximum resume. Applicant guidance on the two page resume requirement may be found at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/merit-hiring-plan-resources/applicant-guidance-on-the-two-page-resume-limit/ or at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/page-limit. Transcripts or proof of enrollment: You must submit documentation to verify your enrollment or acceptance in a degree program; confirm your cumulative GPA and/or verify your education if substituting for experience.
Current Transcripts: An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however if selected, an official transcript will be required. Transcripts MUST include the student's name, name of the school, current GPA, and past and current coursework. If your transcripts do not provide the information listed above, include additional documentation that meets the requirements.
Proof of Enrollment or Class Registration: If you are enrolled but have not yet registered for Spring 2027 classes, please provide proof of acceptance or a letter from your academic institution indicating your intent for continued enrollment for Spring 2027. The proof of acceptance must be from within the past year and specify the term of acceptance and academic program.
Complete initial Eligibility Questionnaire and Additional Online Assessments.
You may submit a cover letter which will be forwarded to the selecting official with your resume.
Your cover letter will NOT be used to verify your qualifications or eligibility. Other Supporting Documents. If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found here.
The following supporting documents are ONLY required if applicable to your personal qualifications or status. They must be received by the closing date of the announcement. Veterans Preference: If you are claiming veteran's preference, you MUST submit the appropriate documentation.
Failure to do so WILL result in the loss of veteran's preference, and will possibly impact your placement on the certificate. For more veterans' information please click here.
You must submit a copy of your DD Form-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty", showing the dates of active duty service, type of discharge and the character of service. Alternatively, If you are a current military member in active duty service and do not have a copy of your DD Form-214, you must submit a written documentation (certification) from your branch of service certifying that you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions no later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted with your application for this position. The certification should also include your rank and dates of active duty service.
If claiming 10-point preference and/or are a 30% or more Disabled Veteran, you must submit both a DD Form-214 or expected discharge documentation as described above AND a copy of a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or your branch of service certifying the presence of service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of disability. If you are claiming eligibility based on 10-point derived veterans' preference (i.e. a spouse, widow/widower, or parent of a veteran claiming veterans' preference when the veteran is unable to use it), you must also submit a Standard Form 15 (SF-15) "Application for 10-Point Veteran's Preference" and any required documents indicated on the SF-15 to substantiate the claimed preference.
Click to review veterans authorities and required documents that verify eligibility for VEOA, VRA and/or 30% or more disabled veterans hiring authorities http://www.dfas.mil/careers/howtoapply/vacancyannouncement/appointment-eligibility.html . WARNING: Failure to submit a complete application package including any required documentation by 11:59 PM (EST) 11/02/2026, or at the time of application for announcements with an extended closing date, may result in an ineligible rating and loss of consideration. To verify that your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status and More Information.
The Details page will display the status of your application. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded, or faxed is received, legible and accurate. HR will not modify answers submitted by an applicant.