Town Hall Helps Garrison Employees Grow and Thrive | Article

FORT BELVOIR, Virginia – Fort Belvoir hosted the U.S. Army Civilian Career Management Activity (ACCMA) Career Management Town Hall at Thurman Auditorium, January 30. The purpose of the event was to equip Army Civilians with the tools and knowledge needed to advance their careers.

The town hall began with the introduction of ACCMA representatives. It then proceeded with shared insights on career advancement strategies, navigating the USAJobs website, and the importance of continuous skill development through training programs and certifications. The seminar also highlighted the various resources and opportunities available within the Army to support career growth and advancement.

Deputy to the Garrison Commander, Mr. Sean Lehane, spearheaded the collaboration and invited ACCMA to hold their workshop at Fort Belvoir. Lehane expressed, “it’s essential that we provide our Civilians with the tools and resources they need to succeed.”

“This workshop is a critical step in helping Civilians achieve their full potential and advance in their careers, and I’m excited to see the impact it will have on our team,” said Lehane.

The Army Civilian Career Management Activity (ACCMA) is a critical component of the U.S. Army’s civilian workforce management, responsible for providing career development and management support to Army civilians.

“By partnering with ACCMA, we can offer our Civilians access to world-class career development opportunities, mentorship, and leadership training.” Lehane adds.

During the town hall, the presenters discussed how to get promoted and identify growth opportunities. According to Presenter and Career Program Manager for Installation Management (CP-29) Mr. Roberto Rodriguez, “To climb the career ladder, it’s essential to leverage your occupational series effectively.”

Rodriguez underscored the vital importance of reskilling and upskilling, stressing that these practices are essential for building career resilience. He encouraged employees to embrace the opportunity to learn new skills both within and beyond their current career fields. By doing so, they can remain adaptable and competitive in an ever-changing job market.

“If you want to seek advancement, or get a promotion, start by looking within your career series for opportunities,” he told the audience. He explained the importance of knowing how to look for these openings both inside and outside of your occupational career series.

Mr. Rodriguez also emphasized that participating in developmental assignments is one of the most effective ways for employees to gain new skills. He further explained that the Developmental Assignment Program (DAP), which is centrally funded by headquarters, serves as a valuable resource for employees to become more competitive for promotions and advance in their careers.

“Developmental assignments have evolved – you no longer need to be away from your office for extended periods. You can schedule them for just one or two days a week or focus on a specific project. The flexibility is there for you and your supervisor to decide,” he added, encouraging participants to think creatively and actively seek opportunities for career advancement.

Another key point of the seminar highlighted the valuable resources and tools available to employees, such as MWR Libraries and Udemy programs. Angelique Simmons, Program Analyst for ICF Certifications, Career Paths, Vectoring & Career Broadening, highlighted UDEMY as a powerful resource for skill-building and certification acquisition.

She stated, “UDEMY offers a lot of courses that can help you build new skills and earn certifications. It’s a fantastic way to stay competitive and relevant in today’s ever-evolving job market. The best part is that it’s offered to Army Civilians for free.”

Simmons reminded the audience of the importance of continuous learning and that, “You are not confined to your current career series.” She explained that during her career, she began as a Librarian and has transitioned through different career series. She encouraged the audience to embrace lifelong learning and to explore new fields to stay relevant and adaptable in today’s competitive job market.

Fort Belvoir garrison employee Thais Fonseca-Roundtree attended the workshop and shared her thoughts on the workshop, “It truly opened my eyes to the importance of not limiting myself to just one career area. It made me realize that I am not confined to only one [career] series. I learned that by exploring different fields and gaining diverse experiences, I can become more versatile and marketable.”

“Before this workshop, I had a different perspective on developmental programs, but now discovering the range of resources and training opportunities available has been eye-opening.”

The ACCMA workshop at Fort Belvoir was a resounding success, leaving employees inspired and motivated to take charge of their careers.

At the closing, ACCMA panelist Jillian Farrow left the group with an important resume tip: “Do not let AI take over your resume. Instead, have it assist you in your job search journey.”

Farrow cautioned the audience against having a resume written by AI. Instead, she advised asking AI if your resume would be a good candidate for a job after inputting your resume and the job qualifications.

To learn more about ACCMA programs and resources, visit the website at

.