WIESBADEN, Germany – For Sue Feleciano and Lawrence Pico, the Installation Management Command Developmental Assignment Opportunity Portal was their gateway to Europe and broadening assignments for their respective careers. Pico, the Directorate of Public Works Operations Branch chief from Fort Liberty, North Carolina, joined the IMCOM-Europe G-4 team to learn more about its mission in Europe. During his 90-day assignment he is working on infrastructure requirements for U.S. Army Garrison Poland.
Feleciano came to IMCOM-Europe to work with G-8’s Manpower section. Her role at her home station, USAG Hawaii, is in the Plans, Analysis and Integration Office. One of the things the PAIO shop does is to work across the garrison to improve processes. When Feleciano saw the opportunity with IMCOM-Europe she jumped at the chance to learn more about operations from a manpower perspective, she said.
“It has definitely been an eye-opening experience,” Feleciano said, adding that the developmental assignment has given her professional insight to take home, but also insight into her own career options. When she started her federal career in finance more than 25 years ago, Feleciano said she had a mentor who encouraged her to broaden her horizons so she could better support the Army. If you only work in one place, you only know how one organization operates, she said. Throughout her career, Feleciano has also completed assignments in Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan.
During his nine-year federal career, Pico has also worked with the Army Corps of Engineers and completed a detail with U.S. Army Europe and Africa. Out of college, he chose a job with the Army and the government in general, he said, because of the opportunities to move around throughout one’s career. Many of the requirements are the same, but there are unique aspects across each organization, he said, and taking advantage of opportunities such as the developmental assignment has allowed him to find the best aspects from each assignment and incorporate them into his own toolbox.
For those thinking about applying for a developmental opportunity, both Feleciano and Pico said, “go for it.” “I think that is one of the best tools that any civilian could definitely look into,” Feleciano said. “If you are wanting to make this a career, a developmental will show you what the Army can offer civilians.”
IMCOM recently launched its Developmental Assignment Opportunity Portal to serve as a centralized repository of featured developmental opportunities, which provide eligible employees with the chance to “develop professional knowledge, skills, and abilities at all echelons of the IMCOM Enterprise.”
Source: US ARMY
