Student Trainee

Duties

Internships are expected to begin in May/June 2026.
The Premier College Intern Program/Pathways Internship Program integrates on-the-job training with pertinent education by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The individual series are listed below for your reference and information to include the applicable qualification standard. These programs are designed to provide interns an opportunity to broaden their perspectives on issues facing government. Interns will work throughout the Department of Air Force (DAF) and support higher-level management in coordinating, facilitating, and implementing activities within the office to which they are assigned; and be exposed to and participate in activities, innovations, and challenges facing the DAF.

The Student Trainee works in support of the office they are assigned to which may include:

• Performing a variety of assignments selected to broaden skills and provide practical experience aimed at developing the employee's skills and knowledge to perform progressively complex assignments.
• Assignments designed to orient, train, and increase the student's knowledge in his/her perspective area of study.
• Assisting specialists/analysts in developing material for briefings, reports, presentations and conference materials needed by supervisor and executive management.
• Developing documents, such as research-based papers, graphs, charts, and other data to be used by transportation officials in defining transportation challenges and recommending options and potential solutions.
• Assisting management in collecting, organizing and maintaining program and/or functional documentation and materials.
• Participating in meetings, events, and briefings.

The individual series are listed below for your reference and information to include the applicable qualification standard:

GS-0099 - Miscellaneous Student Trainee Series (e.g. Community Planning or similar fields)
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0000/general-student-trainee-series-0099/

GS-0199 - Social Science Student Trainee Series (e.g. Psychologist or similar fields)
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0100/social-science-student-trainee-series-0199/

GS-0499 - Biological Sciences (e.g. Biologist, Microbiologist or similar fields)
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0400/biological-science-student-trainee-series-0499/

GS-0599 - Accounting and Budget (Accounting, Auditing)
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0500/financial-management-student-trainee-series-0599/

GS-0899 - Engineering and Architectural Student Trainee Series (e.g. Civil, Chemical, General, or similar fields)
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/engineering-and-architecture-student-trainee-series-0899/

GS-1399 - Physical Sciences (e.g. Metallurgy, Chemist, Physicist or similar fields)
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1300/physical-science-student-trainee-series-1399/

GS-1599 - Mathematics and Statistics Student Trainee Series (e.g. Statistics, Mathematics, or similar fields)
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1500/mathematics-and-statistics-student-trainee-series-1599/

GS-1799 - Education
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1700/education-student-trainee-series-1799/

GS-2299 - Information Technology Management
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/2200/information-technology-management-student-trainee-series-2299/

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Must meet suitability requirements for Federal employment
• Must be at least 16 years of age
• Must sign a Participant Agreement
• U.S. citizen or national (resident of American Samoa or Swains Island)
• Must be eligible to work under U.S. immigration laws
• You must be a student currently enrolled full time in an accredited college or university, accepted for enrollment or enrolled in an approved program pursuing a Baccalaureate Degree (Junior/Senior only), Graduate or Professional Degree
• Enrollment must be full-time course load as defined by the education institution (full-time course load is typically defined as a minimum of twelve credit hours per semester for undergraduate students)
• Have a good academic standing (no less than 2.95 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 grading scale)
• Meet the qualification standards of the position
• Non-citizens may be eligible for employment if Permitted by the DoD Appropriation Act
• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
• Depending on location and series selected for, you may be required to complete a background/security investigation, drug test, and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding.
• TRIAL PERIOD: The intern is in a trial period throughout the entire Pathways Internship appointment.
• WORK SCHEDULE: Intern should be able to work at least 40 hours per week during 10-12 week summer internship.
• PHYSICAL LOCATION: The intern will be required to report to the designated onsite location as identified upon selection.

Qualifications

PLEASE NOTE: This is not a developmental opportunity, this position may be filled at the GS-04 or GS-05, grade level depending on applicant qualifications and organizational requirements. The individual selected for this position may be considered for promotion to a higher grade without further competition upon meeting all legal and regulatory/program requirements.
Qualifications: To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the education requirements for the grade at which you are requesting consideration and provide official transcripts once you complete the current semester.. You must be continuing your education the following semester (proof of acceptance and/or enrollment is required).

Pursuing a Baccalaureate Degree (Junior/Senior only), Graduate or Professional Degree
Enrollment must be full time course load as defined by the education institution (typically 12 hours or equivalent for undergraduate and six hours or equivalent for graduate) and have a good academic standing (no less than 2.95 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 grading scale)

• GS-04 - 60 or more credit hours/Junior. Completion of 2 full academic years of post-high school study or an associate's degree.
• GS-05 - 120+ credit hours/Junior or Senior in an accelerated 5-year program. Completion of 4 academic years of post-high school leading to a bachelor's degree or equivalent degree.

This Internship has an education requirement. You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims.

Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required once you complete the current semester. In-progress semester/quarter hours may be used to qualify for a higher grade level. Qualifications will be determined based on completed and in-progress hours stated on your unofficial transcript submitted at the time of application.

You must provide updated transcripts that show any/all degrees conferred, current grades and registration with cumulative GPA to support your educational claims (acceptance letter is also required if applicable to current academic status). Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education -

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website - . You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration .

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

Knowledge of subject area typically provided by college-level courses sufficient to perform a variety of assignments to broaden skills and gain practical experience.

Ability to assist higher graded teammates in developing material for briefings, reports, presentations and conference materials.

Ability to participate in meetings, events, and briefings.

Skill in oral and written communication.

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 directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Recommend areas of study: Seeking a Degree in computer science, education, engineering, accounting, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management.

Education

This position has an education requirement. You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

The required education must be either: (a) related to the field in which student will receive on the job training; or (b) applicable under the qualification standard for the target occupational series. Selective factors may be used to identify special requirements, e.g., specific courses, needed to perform the work of individual positions.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• You must be a student currently enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an accredited college or other qualifying educational institution for the Fall 2026-2027 academic year.
• Degree must be related to the position.
• Enrollment must be a full-time course load as defined by the higher education institution (typically 12 hours or equivalent for undergraduate and 6 hours or equivalent for graduate).
• Eligibilities must be met prior to start date.

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements listed above by the start of your internship.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

For more information on the Pathways Program, please visit:

PATHWAYS ELIGIBILITY:

• You must be a student currently enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an accredited college, trade school, or other qualifying educational institution for the Fall 2026-2027 academic year on a full-time basis (as determined by the educational institution).
• Bachelors degree students graduating in the upcoming Spring 2026 semester will be disqualified from further consideration unless proof of dual enrollment is provided.
• Interns will work full-time during the summer and may work a flexible part-time work schedule during the school year (based on agency needs) while continuing their education.
• Enrollment must be a full-time course load as defined by the higher education institution (typically 12 hours or equivalent for undergraduate and 6 hours or equivalent for graduate).
• Be seeking a degree that is relevant to the position selected for.
• Grade qualifications must be met prior to start date.

If selected you:

• Must maintain status as a current student AND maintain a minimum 2.95 cumulative GPA;
• Must furnish course registration information at the start of each school term; and
• Must provide verification of academic status (transcript) at the end of each academic term.

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements listed above by the start of your internship.

Additional information

This is a Pathways Student Internship opportunity managed by the Force Renewal Program and centrally funded by the Air Force's Central Salary Account (CSA). The Internship offers valuable work experience directly related to your academic field of study. This is your opportunity to begin a successful Federal civilian career with the United States Air Force. As an Intern, you will be given the opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to pursue a successful career with the US Air Force and upon completing your degree and meeting conversion eligibility requirements, be eligible for placement in a permanent position. However, it is important to remember that eligibility for conversion does not guarantee you will be offered a permanent position. The length of Internship is normally two years or when you complete your academic program and degree requirements.

This internship is to provide a learning opportunity for a student enrolled in a field of study relating to their career path, to enhance their future goals and improve their knowledge with work experience in a working environment

The entire period served under the Internship Program counts as the participant's trial period.

Non-citizens may be eligible for employment if permitted by the DoD Appropriation Act
This is an Excepted Service appointment.

Conversion to the Competitive Service: You may be non-competitively converted to a permanent appointment within the PALACE Acquire (PAQ)/Copper Cap (COP) or a similar Program. The target grade of the conversion could be above GS-11. However, it is important to remember that eligibility for conversion does not guarantee you will be offered a permanent position.

Please note that conversion is not guaranteed and is subject to the needs of the agency, available funding, and satisfactory performance. Grade level upon conversion will be determined by management and qualifications.
NOTE: U.S. citizenship is required for a noncompetitive conversion to a permanent or term appointment with the Department of the Air Force.

Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click for more information.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click .

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click .
You may be non-competitively converted to a term or permanent appointment within the PALACE Acquire (PAQ)/Copper Cap (COP) or a similar Program.