Hill Air Force Base Internship Programs: Launching Your Career
The Air Force Civilian Service (AFCS) offers numerous internship programs at Hill Air Force Base, providing students and recent graduates with invaluable hands-on experience and pathways to rewarding careers. These programs are designed to support the Department of the Air Force's critical mission by equipping participants with the skills and knowledge necessary for future success. Whether you're interested in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), logistics, or supporting individuals with disabilities, there's an internship opportunity waiting for you.
Pathways to AFCS Careers
There are two primary avenues for securing Air Force Civilian Services jobs: Direct Hire Authorities (DHA) and the general hiring pathway. These pathways streamline the hiring process, making it easier for qualified candidates to join the AFCS team.
Premier College Intern Program (PCIP)
AFCS's full-time PCIP is designed to prepare college students for promising career fields within AFCS. These fields include Science and Engineering, Cybersecurity, IT, Acquisition, and other mission-critical specialty positions. Numerous internships in 45 locations across America will be awarded to qualified students. Some of our career fields even offer a sign-on bonus.
Hands-on Experience: Over the 10 to 12 week paid summer internship, you'll work side by side with current AFCS and military professionals, gaining invaluable hands-on experience and making tangible contributions to real-world projects in support of the Department of the Air Force and its critical mission. This immersive experience allows you to apply your academic knowledge in a real-world setting, enhancing your skills and expanding your professional network.
Career Development: We'll help you tap into your creativity and ambition to tackle challenges, both known and unforeseen. Following college graduation and completion of PCIP, you may qualify for a full-time, paid position within one of AFCS's comprehensive training programs, where you'll further hone your expertise and specialized skillsets through either PALACE ACQUIRE (PAQ), which prepares students for a wide range of careers from Science and Engineering to Cyber and IT, or COPPER CAP (COP), which readies students to become Contract (procurement) Specialists.
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Benefits and Incentives: Once the program is successfully completed, you'll be placed into a professional-level position at AFCS, where you'll receive federal health and retirement benefits, tuition assistance toward a graduate degree while in the PAQ Program, repayment of student loans for those who qualify, and a generous Recruitment Bonus for certain positions.
SMART Program
The SMART Program provides science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students with the tools needed to pursue higher education and begin a career with the DoD. With a full scholarship, students pursuing STEM degrees will be able to focus on complex research to further the DoD’s mission and create lasting impact.
Commitment to Service: SMART is a one-for-one commitment; for every year of degree funding, the scholar commits to working for a year with the Department of Defense (DoD) as a civilian employee. Summer internships prepare scholars for full-time employment and get them accustomed to working with the DoD.
Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP)
You won’t find a greater champion of persons with disabilities than AFCS. The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) is a federal program connecting employers with qualified candidates with disabilities for temporary employment and potentially permanent positions. The program provides invaluable federal work experience to those who qualify, offering the potential of securing permanent positions upon completion of the program.
Commitment to Inclusion: The Air Force and Space Force seeks to build upon the strengths and abilities of all individuals to create a workforce that’s capable and passionate about public service. Which is why we’ve partnered with the Department of Labor and the Department of Defense to implement the WRP. The WRP's goal is to recruit, train, and retain persons with disabilities in the federal workforce.
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Eligibility: If you’re a student or recent graduate with a disability, you know better than most just how much you have to contribute - if only given the chance. You’ll be encouraged to know that you’re not alone in your determination to overcome challenges. The Air Force Civilian Service shares your commitment to ensuring that disability is never a barrier to success.
Application Requirements: Your college or university must be participating in the WRP program. You'll need to provide proof of disability/Schedule A Memorandum, along with a resume and transcript(s) to support experience and education as appropriate.
Benefits of AFCS Internships
As a paid, full-time intern, you’ll work in a collaborative workplace that values professional growth and experience. You’ll be eligible for tuition assistance, student loan repayment, paid post-graduate studies, an attractive sign-on bonus for certain positions, as well as competitive compensation and other generous perks like federal health insurance, federal retirement benefits, and paid federal holidays.
Impactful Work: There's one thing you'll make from day one as an Air Force Civilian Service (AFCS) Intern: an impact. You’ll work side by side with our men and women in uniform and civilians just like you, gaining invaluable hands-on experience in the field of your choosing, while playing a critical role supporting our warfighters by ensuring our military remains mission-ready and the tip of the spear stays as sharp as it can be.
Career Prospects: Upon completion of your internship, you may qualify for a permanent, full-time position supporting the warfighter by ensuring the Department of the Air Force is lethal and mission-ready.
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Opportunities at Hill AFB
Hill Air Force Base offers unique internship opportunities, including a 12-week program providing on-the-job training in weapon system logistics management, supporting one of many AFLCMC divisions. Also included as part of the internship is a four-day symposium held with more than 100 interns across the United States.
Logistics Trainee Program: This program offers juniors who are currently enrolled fulltime (12 or more semester hours) in a qualifying four-year program, a paid internship at Hill Air Force Base lasting 12 weeks in the summer prior to their senior year at the GS-04, Step 1, pay grade. Upon graduation, they may be non-competitively converted to a position within the three- year PALACE (PAQ) Acquire Logistics Trainee Program. Trainees start at the GS-07 level and will be eligible for promotion every 52 weeks through program completion.
Application Process: Apply by sending a student resume, current transcripts and proof of enrollment before Sept.
Understanding the Application Process
Here's a step-by-step guide to navigating the job application process:
- Start Your Search: Begin your job search by typing in a keyword or location. It’s best to create and sign into your profile before doing a search, because we can use your profile information to improve your job search results. You can save a search, which will save you time the next time you visit USAJOBS.
- Review the Announcement: If you find a job you’re interested in, read the entire announcement to make sure you’re eligible and you meet the qualifications. Read the Qualifications section to see if you meet the job’s qualifications. Contact the agency representative if you have questions.
- Prepare Your Application: Read the How to Apply section of the job announcement before starting your application. During the application process you can review, edit, and delete your information. We’ll automatically save your progress as you go, so you won’t lose any changes.
- Submit Your Application: When your application is ready in USAJOBS, we’ll send you to the agency application system where you can submit your application. After you submit your application, go back to the Application section of your USAJOBS account and make sure the hiring agency received your application.
- Application Status: It may take a few hours, after you submit your application, for the agency to update your status.
- Review Process: The hiring agency will start reviewing applications once the job announcement closes.
- Interviews: The hiring official will review the highest qualified applications and select applicants to interview based on agency policy. There may be more than one interview round.
- Selection: After the agency completes all interviews, they will select a candidate(s) and contact them to start the job offer process. For those not selected, the hiring agency will update the job status to Hiring complete.
- Tentative Offer: The hiring agency will extend a tentative job offer. Once this offer is accepted the agency will start the background investigation.
- Final Offer: The job offer is final when the agency successfully completes the background investigation and any additional security checks.
Additional Resources
- General Employment Resources
- Military Spouse & Veterans Resources
- Civilian Employee Resources
- Unemployment Compensation Information
For military spouses, the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) allows them to search for jobs from thousands of employers who are dedicated to recruit, train, hire, promote and retain military spouses. The MyCAA Scholarship is a workforce development program that provides up to $4,000 of tuition assistance to eligible military spouses. Each year, the Air Force Aid Society in partnership with the Military & Family Readiness Center, provide scholarship grant opportunities to a select number of military spouses to earn certifications in portable careers. Previous opportunities include Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Phlebotomy and Paralegal. Information and applications are made available in late February.
Whether you are a service member thinking about a college degree, a military spouse wanting to connect with a network of military-friendly employers or a parent hoping for a smooth school transition for your child, Military OneSource offers practical information and resources for pursuing education goals and achieving career aspirations.
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