BATTLE CREEK, Mich. –
Editor’s Note: Liz Norvey is in her second year of the Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services Pathways to Career Excellence program. She is a property disposal specialist with environmental duties and is currently located in Columbus, Ohio.
DLA PaCE is a two-year training program designed for advancement of entry-level personnel to the journeyman level in professional, administrative, and technological career fields.
This is accomplished through on-the-job assignments, cross-training, rotational assignments, and formal training (e.g., classroom, distance learning, web-based training, conferences and seminars).
Participants enter the program at the General Service 7 pay level with a targeted GS-11 pay level after graduation.
When I graduated from Ferris State University with a degree in English, all I wanted to do was be a writer. I spent years writing personally; I wrote for my college newspaper, and my entire major focused on writing. After graduation, I wanted to work in my field doing what I love, but with the pandemic in full swing, it seemed like there was little hope of that.
Being hired for the PaCE program at DLA Disposition Services was an amazing opportunity for me, but it wasn’t in my field. Although I was grateful for the chance to build a career, I did feel like I was giving up on my passion to a certain extent.
Then, during my first March with DLA, each member of the PaCE team was asked to write a book review for National Reading Month, which was when I learned about the Public Affairs Liaison Program. This program was a way for me to continue writing professionally, and getting published, while pursuing a career through the PaCE Program.
By partnering with the Public Affairs Office, I have been able to publish four articles on my experience as a part of the PaCE program and begin a series of articles that highlighted current and former PaCERs. As of today, I have conducted interviews, edited, and published 20 PaCE Spotlight articles.
In 2022, I placed third in the annual DLA Journalism Awards for the commentary category. The article that placed was a reflection on my experience during my first year in the PaCE program.
The PAL program is a fantastic way for DLA employees who have a passion for writing to continue to do so and be published in a professional news source.
Beyond that, writing these articles is an chance for participants to highlight their individual or department’s impact on DLA Disposition Services and how it supports the warfighter.
Participants can also contribute commentary articles. Commentary articles have been written on many different topics, from canned cranberry sauce to alcoholism. There is plenty of room for great stories to be written and published through this program.
If you are a writer interested in participating in the PAL program for DLA Disposition Services, please reach out to your supervisor to request more information.