FY 27 Prerequisites & Dates

Nonresident Course Information

PACS-Q-DL-NR (Phase 1) FY 27 Course Prerequisites: 
None

PACS-Q-DL-NR (Phase 1) FY 27 Service Prerequisites: 
  • United States Army, Army Reserve, Army National Guard - Officer must meet prerequisites outlined in DA PAM 611-21. O-3 through O-4 (Must have completed Officer Basic Course before submitting into ATRRS. Must meet height and weight standard IAW AR 600-9. Must pass Army Fitness Test (AFT) prior to graduation.

    USAR Officers - O-2 through O-4. Must be filing 46A billet. Meet all above requirements.

    Active Army Enlisted: E-7 through E-9; PA - 46Z; VI-46Y. 

    NGB Enlisted: Non-control branch filing valid CMF 46 position; endorsed by NGB, validated by APAS; E-8 through E-9.

    USAR Enlisted: Non-control branch filing valid CMF 46 position; E-8 through E-9; ETP endorsed by USAR, validated by APAS. 
    POC : publicaffairseducation@army.mil 

    Army Civilians: Must be in a public affairs field GS 1035, 1082, 0301, 1001, 1084. GS-7 or above. POC: susan.a.hand.civ@army.mil
     
  • United States Marine Corps - Officer: O-1 through O-4. Enlisted: E-6 select and above. Must have Military Occupational Specialty 43XX, 45XX or 46XX. Civilian prerequisites are based on their billet description and authorization from HQMC PA.
     
  • United States Navy - Officer: O-1 through O-4. Enlisted: E-5 through E-9. Enlisted must be a Mass Communication Specialist. Civilian: GS-07 and above. Includes interns. All must be in a public affairs field (GS-1035, 1082, 1083, and 1087 or 0301 with CHINFO approval).
     
  • United States Air Force - O-1 through O-5 (AFSC 35X). E-7 through E-9 (AFSC 3NXXX). GS-07 and above/equivalent (Occupational Series 1035, or with SAF/PA occurrence).
     
  • United States Coast Guard - Officer: O1 - O5. Prerequisites are based on their billet description and authorization from Coast Guard 092. Enlisted: E-5 through E-8. Prerequisites are based on their billet description and authorization from Coast Guard 092. Civilian: GS-07 and above in a public affairs billet (series 1035) approved by USCG Public Affairs Program Manager.
     
  • International Students - International students attending this course must serve in a public affairs position in the military, in the grade or civilian equivalent of O-1 to O-5, have an English Comprehension Level (ECL) of 85; obtain a 2+/2+ on the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI); possess basic typing skills; and have a solid understanding of English language usage, grammar and syntax. Requests for a waiver of prerequisites must be in writing routed through the Security Assistance Training Field Activity (SATFA) and approved by the DINFOS Commandant prior to acceptance into training. 
     
  • Interagency Students - Must be a U.S. Government employee working in the public affairs (PA) career field (GS-1035). 

FY 27 PACS-Q-DL-NR Dates

School: 212 
Course: DINFOS-PACS-Q-DL-NR
Phase: 1
Course Length: 24 Weeks 0.0 Days
Course Title: PA & Communication Strategy Qualification
Class Start Date End Date
010 13 Oct 2026 27 Jul 2026




 

 

 


 

 


Resident Course Information


PACS-Q-DL-R (Phase 1) FY 27 Course Prerequisites: 
PACS-Q-DL-NR Phase 1

PACS-Q-DL-R (Phase 1) FY 27 Service Prerequisites: 

Requests for waiver of prerequisites must be routed through the appropriate career field manager to the DINFOS Commandant and must be approved prior to the student's acceptance into training.

  • United States Army, Army Reserve, Army National Guard - Officer: O-1 through O-4. O-1 must have completed Officer Basic Course before submitting into ATRRS. Must meet height and weight standard IAW AR 600-9. Must pass Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) prior to graduation from the residence course.

    Enlisted Active: E-7 through E-8. Must have completed required PME level; validated by APAS; control branch 46. Must meet height and weight standard IAW AR 600-9. Must pass Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) prior to graduation from the residence course.

    Enlisted NGB: E-8 through E-9 - Non-control branch 46 filling valid CMF 46 position; endorsed by NGB, validated by APAS. Must meet height and weight standard IAW AR 600-9. Must pass Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) prior to graduation from the residence course.

    Enlisted USAR: E-8 through E-9 - Non-control branch 46 filling valid CMF 46 position; endorsed by USAR, validated by APAS. Must meet height and weight standard IAW AR 600-9. Must pass Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) prior to graduation from the residence course.

    Civilian: GS-7 and above - Civilian employees assigned to CP22 in the grade of GS-7 and above, APAS is approving authority for Army waivers.
     
  • United States Marine Corps - Officer: O-1 through O-4. Enlisted: E-6 select and above. Must have Military Occupational Specialty 43XX, 45XX or 46XX. Civilian prerequisites are based on their billet description and authorization from HQMC PA.
    .
  • United States Navy - Officer: O-1 through O-4. Enlisted: E-5 through E-9. Enlisted must be a Mass Communication Specialist. Civilian: GS-07 and above. Includes interns. All must be in a public affairs field (GS-1035, 1082, 1083, and 1087 or 0301 with CHINFO approval).
     
  • United States Air Force - Officer: O-1 through O-5. Officer must have 35X - Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC). Enlisted: E-7 through E-9. Enlisted must have 3N0XX AFSC, with Secretary of the Air Force/Public Affairs (SAF/PA) concurrence. Civilian: GS-7 and above - 1001, 1020,1035, 1060, 1071and 1084 series.
     
  • United States Coast Guard - Officer: O1 - O5. Prerequisites are based on their billet description and authorization from Coast Guard 092. Enlisted: E-5 through
    E-8. Prerequisites are based on their billet description and authorization from Coast Guard 092. Civilian: Must be a U.S. Government employee working in PA career field (GS-1035).
     
  • International Students -  International students attending this course must serve in a public affairs position in the military, in the grade or civilian equivalent of O-1 to O-5, have an English Comprehension Level (ECL) of 85; obtain a 2+/2+ on the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI); possess basic typing skills; and have a solid understanding of English language usage, grammar and syntax. Requests for a waiver of prerequisites must be in writing routed through the Security Assistance Training Field Activity (SATFA) and approved by the DINFOS Commandant prior to acceptance into training.
     
  • Interagency Students - Must be a U.S. Government employee working in the public affairs (PA) career field (GS-1035).

FY 27 PACS-Q-DL-R (Phase 2) Dates

School: 212 
Course: DINFOS-PACS-Q-DL-R
Phase: 2
Course Length: 24 Weeks 0.0 Days
Course Title: PA & Communication Strategy Qualification
Class Start Date End Date
010 23 Aug 2027 02 Sep 2027