Q: What
is the definition of training?
A: "Training"
means the process of providing for and making available to
an employee, and placing or enrolling the employee in, a planned,
prepared, and coordinated program, course, curriculum, subject,
system, or routine of instruction or education, in scientific,
professional, technical, mechanical, trade, clerical, fiscal,
administrative, or other fields which will improve individual
and organizational performance and assist in achieving the
agency's mission and performance goals." (5 U.S.C. 4101(4))
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Q: Who
is responsible for planning and recommending training?
A: The responsibility
for training is shared by the employee, the supervisor, agency
management, and the agency training and development office.
The basic responsibility rests with the employee. Employees
are responsible for being qualified, and remaining qualified,
for their jobs. They are also responsible for keeping their
knowledge, skills, and abilities current. Supervisors and
managers also have a responsibility. They are responsible
for workforce planning; determining if employees' current
skill sets meet current and anticipated organizational needs;
identifying their employees' learning and development needs;
budgeting to meet those needs; assigning employees to training;
and evaluating the results or outcomes of the training.
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Q: How
do I acquire training?
A: Law requires
the heads of agencies to review the requirements of
the agency at least once every three years. The agency is
also required to review, at least annually, its program for
meeting identified training needs. Most agencies use an Individual
Development Plan (IDP) for assessing and planning employee
training. This IDP is cooperatively developed between you
and your supervisor to forecast, identify, and schedule individual
training and development opportunities to meet mission, organizational,
and individual requirements. Once you and your supervisor
have developed an IDP, your training courses for the year
can be scheduled.
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Q: Is
training mandatory/required?
A: There is
some mandatory training for all Federal employees such as
computer security training required by 5 CFR 930.301-305 (1997),
ethics training required by 5 CFR 2638.703(b), and executive,
managerial, and supervisory training as required by 5 CFR
412 (1997). Agencies also have the authority to mandate additional
training for employees.
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Q: What
employees may receive training?
A: Government
employees: Government employees permanent or temporary
may receive Government-funded training. Several factors to
consider are: (a) employee's need for training to resolve
performance problems or prepare for a new assignment requiring
different skills; (b) the extent to which the employee's knowledge
and skill will be improved; (c) the organization's need for
new skills and the length of time it will benefit from the
employee's training; (d) the employee's previous training,
and (e) the funds available to train all employees.
Contractors: Since contractors are selected for their
expertise in a subject area, contractors may only be trained
in skills they are not required to bring to the job.
Contractors may be trained in rules, practices, procedures
and/or systems that are unique to the employing agency and
essential to the performance of the contractors assigned duties.
However, the authority for training of contractors is not
in training law. It is in the authority to administer contracts.
Training of contractors is subject to the decision of the
chief contracting official.
Training of contractor personnel is limited to on-the-clock,
on-site orientations essential to the execution of an approved
contract. The USMC shall not pay the training costs of contractors
not specifically cited in the contract. Under no circumstances
shall contractors receive government-sponsored training in
performance and skill areas for which they have been retained.
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Q: How
do I determine what training is right for me?
A: To determine
what training is appropriate you and your supervisor should
prepare a training needs assessment. This assessment should
be tied to the strategic plans of your organization. Your
training needs should be assessed within the context of the
organization's strategic goals to ensure competent performance.
Your supervisor will help you choose courses and plan assignments
to help you strengthen and advance your skills to meet organizational
and individual goals and requirements.
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Q: Does
a training request have to be approved prior to the start
of the training?
A: Yes. Like
other assignments and procurements, training must be approved
in advance. Approval is necessary to authorize the training
as a legal activity; designate training as a work assignment;
documents costs to be shared by agency and employee; obligate
funds for the training purchase or procure training; and document
a continued service agreement (if applicable).
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Q: Can
my normal working hours be adjusted so that I may take course
at my own expense?
A: Yes. Supervisors
may adjust an employee's normal working hours so the employee
can take courses not sponsored by the agency if additional
costs to the agency will not be incurred; completion of the
course will better equip the employee for work in the agency;
and there will not be appreciable disruption of work. In addition,
if the course is related to official duties, the employee
may pay for the course and the supervisor may assign the employee
to training during regular duty hours.
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Q: Can
I receive training leading to a promotion?
A: It depends.
An employee may receive training that directly leads to a
promotion only if the employee is selected competitively before
the training begins under the merit promotion program and
according to merit systems principles.
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Q: If
I am a newly hired employee, can I be given training through
non-government facilities?
A: Yes. Supervisors
can secure training for any of their employees, regardless
of tenure, from the best source, Government or non-Government.
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Q: Is
it required that training be applicable to my current position?
A: No, the
purpose of training is to improve an employee's performance
of his/her official duties, or in his/her anticipated official
duties. An agency can train employees to prepare them for
anticipated future assignments or to accomplish special agency
initiatives. When employees are affected by reduction-in-force,
restructuring or re-engineering, the training provided must
be related to the knowledge and skills required by the employees'
current positions or to prepare them for anticipated duties
in a different occupation in their agency, another Government
agency, or the private sector.
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Q: Can
the Marine Corps pay for my college degree?
A: The government
can pay for courses leading to a degree as part of a formal
development program. The selection of employees for academic
degree programs must be done competitively and according to
merit system principles. However, the government may pay for
college courses in areas related to the employees assigned
duties.
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Q: Can
college classes be taken on official duty time?
A: Yes. An
employee assigned to training, including college classes,
during normal duties is considered on duty for the period
of the training, and no charge is made to leave. Even when
the employee pays for the training, no charge is made to leave
if the training is authorized to meet a performance improvement
need.
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Q: What
training expenses are appropriate for the Marine Corps to
pay?
A: Each command
may pay or reimburse an employee, fully or partially,
for the expenses of approved training. Costs that can be paid
for by commands include: tuition and matriculation costs;
fees and services (e.g., library and laboratory fees, books,
supplies, and memberships if required for enrollment); travel
and per diem.
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Q: Can
the Marine Corps pay for correspondence course or Internet
training?
A: Yes. An
agency may pay for any planned and coordinated course of instruction
when the program will improve individual performance. So correspondence
courses and Internet training are treated the same as any
other type of training that the agency feels is necessary
and beneficial.
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Q: What
happens if I don't complete a training class?
A: Training
law requires agencies to have ways to recoup costs should
an employee fail to attend, or unsatisfactorily complete,
assigned training paid for with Government funds. Agencies
may have waiver procedures that apply to unusual circumstances.
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Q: I
am a nonexempt employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act
and have been assigned to training that extends beyond my
8-hours workday/40 hour work week. Am I entitled to overtime
pay? Am I entitled to receive overtime pay for traveling outside
normal working hours to or from a place of training which
is different from my regular work station?
Am I entitled to overtime pay?
A: Generally,
training law prohibits paying overtime to employees. A few
exceptions apply, such as training at night for events that
only occur at night or when it will save the agency money
to pay overtime. Fair Labor Standards Act regulations require
that nonexempt employees be paid overtime when assigned to
training that extends beyond an employee's regular tour of
duty. (This does not apply to trainees or apprentices.)
Am I entitled to receive overtime pay for traveling
outside normal working hours to or from a place of training
which is different from the employee's regular work station?
A: Yes. An
employee who is nonexempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act
is paid overtime for travel that occurs outside the employee's
regular tour of duty, including traveling to training held
at a place different from the employee's duty station. However,
employees who are exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act
are not paid overtime for travel outside their regular duty
hours.
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Q: Can
the Marine Corps pay a mileage allowance and parking fees
for my attendance at training?
At other than my normal work location?
A: It depends.
An agency may pay or reimburse an employee for such expenses,
but it is not required to by law or regulation. An employee
may get a mileage allowance only if traveling on approved
travel orders. The employee may be reimbursed parking fees
if the training authorization or travel order specifies coverage
of parking fees or if agency procedures provide for reimbursement
for local travel.
At my normal work location during regular working hours?
A: No. Expenses
for traveling to and from work and for parking are personal
expenses, even when the employee is assigned to training and
not to regular duties.
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Q: I
am anticipating that I may be subject to a RIF action. Is
it possible for the Marine Corps to pay for a training program
that will help me meet the minimal education qualification
requirement for another Federal occupation?
A: Yes. In
addition to other career transition assistance services, agencies
can train employees to prepare them for anticipated future
assignments. When employees are affected by reduction-in-force,
restructuring or re-engineering, the training provided must
be related to the knowledge and skills required by the employees'
current positions or to prepare them for anticipated duties
in a different occupation in the Department of the Navy, another
Government agency, or the private sector.
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Q: What
can I do if I feel that I have been unjustly denied permission
to attend training?
A: Employees
who feel that they have been unjustly denied permission to
attend training may use the agency's grievance procedures.
A grievance is a request for personal relief (or reconsideration)
about something under management control, including assignments
to training. Employees may use the agency's procedures if
the matter cannot be resolved at the supervisory level. Typically,
employees may choose one of two grievance systems -- the one
provided by the union (if available) or the one provided by
the agency.
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