The Assignment Interactive Module (AIM) Marketplace opened up on 23 September, meaning the race has begun for each of us in the 22-02 Movement Cycle to find and secure our next assignment before it closes on 03 November. This is the second marketplace in which I have participated and I have learned a lot since then about how it functions. Since literally forgetting my first Marketplace was occurring four years ago to winning in the Special Marketplace that followed, I have spoken many times with Military Intelligence (MI) Branch personnel at Human Resources Command (HRC) about the process while both receiving and giving several Leader Professional Development (LPD) sessions about it. This guide will support you in successfully navigating and winning in the AIM Marketplace.
Update your Documentation
Similar to preparing for a Promotion Board, ensure all your documentation is up-to-date. This includes but is not limited to the following: Officer Record Brief (ORB) and Résumé (including Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviors [KSB]), Department of the Army (DA) Photo, Bio, Married Army Couples Program (MACP) information, and Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Status. Interested units can see your ORB and Résumé through the Marketplace (not your DA Photo), but cannot ask for your evaluations (but I highly suggest you send them your last three prior to an interview). Updated documentation will show a prospective unit you possess forethought, are prepared, and have attention to detail.
Read the Assignment Information for every Position
Read the assignment information for every position in the Marketplace, including the Position Information, Unit Information, Unit Comments, Incumbent (more on this later), and Labels. This is a lot of information, but it will provide dividends as you make your preferences.
First, the Duty Title may be different from the Position Information at first glance. The Duty Title of Intelligence Officer can mean many things, so check the Position Information to ensure that is the job you are preferencing. As an example, while the Duty Title for one of my options was Imagery Exploitation Officer, the Position Information stated “Deputy Mission Crew Commander on board the E-8C/Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) Aircraft.” While this suddenly became a much more interesting assignment, knowing the on-station time of a JSTARS, it became one that was incompatible with my lifestyle as a single parent.
The Army Interactive Marketplace (AIM) is a relatively new way of managing talent based on unit needs/preferences, individual preferences, and the needs of the Army. U.S. Army Photo retrieved from YouTube.com video on AIM and ATAP found HERE.
Second, the Unit Information and Unit Comments may have prerequisites for the position or additional information to support your decision. While some choices state “Airborne Preferred,” others may say Counterintelligence (CI) background or Ranger School required, which could adjust your preferences. Others may state that you will deploy for six month intervals or you will be on Temporary Duty (TDY) assignments every other month. This may or may not be the right assignment for your situation, but it is best to have all the information before preferencing it.
Preference Every Unit on the List
After reading through all the assignment information, preference every unit from 1 – N (or, like me, done concurrently). Do not stop at your top 10, top 20, etc.; in a Marketplace of 200 assignments, if you only preference 20 assignments and do not get one of them, YOU ARE NEEDS OF THE ARMY (and therefore should not get mad at HRC). I cannot stress this enough. But break up the work so you do not get overwhelmed. Initially rank every assignment in one of three categories: Assignments you want, Assignments you do not mind, and Assignments you do not want.
Once you have done this, start ranking within each category to fill out your list. Then, after some time away from your computer, go through your entire list again from the top to look for assignments you may have misplaced the first time around. And do not worry too much about getting it perfect; your list will certainly change during the course of the Marketplace for a number of reasons.
Interest and Signaling
Once your preferences are complete, if you placed an assignment in your Top Five or Top 10% (whichever is greater), it will signal to the unit you are interested in that assignment. The unit can then review your ORB and Résumé. They can decide if they want to signal back that they are interested in you. Some units you preference in your Top 10% will never signal back or contact you. Other units will signal you (and sometimes email you directly) without you even considering them as options. This may just change your mind on that assignment, as they usually have their reasons.
The Marketplace shows you both how many other officers have that assignment in their Top 10% as well as how many officers that unit has signaled; if a unit you did not preference has signaled you and relatively few others, it is never a bad thing to reach out to them to find out what they think you can bring to their organization.
Reach out to Prospective Units
Once you have preferenced your assignments, start reaching out to the units. The number of units you reach out to is entirely up to you, but reach out and do it now. Find the Incumbent in the Assignment Information. Email them, introduce yourself, express your interest in the position and unit (not primarily the location). Include your ORB and AIM Résumé, Bio, and last three OERs (highly recommended). There is a high probability they will email you back the same day thanking you for your interest. Most units give you a way-ahead for an interview.
If you know the incumbent, email or call them directly. Ask for an honest assessment of the position, unit, post, and location. This is first-rate Human Intelligence (HUMINT) you cannot afford to ignore.
Within hours of this Marketplace opening, I was on the phone with a colleague about an assignment of interest. He told me the unit was top-tier and the Operational Tempo (OPTEMPO) was not too bad. But, he said that the weather was terrible and there was almost nothing to do in a three-hour radius. Later that day, another colleague reached out about an assignment I had ranked outside of my Top 10%. He said that the job was very rewarding and the most unique experience he has had in the Army. After his recommendation, and my own research, I moved that assignment to my #2 preference. If you know the incumbent, use them to your advantage. Learn as much as you can about the assignment. Hopefully, they can put in a good word for you as well.
Asking your Rater or Senior Rater to reach out on your behalf is also a highly successful tactic. While a good word from the incumbent can go far, a colonel-to-colonel discussion stressing, “you want this Officer on your team” will go even further in securing the job.
Follow-up with the Marketplace and your Potential Units
Continually follow-up with both the Marketplace and the units to which you have reached out. About halfway through the Marketplace period, they conduct a “Market Review.” During this time, the Army removes assignments from the Marketplace and they add new ones. This is important because your dream assignment in the Netherlands may have been deleted. Or an assignment in the United Kingdom may have been added. Additionally, follow-up with units with whom you’ve communicated. Let them know you are still interested in the assignment. This will reassure both you and the unit the assignment option is on the table, and if not, allows you time to preference and interview with other units.
Expectation Management and Water-falling
Lastly, like most things in the Army, when it comes to the Marketplace, you need to have some expectation management. If you are a top performer, go after those hard jobs (in “good” locations) with confidence. Your file and interview will likely put you ahead of your peers. If not, and 80 people show interest in that one position in Vicenza, then you should probably select another #1.
With expectation management comes with what my contact at HRC calls Water-falling. Hawaii is a fairly popular assignment and a lot of officers want to go there. If your top ten preferences are all Hawaii, others in the Marketplace likely preferenced each of your #2-10 assignments higher than you. Said another way, your #8, 9, and 10 preferences each have at least one other person who preferenced them #1. So if you don’t get one of those assignments, suddenly you are on your 11th choice. Now you are likely to run into the same problem until you get to less preferred options. This means you should probably spread out your preferred assignment locations. Sprinkle in a few backstops, or less preferred assignments, where you and your family will still be happy.
As an example, in my Marketplace, I have several duty stations in my Top 10% that seem out of place. While I want those assignments for either the unit, location or both, others might consider them less desirable. I am going to fully take advantage of that opinion. It will help me to get an assignment that makes my family and me happy, and with successful career options.
Good luck in your current or upcoming Marketplace and hope this guide aids in your success!
Maj. Robert A. Calkins is currently the Committee Chief for the Military Intelligence Captains Career Course in the 304th Military Intelligence Battalion at Fort Huachuca, AZ. He has previously served as a Battalion Executive Officer, Battalion Operations Officer, Company Commander, Battalion Intelligence Officer, and Platoon Leader. He holds a Master’s Degree in Policy Studies from the University of Washington and a Bachelor’s Degree in History from The University of Texas at Arlington.