The National Professional Development Institute (PDI) is a premier training event for resource managers in the Department of Defense and US Coast Guard. Each year, more than 3300 attendees converge for a four day event, which includes a full day of service activities, seven general sessions, more than seventy workshops, and many special events.

The Professional Development Institute
The PDI program objective is to enhance skills and abilities that personnel in the financial and resource management community must possess to meet the challenges of working in the 21st century. The PDI focus is on education and training, with more than 20 hours of educational sessions and speakers, and the ability to earn up to 26 CPE. These sessions will provide updates to emerging issues and help you transform today for tomorrow’s success. Explore trends, develop tactics to tackle your organization’s challenges, learn how to master the impossible, and create new ways to think about the future.

PDI Workshop Planning
Planning the program for PDI begins in July each year with a critique of the recently conducted PDI. The program is finalized by January so that registration may begin. Workshop suggestions for PDI 2009 are no longer being accepted.

DOD event approval
The Department does not provide blanket approval or endorsement for attendance by DoD employees at training events. Individual DoD component commands or organizations are responsible for approving attendance of its DoD employees based on mission requirements and consistency with law, regulation and policy.

Future PDIs
The PDI is held the week of Memorial day each year.

 

    2010 – Nashville, Tennessee 2011 – Minneapolis, Minnesota 2012 – Anaheim, California 2013 – Denver, Colorado 2014 – Seattle, Washington 2015 – TBD 2016 – Orlando, Florida 2017 – San Diego, California

Proper Attire
As ambassadors of military services and government organizations, military and civilian personnel and their spouses should plan appropriate dress for the PDI.

 

Event Participants Daytime Event Attire Friday Banquet Attire
Air Force
Army
Coast Guard
Navy
Marine Corps
Civilian/guests
Blue Short Sleeve
Green Short Sleeve
Tropical Blue
Summer White
Service Dress Charlie
Business Attire
Mess Dress
Mess Dress
Dinner Dress White
Dinner Dress, White Jacket
Evening Dress
Black Tie Optional

Tuesday evening icebreaker attire is casual and the Wednesday Welcome Dinner dress is casual.

Funding of Active Duty and Civilian Personnel to Attend
As you make plans to attend PDI, keep in mind that many of us who are active duty or civilian personnel have two complimentary but distinct roles. First, we have an official role as a DoD financial manager, auditor, logistician, or otherwise. Second, in our private capacities, many of us are active participants or hold leadership positions in ASMC. Keeping these roles straight will help you from inadvertently making mistakes in using either appropriated or chapter funds to attend the PDI.

Appropriated Funds
First, keep in mind that the Joint Ethics Regulation (DoD 5500.7-R, sections 2-100 and 3-300) requires persons who are active members in a private organization not act on requests for training or official travel for themselves or subordinates to participate in that private organization’s events. In other words, approval to attend PDI using appropriated funds must come from someone who is not an active participant in ASMC. The purpose of this restriction is to ensure complete impartiality and public confidence in the allocation of travel and training resources.

Chapter Funds
Many ASMC chapters also provide full or partial “scholarships” to help their members attend the PDI. Law and regulation permit this practice, but it is important to follow established regulations and procedures. Under 41 CFR Part 300-2, a non-federal organization, such as an ASMC chapter, may pay for an active duty military member or civil servant to attend a training event, like the PDI, and the DoD Standards of Conduct Office has concluded that this authority may be used for the PDI.

First, the chapter should offer in writing what it is willing to fund with regard to the PDI. This could be registration, transportation, per diem, or some combination thereof. The traveler’s DoD organization must approve the offer, with the concurrence of a local ethics official, and the traveler must be in a TDY status when he or she goes to the PDI. Finally, individual travelers may not accept any cash reimbursement under this authority. Chapters should either pay for registration, travel, or lodging directly or issue a check to the traveler’s DoD organization to reimburse it for it TDY expenses.

Personal Funds
You may also pay your own way to PDI in either a leave or no-cost TDY status. Remember, however, even if your TDY is unfunded, you are expected to attend the full schedule of sessions for each day of the PDI.

Our individual reputations and the credibility of ASMC depend upon our honoring these standards and procedures. If you have any questions, please direct them to the National Headquarters, and we’ll get them answered.

Information prepared by Don Fox, ASMC's Former General Counsel, on funding for individuals attending the PDI.