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Check out the Latest Training Opportunities for the DoD Acquisition Workforce
By Cynthia Greenwood
Training opportunities for the DoD acquisition community continue to expand. DoD employees specializing in corrosion are encouraged to take advantage of training that provides valuable certification credentials.
An introductory course in the basics of corrosion, called Corrosion 101, is now available to those working in the government and commercial sectors through the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) Web site. "Anybody can browse this introductory course without registering by clicking on www.dau.mil," said Cliff Johnson, Director of Public Affairs at NACE International. For further information about the course, refer to the listing below under Additional Opportunities.
DoD is also partnering with DAU and Bruno White Entertainment to produce an interactive video game that will train DoD personnel about assessing, preventing, and correcting corrosion problems on weapon systems and military infrastructure. The game will have two phases. In the first phase, the participant will be personally involved in a military conflict, and as the conflict winds down, he or she will be presented with a corrosion-prevention situation to assess. The second phase will address this situation using a popular Sim City, time-based game format. "For example, you could be presented with a scenario followed by specific consequences, designed to teach you a job-related lesson. "If you put cathodic protection (CP) on a bridge up front, X, Y, and Z will occur," said Daniel Dunmire, leader of the DoD Corrosion Policy and Oversight initiative. "If you don’t, certain adverse consequences may result. The video game Geroge will be distributed in the summer of 2008."
Recently, DoD has increased its financial support for training and certification provided by technical associations. To support a trained workforce, the DoD Office of Corrosion Policy & Oversight has also underwritten the development of courses designed to train cathodic protection (CP) technicians specializing in the marine industry and infrastructure managers wanting to learn more about the corrosion of federal water and wastewater facilities.
For each training course listed below, funding for tuition and registration is available through April 15, 2008, for all DoD employees. Each course is listed according to the subject area of expertise. To learn more about course schedules, course content, and individual training providers, please click on a course title and you will be linked to the appropriate Web site and course description.
Basic Corrosion
Basic Corrosion
This course focuses on corrosion and the potential problems caused by corrosion. It provides a basic but thorough review of the causes of corrosion and the methods by which it can be identified, monitored, and controlled. Active participation is encouraged through hands-on experiments and case studies, as well as an open discussion format.
Cathodic Protection
CP-1 Cathodic Protection Tester Course
This is an intensive six-day course that presents CP technology to prepare students for the NACE Cathodic Protection Tester Certification Examination. Course topics include basic electricity, electrochemistry and corrosion concepts, CP theory, CP systems, and CP field measurement techniques. This course provides theoretical knowledge and practical fundamentals for testing on both galvanic and impressed current CP systems. It also involves lectures and intensive hands-on training with equipment and instruments used in CP testing. Hands-on training at outdoor facilities (weather permitting) is also provided. The course concludes with both a two-hour written and a two-hour practical (hands-on) examination.
CP-2 Cathodic Protection Technician
This is an intensive six-day course that presents CP technology to prepare students for the NACE Cathodic Protection Technician Certification Examination. Course topics include intermediate-level discussions of corrosion theory and CP concepts, types of CP systems, AC and DC stray current interference, and advanced field measurement techniques. This course provides both theoretical knowledge and practical techniques for testing and evaluating data to determine the effectiveness of both galvanic and impressed current CP systems and to gather design data. The course involves lectures and hands-on training with equipment and instruments used in CP testing. Hands-on training at outdoor facilities is also included, weather permitting.
CP-2 Cathodic Protection Technician-Marine
Developed for NAVSEA, this six-day course provides theoretical knowledge and practical techniques for testing and evaluating data to determine the effectiveness of both galvanic and impressed current CP systems, as it applies to the marine industry. This is an intermediate CP course.
CP-3 Cathodic Protection Technologist
This is an intensive six-day course that presents CP technology to prepare students for the NACE Cathodic Protection Technologist Certification Examination. The CP 3—Cathodic Protection Technologist Course builds on the technology presented in the CP 2—Cathodic Protection Technician Course covering both theoretical concepts and practical application of CP with a strong focus on interpretation of CP data, CP troubleshooting, and mitigation of problems that might arise in both galvanic and impressed current systems. The course is presented in a format of lecture, discussion and hands-on, in-class experiments, and group exercises. There is a written examination at the conclusion of the course.
CP-4 Cathodic Protection Specialist
This is an intensive six-day course that focuses on the principles and procedures for CP design on a variety of structures for both galvanic and impressed current systems. The course discusses the theoretical concepts behind the design and considerations that influence the design (environment, structure type/materials of construction, coatings), design factors, and calculations (including attenuation). The course involves lecture and in-class discussion and practice with design examples on various structures (i.e., pipelines, tanks and well casings, offshore applications, and steel reinforcing in concrete structures). The course concludes with the written NACE CP Specialist examination.
NAVSEA Cathodic Protection Design Specialist (NCPDS) Course
This course is a five-day, NAVSEA-designed and owned program that certifies an individualís capability to understand and apply CP design principles to Navy ships and submarines in accordance with the technical requirements of the ABS-Naval Vessel Rules and the Navy Technical Manual, Publication T9633-AT-DSP-010, "Ship’s Cathodic Protection, Design Calculations, Design Requirements Manual." While the course is intended to certify individuals to the NAVSEA NCPDS level, the class also provides a firm foundation in CP engineering for attendees who may not be seeking full certification at this time.
*Note: Funding for this course is not provided by the DoD Corrosion Office. For more information about tuition reimbursement, please contact Andrew Seelinger at
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Coatings and Coatings Inspection
C-1 Fundamentals of Protective Coatings for Industrial Structures
This course provides a practical and comprehensive overview for those who are new to the protective coatings industry. It is also an ideal refresher for reviewing the fundamentals of corrosion and the use of coatings as a protective mechanism against corrosion and deterioration of industrial structures.
C-1 eCourse Fundamentals of Protective Coatings for Industrial Structures
This online course provides a practical and comprehensive overview for individuals who are new to the protective coatings industry as well as those needing a review of the fundamentals of corrosion and the use of coatings as a protective mechanism.
C-2 Specifying and Managing Protective Coatings Projects
This course is designed to sharpen your skills in managing the specific requirements of protective coatings projects.
C-2 eCourse Specifying and Managing Protective Coatings Projects
This online management course is designed to sharpen your understanding of overall industry practices, beyond your area of specialization, and put your experience in unison with the most current theories and practices that govern coatings project management.
C-7 Abrasive Blasting Program
C-7 is designed to certify operators of dry abrasive or portable centrifugal blast cleaning equipment. It covers principles of surface preparation, surface cleanliness, surface profile, dust and debris control, and abrasives. The program’s primary focus is the certification of the blasters who demonstrate proper blasting techniques during the hands-on session.
C-11 CCI Concrete Coating Inspector Program
Students who take this course will be able to determine incompleteness and/or technical errors in a specification and bring these issues to the attention of the specification writer or a supervisor. The course also reviews how to use concrete coating inspection equipment according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. The certification portion of this program will certify concrete coating inspectors in the process of correctly observing, assessing, documenting, and reporting all relevant job data as determined by the specification and referenced documents. Students completing the technician-level training (first four days only) would be qualified to work under the guidance of a certified concrete coating inspector.
CIP Level 1
This course is an intensive presentation of the basic technology of coating application and inspection over a full 60 hours of personal instruction and practice. This course provides both the technical and practical fundamentals for coating inspection work on structural steel projects.
CIP Level 2
This course focuses on advanced inspection techniques and specialized application for both steel and non-steel substrates. The course includes in-depth coverage of surface preparation, coating types, inspection criteria, and failure modes for various coatings, including specialized coatings and linings.
CIP Level 3 Peer Review
This course is a detailed oral examination in front of a three-member review board that lasts approximately two hours and is graded on a pass/fail basis. The Peer Review includes a series of questions to test the candidate’s practical and theoretical knowledge of coatings and coating inspection. Candidates are questioned from a random draw of topics ranging from standards, procedures, ethics, coatings use, inspection instruments, role-playing, and specific case questions. Successful completion of the CIP Peer Review is required to achieve recognition as a NACE Certified Coating Inspector Level 3 individual.
MPCAC—Marine Plural Component Program
This course is designed to certify craft workers operating plural component spray equipment. It also certifies those applying protective coatings on steel in immersion service by airless spray using plural-component spray equipment.
NBPI—NAVSEA Basic Paint Inspector Course
The NBPI course is similar to NACE Level I or SSPC C-1 but it was developed by the Navy. This four-day quality assessment course was developed by NAVSEA to train coatings inspectors to inspect critical coated areas as defined by Navy policy documents. These areas include but are not limited to cofferdams, decks for aviation and underway replenishment, chain lockers, underwater hulls, bilges, tanks, voids, well deck overheads, and others. The content of the course is similar in nature to the NACE CIP Level I, but with a particular focus on ship-painting issues. What makes this course valuable is that it also provides both the technical and practical fundamentals for coating inspection work for any steel structure projects other than ships.
Shipboard Corrosion Assessment Training (S-CAT)
In this five-day course developed for naval personnel, students learn how to survey and evaluate protective coating systems as part of a maintenance program for marine vessels. This course is intended to provide a foundation in coatings, corrosion, and corrosion control knowledge for assessing the condition of tanks and other structures, and determine the required actions necessary to effectively maintain fully operational status. The course will equip the assessor with practical guidelines for surveying and evaluating the condition of the protective coating system on specific areas of a marine vessel. The desired end result is that assessors use a consistent, orderly, and repeatable process of evaluation that has the confidence of all those involved in the maintenance cycle.
Additional Opportunities
Corrosion 101—Defense Acquisition University (CLM 038)
This online Basic Corrosion course, designed for the Department of Defense, is now available online through the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) Web site. Designated as CLM 038 by the DAU, it covers basic corrosion theory, federal law pertaining to corrosion mitigation, the structure of the acquisitions community, corrosion prevention design, and several topical live action scenarios.
DoD personnel can enroll for the course online and access it at www.dau.mil. The course is also available for non-DoD personnel to take online without credit. Those who take the course for credit will receive 12 continuing education units (CEUs) upon successful completion.
Water & Wastewater Facilities
This course is designed for the infrastructure manager who requires an understanding of the world of corrosion control in federal water facilities. Course topics include current facilities equipment and best practices used in both the military community and industry for corrosion prevention and control. This course is geared for individuals working in the management or maintenance of industrial water facilities, including steam production, power generation, cooling water systems, and firewater/deluge systems.
For more information about the organizations that provide training for DoD employees, please consult the following Web sites:
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