- Active Component Soldiers
- At least two years time in service, but no more than 16 years by the start date of the program (non-waiverable).
- Must meet Army height and weight and physical fitness standards. Army standard body composition assessment and Army Combat Fitness (ACFT) test will be administered during in-processing and semi-annually after IAW Army standards.
- Not be pending any adverse actions or under investigation.
- Must meet all requirements for reenlistment and/or continued service.
- Currently have an adjudicated SECRET security clearance.
- Be able to work on site at the Army Software Factory on 10 July 2025 for Cohort 10, and on 10 January 2026 for Cohort 11.
- (NCO and Enlisted only) Possess a GT Score of 110 or higher (non-waiverable)
No. This program is available to Active Duty Soldiers only at this time.
Yes. Please provide all of the evaluations you can. If you do not have two formal evaluations, please include the reason you do not have two evaluations (e.g., recently promoted to E-5).
No. We are not currently accepting any ETPs for rank/grade.
You can start the application process by submitting an application.
No. You must reapply for each cohort.
The application process starts with a typical application form. After submission of the application, you’ll have to email the required documents to the designated email address (cohort-applications@swf.army.mil). A link will be sent to your references, which they will be required to complete before your application can proceed. If your packet is qualified, it is rated by a panel which includes ratings for each of the tracks. If your packet passes this stage, you’ll be contacted to schedule an interview. Interviews are between an hour and an hour and a half and cover all four tracks, unless otherwise requested. Interviewed personnel are placed on an OML, and that OML goes through an HR review and is passed along to HRC for review. After receiving feedback from HRC, candidates are notified and will have regular touch points with the staff before arrival. This process usually takes between 1-1.5 months.
Yes. You can submit your application at any time leading up to each cohort deadline. We will screen applications as they come in, but subsequent phases such as interviews will be conducted in accordance with the established application processing timeline. Late submissions will only be evaluated for the next cohort.
4 letters of recommendation are required. One each from your Battalion Commander, Supervisor, peer, and former subordinate.
Yes, but only LORs that are under 1 year old. Please reapply and send us an email atcohort-applications@swf.army.mil
There is no limit on the number of times you or your application will be evaluated and considered.
Additional training, education, and relevant experience, especially in industry or military settings, may make your packet more competitive overall. A technical mindset, problem solving skills, and the ability to be a team player are important for a competitive interview.
Candidate preference is considered, but tracks will be assigned based on the needs of the organization. Interviewees are assessed on their abilities in each of our tracks during their interview. If a candidate’s aptitude is high in a non-preferred track, they will be contacted before being placed on the Order of Merit List (OML) to see if they want the opportunity, or if they want to reapply.
The interview is run much like a standard technical interview. Interviews will start with some general questions about your professional background and experience and end with a technical component for each track. Successful candidates typically research the roles ahead of time and have a general understanding of the work involved. Watching the videos for each role on the Army Futures Command website will also help candidates on the interview.
After the interview, an Order of Merit List (OML) is produced for each track. That OML is provided to HRC. When HRC provides feedback on candidate eligibility, they’re notified of selection.
Orders are typically cut around 120 days before the report date. If you have not received orders 120 days prior to your report date (not your PCS leave date), please contact us.
We typically recruit about 8-9 months in advance of the anticipated report date. Notification of acceptance will depend on several factors, including timely feedback from HRC.
After selection, you’ll be invited to attend several Q&A sessions with the Army Software Factory staff. This will be the forum for the staff to provide any updates and for cohort members to communicate any issues that may hinder your successful arrival in Austin. About 120 days before your report date, you will receive orders or an RFO and you’ll be assigned a sponsor. This follows the typical PCS schedule you would expect from installation to installation. However, one distinction will be that we cannot support early reporting nor PTDY after arrival.
PCS leave and PTDY must be approved from your losing unit commander prior to your arrival. Early reporting is not authorized. You should receive orders within 120 days of your report date, leaving plenty of time for you to plan your move and plan PCS leave accordingly.
Based on the feedback from previous cohort members, traffic in Austin is increasing and longer commutes negatively impact your quality of life. We recommend finding an area that results in the shortest commute based on your individual situation. Each Soldier must consider BAH allowances, family size, school districts for Soldiers with school-age children, and desired amenities to determine the best area to live while assigned to the Army Software Factory. We recommend reaching out to your sponsor or a licensed realtor to get advice on your personal situation.
Typical duty hours at the Army Software Factory are 0845-1730 Monday through Friday. As with most military units though, this depends on our number of active missions and your team’s involvement in those missions.
During the first year, while you are in the technical accelerator and pre-ASI 1:1 pairing period, your leave opportunities will be limited to the organization’s block leave schedule. Typically, cohorts will also be afforded to take leave at the conclusion of their technical accelerator prior to their 1:1 SME Training phase.
Personnel in the “Tech Accelerator” are mostly in a classroom environment. All tracks are expected to be on-site. Once you successfully complete the tech accelerator, you transition onto an application team and work on the main development floor. The work environment is very open and collaborative with regular opportunities to share best practices and continually learn from each other.
This assignment is unique from typical Army units. Mission requirements vary by team and role, but Soldiers can expect to periodically go TDY both CONUS and OCONUS to conduct research, stakeholder engagements, and usability testing as well as support Combined Training Center rotations, Warfighter Exercises, and Joint Multinational Readiness Exercises.
The Army Software Factory is an O-6 Directorate that falls under Army Futures Command. You can find more information about Army Futures Command at https://www.army.mil/futures.
Each cohort can accommodate approximately 25-30 Soldiers. All applicants are evaluated for each cohort independently to screen for eligibility and qualification so that the best candidates are selected.
Enlisted Soldiers attending the Fiscal Year 2025 or later programs of the ASWF or the AI Technician Program will incur a 36-month service-remaining requirement upon receipt of the ASI in accordance with MILPER Message 24-381, Update to Service Remaining Requirements (SRR) for Army Futures Command Emerging Technology Training Opportunities, Issued: 22 August 2023. Enlisted Soldiers must reenlist prior to PCS to meet the SRR. Indefinite Soldiers must sign acknowledgment that they will not be afforded voluntary retirement until their SRR obligation is complete. Officers incur a three-for-one (3:1) active-duty service obligation (ADSO) computed in days, for each day in this program until receipt of their ASI or release from the program (whichever comes first), in accordance with AR 350-100, Officer Active-Duty Service Obligations, 26 September 2017. Both Enlisted and Officer Personnel must obtain their technical ASI within 12 months from program start date or they will be released to the needs of the Army. Soldiers selected for this unique program may also conduct a further assignment in software development based on emerging needs of the Army or the Joint Force, which may require a PCS to implement software solutions to solve Army/Joint Force challenges at echelon.
No! Technical experience is not required to apply. While a background in software development or other technical skills can be helpful to make your application stand out, the Army Software Factory is open to individuals from all military occupational specialties and backgrounds. The program provides training for those without prior experience in software development. All applicants need is a strong desire to learn and a commitment to solving complex problems through technology.
Our target audience is SGT through SFC, CW2 and CW3, and 1LT through MAJ.
Yes. You will not be able to attend PME during the two-year program.
The Army Software Factory is located in Downtown Austin. Since we are not located on a regular military installation, base services that you would normally find on many installations are not readily available. This makes managing you and your family’s medical, legal, finance, and childcare needs much more challenging than a typical assignment. You will frequently require the use of non-standard services and support programs. We sometimes draw support from other nearby installations, such as Fort Cavazos and Joint Base San Antonio (approximately 70 miles from the Army Software Factory).
We recommend first looking at your Branch-specific Development Model found in DA PAM 600-3 and consulting your branch manager to assist you in making that determination. Ultimately, it’s really up to you as a Soldier to decide when to apply, given your career trajectory and timelines. Soldiers should ensure that PME requirements are considered and that you are not a promotion risk prior to attending in order to prevent any potential career progression issues.
