CDFM Module 1 study plan

Map the full PPBE cycle phase by phase (planning, programming, budgeting, execution) and write a one-page sequence diagram from memory

Define the roles of OSD, the military departments, and the combatant commands in resource allocation and state where each enters the cycle

Distinguish authorizations from appropriations and identify which committees and documents drive each

Build a glossary of at least 25 PPBE and resource-management acronyms with one-line definitions

Explain how the Future Years Defense Program links budget years and how changes ripple across the window

Trace a notional requirement from planning guidance through a program objective memorandum submission

Compare budget exhibit structure and identify what each exhibit type is meant to justify

Work through at least 15 practice items on PPBE sequencing and score them, logging every miss by cause

Apply the major cost-estimating techniques (analogy, parametric, engineering build-up, actuals) to the same notional system and compare results

Compute inflation-adjusted and then-year versus constant-year figures for a multi-year outlay profile

Identify the appropriation categories and colors of money, and match sample obligations to the correct appropriation

Explain the purpose and structure of a cost estimate's basis-of-estimate and its uncertainty treatment

Differentiate proprietary, budgetary, and managerial accounting and state who consumes each

Explain the federal accounting standards hierarchy and how appropriations law constrains obligation and expenditure decisions

Classify at least 20 sample transactions by appropriation, object class, and accounting event type

Describe the key financial statements and what each reveals about an entity's position

Outline the major acquisition pathway and the decision points, milestones, and documentation at each

Map the acquisition workforce's key roles and the tradeoffs among cost, schedule, and performance

Explain how cost analysis feeds acquisition decisions and where independent cost estimates enter the process

Complete a 20-item mixed practice set spanning acquisition and cost analysis, then rework every missed item

Explain how manpower requirements are determined, validated, and funded, and how civilian and military manpower differ in treatment

Describe the major decision-support and process-improvement frameworks and when each is appropriate

Identify the metrics and performance-measurement tools used to evaluate program and process performance

Draft three short scenarios applying a process-improvement method to a resource-management problem

Re-derive the PPBE cycle, cost-estimating techniques, and accounting classifications from blank pages without notes

Complete a full-length timed practice exam and record per-domain scores

Rank your weakest domains by missed-item count and build a targeted repair list

Rewrite your weakest three concept summaries from memory and compare against source notes

Close every item on the repair list and re-test each weak concept until correct twice in a row

Take a second full-length timed practice exam and compare per-domain scores against week 7

Recite the core frameworks for all seven domains in a 30-minute self-briefing

Assemble a one-page final review sheet of high-risk facts and formulas