An ICAP Equivalent assignment is defined as a two-year external rotational assignment to an intelligence organization performing work integral to the host organization. The definition is further defined as follows:

• Two years may be cumulative, and may be met by the accomplishment of two or more short term assignments performing work as described above, but that such assignments will be of sufficient duration to require some form of formal personnel action; i.e., multiple short term TDY missions will not be considered eligible.
• Assignments include assignments to ICAP organizations or non-participating organizations with intelligence or intelligence supporting missions.
• Assignments to intelligence or intelligence related positions in the Joint Commands which meet the existing ICAP rotational criteria will be included.
• Assignments may be to intelligence positions in organization(s) not generally considered intelligence organizations. This is to be understood as intelligence units or divisions in organizations not normally considered to be intelligence organizations, i.e., DPMO, unified commands, etc.
• An intelligence position is a position in which intelligence or intelligence-support work integral to the mission and function of the host organization is performed. If the position is in a non-intelligence organization, the work performed must have a substantially intelligence or intelligence- supporting orientation.
• An employee who has served as a permanent employee in more than one Intelligence Community organization may receive ICAP credit for those assignments which were external to the current parent organization.

The definition captures previous permanent assignments encompassing a minimum of four years in intelligence organizations, two of which are external to the parent organization; recorded experience must have been at grade 13 position or higher, or; uniformed military intelligence experience commensurate with duties at or above the GS 13 level. Credit will be given for ICAP equivalent assignments begun on or after October 1986.