Congressional Fellowship Program Civilian Participant Solicitation

1. IAW REF A, THE CIVILIAN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SECTION (MPC-30) IS SOLICITING CIVILIAN MARINE NOMINATIONS FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM IS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE AND THESE CANDIDATES WILL BE ADVOCATES FOR FUTURE RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARTICIPATING IN ANY ASPECT OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. THIS PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO HELP THE CORPS SUPPORT THE COMMANDANT'S TENET TO TRAIN OUR CIVILIAN MARINES AS OUTLINED IN WHITE LETTER NO. 01-03 AND THE CIVILIAN WORKFORCE CAMPAIGN PLAN (CWCP). THE CONGRESSIONAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IS A PART OF THE CENTRALLY MANAGED PROGRAMS PROVIDING DEVELOPMENTAL OPPORTUNITIES TARGETING GS-13 THROUGH GS-15 LEVEL POSITIONS AND EQUIVALENTS TO INCLUDE NON-APPROPRIATED FUNDED (NAF) EMPLOYEES. FOR PERSONNEL THAT HAVE BEEN CONVERTED TO NSPS, PLEASE REFER TO REF B. TO VIEW REF B, YOU MAY REFER TO THE CIVILIAN PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICE (CPMS) WEBSITE AT WWW.CPMS.OSD.MIL, CLICK ON NSPS, NSPS DOCUMENTS, THEN CONVERSION INTO NSPS.
2. COMMANDS ARE REQUESTED TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE SCREENING PROCESS AND FORWARD ONLY THOSE HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FOR CONSIDERATION. UNIFORMED MARINES REFER TO REF C.
3. THIS PROGRAM TARGETS PERSONNEL WHOSE CURRENT OR PROSPECTIVE POSITIONS MAY REQUIRE A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE CONGRESS. FELLOWS RECEIVE INSTRUCTION AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN A FULL-TIME ASSIGNMENT ON THE STAFF OF A MEMBER, COMMITTEE, OR SUPPORT ORGANIZATION OF THE CONGRESS IN WASHINGTON, DC. THE DEVELOPMENTAL ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE INTENSIVE BRIEFINGS ON THE OPERATIONS AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CONGRESS AND FREQUENT SEMINARS ON CAPITOL HILL. SPECIFIC PROGRAM ELEMENTS ARE OUTLINED AT THE WEB SITE, "WWW.GEORGETOWN.EDU/SSCE/GAI."
4. NOMINEE QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE A MINIMUM GRADE LEVEL OF GS/GM-13 OR EQUIVALENT, A BACHELOR'S DEGREE, AT LEAST TWO YEARS OF FEDERAL SERVICE IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, CAPABILITY OF WORKING ON COMPLEX ISSUES WITH SHORT DEADLINES, ABILITY TO WORK IN AN UNSTRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT, DEMONSTRATED FLEXIBILITY IN WORK HABITS, AND THE ABILITY TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY WITH MINIMAL SUPERVISION. THE PROGRAM IS 10 TO 12 MONTHS IN LENGTH.
5. A PANEL COMPRISED OF SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE MEMBERS WILL REVIEW APPLICATIONS AND MAKE THE FINAL SELECTION. MANPOWER AND RESERVES AFFAIRS, HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS, WILL FUND TUITION, TRAVEL AND PER DIEM FOR THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE. PER DIEM WILL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS GOVERNING LONG-TERM TRAINING (55% PER DIEM RATE).
6. REF D REQUIRES PRIOR PERMISSION FOR ALL DETAILS TO CONGRESS, INCLUDING FELLOWSHIPS AND TRAINING ASSIGNMENTS. THE OFFICE OF CIVILIAN HUMAN RESOURCES, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, WILL OBTAIN APPROVAL FROM THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR THE MARINE CORPS NOMINEE ACCEPTED TO THIS PROGRAM.
7. WE HAVE PROVIDED VIA SEPARATE CORRESPONDENCE SAMPLE PACKAGES TO THE LOCAL CLD ADMINISTRATORS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU MAY REFER TO THE CIVILIAN MARINE WEBSITE AT WWW.MANPOWER.USMC.MIL. CLICK ON CIVILIAN MARINES, CIVILIAN WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT, LEADERSHIP, AND THEN CENTRALLY MANAGED PROGRAMS.
8. APPLICATION PACKAGES MUST INCLUDE:
A. A DETAILED RESUME OR CURRENT APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT.
B. AN ASSESSMENT OF THE NOMINEE'S EXECUTIVE POTENTIAL AND NEED FOR THIS TRAINING BY THE SUPERVISOR.
C. A STATEMENT BY THE NOMINEE PRESENTING A NEED FOR THE TRAINING, THE RELEVANCE OF THE TRAINING TO CAREER GOALS, AND HOW THE TRAINING WILL BE UTILIZED IN THE AGENCY.
D. A COMPLETED REQUEST, AUTHORIZATION, AGREEMENT, CERTIFICATION OF TRAINING AND REIMBURSEMENT, DD FORM 1556. BLOCKS 27, 34, AND 37 OF THE DD FORM 1556 SHOULD BE LEFT BLANK.
E. A SIGNED COPY OF THE "AGREEMENT TO CONTINUE IN SERVICE", DD FORM 1556, SECTION E, COPY 1 (BACK), AUG 2002.
F. A WRITING SAMPLE - A MEMO OR PAPER WRITTEN BY THE APPLICANT ON ANY SUBJECT DEMONSTRATING THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WELL IN WRITING.
9. REF D REQUIRES THE NOMINEE'S COMMAND TO IDENTIFY AN IMMEDIATE FOLLOW-ON UTILIZATION TOUR OR ASSIGNMENT FOR APPROVAL BY THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (FORCE MANAGEMENT POLICY). THE ASSIGNMENT SHOULD SPECIFICALLY CAPITALIZE ON THE EXPERIENCE THE NOMINEE WILL GAIN FROM THE LEGISLATIVE FELLOWSHIP. THE DOCUMENTATION SHOULD BE INCLUDED WITH THE APPLICATION PACKAGE.
10. NOMINATION PACKAGES MUST BE RECEIVED BY HEADQUARTERS, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, MANPOWER PLANS & POLICY DIVISION, MPC-30, 3280 RUSSELL ROAD, QUANTICO, VA 22134-5103, NO LATER THAN CLOSE OF BUSINESS, 4:30 P.M. EST, 6 APRIL 2007 (NO EXTENSIONS WILL BE GRANTED). INCOMPLETE NOMINATION PACKAGES WILL NOT BE FORWARDED TO THE SELECTION PANEL.
11. POINT OF CONTACT IS MS. DOLLIE MCCORMICK AT DSN 378-9428 OR COMMERCIAL (703) 432-9428.