FY 2007 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Aspiring Leader Participant Solicitation

1. IAW REF A, THE CIVILIAN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SECTION IS SOLICITING CIVILIAN MARINE NOMINATIONS FOR THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) ASPIRING LEADER PROGRAM CLASS (SESSION ONE ONLY), BEGINNING APRIL 16, 2007 TO BE HELD IN WASHINGTON, DC. THE ASPIRING LEADER PROGRAM IS A PART OF THE CENTRALLY MANAGED PROGRAMS PROVIDING DEVELOPMENTAL OPPORTUNITIES TARGETING GS-5 THROUGH GS-7 LEVEL POSITIONS AND EQUIVALENT 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 CPMS WEBSITE AT WWW.CPMS.OSD.MIL, CLICK ON NSPS, NSPS DOCUMENTS, THEN CONVERSION INTO NSPS. THE ASPIRING LEADER PROGRAM IS A CAREER ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM FOR THOSE WHO NEED TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENTAL EXPERIENCES TO PREPARE THEM FOR POSITIONS AS TEAM LEADERS, SUPERVISORS, AND MANAGERS IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 
2. A LIMIT OF TWO CANDIDATES PER COMMAND MAY BE NOMINATED AND SUBMITTED TO (MPC-30). HQMC WILL CENTRALLY FUND THE TUITION, TRAVEL AND PER DIEM COSTS. A LIMITED NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WILL BE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM. FINAL SELECTIONS WILL BE MADE AT THIS HEADQUARTERS. APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DOCUMENT THEIR PARTICIPATION IN MENTORING AND OTHER LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN THEIR NOMINATION PACKAGE.
3. WE HAVE PROVIDED VIA SEPARATE CORRESPONDENCE SAMPLE PACKAGES TO THE LOCAL CLD ADMINISTRATORS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU MAY ALSO REFER TO THE CIVILIAN MARINE WEBSITE AT HTTPS:WWW.MANPOWER.USMC.MIL. CLICK ON CIVILIAN MARINES, CIVILIAN WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT, LEADERSHIP, AND THEN CENTRALLY MANAGED PROGRAMS. 
4. THE NOMINATION PACKAGE MUST INCLUDE: 
A. A STATEMENT WRITTEN BY THE FIRST-LINE SUPERVISOR OR APPROPRIATE AGENCY OFFICIAL ASSESSING THE NOMINEE'S POTENTIAL.
B. A COMPLETED, SIGNED DD FORM 1556, REQUEST, AUTHORIZATION, AGREEMENT, CERTIFICATION OF TRAINING AND REIMBURSEMENT. IT MUST INCLUDE A SIGNED COPY OF THE "AGREEMENT TO CONTINUE IN SERVICE" SECTION E. ACCOUNTING DATA AND THE BILLING ADDRESS, BLOCKS 27, 29, 34, AND 37 WILL BE COMPLETED BY THIS OFFICE.
C. A CURRENT OF-612, SF-171 OR RESUME, SIGNED AND DATED. PLEASE INCLUDE NOMINEE'S HOME ADDRESS. ALL PROGRAM INFORMATION WILL BE MAILED DIRECTLY TO THE NOMINEE.
D. THE NAME, TITLE, AGENCY MAILING ADDRESS AND WORK TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR THE FIRST-LINE SUPERVISOR, AGENCY NOMINATING OFFICIAL AND AGENCY PROGRAM COORDINATOR (DOLLIE MCCORMICK). 
E. ASPIRING LEADER PROGRAM APPLICATION.
F. A COMMAND LETTER OF ENDORSEMENT NOTING THE SELECTION BASED ON A COMPETITIVE PROCESS AND WILLINGNESS TO ABIDE WITH THE GUIDELINES FOR CENTRALLY MANAGED PROGRAMS.
5. 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, THURSDAY 22 MARCH 2007 (NO EXTENSIONS WILL BE GRANTED).