2006 Senate Youth Program Escort Officer Announcement and Application Procedures

1. THIS MESSAGE SOLICITS APPLICATIONS FROM VOLUNTEER COMPANY GRADE OFFICERS AND MAJORS FOR THE PRESTIGIOUS 2006 SENATE YOUTH PROGRAM, SCHEDULED FROM FEBRUARY 27 TO MARCH 11, 2006.
2. THE UNITED STATES SENATE YOUTH PROGRAM IS AN ANNUAL PROGRAM,
MANAGAGED AND FUNDED BY THE WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST FOUNDATION. THE
PROGRAM PROVIDES 104 OUTSTANDING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM ACROSS
THE NATION AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FIRSTHAND ABOUT THE FUNCTIONS OF
GOVERNMENT DURING A WEEK LONG PROGRAM IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL. LAST
YEAR'S PROGRAM INCLUDED VISITS AND TOURS AT THE WHITE HOUSE,
PENTAGON AND CAPITOL HILL IN ADDITION TO NUMEROUS MEMORIALS AND
EXHIBITS. STUDENTS AND ESCORT OFFICERS ATTENDED MEETINGS AND
SEMINARS WITH LEADERS SUCH AS PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, SECRETARY OF
EDUCATION ROD PAIGE, SUPREME COURT JUSTICE STEVEN BREYER, CHAIRMAN
OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF GENERAL RICHARD MYERS, AND NUMEROUS
UNITED STATES SENATORS. THE 2006 PROGRAM WILL BE SIMILAR IN SCOPE
AND FOCUS.
3. ARMED FORCES SUPPORT FOR THE SENATE YOUTH PROGRAM INCLUDES A
TOTAL OF 17 ESCORT OFFICERS. A TOTAL OF THREE (3) OFFICERS WILL BE
SELECTED FROM EACH MILITARY SERVICE AND THE COAST GUARD (ONE 0-4 AND
TWO COMPANY GRADE OFFICERS). TWO (2) ADDITIONAL OFFICERS (O-4) WILL
BE SELECTED TO SERVE AS THE SENIOR ESCORT OFFICER AND ASSISTANT
SENIOR ESCORT OFFICER. ESCORT OFFICERS WILL SERVE AS COUNSELORS,
FACILITATORS AND AMBASSADORS OF THE MILITARY SERVICES AND THE COAST
GUARD. THESE OFFICERS ARE ROLE MODELS FOR THIS IMPRESSIONABLE GROUP,
WHO TEND TO HAVE LITTLE OR NO EXPERIENCE WITH MILITARY PERSONNEL OR
NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES.
4. THE MARINE CORPS WILL NOMINATE A TOTAL OF FIVE (5) COMPANY GRADE
OFFICERS AND THREE (3) MAJORS TO OASD/PA FOR FINAL SELECTION TO
ACCOMMODATE THIS PROGRAM. INCLUSIVE TO THESE NOMINATIONS WILL BE A
TOTAL OF THREE (3) FEMALE OFFICERS TO SERVE AS ESCORTS FOR THE
FEMALE SENATE YOUTH GUESTS. APPLICANTS MUST MEET MARINE CORPS HEIGHT
AND WEIGHT STANDARDS AND MUST SECURE COMMAND ENDORSEMENT FOR
PARTICIPATION. OFFICERS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS ESCORT
OFFICERS FOR THE SENATE YOUTH PROGRAM ARE ELIGIBLE AND ENCOURAGED TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE 2006 PROGRAM. THIS MESSAGE IS APPLICABLE TO THE
MARINE CORPS RESERVE.
5. IF SELECTED AS AN ESCORT OFFICER, MILITARY DUTIES MUST NOT
CONFLICT WITH CONTINUOUS ASSIGNMENT AND RESPONSIBILITIES ASSOCIATED
WITH THE UNITED STATES SENATE YOUTH PROGRAM. ESCORT OFFICERS WILL BE
REQUIRED TO ATTEND A TWO-DAY ORIENTATION AND TRAINING COURSE AT THE
MAYFLOWER HOTEL IN WASHINGTON, DC FROM MARCH 2 TO MARCH 3 PRIOR TO
COMMENCEMENT OF THE ACTUAL PROGRAM FROM MARCH 3-11, 2006. OFFICERS
SELECTED AS THE SENIOR ESCORT OFFICER OR ASSISTANT SENIOR ESCORT
OFFICER ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND AN ADDITIONAL ORIENTATION COURSE FROM
FEBRUARY 27 TO MARCH 1 PRIOR TO JOINING OTHER OFFICERS FOR TRAINING
ON MARCH 2-3.
6. ESCORT OFFICERS MUST POSSESS PERMISSIVE TAD ORDERS (AT NO COST TO
THE GOVERNMENT) OR BE IN A LEAVE STATUS DURING THE PERIOD ASSIGNED.
COSTS FOR AIRFARE OR OTHER TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS TO/FROM WASHINGTON IS
AT THE PARTICIPANTS' OWN EXPENSE. THE WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST
FOUNDATION WILL PAY FOR ESCORT OFFICERS' LODGING, MEALS AND
INCIDENTAL COSTS SUCH AS LAUNDRY AND DRY CLEANING BETWEEN THE DATES
OF MARCH 3 THROUGH MARCH 11, 2005. ESCORT OFFICERS FROM OUTSIDE
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION (NCR) SHOULD BE PREPARED TO COVER THEIR
OWN LODGING AND MEAL EXPENSES FOR MARCH 1-2 IN ORDER TO
FACILITATE ATTENDANCE AT THE REQUIRED ORIENTATION TRAINING ON
MARCH 2-3. THE SENIOR ESCORT OFFICER AND ASSISTANT SENIOR
ESCORT OFFICER WILL BE REQUIRED TO RESIDE AT THE MAYFLOWER HOTEL
FROM FEBRUARY 27 THROUGH COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM ON MARCH 11. THE
SENIOR ESCORT OFFICER WILL ATTEMPT TO RESERVE ROOMS AT BOQ
FACILITIES ON LOCAL MILITARY INSTALLATIONS FOR THOSE ESCORT OFFICERS
FROM OUTSIDE THE NCR. ALL ESCORT OFFICERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO CHECK
INTO THE MAYFLOWER HOTEL ON MARCH 3 AND REMAIN AT THE HOTEL/WITH
STUDENT DELEGATES FOR THE DURATION OF THE PROGRAM TO MARCH 11. DAILY
COMMUTING FROM HOME IS NOT AUTHORIZED.
7. ALL QUALIFIED OFFICERS ARE INVITED TO APPLY FOR THIS COMPETITIVE
PROGRAM BY SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION PACKAGE THAT INCLUDES THE
FOLLOWING MANDATORY ITEMS AND INFORMATION:
(A) FULL NAME
(B) RANK
(C) DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH
(D) HOME AND WORK MAILING ADDRESSES
(E) WORK E-MAIL ADDRESS
(F) BRIEF BIOGRAPHY. ITEMS THAT MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE BIOGRAPHY
ARE: EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND (UNIVERSITIES ATTENDED, DEGREES EARNED,
COURSE OF STUDY/MAJOR), MILITARY BACKGROUND (MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL
SPECIALTY, PREVIOUS ASSIGNMENTS, DUTY STATIONS, AWARDS/RECOGNITION), 
AND EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH (NOT IN, OR A MEMBER OF) YOUTH GROUPS OR
YOUTH-RELATED PROGRAMS (ON/OFF DUTY ACTIVITIES OR DURING HIGH
SCHOOL/COLLEGE). 
(G) COMMAND ENDORSEMENT. THE APPLICANT'S IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR IS
ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE COMMENTS FOCUSED ON MATURITY, LEADERSHIP
SKILLS, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND COMMUNITY/YOUTH INVOLVEMENT. THE
ENDORSEMENT MUST INCLUDE A STATEMENT THAT, IF SELECTED, THE
APPLICANT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL FUNCTIONS DURING
THE TOTAL DURATION OF THE SENATE YOUTH PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE
ORIENTATION TRAINING, FROM MARCH 1 TO 11, 2006. MAJORS
SHOULD MODIFY THIS STATEMENT TO INDICATE AVAILABILITY FROM FEBRUARY
27 TO MARCH 11, 2006, IN THE EVENT THEY ARE SELECTED TO SERVE AS THE
SENIOR ESCORT OFFICER OR ASSISTANT SENIOR ESCORT OFFICER. 
(H) PHOTOGRAPH. APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT A 3X5 OR 5X7 FULL-LENGTH
PHOTO IN SERVICE ALPHA UNIFORM FOR USE IN DETERMINING MILITARY
APPEARANCE.
8. HEADQUARTERS, U. S. MARINE CORPS, DIVISION OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS MUST
RECEIVE APPLICATIONS NO LATER THAN JANUARY 9, 2006. FINAL
SELECTION OF ESCORT OFFICERS WILL BE COMPLETED DURING THE WEEK OF
JANUARY 16, 2006. APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE OUTCOME OF THE
SELECTION PROCESS NO LATER THAN JANUARY 30, 2006.
9. APPLICATIONS CAN BE SENT ELECTRONICALLY USING PDF FILES AND A
DIGITAL IMAGE/PHOTOGRAPH, SENT VIA FEDERAL EXPRESS SERVICE OR VIA
REGULAR MAIL. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT APPLICATIONS BE SENT
ELECTRONICALLY OR VIA FEDERAL EXPRESS SERVICE DUE TO THE LENGTHY
INCOMING MAIL SCREENING PROCESS AT THE PENTAGON FOR REGULAR MAIL
(MINIMUM TWO TO FOUR WEEKS FROM TIME OF POSTMARK TO TIME OF
DELIVERY). APPLICATIONS CAN BE SENT ELECTRONICALLY TO THE FOLLOWING
ADDRESS: HUGHESCW@HQMC.USMC.MIL <mailto:hughescw@hqmc.usmc.mil>.
NOTE 2006 SENATE YOUTH APPLICATION AND APPLICANT NAME IN THE SUBJECT
LINE. APPLICATIONS CAN BE SENT VIA FEDERAL EXPRESS SERVICE TO:
HEADQUARTERS, U. S. MARINE CORPS, DIVISION OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS,
ATTENTION - COMMUNITY RELATIONS BRANCH (PAC), PENTAGON, ROOM 4A532,
WASHINGTON, DC, 20350-3000. APPLICATIONS CAN BE SENT VIA REGULAR
MAIL TO COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS, HEADQUARTERS, U. S. MARINE
CORPS (DIV PA, PAC), 3000 MARINE CORPS PENTAGON, WASHINGTON, DC,
20350-3000.
10. POINT OF CONTACT IS MAJOR CHRIS HUGHES, COMMUNITY RELATIONS
BRANCH, DIVISION OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, HQMC AT (703)614-1034.