ALCOAST 172/08
COMDTNOTE 5700
SUBJ:PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER POSTGRADUATE PROGRAM
A. COMCOGARD PERSCOM ARLINGTOM VA//C// R041744Z APR /ALCGPERSCOM
025/08
1. THIS NOTICE SOLICITS OFFICERS FOR THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS
POSTGRADUATE PROGRAM. THIS IS A SOLICITATION FOR APPLICANTS WHO ARE
O-2 TO O-4 SELECT AND WILL BE TOUR COMPLETE IN AY 2009. CANDIDATES
SHOULD HAVE COMPLETED AT LEAST ONE OPERATIONAL TOUR.
2. THE PANEL WILL CONVENE THIS SUMMER, AS A REGULARLY SCHEDULED PG
PANEL, TO SELECT TWO OFFICERS TO ATTEND THIS PROGRAM BEGINNING
SUMMER 2009.
3. THIS PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE PERSONNEL WITH A VARIETY
OF BACKGROUND INSTRUCTION IN ADVANCED PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MASS
COMMUNICATIONS. IT IS NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH GRADUATE WORK IN
PUBLIC AFFAIRS, WHICH IS WHAT MANY UNIVERSITIES CALL THEIR
POLITICAL SCIENCE OR GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. THE COAST GUARD PUBLIC
AFFAIRS PROGRAM IS A PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MASS COMMUNICATIONS
SPECIALTY.
4. PUBLIC AFFAIRS GRADUATE STUDENTS WILL BE EXPECTED TO ATTEND, AND
HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE ACCEPTED TO, SCHOOLS WITH PROGRAMS LIKE THAT
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA FOR A MASTER OF ARTS IN MASS
COMMUNICATIONS. OFFICERS SHOULD NOT ASSUME THE UNIVERSITY
ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE WILL MAKE ANY SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS BASED ON THE
OFFICERS MILITARY EXPERIENCE/ACHIEVEMENTS. INFORMATION ON THE
PROGRAM CAN BE FOUND AT HTTP://WWW.GRADY.UGA.EDU, CLICK ON GRADUATE
STUDIES. SELECTED OFFICERS MAY APPLY FOR OTHER GRADUATE PROGRAMS,
HOWEVER, THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM MANAGER MUST APPROVE THE COURSE
OF STUDY, AND THE OFFICER MUST BEAR ANY COSTS ABOVE THE PROGRAMS
CEILING.  BECAUSE VERY DIFFERENT GRADUATE PROGRAMS OFTEN HAVE
SIMILAR NAMES, SELECTED OFFICERS SHOULD NOT ASSUME PROGRAMS AT
SCHOOLS OF THEIR CHOOSING WILL MEET THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS AND SHOULD NOT EXPECT EASY APPROVAL OF ALTERNATE
PROGRAMS.
5. GRADUATES SHOULD EXPECT A FOLLOW-ON ASSIGNMENT AT AN AREA OR
DISTRICT PUBLIC AFFAIRS STAFF OR AT COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS. LATER
ASSIGNMENTS MIGHT INCLUDE MORE SENIOR LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES
IN THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM.
6. APPLICATIONS SHALL BE SUBMITTED VIA E-RESUME IAW REF A.
APPLICANTS MUST USE THEIR WORK E-MAIL ADDRESS IN ORDER TO RECEIVE
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION. UP TO THREE EXAMPLES/EXCERPTS OF THE
APPLICANTS WRITING STYLE SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO CGPC-OPM-1 IAW REF
A, NOT TO EXCEED 5 PAGES TOTAL, TO ILLUSTRATE THE BREADTH AND
QUALITY OF THEIR WRITING.
7. ACTION: AREA AND DISTRICT COMMANDERS, COMMANDERS OF MAINTENANCE
AND LOGISTICS COMMANDS, COMMANDING OFFICERS OF HEADQUARTERS UNITS,
ASSISTANT COMMANDANTS FOR DIRECTORATES, CHIEF COUNSEL AND SPECIAL
STAFF OFFICERS AT HEADQUARTERS SHALL ENSURE WIDEST DISSEMINATION OF
THIS ALCOAST.
8. QUESTIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO MR. JORDAN ST. JOHN AT (202)372-
4620.
9. RDML MARY E. LANDRY, DIRECTOR FOR GOVERNMENTAL AND
PUBLIC AFFAIRS SENDS.
10. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.