MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//
SUBJ/FY09 FOREIGN AREA OFFICER (FAO) AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS OFFICER
(RAO) SELECTION BOARD//
REF/A/DOC/PLU/YMD:20001221//
REF/B/DOC/I IOP/YMD:20000818//
NARR/REF A IS MCO 1520.11E AND REF B IS MCO 7220.52D.//
POC/WARD, BRADLEY/CAPT/MMOA-5/-/TEL:703-784-9286 DSN 278
/EMAIL:BRADLEY.WARD@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MARADMIN IS TO SOLICIT
APPLICATIONS FOR THE FY09 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS OFFICER PROGRAM VIA
THE FAO AND RAO STUDY TRACK PROGRAM.
A. THE FY09 FAO/RAO SELECTION BOARD WILL CONVENE 18 AUGUST 2008;
APPLICATIONS ARE DUE NLT 9 JUNE 2008.
B. WHERE REF A AND THIS MARADMIN DIFFER, THIS MARADMIN TAKES
PRECEDENCE.
C. EACH APPLICANT'S CAREER PATTERN WILL BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED
IN THE SELECTION PROCESS WITH REGARD TO TIMING AND POTENTIAL FOR
FUTURE SERVICE. OFFICERS COMPLETING TOURS WITH THE OPERATING FORCES
ARE PARTICULARLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.
2. FAO PROGRAM (STUDY-TRACK)
A. THROUGH A COMBINATION OF GRADUATE EDUCATION, LANGUAGE
TRAINING, AND IN-COUNTRY TRAINING (ICT), THE FAO TRAINING PROGRAM
PRODUCES OFFICERS WITH REGIONAL, LINGUISTIC, AND CULTURAL EXPERTISE
IN SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS. FAO TRAINING PREPARES OFFICERS
FOR DUTY WITH THE MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCES AND HIGH-LEVEL USMC,
JOINT, OR COMBINED STAFFS IN OPERATIONS/PLANNING BILLETS OR
INTELLIGENCE BILLETS WITH DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES INCLUDING
DUTY WITH THE DEFENSE ATTACHE SYSTEM.
B. FAO TRAINING/EDUCATION INCLUDES GRADUATE STUDIES AT THE
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL LEADING TO A MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN
NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS (12 MONTHS), LANGUAGE TRAINING AT THE
DEFENSE LANGUAGE INSTITUTE (6-15 MONTHS), AND IN-COUNTRY/REGIONAL
TRAINING/TRAVEL/EXPERIENCE (12 MONTHS).
C. FAO'S SHOULD EXPECT TO RETURN TO A PMOS BILLET IMMEDIATELY
FOLLOWING TRAINING AND SERVE A FAO UTILIZATION TOUR NLT THE SECOND
TOUR AFTER COMPLETION OF TRAINING.
D. FY09 FAO REGIONS/LANGUAGES. SINCE FY09 FAO SELECTEES WILL
NOT BEGIN THE IN-COUNTRY TRAINING PHASE UNTIL 2011, ICT SITE
LISTINGS SHOULD BE TAKEN AS A GUIDE ONLY.
REGION LANGUAGE IN-COUNTRY TRAINING SITE
MIDDLE EAST ARABIC EGYPT/JORDAN/TUNISIA
MIDDLE EAST PERSIAN TAJIKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN
SOUTH EAST ASIA INDONESIAN INDONESIA
SOUTH EAST ASIA TAGALOG PHILIPPINES
SOUTH EAST ASIA THAI THAILAND
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA FRENCH SENEGAL
CHINA CHINESE CHINA
JAPAN JAPANESE JAPAN
KOREA KOREAN KOREA
SOUTH ASIA HINDI INDIA
SOUTH ASIA URDU PAKISTAN
SOUTH ASIA PASHTO AFGHANISTAN
LATIN AMERICA SPANISH CHILE
LATIN AMERICA PORTUGUESE BRAZIL
EURASIA TURKISH TURKEY
EURASIA RUSSIAN RUSSIA
E. ARABIC, CHINESE, KOREAN, AND JAPANESE PROGRAMS START JAN 09,
ALL OTHERS START JUL 09.
F. ELIGIBLE OFFICERS ARE THOSE WHO:
(1) ARE UNRESTRICTED OFFICERS WITH 3-11 YEARS COMMISSIONED
SERVICE AS OF 1 AUG 09. OFFICERS WHO WILL BE SCREENED BY THE FY09
CAREER DESIGNATION BOARD ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY. FAO SELECTION WILL
BE CONTINGENT UPON SELECTION/ACCEPTANCE OF CAREER DESIGNATION.
(2) MEET MINIMUM TIME-ON-STATION REQUIREMENTS AS OF 1 JUN
09 (FOR THOSE SELECTED FOR CHINESE, JAPANESE, ARABIC, OR KOREAN,
MUST MEET TOS AS OF 1 DEC 08).
(3) HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY ATTENDED A FULL-TIME USMC-FUNDED
GRADUATE EDUCATION PROGRAM.
(4) ATTAIN A DLAB SCORE OF 95 OR HIGHER WITHIN THE LAST
THREE YEARS (110 FOR ARABIC, CHINESE, JAPANESE, OR KOREAN), AND/OR
DEMONSTRATE A LANGUAGE CAPABILITY BY OBTAINING A MINIMUM SCORE OF
L2/R2 ON ANY DLPT III, DLPT IV OR DLPT V. THE DLPT IS ADMINISTERED
AT APPROVED MARINE CORPS TESTING FACILITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH
REF B.
(5) MEET REQUIREMENTS AS SPECIFIED IN REF A.
3. RAO PROGRAM (STUDY TRACK)
A. THROUGH GRADUATE EDUCATION, THE RAO PROGRAM PRODUCES
OFFICERS WITH REGIONAL/CULTURAL EXPERTISE IN SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHICAL
REGIONS. RAO TRAINING PREPARES OFFICERS FOR DUTY WITH THE MARINE
EXPEDITIONARY FORCES AND HIGH LEVEL USMC, JOINT, OR COMBINED STAFFS
IN OPERATIONS/PLANNING BILLETS.
B. THE RAO TRAINING PROGRAM CONSISTS OF GRADUATE STUDIES AT THE
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL LEADING TO A MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN
REGIONAL SECURITY STUDIES (18 MONTHS). LANGUAGE TRAINING IS NOT A
PART OF RAO TRAINING.
C. RAO'S SHOULD EXPECT TO BE ASSIGNED TO A UTILIZATION TOUR
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF TRAINING.
D. FY09 RAO REGIONS. THE SELECTION BOARD WILL CONSIDER
APPLICATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING REGIONAL CURRICULA, ALL COURSES
CONVENE IN JAN 09:
EAST ASIA
LATIN AMERICA
MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA
SOUTH ASIA
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
E. ELIGIBLE OFFICERS ARE THOSE WHO:
(1) ARE UNRESTRICTED REGULAR OFFICERS WITH 9-15 YEARS
COMMISSIONED SERVICE AS OF 1 JAN 09.
(2) MEET MINIMUM TIME-ON-STATION REQUIREMENTS AS OF
1 JAN 09.
(3) HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY ATTENDED A FULL-TIME USMC-FUNDED
GRADUATE EDUCATION PROGRAM.
(4) MEET REQUIREMENTS AS SPECIFIED IN REF A.
4. APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED IN THE FORMAT PRESCRIBED BY REF
A, PARAGRAPHS 2 AND 3 OF THIS MESSAGE, AND THE FOLLOWING
INSTRUCTIONS:
A. APPLICATIONS MUST BE ENDORSED BY THE FIRST GENERAL OFFICER
VIA THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION MAY BE INCLUDED
AS ENCLOSURES TO THE APPLICATION. MEANINGFUL
ENDORSEMENTS/RECOMMENDATIONS MAY BE INCLUDED AS A COMPARATIVE
ASSESSMENT OF THE APPLICANT'S POTENTIAL NOT ONLY AS A FAO/RAO BUT
ALSO ADDRESS LONG TERM POTENTIAL IN THEIR PRIMARY MOS.
B. APPLICANTS SHOULD SPECIFY WHETHER THEY DESIRE TO BE
CONSIDERED FOR FAO, RAO, OR BOTH PROVIDED THEY MEET THE RESPECTIVE
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. APPLICANTS SHOULD ALSO LIST THEIR REGIONAL
AND, IF APPLYING FOR FAO, LANGUAGE PREFERENCES. OFFICERS MAY ALSO
STATE THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT ANY REGION/LANGUAGE FOR
WHICH THEY ARE CHOSEN.
C. APPLICANTS MUST PROVIDE ORIGINAL TRANSCRIPTS FROM ALL
COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES ATTENDED, WITH CREDITS AND LETTER GRADES.
ORIGINAL TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SENT FROM THE INSTITUTION(S) TO THE
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL (NPS) NLT THAN 9 JUNE 2008. THE ONLY
EXCEPTION TO THIS IS IF THE MARINE POSSESSES SEALED TRANSCRIPTS
THAT MAY BE MAILED DIRECTLY TO NPS. A SINGLE TRANSCRIPT FROM THE
COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY GRADUATED FROM, WITH TRANSFER CREDITS LISTED
IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. COPIES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE WITHOUT A UNIVERSITY
SEAL OR VERIFIED AS A TRUE COPY BY THE UNIVERSITY.
D. AN OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH, TAKEN WITHIN THE LAST 12 MONTHS FROM
THE CONVENING DATE OF THE BOARD IS REQUIRED. DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHS
ELECTRONICALLY FILED IN THE OMPF ARE PREFERRED. CONTACT CMC
(MMSB-20) AT DSN 784-3974 WITH QUESTIONS CONCERNING PHOTOGRAPHS. IF
A DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPH IS NOT AVAILABLE, A HARD COPY MAY BE INCLUDED
AS AN ENCLOSURE TO THE APPLICATION. DEPLOYED PHOTOS ARE ACCEPTABLE.
E. APPLICATIONS MUST CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT: "IF
SELECTED I AGREE TO REMAIN ON ACTIVE DUTY FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS
(FAO) OR THREE YEARS (RAO) AFTER COMPLETION OF MY TRAINING. I AGREE
NOT TO TENDER RESIGNATION OR REQUEST SEPARATION OR RETIREMENT WHILE
PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM. I FURTHER UNDERSTAND THAT THIS
OBLIGATION BEGINS UPON COMPLETION OF STUDIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH
REF A."
F. APPLICANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THEIR APPLICATIONS
ARRIVE AT CMC (MMOA-5). RECOMMEND FEDEX OR SOME OTHER MEANS OF
TRACKING PACKAGES. FAXED OR SCANNED COPIES WILL BE ACCEPTED PENDING
RECEIPT OF ORIGINAL PACKAGE. FAX NUMBER IS 703-784-9844 OR
DSN 278-9844.
G. MAIL APPLICATION TO MMOA-5 NLT 9 JUNE 2008:
HEADQUARTERS, U.S. MARINE CORPS
MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS
GRADUATE EDUCATION MMOA-5
3280 RUSSELL ROAD
QUANTICO, VA 22134-5103
H. MAIL ONE ORIGINAL COLLEGE TRANSCRIPT(S) TO NPS NLT 9 JUNE
2008:
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
ADMISSIONS OFFICE, CODE 01C3
1 UNIVERSITY CIRCLE, HE-022
MONTEREY, CA 93943-5100
5. OFFICERS WHO BELIEVE THEY ALREADY POSSESS EXPERTISE EQUIVALENT
TO THAT DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPHS 2.B AND 3.B ABOVE MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO
APPLY FOR THE EXPERIENCE TRACK FAO/RAO ADDITIONAL MOS (AMOS) AND ARE
ENCOURAGED TO APPLY AS DIRECTED IN REF A. ALL UNRESTRICTED
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE FAO/RAO AMOS'S
BASED ON EXPERIENCE VIA EXPERIENCE TRACK BOARDS CONVENED QUARTERLY
IN PLU, PP&O. APPLICATIONS FOR THE FAO/RAO AMOS BASED ON EXPERIENCE
CAN BE SUBMITTED AT ANY TIME TO CMC (PLU-8), STRATEGY AND PLANS
DIVISION, PP&O, 2 NAVY ANNEX, WASHINGTON, DC 20380-1775.
APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE IN THE FORMAT PRESCRIBED IN REF A, AND
INCLUDE A THOROUGH DESCRIPTION OF THE EXPERIENCE ON WHICH THE
APPLICATION IS BASED.
6. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS PROGRAM IS LINKED TO THE
MMOA HOME PAGE AT THE MMOA-5 GRADUATE EDUCATION TAB. QUESTIONS
CONCERNING THE FAO/RAO PROGRAMS AND CAREER TIMING CAN ALSO BE
DIRECTED TO THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS OFFICER PROGRAM COORDINATOR,
LTCOL C. SILL; (PLU-8); DSN 222-4365; COMM (703)692-4365;
E-MAIL
CHRISTOPHER.SILL@USMC.MIL. QUESTIONS REGARDING APPLICATION
PACKAGES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO MMOA-5, CAPT BRAD WARD
E-MAIL
BRADLEY.WARD@USMC.MIL ORMS. D. RODGERS E-MAIL
DIANE.RODGERS@USMC.MIL, DSN 278-9286 COMM (703)784-9286.
7. THIS MARADMIN IS NOT APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE.
8. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY COL S. M. FENSTERMACHER, DIRECTOR,
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT DIVISION (ACTING). //