R 171703Z JUN 09 SUBJ: CIVILIAN SELECTIONS FOR 2010-2011 SENIOR SERVICE SCHOOLS (SSS) A. TRAINING AND EDUCATION MANUAL, COMDTINST M1500.10(SERIES). 1. THIS ALCOAST SOLICITS CIVILIAN APPLICANTS FOR SSS PROGRAMS IN AY10. THE GUIDANCE PROVIDED IN THIS MESSAGE SUPERCEDES EXISTING POLICY AND THESE CHANGES WILL BE INCORPORATED IN A FUTURE REVISION OF REFERENCE A. 2. EACH YEAR THE COAST GUARD SELECTS UP TO TWO CIVILIANS TO ATTEND SENIOR SERVICE SCHOOLS. THE SSS SELECTION PANEL MAY SELECT ONE PRIMARY AND TWO ALTERNATE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES FOR THE INDUSTRIAL COLLEGE OF THE ARMED FORCES (ICAF) AND ONE PRIMARY AND TWO ALTERNATE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES FOR THE NAVAL WAR COLLEGE. 3. THIS YEARS SSS SELECTION PANEL WILL CONVENE ON 25 AUG 09. THE PANEL WILL BE CONSIDERING APPLICANTS FOR BOTH THE CIVILIAN AND MILITARY SSS PROGRAMS. THE NAMES OF SELECTEES AND ALTERNATES WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN AN ALCGPSC FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF THE SSS SELECTION PANEL. 4. ABOUT THE SSS PROGRAMS: SENIOR SERVICE SCHOOL PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO CIVILIANS INCLUDE THE INDUSTRIAL COLLEGE OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THE NAVAL WAR COLLEGE. THESE PROGRAMS ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN DEVELOPING SENIOR LEADERS WITH THE STRATEGIC THINKING AND PLANNING SKILLS NEEDED TO MEET THE CHALLENGES AND EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED IN A RAPIDLY EVOLVING WORLD. SENIOR LEADERS MUST EMPLOY INNOVATIVE METHODS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, WORK WITH PARTNERS WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT AND THEIR COMMUNITIES TO BEST SERVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF MANAGED RISK AND CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT EMBRACES CHANGE, DIVERSITY OF THINKING, AND COAST GUARD CORE VALUES. ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE SENIOR SERVICE SCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE ENCOURAGED TO VISIT THE SENIOR SERVICE SCHOOL INFORMATION PAGE ON THE PSC-OPM ADVANCED EDUCATION WEB SITE AT HYPERLINK "HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/PSC/OPM/OPM1/OPM-1PG.ASP" 5. SSS ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION: A. COAST GUARD CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES MAY COMPETE TO ATTEND THE NAVAL WAR COLLEGE AT EITHER THE COLLEGE OF NAVAL WARFARE (SENIOR LEVEL COURSE) OR THE COLLEGE OF NAVAL COMMAND AND STAFF (INTERMEDIATE LEVEL COURSE). THE NAVAL WAR COLLEGE IS AN ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION INSTITUTION THAT PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO JOIN SENIOR AND INTERMEDIATE LEVEL U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL MILITARY LEADERS AND DISTINGUISHED INTERAGENCY COLLEAGUES IN AN INTENSIVE, TEN-MONTH PROGRAM OF NATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES IN NEWPORT, RI. EACH YEAR, OVER TWENTY AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS UNIQUE ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE THEIR MOST PROMISING SENIOR CIVILIAN EXECUTIVES. STUDENTS IN THE SENIOR LEVEL COURSE PURSUE STUDIES IN EACH OF THREE CORE SUBJECT AREAS: NATIONAL SECURITY DECISION MAKING, POLICY AND STRATEGY, AND JOINT MILITARY OPERATIONS. THE INTERMEDIATE LEVEL COURSE CONSISTS OF ESSENTIALLY THE SAME CURRICULUM AS THE SENIOR LEVEL COURSE, BUT IS TAILORED TO THE EXPERIENCE LEVEL AND CAREER NEEDS OF MID-CAREER EMPLOYEES. A MASTERS DEGREE WILL BE AWARDED TO STUDENTS WHO SATISFACTORILY COMPLETE ALL REQUIREMENTS OF THE NAVAL WAR COLLEGE PROGRAM. B. ALL CIVILIAN CANDIDATES MUST HAVE NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY DECISION-MAKING EXPERIENCE WITHIN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND SHOULD BE FUTURE AGENCY LEADERS WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM A RIGOROUS PROFESSIONAL MILITARY GRADUATE LEVEL ACADEMIC PROGRAM TO HELP HONE THEIR CRITICAL ANALYTIC SKILLS FOR SENIOR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN NATIONAL SECURITY. COLLEGE OF NAVAL WARFARE CANDIDATES MUST BE SENIOR PROFESSIONALS WITH APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN YEARS OF GOVERNMENT SERVICE AND SERVING IN THE GRADE OF GS/GM 14 OR 15 (HIGH POTENTIAL GS/GM 13 WILL BE CONSIDERED). COLLEGE OF NAVAL COMMAND AND STAFF CANDIDATES MUST BE MID-LEVEL PROFESSIONALS WITH APPROXIMATELY NINE YEARS OF GOVERNMENT SERVICE AND SERVING IN THE GRADE OF GS/GM 11-13. FOR EACH PROGRAM, A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE, STRONG COMMUNICATIONS AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS, A SECRET SECURITY CLEARANCE AND A WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE COLLEAGUES IN CRITICAL DEBATE IN A GLOBAL CLASSROOM ARE REQUIRED. C. CIVILIAN APPLICATION PACKAGES FOR THE NAVAL WAR COLLEGE MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) A STUDENT BIOGRAPHY TO INCLUDE EDUCATION, CAREER HISTORY AND POTENTIAL FOR CONTINUED ADVANCEMENT. (2) COPY OF A FINAL SECRET SECURITY CLEARANCE THAT INCLUDES ADJUDICATION DATE. (3) SUPERVISORS STATEMENT OF NO MORE THAN TWO PAGES ON THE APPLICANTS PAST PERFORMANCE AND POTENTIAL FOR CONTINUED ADVANCEMENT. (4) A LETTER OF NOMINATION, IN CG MEMO FORMAT, FROM THE FIRST FLAG OFFICER OR SES IN THE APPLICANTS CHAIN OF COMMAND. D. COAST GUARD CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES MAY COMPETE TO ATTEND THE INDUSTRIAL COLLEGE OF THE ARMED FORCES (ICAF) ACADEMIC PROGRAM IN WASHINGTON, DC. THIS TEN-MONTH RESIDENT PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPANTS TO BROADEN THEIR PERSPECTIVES, ENHANCE THEIR ANALYTICAL DECISION MAKING SKILLS, DEVELOP GREATER APPRECIATION FOR NATIONAL SECURITY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, AND ENHANCE LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT. THE ICAF CURRICULUM PROVIDES A BROAD EDUCATION IN NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY AND NATIONAL MILITARY STRATEGY WITH AN EMPHASIS ON RESOURCES MANAGEMENT. THE ICAF CURRICULUM INCLUDES A CRISIS DECISION EXERCISE, A RESEARCH AND WRITING PROGRAM, EXECUTIVE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, AND A MODULE ON RESOURCING NATIONAL STRATEGY. AN ICAF SELECTEE MAY CHOOSE THE INFORMATION STRATEGIES CONCENTRATION PROGRAM (ISCP) AS AN ELECTIVE. THIS PROGRAM REQUIRES A TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION CLEARANCE AND HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN RESPONSE TO THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. ISCP COMPLEMENTS THE CORE ICAF CURRICULUM AND ALLOWS THE SELECTED CIVILIAN STUDENT TO CONCENTRATE ON AN INFORMATION COMPONENT OF NATIONAL STRATEGY THROUGH ELECTIVES AND FIELD STUDIES. A MASTERS DEGREE WILL BE AWARDED TO STUDENTS WHO SATISFACTORILY COMPLETE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ICAF PROGRAM. E. COAST GUARD CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES IN GRADES GS/GM-14/15 AND NON- APPROPRIATED FUND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES (NF-5) ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THIS PROGRAM. ICAF CANDIDATES MUST HAVE AT LEAST A BACHELORS DEGREE FROM AN ACCREDITED UNIVERSITY AND PREFERABLY HOLD A MASTERS DEGREE. CANDIDATES SHOULD HAVE A FINAL SECRET SECURITY CLEARANCE. A TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION CLEARANCE IS REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN ELECTIVES AND BRIEFINGS. ICAF CANDIDATES WHO DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE A SECURITY CLEARANCE SHOULD APPLY FOR A CLEARANCE PRIOR TO INITIATING THE APPLICATION PROCESS. F. CIVILIAN APPLICATION PACKAGES FOR ICAF MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) COMPLETED COPY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY (NDU) STUDENT NOMINATION FORM. (2) AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT (HIGHEST DEGREE EARNED). (3) ONE-PAGE STUDENT BIOGRAPHY OR RESUME TO INCLUDE EDUCATION AND CAREER HISTORY. (4) TWO LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION. (5) COMPLETED COPY OF NDU STUDENT WORLDWIDE TRAVEL FORM. (6) STUDENTS STATEMENT OF NO MORE THAN TWO PAGES AS TO THEIR CAREER ASPIRATIONS, GOALS, AND SUITABILITY FOR THE PROGRAM. (7) A LETTER OF NOMINATION, IN CG MEMO FORMAT, FROM THE FIRST FLAG OFFICER OR SES IN THE APPLICANTS CHAIN OF COMMAND. (8) COPY OF A FINAL SECRET SECURITY CLEARANCE THAT INCLUDES ADJUDICATION DATE. G. ALL CIVILIAN APPLICATION PACKAGES (INCLUDING FLAG NOMINATIONS) FOR BOTH THE NAVAL WAR COLLEGE AND ICAF MUST BE RECEIVED IN CG PSC- OPM-2 NLT 24 JULY 09. PACKAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO: COMMANDER (PSC-OPM-2J), COAST GUARD PERSONNEL SERVICE CENTER, US COAST GUARD STOP 7200, 4200 WILSON BLVD, MS-7200, SUITE 1100, ARLINGTON, VA 20598-7200, ATTN: LCDR ENGRUM. H. COMDT (CG-133) IS THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR ALL CIVILIAN COAST GUARD EMPLOYEES ATTENDING SSS PROGRAMS. ICAF APPLICATION FORMS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM MS. ALICE FLEMING AT 202-475-5513. 6. THE COAST GUARD IS COMMITTED TO SENDING THE HIGHEST CALIBER CANDIDATES TO SSS PROGRAMS. IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THAT EITHER THE CIVILIAN OR MILITARY APPLICANT POOLS ARE INSUFFICIENT, THE PANEL MAY ELECT TO SUBSTITUTE QUALIFIED MILITARY OR CIVILIAN APPLICANTS AS APPROPRIATE FOR THE NAVAL WAR COLLEGE OR ICAF PROGRAMS. 7. RELEASED BY CAPT SANDRA L. STOSZ, DIRECTOR, ENTERPRISE STRATEGY, MANAGEMENT AND DOCTRINE OVERSIGHT. 8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.