R 171706Z JUN 09 SUBJ: MILITARY SELECTIONS FOR 2010-2011 SENIOR SERVICE SCHOOLS (SSS), AND CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS (CNO) STRATEGIC STUDIES GROUP (SSG) A. TRAINING AND EDUCATION MANUAL, COMDTINST M1500.10(SERIES). 1. THIS ALCOAST SOLICITS APPLICANTS FOR SSS AND CNO SSG PROGRAMS IN AY10. THIS YEARS SSS SELECTION PROCESS WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM PAST YEARS. SPECIFICALLY, ONLY ELIGIBLE OFFICERS WHO SUBMIT E- RESUME REQUESTS FOR SSS PROGRAMS WILL BE CONSIDERED. THE GUIDANCE PROVIDED IN THIS MESSAGE SUPERCEDES EXISTING POLICY AND THESE CHANGES WILL BE INCORPORATED IN A FUTURE REVISION OF REFERENCE A. STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURES FOR THE PROCESS WILL BE ANNOUNCED BY PSC- OPM VIA SEPCOR. 2. EACH YEAR THE COAST GUARD SELECTS OFFICERS IN THE GRADE OF O-5/O-6 TO ATTEND SENIOR SERVICE SCHOOLS, AND AN O-6 TO ATTEND THE CNO STRATEGIC STUDIES GROUP. THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE AIR FORCE STRATEGIC STUDIES GROUP IS NO LONGER OFFERED. THE SSS/SSG SELECTION PANEL MAY SELECT: A. ONE PRIMARY AND TWO ALTERNATE OFFICERS EACH FOR THE ARMY, AIR AND MARINE CORPS WAR COLLEGES, THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION, THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (CSIS), THE HARVARD NATIONAL SECURITY FELLOWSHIP, AND THE RAND MILITARY FELLOWSHIP. B. TWO PRIMARY AND TWO ALTERNATE OFFICERS FOR THE NATIONAL AND NAVAL WAR COLLEGES AND FOR THE INDUSTRIAL COLLEGE OF THE ARMED FORCES (ICAF). ONE OF THESE ICAF CANDIDATES WILL ATTEND THE SENIOR ACQUISITIONS COURSE. C. ONE PRIMARY AND TWO ALTERNATE OFFICERS FOR THE CNO SSG. 3. THE SSS/SSG PANEL WILL ALSO BE CONSIDERING CIVILIAN APPLICANTS TO ATTEND THE NAVAL WAR COLLEGE AND ICAF PROGRAMS. DETAILED APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR THE CIVILIAN PROCESS WILL BE ANNOUNCED VIA A SEPARATE ALCOAST. 4. THIS YEARS SSS/SSG SELECTION PANEL WILL CONVENE ON 25 AUG 09. THE NAMES OF SELECTEES AND ALTERNATES WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN AN ALCGPSC FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF THE SSS/SSG SELECTION PANEL. 5. ABOUT THE SSS/SSG PROGRAMS: THE COAST GUARD USES THE TERM "SENIOR SERVICE SCHOOLS" TO COLLECTIVELY DESCRIBE THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: NATIONAL WAR COLLEGE,INDUSTRIAL COLLEGE OF THE ARMED FORCES, ARMY, NAVAL, AIR, AND MARINE CORPS WAR COLLEGES, RAND MILITARY FELLOWSHIP, HARVARD NATIONAL SECURITY FELLOWSHIP, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (CSIS) FELLOWSHIP, AND THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION FEDERAL EXECUTIVE FELLOWSHIP. 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. NEARLY TWO THIRDS OF THE ACTIVE FLAG OFFICER CORPS ARE SSS ALUMNI. 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" 6. SSS ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION: IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT FOR AY10 ELIGIBLE OFFICERS WILL NOT BE AUTOMATICALLY CONSIDERED FOR SSS BUT RATHER MUST SUBMIT AN E-RESUME TO BE LOOKED AT BY THE PANEL. THIS YEAR, ELIGIBLE OFFICERS WHO MAY REQUEST CONSIDERATION BY THE SSS SELECTION PANEL INCLUDE THOSE IN YEAR GROUPS 90-93 WHO WILL BE TOUR COMPLETE IN 2010, ALL OTHER OFFICERS IN YEAR GROUP 89 NOT CONSIDERED LAST YEAR, AND OFFICERS IN YEAR GROUP 88 WITH WAIVERS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN CONSIDERED TWICE. OFFICERS FROM YEAR GROUPS 90-93 NOT TOUR COMPLETE IN 2010 BUT WHO WILL HAVE AT LEAST TWO YEARS IN THEIR CURRENT POSITION AT THE START OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR MAY ALSO REQUEST CONSIDERATION. ELIGIBLE OFFICERS WHO DESIRE TO ATTEND A SSS PROGRAM MUST REQUEST CONSIDERATION BY SUBMITTING AN E-RESUME. REQUEST PROCEDURES WILL BE PROMULGATED VIA SEPCOR. SELECTION TO THE AIR WAR COLLEGE IS OPEN TO ALL OFFICER SPECIALITIES. PSC-OPM WILL GENERATE A LIST OF OFFICERS WHO HAVE REQUESTED CONSIDERATION IN LATE JULY. 7. CNO SSG ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION: A. SINCE 1991 THE CNO HAS INVITED THE COMMANDANT TO NOMINATE AN O-6/O-6 SELECT TO PARTICIPATE IN HIS STRATEGIC STUDIES GROUP. B. THIS STUDIES GROUP PROVIDES A SELECT GROUP OF SENIOR OFFICERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THEIR PROFESSIONAL HORIZONS THROUGH IN- DEPTH STUDY OF A TOPIC OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO THE CNO. IN PAST YEARS, THIS GROUP HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL- MILITARY STRATEGIC CONCEPTS, ENHANCED TACTICAL DOCTRINE, AND STIMULATED STRATEGIC DISCUSSIONS AND THOUGHT. C. SELECTION FOR THE 2010-2011 CNO SSG WILL BE MADE FROM OFFICERS IN YEAR GROUPS 84-88, WHO HAVE COMMAND EXPERIENCE, AND WHO EITHER: (1) HAVE GRADUATED FROM A SENIOR SERVICE SCHOOL, THE SLOAN FELLOWS PROGRAM OR ONE OF THE SERVICE COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGES, OR (2) HAVE SUBMITTED AN E-RESUME REQUESTING ASSIGNMENT TO THE SSG. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION INCLUDE A SOLID OPERATIONAL BACKGROUND AND A DEMONSTRATED COMMITMENT TO PERSONAL GROWTH OUTSIDE OF SPECIALTY. 8. THE PANEL WILL SOLICIT BY TELEPHONE FOR ACCEPTANCE FROM BOTH THE PRIMARY AND ALTERNATE OFFICER SELECTEES FOR THE SSS AND SSG PROGRAMS PRIOR TO FINALIZING THEIR RESULTS. ACCEPTANCE BY THE PRIMARY SELECTEE WILL PRECLUDE THAT OFFICER FROM SCREENING FOR COMMAND THIS YEAR. THIS RESTRICTION DOES NOT APPLY TO ALTERNATE SELECTEES, WHO WILL BE ALLOWED TO SCREEN FOR COMMAND. OFFICERS ATTENDING SENIOR SERVICE SCHOOLS INCUR A MINIMUM ACTIVE DUTY OBLIGATION OF THREE MONTHS FOR EACH MONTH OF EDUCATION IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER OBLIGATED SERVICE THE OFFICER MAY HAVE INCURRED. THE OFFICER SELECTED FOR THE CNO SSG INCURS NO ADDITIONAL OBLIGATED SERVICE. FOLLOW-ON ASSIGNMENTS SUBSEQUENT TO ATTENDANCE AT SENIOR SERVICE SCHOOL PROGRAMS WILL BUILD ON THE ADVANCED EDUCATION AND CAREER BROADENING EXPERIENCES. AFTER GRADUATION FROM THE PROGRAMS, OFFICERS SHOULD EXPECT TO BE PLACED IN BILLETS THAT TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. FOR THE ICAF ACQUISITION TRACK, THE SELECTEE SHOULD EXPECT TO BE ASSIGNED AS A PROJECT MANAGER IN THE ACQUISITION DIRECTORATE. 9. ALL OFFICERS EXPECTING TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE SSS/SSG PANEL SHOULD ACT NOW TO ENSURE THEIR ELECTRONIC SUMMARY SHEET (ESS), CONTACT INFORMATION IN DIRECT ACCESS (DA), AND IMAGED PERSONNEL DATA RECORD (IPDR)(E.G., OERS, RECORD OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CG-4082), AND ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPTS) ARE COMPLETE. RECENT PERFORMANCE IS A MAJOR CONSIDERATION IN THE SELECTION PROCESS. THEREFORE, OFFICERS SHOULD NOT DELAY THEIR REGULAR OER SUBMISSIONS. 10. THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR ALL OFFICERS ATTENDING SSS AND SSG PROGRAMS IS THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC ANALYSIS, COMDT (CG-0951). POC IS CDR LAWRENCE GREENE AT (202) 372-2697. 11. 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. 12. RELEASED BY CAPT SANDRA L. STOSZ, DIRECTOR, ENTERPRISE STRATEGY, MANAGEMENT AND DOCTRINE OVERSIGHT. 13. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.