ALCOAST 107/09
COMDTNOTE 1500
SUBJ: SOLICITATION FOR APPLICATIONS FOR THE MIT SEMINAR XXI PROGRAM
1. THIS MESSAGE SOLICITS APPLICATIONS FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS
INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (MIT) PROGRAM ENTITLED "SEMINAR XXI:
FOREIGN POLITICS, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND THE NATIONAL
INTEREST."  THE COAST GUARD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SELECT UP TO
THREE (03) PERSONS FROM THE WASHINGTON, DC AREA TO ATTEND THIS
PRESTIGIOUS NINE-MONTH SEMINAR SERIES.  THE MIT CENTER FOR
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES ADMINISTERS SEMINAR XXI. MILITARY OFFICERS IN
GRADES O-5 TO O-8 AND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES IN GRADES GS-14 TO SES ARE
ELIGIBLE, ALTHOUGH EXCEPTIONALLY QUALIFIED 0-4S AND GS-13S MAY BE
CONSIDERED. PERSONNEL WHO WILL BE STATIONED IN THE WASHINGTON, DC
AREA DURING THE PERIOD SEPTEMBER 2009 TO MAY 2010, INCLUDING THOSE
IN RECEIPT OF PCS ORDERS TO THE AREA, ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY.
2. SEMINAR XXI IS AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR 75 SENIOR MILITARY
OFFICERS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES IN THE
NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAMS OBJECTIVES ARE:
   A. TO DEVELOP THE ABILITY TO CRITICALLY ASSESS COMPETING
THEORIES OF THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN POLITICS, THE ECONOMY AND
SOCIETY IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND
   B. TO EXPLORE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THESE ALTERNATIVE
INTERPRETATIONS OF NATIONAL AIMS AND BEHAVIOR FOR U.S. FOREIGN
POLICY.
3. COAST GUARD MILITARY AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL HAVE
PARTICIPATED IN MITS SEMINAR XXI PROGRAM SINCE 1991. THE NEXT
SESSION WILL CONVENE IN THE LOCAL WASHINGTON, DC AREA IN SEPTEMBER
2009 AND WILL CONCLUDE IN MAY 2010.  THE FORMAT, WHICH REMAINS THE
SAME FROM YEAR TO YEAR, INCLUDES SIX MONDAY EVENING SESSIONS IN
WASHINGTON, DC AND THREE WEEKEND RETREATS (LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH NOON ON SUNDAY) AT A LOCATION WITHIN AN HOURS DRIVE OF
WASHINGTON. EACH SESSION BRINGS TOGETHER DISTINGUISHED FACULTY FROM
AMERICAN AND FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES WHO PRESENT ALTERNATIVE
APPROACHES FOR UNDERSTANDING FOREIGN POLITICS. SEMINAR XXI FELLOWS
RECEIVE AN EXTENSIVE READ-AHEAD PACKET AND QUESTIONS TO HELP THEM
PREPARE FOR EACH MONTHS LECTURE AND DISCUSSION TOPIC.  SEMINAR XXI
PARTICIPANTS MUST BE COMMITTED TO ATTENDING ALL MEETINGS AND BE
WILLING TO DEDICATE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME EACH MONTH TO THE
PREPARATORY READINGS.  THE EXTENSIVE NETWORK THAT FELLOWS DEVELOP
IN THE COURSE OF THE NINE-MONTH PROGRAM IS OF ENDURING VALUE TO
THEM AND THEIR ORGANIZATIONS.
4. APPLICATION MATERIALS CAN BE OBTAINED ELECTRONICALLY OR BY FAX
FROM COMMANDANT (CG-511) BY CALLING (202) 372-2693 OR (202) 372-
2697. INTERESTED PERSONS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A FULL BIOGRAPHY
(CURRICULUM VITAE OR RESUME) AND A ONE-PAGE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
INDICATING WHY THE APPLICANT DESIRES TO ATTEND THE PROGRAM AND WHAT
THE APPLICANT HOPES TO GAIN FROM THE PROGRAM PROFESSIONALLY.
INDIVIDUALS SHOULD SUBMIT THEIR COMPLETE NOMINATION PACKAGE NOT
LATER THAN 20 MARCH 2009. THOSE CURRENTLY ASSIGNED TO HEADQUARTERS
SHOULD SUBMIT THEIR NOMINATION PACKAGE TO THE HEADQUARTERS FLAG/SES
TO WHOM THEY HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED SINCE SEPTEMBER 2008. THOSE ORDERED
TO HEADQUARTERS PRIOR TO AUGUST 2009 SHOULD SUBMIT THEIR NOMINATION
PACKAGE TO THE HEADQUARTERS FLAG/SES TO WHOM THEY WILL BE ASSIGNED.
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOW OR WILL BE ATTACHED TO A WASHINGTON, DC
AREA COMMAND IN SEPTEMBER 2009
(I.E.,NAVCEN/TISCOM/ICC/HSC/MSC/NPFC,ETC.) SHOULD SUBMIT
NOMINATIONS DIRECTLY TO THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE WASHINGTON,
DC AREA COMMAND.
5. EACH FLAG OFFICER/SES OR LOCAL COMMANDING OFFICER NOTED ABOVE
WHO RECEIVES APPLICATIONS MAY SUBMIT NO MORE THAN TWO NOMINATIONS,
WITH AN ENDORSEMENT, TO COMMANDANT (CG-511) FOR RECEIPT NO LATER
THAN 27 MARCH 2009. FROM THE APPLICATIONS RECEIVED IN CG-511, THE
DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR OPERATIONS (CG-DCO) WILL SELECT AND SUBMIT TO
MIT BY 15 APRIL 2009 THE NAMES OF THREE COAST GUARD CANDIDATES FOR
THE SEMINAR XXI PROGRAM. MIT IS EXPECTED TO NOTIFY INDIVIDUALS OF
THEIR SELECTION BY MID-SUMMER.
6. TUITION FOR THIS PROGRAM WILL BE PAID BY COMMANDANT (CG-511).
ATTENDEES ARE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE THEIR OWN TRANSPORTATION TO
SEMINAR XXI EVENTS IN THE WASHINGTON, DC AREA. SINCE THE PROGRAM IS
CONDUCTED TOTALLY OUTSIDE NORMAL WORKING HOURS, THERE IS NO SERVICE
OBLIGATION ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM. HOWEVER, MEMBERS SELECTED
ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND ALL SEMINAR XXI SESSIONS AND MAY BE ASKED TO
PARTICIPATE IN OTHER STRATEGIC INITIATIVES THAT ARE MANAGED BY CG-
511, SUCH AS ACTIVITIES RELATED TO PROJECT EVERGREEN, AT THE
PROGRAMS CONCLUSION.
7. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT CDR TOM GLYNN, OFFICE OF
STRATEGIC ANALYSIS (CG-511) AT (202) 372-2693 OR CDR LARRY GREENE
AT (202) 372-2697. INFORMATION ON THE SEMINAR XXI PROGRAM CAN ALSO
BE FOUND AT THEIR WEBSITE: HTTP://WEB.MIT.EDU/SEMXXI/.
8. RADM SALLY BRICE-OHARA, DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR OPERATIONS, SENDS.
9.