R 251421Z JUL 17
MARADMIN 388/17
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC PPO PL WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/SOLICITING NOMINATIONS FOR THE FY18 NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE INSTITUTE (NSSI) AND AIR FORCE ADVANCED SPACE OPERATIONS SCHOOL (ASOPS) COURSES//
REF/A/DOC/SECDEF U17370/01/18OCT2001//
AMPN/REF A PROMULGATED SECDEF GUIDANCE REGARDING CHANGES TO NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION.//
POC1/E.M. TEICHERT/MAJOR/PPO PLI/-/TEL: (703)692-4321 DSN 222/EMAIL: ERIKA.TEICHERT@USMC.MIL//
POC2/A.L. CARCICH/MAJOR/PPO PLI/-/EMAIL: ANDREW.CARCICH@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  The purpose of this MARADMIN is to solicit nominees to attend FY18 basic and advanced space operations courses.  The National Security Space Institute courses include Space 200 and Space 300 courses.  Space 200 is a four-week academic course designed to provide training for mid-grade officers, enlisted, and civilian personnel in order to gain knowledge and develop skills required to apply space capabilities to combat operations.  Space 200 is the primary training for the FMOS 0540 (Space Operations Staff Officer) billets.  Space 300 is a three-week academic course designed to provide training for mid- to senior-grade officers, enlisted, and civilian personnel.  ASOPS courses are designed to provide advanced training in a specific field and are open to multiple specialties.
2.  Background:  DOD implemented a space professional strategy in order to grow and maintain cognizance and expertise in the space domain.  IAW REF A, the Marine Corps maintains a cadre of space professionals to support Marine Corps equities in space and to ensure that space-based capabilities are leveraged to the maximum extent possible during MAGTF expeditionary operations.  Advanced space education is vital to maintaining a relevant Space Cadre.  HQMC PPO(PLI) provides information on space training opportunities and serves as a liaison to NSSI and ASOPS for attendance at these courses.  The complexity of current operations and the increasing importance of space-based capabilities (friendly, neutral, and adversary, military and commercial) have created a corresponding demand for a cadre of formally trained personnel within the Marine Corps in both the operating forces and supporting establishment.  Over 50 billets throughout the  Marine Corps are identified in TFSMS where Marines with the MOS 0540 are
desirable, to include billets at the MEF and MEU Command Elements, Division Headquarters, and MAW Headquarters.  A current list of billets can be found at the USMC Space Cadre milSuite site:  https:(slash)(slash)www.milsuite.mil/book/groups/usmc-space cadre.
3.  Course Description:
3.A.  Name:  NSSI Space 200 and Space 300
3.A.1.  Space 200:  Marines selected to attend Space 200 will analyze the impact of space mission areas in support of joint and coalition operations and analyze the impact of offensive and defensive space control capabilities on joint and coalition forces.  Topics include principles of systems engineering fundamentals, operational risk assessment, economic, political, and military impacts, competing space and counterspace capabilities, positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT), on navigation warfare, and use of the GPS Interference and Navigation Tool (GIANT), adversary intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, missile warning, and space and cyber threats.
3.A.2.  Space 300:  Marines selected to attend Space 300 will analyze National and DOD space-related acquisitions, policy, strategy, doctrine, and international and domestic law while considering space power contributions to national security.  Topics include space law, space policy, geopolitical foundations, space doctrine, and integration of space into operational scenarios.
3.A.3:  Additional course information can be found on the NSSI website:  https:(slash)(slash)www.afit.edu/nssi.
3.B.  Name:  ASOPS Navigation Operations (NAVOPS), Satellite Communications (SATCOM), Space Control Electronic Warfare (SCEW), and Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR).  Marines selected to attend these advanced courses at ASOPS will expand space system understanding by receiving world-class, in-depth instruction of space systems, capabilities, requirements, acquisition, strategies and policies to support joint military operations and US national security.
3.C.  Location:  Colorado Springs, Colorado
3.D.  Duration:  Space 200 is four weeks (18 training days).  Space 300 is three weeks (15 training days).  ASOPS courses are generally two weeks (10 training days).
3.E.  Available course numbers and dates (read in three columns):
SPACE 200
Course Number Check in Date  Check Out Date
SP200-18A     2 Oct 17       28 Oct 17
SP200-18B     16 Oct 17      10 Nov 17
SP200-18C     8 Jan 18       3 Feb 18
SP200-18D     22 Jan 18      16 Feb 18
SP200-18E     5 Feb 18       3 Mar 18
SP200-18F     20 Feb 18      17 Mar 18
SP200-18G     5 Mar 18       30 Apr 18
SP200-18H     19 Mar 18      13 Apr 18
SP200-18I     2 Apr 18       27 Apr 18
SP200-18J     16 Apr 18      11 May 18
SP200-18K     30 Apr 18      25 May 18
SP200-18L     14 May 18      9 Jun 18
SP200-18M     28 May 18      23 Jun 18
SP200-18N     5 Jun 18       30 Jun 18
SP200-18O     16 Jul 18      10 Aug 18
SP200-18P     30 Jul 18      24 Aug 18
SP200-18Q     13 Aug 18      8 Sep 18
SP200-18R     27 Aug 18      22 Sep 18
SPACE 300:
Course Number Check in Date  Check Out Date
SP300-18D     3 Jan 18      26 Jan 18
SP300-18F     25 Feb 18      17 Mar 18
SP300-18H     29 Apr 18      19 May 18
SP300-18J     8 Jul 18      28 Jul 18
SP300-18K     12 Aug 18      1 Sep 18
ASOPS:
Class dates and additional information is located at https:(slash)(slash)halfway.peterson.af.mil/asops/ceset/asops/.  Contact MARADMIN POC for ASOPS registration information.
3.F.  Funding:  For eligible officers in a designated MOS 0540 billet, TAD funding (travel, MIE, and lodging) is provided by TECOM for Space 200.  For Marines not in a designated MOS 0540 billet and for Space 300 and all ASOPS courses, all TAD (MIE and lodging) and travel costs must be approved by the students commander and funded by the students parent organization.  There is no registration fee to attend the courses.  Applications will include a statement that the students command is aware of the TAD funding requirement, HQMC PPO (PLI) will not provide funding.
4.  Course Prerequisites:
4.A.  Rank:  Active or reserve officers, enlisted, or civilians, preferably with 8-10 years time in service for Space 200 and 10-15 years time in service for Space 300 and ASOPS.
4.B.  MOS:  These courses are open to any MOS.  For Space 200 and 300, preference will be given to personnel in billets identified with the FMOS 0540 or 8866 designation or billets and MOS dealing with space systems and their applications to operational planning.  For the ASOPS courses, preference will be given to personnel in billets tied directly to the course requested regardless of previous space-related training or education.
4.C.  Experience:  Preference will be given to personnel who have served in or are currently serving in a space-related billet.
4.D.  Education:  There are no unique educational prerequisites for Space 200.  Undergraduate or advanced degrees in science or space-related fields may be of benefit to the prospective student and should be annotated in the application.  The student must have completed Space 200 or a related graduate degree in order to attend Space 300, which may be waived on a case-by-case basis.
4.E.  Security Clearance:  A Secret clearance is required for Space 200.  A Top Secret clearance with access to SCI is required for Space 300 or ASOPS.  These requirements cannot be waived.
5.  Application Procedures:
5.A.  For Marines at I, II, or III MEF, contact the MEF Space Operations Officers for registration procedures.  Applications received without appropriate endorsement will be returned.
I MEF:  Capt James Connolly, james.p.connolly@usmc.mil, 760-725-9267.
II MEF:  Capt Patrick Acox, patrick.acox@usmc.mil, 910-451-8512.
III MEF:  LtCol Michael McMahan, michael.mcmahan@usmc.mil, 315-622-3647.
5.B.  For all other Marines, applications will be submitted via AA Form (NAVMC 10274) to HQMC PPO, Attn:  PLI.  Required supporting documentation will be submitted as enclosures.
5.C.  Specific Instruction for Application:
5.C.1.  Block 6.  I, II, or III MEF Space Operations Officer (as appropriate).
5.C.2.  Block 7.  HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS
                  PLANS POLICIES AND OPERATIONS
                  ATTN:  PLI (MAJ E. TEICHERT)
                  3000 MARINE CORPS PENTAGON
                  WASHINGTON, DC 20350-3000
5.C.3.  Block 8.  Request to attend NSSI or ASOPS and Course Name.
5.C.4.  Block 11.  Include the following documents:
5.C.4.A.  If applicable, copies of graduation certificates for completed space operations or related courses.
5.C.4.B.  If applicable, any additional documentation substantiating space operations experience.
5.C.4.C.  Endorsement from Commander (Required).
5.C.4.D.  If applicable, appropriate MEF Space Operations Officer endorsement.
5.C.5.  Block 12.
5.C.5.A.  Course date and number.  If there is no preference, please state.  If multiple dates/courses are acceptable, provide course numbers and dates in order of preference.
5.C.5.B.  Security clearance and date adjudicated.
5.C.5.C.  Work phone number (Commercial and DSN) and email address.
5.C.5.D.  Statement indicating parent command is aware of the costs incurred (TAD only, there is no registration fee for course attendance).
5.C.5.E.  Current billet title.
5.C.5.F.  If applicable, billet title and description of duties where space operations experience was gained.  Ensure description remains unclassified.
5.C.5.G.  Time left on current contract.
5.D.  All applications for the courses are due to HQMC PPO(PLI) by 15 September 2017.  PLI will assign course dates based on priority established by PLI in consultation with MEF Space Operations Officers and student preferences.  Personnel selected will be notified via email or phone.  Completed applications should be scanned and emailed to the appropriate MEF or PPO(PLI).  Applications can be mailed to address in Block 7 and must include appropriate MEF endorsement.  Encrypted email will be used for the transmittal of any personally identifiable information or other sensitive information.
6.  This MARADMIN is application to the Marine Corps Reserve.
7.  Release authorized by GS15 Jeffrey L. DeWeese, Acting Director, Strategy and Plans Division, Plans, Policies and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps.//