R 221431Z DEC 17
MARADMIN 698/17
MSGID/GENADMIN/CG MCCDC QUANTICO VA//
SUBJ/STRATEGY AND POLICY COURSE FISCAL YEAR 2018 ANNOUNCEMENT MESSAGE//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/JFTR//
REF/B/MARADMIN: 178/10//
NARR/REF A IS THE JOINT FEDERAL TRAVEL REGULATIONS (JFTR). REF B IS THE TRAINING AND EDUCATION COMMAND WORLDWIDE TRAVEL ACCOUNT PROCEDURAL GUIDANCE.//
POC/TWAYNE HICKMAN/CIV/UNIT: MCU/EDCOM/MIG/TEL: 703-432-5541/DSN:378-5541/EMAIL: TWAYNE.HICKMAN@USMCU.EDU//
Gentext/Remarks/1.  Purpose.  Marine Corps University (MCU)/Education  Command is soliciting student nominations for the Fiscal Year 2018 Strategy and Policy Course (SPC).  The course focuses on the interface between strategy and policy.  The course will run from 23 April to 11 May 2018 (SPC 1-18) in Quantico, Virginia.  The SPC is an advanced professional military education opportunity for colonels, Navy captains, and GS-15s designed to bridge the gap  between Top-Level School (TLS) and the Executive Education Program.  This course is intended to further educate and develop colonels to think critically at the interface of strategy and policy and lead effectively in the joint/coalition warfighting arena.
2.  Background.  The SPC is taught by the faculty of MCU, joint and interagency subject matter experts, and the Marine Air Ground Task Force Instructional Group (MIG) using case studies, panels, seminars, staff rides, directed readings, distinguished military and civilian speakers, site visits, etc.  The SPC is taught in four phases: shaping, foundations, planning and operational art, and application.
2.A.  Phase zero, shaping, is a four week period of instruction prior to the students arrival at Quantico, Virginia.  This phase is executed via modular object-oriented dynamic learning environment and consists of four interactive online lessons.  The intent is to provide an opportunity for students to read, reflect, discuss, and write about topics related to national strategy and Marine Corps operations in the joint/coalition arena.  These lessons are executed weekly and will require some reading, discussion, journaling, and writing.
2.B.  Phase one, foundations, opens with framing the strategic and current operating environment and is followed by sessions on criticalthinking and decision making, creative thinking, design, national security strategy, national military strategy, the whole of government, and employing forces in the joint/coalition arena.2.C.  Phase two, planning and operational art, focuses on planning, operational design, and operational art.  Topics include Marine Corps and related joint doctrine, component and command relationships, interagency and coalition operations, fighting the MAGTF, role of the commander, red teaming, information operations, and cyber warfare.
2.D.  Phase three, application, reinforces the previous phases with a combination of interactive exercises, case studies, staff rides, guided discussions/seminars with strategic leaders, and on-site engagements at key centers of policy and strategy in the national capital region.
3.  Student eligibility.  Colonels, Navy captains, or GS-15s who are filling or are projected to fill a key staff billet in any upper-level United States Marine Corps Headquarters, activity, agency operating forces, supporting establishment, or other Headquarters Marine Corps entities (Marine Corps Systems Command, Division of Public Affairs, Logistics Command, etc.).  The goal is to educate, develop, and prepare students to serve in key billets with increased strategic and policy level requirements, thereby increasing capability within the students command or activity.  The SPC student body will be limited to 12 students and will be filled by selecting nominees with the appropriate experience level and skill sets.
3.A.  Students must be graduates of TLS or a TLS equivalent fellowship and preferably have completed a lieutenant colonel command or equivalent.
3.B.  Students must possess a top secret/sensitive compartmented information (TS/SCI) clearance with eligibility valid through 31 May 2018.  Additional security clearance requirements/procedures will be sent via separate correspondence once nominees are selected for attendance.
3.C.  The SPC requires general officer (GO), flag officer (FO), or senior executive service (SES) nomination.
4.  Submit nominations via email to the point of contact (POC) no later than 15 February 2018.  MCU will confirm nominations and forward registration and information packages to all approved students via email by 8 March 2018 for SPC 1-18.  Submissions should be in the following format and should include an attached professional biography.
4.A.  Last name, first name, middle initial.
4.B.  Grade.
4.C.  Command.
4.D.  Current and follow on billet (if known).
4.E.  Work phone (defense switched network and commercial).
4.F.  Current clearance information to include TS/SCI eligibility, any active caveats, expiration date, and a command security POC.
4.G.  Date of birth and electronic data interchange personal identifier.
4.H.  Email address (.mil or work agency email only).
4.I.  Nominating GO/FO/SES and POC from the nominees command (name, phone number, and email address).
4.J.  Professional biography.
5.  Orders.  All attendees shall travel on non-reporting orders.  are the responsibility of the attendee's parent command.  Government billeting is available on a limited basis.  Messing is available but not conducive to training, so it is not directed.
6.  Funding and travel
6.A.  Active component.  Commanding General, Training and Education Command (TECOM) formal schools training support will fund travel andper diem to include lodging, meals, and incidental expenses for active component attendees.  Local travel will not be funded.  Marine MIG will submit requests for funding to TECOM upon closing of the registration period.  Approved funding letters will be released via separate correspondence.
6.B.  Reserve component.  Marine Forces Reserve will fund travel and per diem for Selected Marine Corps Reserve and active reserve attendees.
6.C.  Civilians and other service nominees will be funded by MCU on a case by case basis.  Funding information will be provided following selection and publication of student attendees.  All travel will be in accordance with reference a.  POC for reserve officers will be Mr. David S. Roberts email:  david.s.roberts@usmc.mil.
7.  For additional information on the SPC visit the MCU website at https:(slant)(slant)www.usmcu.edu/courses/strategy-and-policy-course:  under the PME courses menu.
8.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General Robert S. Walsh, Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command.//