FY18 SUMMER FOREIGN AREA STAFF NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER (FAS) PROGRAM FULL AND PARTIAL STUDY TRACK SOLICITATION MESSAGE
Date Signed: 2/7/2018 | MARADMINS Number: 085/18
MARADMINS : 085/18
R 071712Z FEB 18
MARADMIN 085/18
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC PPO PL WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/FY18 SUMMER FOREIGN AREA STAFF NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER (FAS) PROGRAM FULL AND PARTIAL STUDY TRACK SOLICITATION MESSAGE//
REF/A/DOC/CMC PPO/20130327//
REF/B/NAVMC/1200.1A CH 1/20150908//
REF/C/GENADMIN/CMC/291829ZSEP16//
REF/D/GENADMIN/CMC/192228ZJUN17//
REF/E/GENADMIN/CMC/292132ZSEP16//
REF/F/GENADMIN/CG EDCOM PRES MCU QUANTICO VA/232332ZOCT12//
REF/G/DOC/CMC MMEA-85/20121015//
REF/H/GENADMIN/CMC/291609ZAUG17//
REF/I/GENADMIN/CMC MRA MP/101900ZOCT17//
NARR/REF A IS MCO 1520.11F, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS PROGRAMS (IAP). REF B IS NAVMC 1200.1A CH 1, THE MARINE CORPS MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY (MOS) MANUAL. REF C IS MARADMIN 520/16, FY 2017 MARINE CORPS FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY BONUS ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. REF D IS MARADMIN 316/17, FY 2018 MARINE CORPS FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY BONUS ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. REF E IS MARADMIN 521/16, MCBUL 7220 ANNOUNCING REVISED MCO 7220.52 FOR THE MARINE CORPS FOREIGN LANGUAGE BONUS PROGRAM. REF F IS MARADMIN 619/12 ANNOUNCING THE FORMAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REGIONAL, CULTURE, AND LANGUAGE FAMILIARIZATION (RCLF) PROGRAM. REF G IS MCO P1326.6D, SELECTING, SCREENING, AND PREPARING ENLISTED MARINES FOR SPECIAL DUTY ASSIGNMENTS AND INDEPENDENT DUTIES (SDAMAN). REF H IS MARADMIN 478/17, FOREIGN AREA SNCO (FAS) PROGRAM EXPERIENCE TRACK SELECTION PROCESS UPDATE. REF I IS MARADMIN 555/17, FY18 ENLISTED CARRER FORCE CONTROLS (ECFC) PROGRAM//
POC/1/MORALES, RONAL/MGYSGT/CMC PPO PL WASHINGTON DC/DSN 224-4366/703-692-4366/RONAL.MORALES@USMC.MIL.//
POC/2/PIPES, BENJAMIN/LTCOL/CMC PPO PL WASHINGTON DC/DSN 224-4365/703-692-4365/BENJAMIN.PIPES@USMC.MIL.//
POC/3/FISHER, CLAYTON/GS/CMC PPO PL WASHINGTON DC/DSN 224-0322/703-614-0322/CLAYTON.FISHER@USMC.MIL.//
POC/4/URDIALES, JUAN/GYSGT/HQMC MMEA25 QUANTICO VA/DSN 378-9273/703-432-9273/JUAN.URDIALES@USMC.MIL.//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  To solicit applications for the International Affairs Program (IAP) FY18 summer FAS Program full and partial study track selection panel, and outline procedures for application.
2.  The overall purpose of the FAS Program is to provide Language, Regional Expertise, and Culture (LREC) capabilities to MAGTF commanders at the tactical level, strengthen irregular warfare capability, and improve Marine Corps integration with the Interagency.  These voluntary specialties are open to a select group of enlisted Marines who provide commanders a way to effectively navigate the increasingly complex cultural terrain of global missions.  Marines selected for the FAS Program may serve on MARFOR, MEF, MEB, MEU, or SPMAGTF staffs, with Marine Corps Information Operations Center (MCIOC), Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group (MCSCG), civil affairs detachments, or with embassy staffs.
3.  Eligibility.
3.a. The FAS Program is open to fully qualified Staff Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) of any Primary Military Occupational Specialty (PMOS).
3.b.  The FAS full and partial study track programs are limited to active duty component Staff Sergeants (including selectees) or higher.  First Sergeants and Sergeants Major are not eligible for the FAS full and partial study track programs; however, they are encouraged to apply via the experience track program if they meet the requirements outlined in ref A. Reserve Component SNCOs are also encouraged to apply via the experience track program.  Information on selection through the experience track is outlined in refs A and H.
3.c.  Applicants must meet minimum time on station requirements as of 1 June 2018.
3.d.  Applicants must have an Associates Degree or equivalent amount of credit hours.  This requirement may be waived provided the applicant possesses sufficient professional operational experience in one of the FAS regions.
3.e.  Applicants who have a Bachelors Degree from an accredited institution will be considered for graduate study in the National Security Affairs Program at Naval Postgraduate School.
3.f.  Applicants who have regionally-focused Bachelors Degrees meet the education requirement and will be considered for the partial study track.
3.g.  Applicants must have a minimum Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) score of 95 or current Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) score of 1-1 in two of the modalities (Listening, Reading, or Speaking) to qualify.  See ref A for minimum requirements for different training tracks.
3.g.(1).  95 DLAB for category I languages:  Dutch, French, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, and Spanish.
3.g.(2).  100 DLAB for category II languages:  German, Malay, Indonesian, and Romanian.
3.g.(3).  105 DLAB for category III languages:  Czech, Hindi, Farsi, Dari, Punjabi, Polish, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Uzbek, Urdu, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.
3.g.(4).  110 DLAB for category IV languages:  Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Pashto.
3.h.  Applicants with relevant regional experience overseas should highlight this in their application.
3.i.  Marines who have participated in other USMC education programs may be eligible for the FAS full and partial study track upon completion of previous service obligations.
3.j.  SNCOs completing tours with the operating forces are particularly encouraged to apply.
3.k.  Applicants must be eligible to gain sufficient time on contract to meet the requirements outlined in refs A and I.
3.l.  Applicants must possess a secret clearance.
3.m.  Marines selected will complete appropriate RCLF training prior to completion of full and partial study track program and award of Regional FAS MOS.
4.  Application.
4.a.  FAS Program requirements can be found in chapter 3 of ref A.  Application template can be found on the IAP website at:  http:(slash)(slash)www.hqmc.marines.mil/ppo/Units/Strategy-and-Plans-Division-PL/International-Affairs-Branch-PLU/International-Affairs-Programs/IAP-Resources/.  Applicants are highly encouraged to read Chapter 3 of ref A in its entirety.
4.b.  Applications must be endorsed by the first General Officer in the chain of command.  Letters of recommendation may be included as enclosures to the application.  Meaningful endorsements and recommendations may be included as a comparative assessment of the applicants potential not only as a FAS but also address long term potential in his/her PMOS.
4.c.  Applicants may apply for as many categories as they qualify for and should specify their priorities.  Regional breakdown can be found in ref A.
4.d.  Per ref A, acceptance of orders to the FAS Program of the IAP incurs a service obligation of two years.  Applications must contain the following statement:  "If selected, I agree to remain on active duty for at least two years after completion of my training.  I agree not to request separation or retirement while participating in the program.  I further understand that this obligation begins upon completion of training in accordance with ref A."
4.e.  Application packages must be submitted NLT 30 April 2018.
4.f.  Late or incomplete nominations will not be considered.
4.g.  Digital (pdf) copies of the entire package are the standard submission.  Any documents requiring signature (endorsements, letters of recommendation, etc.) must be signed prior to conversion to pdf.
4.h.  The completed packages must be submitted electronically using the Special Duty Assignment/Miscellaneous Reenlistment Extension Lateral Move (RELM) in the Total Force Retention System (TFRS) via the normal RELM routing chain to CMC (MMEA-25).  Unit Career Planners have access to the TFRS program.  The enclosures to the RELM will contain the following:
4.h.(1).  Application, template in ref A and IAP website.
4.h.(2).  Personal essay, requirements in ref A and IAP website.
4.h.(3).  Copies of official transcripts.
4.h.(4).  Current promotion style photograph, less than 6 months old.
4.h.(5).  Copies of any records of adversity.
4.i.  Label all pdf files with "Rank.Last.First.Region.Language" (e.g. MGySgt.Morales.Ronal.Africa.French).
4.j.  HQMC (MMEA-25) will evaluate assignability considerations of each package before submitting them to (PPO-PLU) for final decision.
5.  Questions concerning the International Affairs Program can be directed to POCs listed above.
6.  Release authorized by GS15 Jeffrey L. DeWeese, Acting Director, Strategy and Plans Division, Plans, Policies and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps.//