SOLICITING NOMINATIONS FOR THE FY21 NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE INSTITUTE COURSES
Date Signed: 9/3/2020 | MARADMINS Number: 508/20
MARADMINS : 508/20

R 031330Z SEP 20
MARADMIN 508/20
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC PPO PL WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/SOLICITING NOMINATIONS FOR THE FY21 NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE INSTITUTE (NSSI) COURSES//
REF/A/DOC/SECDEF U17370/01/18OCT2001//
AMPN/REF A PROMULGATED SECDEF GUIDANCE REGARDING CHANGES TO NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION.//
POC1/J.W. PROSS/MAJOR/PPO PLX/-/TEL: (703)692-4321/EMAIL: JOHN.W.PROSS@USMC.MIL
POC2/M.C. TRENT/CAPTAIN/PPO PLX/-/TEL: (703)692-0702/EMAIL: MORGAN.TRENT@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  The purpose of this MARADMIN is to solicit nominees to attend FY21 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.
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(PLX) provides information on space training opportunities and serves as a liaison to NSSI for attendance at these courses.  The complexity of current operations and the increasing importance of space-based capabilities has created a corresponding demand for a workforce of formally trained personnel within the Marine Corps in both the operating forces and supporting establishment.  There are over 75 billets with the 0540 FMOS across the Marine Corps.
3.  Course Descriptions and Information:
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; position, navigation, and timing (PNT); navigation warfare; use of the GPS Interference and Navigation Tool (GIANT); adversary intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities; missile warning; and space and cyberspace 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.  Location:  Colorado Springs, Colorado
3.C.  Duration:  Space 200 is four weeks (18 training days).  Space 300 is three weeks (15 training days).
3.D.  NSSI requires all students to abide by Department of Defense Travel Restrictions, which can be found at:  https:(slash)(slash)www.defense.gov.
3.E.  Available course numbers and dates (read in four columns): 
SPACE 200:
Course Number Check in Date  Check Out Date  Available Seats
SP200-21A     5 Oct 20       30 Oct 20       1
SP200-21B     14 Oct 20      6 Nov 20        1
SP200-21C     4 Jan 21       29 Jan 21       1
SP200-21E     1 Feb 21       26 Feb 21       1
SP200-21H     16 Mar 21      8 Apr 21        1
SP200-21I     30 Mar 21      22 Apr 21       1
SP200-21J     13 Apr 21      6 May 21        1
SP200-21L     10 May 21      4 Jun 21        1
SP200-21N     7 Jun 21       30 Jun 21       1
SP200-21P     27 Jul 21      19 Aug 21       1
SP200-21R     23 Aug 21      15 Sep 21       1
SPACE 300:
Course Number Check in Date  Check Out Date  Available Seats
SP300-21B     29 Oct 20      19 Nov 20       1
SP300-21D     6 Jan 21       28 Jan 21       1
SP300-21F     1 Mar 21       19 Mar 21       1
SP300-21H     26 Apr 21      14 May 21       1

Travel dates are one day before and after check in and out dates.  Applicants should remain flexible as course dates and quotas are subject to change due to COVID-19 impacts.
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, all TAD (travel, MIE and lodging) and travel costs must be approved by the student’s commander and funded by the student’s parent organization.  There is no registration fee to attend the courses. Applications will include a statement that the student command is aware of the TAD funding requirement; HQMC PPO(PLX) will not guarantee 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.
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, specifically within the MEFs, MIGs, and MOSs dealing with space systems.
4.C.  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. In order to attend Space 300, the student must have completed Space 200 or a related graduate degree.
4.D.  Security Clearance:  A Secret clearance is required for Space 200.  A Top Secret clearance with access to SCI is required for Space 300.  These requirements cannot be waived.
5.  Application Procedures:
5.A.  All applications will be submitted via AA Form (NAVMC 10274) to PPO/PLX and shall include an endorsement from the first O6 or GS-15 in the applicant’s chain of command describing how the student’s attendance will benefit their command and acknowledgement that funding may not be guaranteed.  Applications will then be routed to the applicant’s respective MEF Space Operations Officer or MARFORCYBER STO Chief for prioritization. Each MEF Space Operations Officer or MARFORCYBER STO Chief should send their respective command’s applications in a single file with prioritizations clearly delineated.  MEF Space Operations Officers and MARFORCYBER STO Chief Points of Contact are listed below:
I MEF:  Capt Robert Costello, robert.costello@usmc.mil, 760-725-9267.
II MEF:  Maj Robert Manuel, robert.manuel@usmc.mil, 910-451-8860.
III MEF:  Capt Nicholas Koeppen, nicholas.koeppen@usmc.mil, 315-622-3647.
MARFORCYBER:  Mr. Gregory Winger, gvwinge@nsa.gov, 667-812-1847.
5.B.  For all other Marines, applications will be submitted, with appropriate O6 endorsement, to PPO/PLX.
5.C.  Specific Instruction for Application:
5.C.1.  Block 6.  I, II, or III MEF Space Operations Officer or MARFORCYBER STO Chief (as appropriate).
5.C.2.  Block 7.  HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS
                  PLANS POLICIES AND OPERATIONS
                  ATTN:  PLX (MAJ J. PROSS)
                  3000 MARINE CORPS PENTAGON
                  WASHINGTON, DC 20350-3000
5.C.3.  Block 8.  Request to attend NSSI and Course Name.
5.C.4.  Block 11.  Include endorsement from the first O6 or GS-15 in the applicant’s chain of command.
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.  State if the position has a Billet Military Occupational Specialty (BMOS) of 0540, Additional Skill Designator (ASD) of 0540, or current billet structure does not reflect an 0540 requirement.
5.C.5.F.  Time left on current contract.
5.C.5.G.  Designate whether Active Duty or Reserve.
5.D.  All applications for the courses are due to PPO/PLX by 17 September 2020.  PPO/PLX will assign course dates based on priority in consultation with MEF Space Operations Officers, MARFORCYBER STO Chief, and student preferences.  Personnel selected will be notified via email or phone. Applications can be mailed to address in Block 7.  Encrypted email will be used for the transmittal of any personally identifiable information or other sensitive information.
6.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve.
7.  Release authorized by Maj Gen Paul J. Rock, Jr, Director, Strategy and Plans Division, Plans, Policies and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps.//