R 091403Z SEP 13
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARMADIN 445/13
MSGID/GENADMIN/CG EDCOM PRES MCU QUANTICO VA//
SUBJ/ACADEMIC YEAR 2015 SCHOOL OF ADVANCED WARFIGHTING APPLICATION//
POC/MS ZENA GIBBS/ADMINISTRATIVE PROGRAM MANAGER/SAW/MCU/TEL: (703) 432-5318/EMAIL: ZENA.GIBBS(AT)USMC.MIL //
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  SITUATION.  THE SCHOOL OF ADVANCED WARFIGHTING (SAW) IS AN ADVANCED INTERMEDIATE LEVEL SCHOOL (A-ILS) THAT PRODUCES OFFICERS QUALIFIED TO FILL HIGH IMPACT SERVICE AND JOINT PLANNING BILLETS.  GRADUATES HAVE A STRONG RECORD OF SELECTION FOR PROMOTION AND COMMAND BASED ON THEIR WELL DEVELOPED CAPABILITY TO REASON CRITICALLY, SOLVE COMPLEX PROBLEMS, AND APPLY OPERATIONAL ART.  THE PROGRAM ENHANCES OFFICERS' ABILITIES TO DERIVE CRITICAL INSIGHTS FROM LARGE QUANTITIES OF INFORMATION, MAKE TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE DECISIONS, COMMUNICATE SUCCINCTLY BOTH VERBALLY AND IN WRITING, AND COLLABORATE TO PRODUCE COGENT ORDERS.  THE ELEVEN-MONTH CURRICULUM FEATURES RIGOROUS CASE STUDIES, MULTIPLE PLANNING EXERCISES, EXTENSIVE STAFF RIDES, AND A CONSIDERATION OF FUTURE WAR.  SAW GRADUATES EARN THE 0505 MAGTF PLANNER SECONDARY MOS AND A MASTER'S DEGREE IN OPERATIONAL STUDIES.
2.  MISSION.  MARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY/SAW CONVENES A SELECTION BOARD ON 13 NOV 2013 TO PICK 24 STUDENTS FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2014-2015 (AY15) IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE BEST QUALIFIED APPLICANTS ARE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME 0505 MAGTF PLANNERS.
3.  EXECUTION
3.A.  COMMANDER'S INTENT.  EDUCATE HIGH CALIBER OFFICERS WHO WILL SERVE AS STAFF PLANNERS IN KEY BILLETS THROUGHOUT THE OPERATING FORCES AND SUPPORTING ESTABLISHMENT.  A CRITICAL FIRST STEP IN THAT PROCESS IS THE COMPETITIVE SELECTION OF QUALIFIED MARINE, JOINT SERVICE, AND INTERNATIONAL OFFICER APPLICANTS WHO HAVE EXCELLED IN ILS PROGRAMS.  THE ENDSTATE IS A SAW AY15 STUDENT BODY COMPRISED OF OFFICERS WHO DEMONSTRATE THE CHARACTER, COMPETENCE, AND CREATIVITY TO EXCEL AS PLANNERS, STAFF OFFICERS, AND FUTURE COMMANDERS.
3.B.  CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS.  OFFICERS MEETING THE ADMISSIONS CRITERIA DESCRIBED IN THIS MARADMIN ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT THEIR INTENT TO APPLY THROUGH THE SAW ORGANIZATIONAL MAILBOX :  MCU_SAW(AT) USMC.MIL.   PROVIDE FIRST NAME, LAST NAME AND WETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE EVER HAD A USMC CDET OR CSC BLACKBOARD ACCOUNT.
3.B.1.  APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
3.B.1.A.  APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT A COMPLETED SAW APPLICATION VIA THE SAW ORGANIZATIONAL MAILBOX, MCU_SAW (AT) USMC.MIL, WHICH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS:
3.B.1.A.1. A CURRENT MASTER BRIEF SHEET OR SERVICE EQUIVALENT REVIEW OF PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE (ORB, OR SURF WITH INCLUDED OPR).
3.B.1.A.2.  MARINE APPLICANTS WHO ARE GRADUATES OF NON-RESIDENT CSC MUST ALSO SUBMIT A COPY OF THEIR ILS DIPLOMA.
3.B.1.A.3.  APPLICANTS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN OR ARE GRADUATES OF NON-RESIDENT CSC ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE WRITTEN ENDORSEMENTS FROM BOTH THEIR REPORTING SENIOR AND THEIR ADJUNCT FACULTY (AF).
3.B.1.A.4.  APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT COPIES OF THEIR COLLEGE UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE TRANSCRIPT(S), UNOFFICAL TRANSCRIPTS ARE ACCEPTABLE.  IF SELECTED TO ATTEND SAW, OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS WILL BE REQUIRED.
3.B.1.A.5.  APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT AN OFFICIAL PHOTO VIA E-MAIL; INCLUDE LAST NAME, FIRST NAME, PHOTO IN THE SUBJECT LINE.
3.B.1.B.   ALL APPLICANTS MUST ACCESS THE SAW BLACKBOARD SITE TO VIEW ESSAY TOPIC AND SUBMIT A WRITTEN ESSAY OF NO MORE THAN 500 WORDS.  THE TOPIC FOR THE ESSAY IS PRESCRIBED IN THE SAW APPLICATION LOCATED ON THE SAW BACKBOARD SITE: CDET.BLACKBOARD.COM.  APPLICANT WILL RECEIVE USER NAME AND PASSWORD FOR ACCESS.  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE SENT TO THE STUDENT REGARDING A SECOND ESSAY REQUIREMENT.
3.B.2 STUDENTS  APPLYING FOR THE SAW PROGRAM MUST MEET THE BELOW ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
3.B.2.A. U.S. APPLICANTS MUST HAVE A SECRET SECURITY CLEARANCE AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR A TS/SCI CLEARANCE.
3.B.2.B.  OPEN TO APPLICANTS FROM ALL MOS FIELDS AND UNRESTRICTED OFFICERS ONLY.
3.B.2.C.  SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM (SEP)/ADVANCED DEGREE PROGRAM (ADP) GRADUATES WHO HAVE COMPLETED AN INITIAL SEP/ADP PAYBACK ASSIGNMENT ARE ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND SAW.
3.B.2.D.  APPLICANTS MUST BE ILS COMPLETE OR CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN GOOD STANDING AND PROJECTED TO COMPLETE RESIDENT/NON-RESIDENT ILS REQUIREMENTS NLT 4 JUNE 2014.  FAILURE TO COMPLETE ILS (RESIDENT OR NON-RESIDENT) WILL TERMINATE ELIGIBILITY.
3.B.2.E.  INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS FROM NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES MUST HAVE GRADUATE-LEVEL CAPABILITY TO COMPREHEND, READ, SPEAK, AND WRITE ENGLISH (TOEFL: 83 ON THE INTERNET BASED TEST OR 220 ON COMPUTER BASED TEST).  THE TOEFL SCORE MUST BE INCLUDED ON THE APPLICATION UNDER THE CIVILIAN EDUCATION SECTION.
3.B.2.F.  AIR FORCE APPLICANTS MUST HAVE COMPLETED RESIDENT IDE OR HAVE RESIDENT IDE CREDIT IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE.  ARMY, NAVY, CIVILIAN DOD AND INTERAGENCY APPLICANTS MUST BE RESIDENT ILE COMPLETE.
3.B.2.G.  APPLICANTS MUST BE PROMOTED TO MAJ NLT THE BEGINNING OF THE 2015 ACADEMIC YEAR  (1 JULY 2014) AND MUST NOT HAVE PREVIOUSLY FAILED SELECTION TO LTCOL.
3.B.2.H.  OFFICERS MAY NOT BE A LTCOL OR LTCOL (SELECT) AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION.  IF THE APPLICANT IS IN-ZONE FOR LTCOL AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION, FAILURE TO SELECT TERMINATES SAW ELIGIBILITY.
3.B.2.I.  SELECTED MARINE CORPS RESERVE, ACTIVE RESERVE, AND JOINT SERVICE RESERVE OR NATIONAL GUARD OFFICERS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE.
3.B.2.J.  DUE TO THE CMC'S EFFORT TO REDUCE PCS COSTS AND TURBULENCE, AND IAW THE REFERENCE, IF PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION (PCS) ORDERS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND SAW, MARINE OFFICERS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION UNLESS THEY HAVE SATISFIED TIME ON STATION REQUIREMENTS AND ARE ELIGIBLE TO EXECUTE PCS ORDERS DURING THE SUMMER OF 2014.  OFFICERS MAY CONTACT THEIR PRIMARY MOS MONITOR TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FOR PCS ORDERS.
3.B.2.K.  DUE TO FISCAL CONSTRAINTS, MARINE OFFICERS ATTENDING JOINT SERVICE RESIDENT PME AT NEWPORT, FORT LEAVENWORTH, AND MAXWELL AFB WILL NOT NORMALLY BE ALLOWED TO PCS TO QUANTICO FOR SAW.  MARINE OFFICERS AT THOSE JOINT SERVICE SCHOOLS WHO DESIRE TO ATTEND AN ADVANCED INTERMEDIATE LEVEL SCHOOL SHOULD APPLY FOR ADVANCED INTERMEDIATE LEVEL PME (MAWS, SAMS, OR SAASS) AT THEIR CURRENT LOCATION.  LIKEWISE, PROSPECTIVE MAWS, SAMS, OR SAASS STUDENTS IN THE NATIONAL CAPITOL REGION SHOULD APPLY TO SAW AS FISCAL CONSTRAINTS WILL PREVENT OFFICERS IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION FROM EXECUTING PCS ORDERS TO ONE OF THESE SCHOOLS.  APPLICATIONS THAT DO NOT CONFORM TO THIS GUIDANCE WILL ONLY BE CONSIDERED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS WITH COORDINATION BETWEEN MMOA AND THE SAW SELECTION PANEL.
3.B.2.L.  OFFICERS SELECTED TO ASSUME COMMAND OF A RECRUITING STATION DURING FY15 ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY.
3.B.2.M.  OFFICERS SELECTED BY THE COMMANDANT'S PROFESSIONAL INTERMEDIATE LEVEL EDUCATION BOARD AND SELECTED BY THE SAW SELECTION PANEL WILL EXECUTE ORDERS TO SAW.
3.B.3.  TASKS
3.B.3.A.  SAW
3.B.3.A.1.  ESTABLISH A SELECTION PANEL IN ORDER TO SELECT THE BEST-QUALIFIED APPLICANTS FOR AY15.
3.B.3.A.2.  COORDINATE WITH CDET ON CSCDEP SUBMISSIONS.
3.B.3.B.  CDET
3.B.3.B.1.  ASSIST CSCDEP SAW APPLICANTS WITH ACQUIRING ADJUNCT FACULTY APPLICATION ENDORSEMENTS.
3.B.4.  COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS
3.B.4.A.  FURTHER INFORMATION ON SAW AND THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS AVAILABLE AT THE MCU WEBSITE ( WWW.MCU.USMC.MIL/SAW/SITEPAGES/RECOMMENDATIONS.ASPX).
3.B.4.B.  APPLICATION WILL OPEN 10 AUGUST 2013.
3.B.4.C.  DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS IS 10 OCT 2013.
3.B.4.D.  RECOMMENDATIONS ARE REQUIRED FROM THE REPORTING SENIOR AND THE ADJUNCT OR RESIDENT FACULTY ADVISOR/INSTRUCTOR.  RECOMMENDATION FORMS CAN BE FOUND AT   WWW.MCU.USMC.MIL/SAW/SITEPAGES/ADMISSION.ASPX.  RECOMMENDATIONS NEED TO BE SENT TO MCU_SAW(AT) USMC.MIL WITH A SUBJECT LINE OF "RECOMMENDATION FOR APPLICANT NAME".
3.B.4.E.  APPLICANTS MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR AN INTERVIEW.  INTERVIEWS IN PERSON FOR OUT OF AREA APPLICANTS ARE NOT REQUIRED.  APPLICANTS OUTSIDE THE WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA ARE ENCOURAGED TO SCHEDULE A VTC OR PHONE INTERVIEW.  OUT OF AREA APPLICANTS WHO PREFER A FACE TO FACE INTERVIEW IN QUANTICO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN TRAVEL, LODGING, AND INCIDENTAL COSTS.  TAD SOLELY TO CONDUCT THE INTERVIEW IS HIGHLY DISCOURAGED.  ONCE APPLICANT IS COMPLETE WITH THE APPLICATION EMAIL MCU_SAW(AT) USMC.MIL TO SCHEDULE AN INTERVIEW.  "LAST NAME, FIRST NAME, SCHEDULE INTERVIEW" IN SUBJECT LINE.
3.B.4.F.  INTERVIEW DATES FOR SAW SELECTION BOARD: 22 OCT - 7 NOV 2013.
3.B.4.G.  INTERVIEW LOCATION: SAW, BLDG 3070, ROOM 5, 3070 MOREELL AVENUE QUANTICO, VA. 22134.  NO ON SITE INTERVIEWS WILL BE CONDUCTED AT THE USA COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE, NAVAL WAR COLLEGE, OR AIR COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE.  JOINT SERVICE APPLICANTS FROM THESE SITES WILL CONDUCT VTC OR PHONE INTERVIEWS.  MARINE POCS AT THE ABOVE LOCATIONS ARE LISTED IN PARA FIVE; THEY WILL ASSIST IN THE SCHEDULING OF THESE VTC INTERVIEWS.
3.B.4.H.  POTENTIAL APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DISCUSS THEIR INTENT TO APPLY WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE MARINE CORPS MONITOR OR SERVICE ASSIGNMENTS OFFICER PRIOR TO APPLYING.  SELECTED APPLICANTS WILL BE SCREENED AND ENDORSED BY MMOA OR OTHER SERVICE PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT SECTIONS.
3.B.4.I.  SELECTION RESULTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED BY SEPARATE MARADMIN.  THE GOAL FOR RELEASE OF THE SELECTION MESSAGE IS MID-DECEMBER 2013.
3.B.4.J.  PLANNING SCHOOL GRADUATES (SAW, SAMS, SAAS, MAWS) WILL NORMALLY COMPLETE A TWO TO THREE-YEAR UTILIZATION TOUR IN BMOS 0505 UPON GRADUATION.
GRADUATES WHO ARE SELECTED TO COMMAND BY THE LTCOL COMMAND SCREENING BOARD MAY HAVE THEIR 0505 TOUR CURTAILED.  OFFICERS WHO ARE SELECTED FOR LTCOL AFTER APPLYING TO SAW AND WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR COMMAND SCREENING WHILE AT SAW WILL BE ALLOWED TO COMPETE FOR COMMAND IF THE AVAILABLE INVENTORY OF MAGTF PLANNERS IS SUFFICIENT TO MEET USMC 0505 MANNING REQUIREMENTS.  THE FY15 COMMAND SCREENING ANNOUNCEMENT MARADMIN WILL CONTAIN MAGTF PLANNER STUDENT ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION.
4.  ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS.  APPLICATION LINKS AND FORMS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT THE SAW WEBSITE:  WWW.MCU.USMC.MIL/SAW/SITEPAGES/ADMISSION.ASPX
4.A.  IF INTERESTED IN APPLYING TO THE ARMY SCHOOL OF ADVANCED MILITARY STUDIES (SAMS) CONTACT MRS. CANDACE HAMM, COMM (913) 758-3302/DSN 585.
4.B. IF INTERESTED IN APPLYING TO THE AIR FORCE SCHOOL OF ADVANCED AIR AND SPACE STUDIES (SAASS) CONTACT MS. SHEILA MCKITT, COMM (334) 953-5155/DSN 493 OR SHEILA.MCKITT(AT)US.AF.MIL
4.C.  IF INTERESTED IN APPLYING TO MARITIME ADVANCED WARFIGHTING SCHOOL (MAWS) CONTACT COL ROB GARDNER, USMC (RET), COMM (401)841-2534/DSN 841-4862 OR ROBERT.GARDNER(AT)USNWC.EDU.
5.  COMMAND AND SIGNAL
5.A.  POC AT SAW IS COL M. F. MORRIS, USMC, DIRECTOR, SAW, COMM (703)784-5121/DSN 278 OR MICHAEL.F.MORRIS(AT)USMC.MIL.
5.A.1 SAW SUPPORT CAN BE FOUND VIA LTCOL M. MCMILLEN, USMC, DEPUTY, COMM (703)784-6890/DSN 278 OR MARIA.MCMILLEN(AT)USMC.MIL; 1STLT P. SARAGNESE, USMC, OPSO, COMM (703)784-6800 OR PETER.SARAGNESE(AT)USMC.MIL; OR MS. ZENA GIBBS, ADMINSTRATIVE ASSISTANT COMM (703)432-5318 OR ZENA.GIBBS(AT)USMC.MIL.
5.B.  POC AT CDET IS MR. DENNIS CHINAULT, COMM (703) 784- 5971/DSN 278-5971 OR DENNIS.CHINAULT(AT)USMC.MIL.
5.C.  POC AT NAVAL WAR COLLEGE IS COL JAMES GANNON, USMC, COMM (401) 841-4862/DSN 948 OR JAMES.GANNON (AT)USNWC.EDU; ALTERNATE IS COL ROB GARDNER, USMC (RET), COMM (401)841-2534/DSN 841-4862 OR ROBERT.GARDNER(AT)USNWC.EDU.
5.D.  POC AT ARMY CGSC IS COL DANIEL LONGWELL, COMM (913)684-4550/DSN 552-4550 OR DANIEL.E.LONGWELL.MIL (AT)MAIL.MIL.
5.E.  POC AT AIR FORCE ACSC IS LTCOL ALLEN GILBERT USMC, COMM (334)953-6592/DSN 493-6592 OR ALLEN.GILBERT.1(AT)US.AF.MIL.
5.F.  CDET REGIONAL COORDINATORS ARE:
5.F.1.  MCB CAMP LEJEUNE: NEW RIVER, NORFOLK, LITTLE CREEK, AND MCAS CHERRY POINT, MR. CESARE CARDI, EMAIL AT CESARE.CARDI(AT)USMC.MIL, COMM (910)451-9309/DSN 751-9309.
5.F.2.  MATSG PENSACOLA: TAMPA, MCAS BEAUFORT, NAS MERIDIAN, MACDILL AFB, EGLIN AFB, MCLB ALBANY, MCRD PARIS IS, AND NAS WHITING, MR. ART ADKINS, EMAIL AT ARTHUR.ADKINS(AT)USMC.MIL, COMM (850)452-9460 EXT.3052/DSN 922-9460 EXT. 3052.
5.F.3.  MCB CAMP PENDLETON: BARSTOW, 29 PALMS, AND BRIDGEPORT, MR. JEFF WILLIS, EMAIL AT JEFFREY.R.WILLIS(AT)USMC.MIL, COMM (760) 725-8400/3473/DSN 365-8400/3473.
5.F.4.  MCB HAWAII: MR. COS SPOFFORD, EMAIL AT COSMAS.SPOFFORD.CTR(AT)USMC.MIL, COMM (808) 257-1956/1165/ DSN 457-1956/1165.
5.F.5.  MCAS MIRAMAR, YUMA, MCRD SAN DIEGO, AND NPS, MR. GARY DAHL, EMAIL AT CONRAD.DAHL(AT)USMC.MIL, COMM (858) 577- 1373/1374/DSN 267-1373/1374.
5.F.6.  MCB JAPAN: OKINAWA, MARFOR KOREA, IWAKUNI, AND CAMP FUJI, MR. JIM HOPKINS, EMAIL AT JAMES.P.HOPKINS1(AT)USMC.MIL, COMM 011-81-6117-45-2230/2208/2500/DSN 645-2208/2230/2500.
5.F.7.  QUANTICO, USNA, WASHINGTON DC, AND PATUXENT RIVER, MR. MARK SHIGLEY, EMAIL AT MARK.SHIGLEY (AT)USMC.MIL, COMM (703)784-2625/DSN 278-2625.
5.F.8.  JRB FORT WORTH, NEW ORLEANS, NAS CORPUS CHRISTI, NAS KINGSVILLE, KANSAS CITY, FT SILL, AND FT LEONARD WOOD, MR. MICHAEL MACIEL, EMAIL AT MICHAEL.MACIEL(AT)USMC.MIL, COMM (817)782-3207/804/DSN 739-3207.
6.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY BGEN  T.  D.  WEIDLEY, COMMANDING GENERAL, EDUCATION  COMMAND, PRESIDENT, MARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY.//