R 312006Z JUL 15
MARADMIN 382/15
MSGID/GENADMIN/CG EDCOM PRES MCU QUANTICO VA//
SUBJ/ACADEMIC YEAR 2017 SCHOOL OF ADVANCED WARFIGHTING APPLICATION//
POC/MS ZENA GIBBS/ADMINISTRATIVE PROGRAM MANAGER/SAW/MCU/TEL: (703)432-5318/EMAIL: ZENA.GIBBS@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. 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 CURRICULUM FEATURES RIGOROUS CASE STUDIES, MULTIPLE PLANNING EXERCISES, COMPREHENSIVE STAFF RIDES, AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR INNOVATION, ADAPTATION, AND FUTURE WARS. SAW GRADUATES EARN THE 0505 MARINE AIR GROUND TASK FORCE (MAGTF) PLANNER SECONDARY MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY (MOS) AND A MASTER'S DEGREE IN OPERATIONAL STUDIES. GRADUATES ALSO HAVE A STRONG RECORD OF SELECTION FOR PROMOTION AND COMMAND BASED ON THEIR WELL DEVELOPED CAPABILITIES TO REASON CRITICALLY, SOLVE COMPLEX PROBLEMS, AND APPLY OPERATIONAL ART.
2. MISSION. MARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY/SAW CONVENES A SELECTION BOARD ON 17 NOV 2015 AND CHOOSES 24 STUDENTS FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2016-2017 (AY17) IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE BEST QUALIFIED APPLICANTS ARE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME 0505 MAGTF PLANNERS.
3. EXECUTION
3.A. COMMANDER'S INTENT. SELECT AND EDUCATE HIGH CALIBER OFFICERS WHO WILL SERVE AS LEAD PLANNERS IN KEY BILLETS THROUGHOUT THE OPERATING FORCES AND SUPPORTING ESTABLISHMENT. THROUGH A RIGOROUS SELECTION PROCESS, QUALIFIED MARINE, JOINT SERVICE, AND INTERNATIONAL OFFICER APPLICANTS WHO HAVE EXCELLED IN ILS PROGRAMS WILL BE CAREFULLY EVALUATED FOR INITIAL SUITABILITY AND POTENTIAL AS MAGTF PLANNERS. THE ENDSTATE IS A SAW AY17 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(UNDERSCORE)SAW(UNDERSCORE)APPLICATIONS@USMCU.EDU. PROVIDE FIRST NAME, MIDDLE INITIAL, LAST NAME, PREFERRED EMAIL ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE EVER HAD A USMC CDET OR CSC BLACKBOARD ACCOUNT.
3.B.1. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
3.B.1.A. U.S. APPLICANTS MUST HAVE A SECRET SECURITY CLEARANCE AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR A TS/SCI CLEARANCE.
3.B.1.B. UNRESTRICTED OFFICERS FROM ALL MOS FIELDS.
3.B.1.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.1.D. MARINE APPLICANTS MUST BE ILS COMPLETE OR CURRENTLYENROLLED IN GOOD STANDING AND PROJECTED TO COMPLETE RESIDENT/NON-RESIDENT ILS REQUIREMENTS NLT 8 JUNE 2016.  FAILURE TO COMPLETE ILS (RESIDENT OR NON-RESIDENT) WILL TERMINATE ELIGIBILITY. 
3.B.1.E. AIR FORCE APPLICANTS MUST HAVE COMPLETED RESIDENT INTERMEDIATE DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION (IDE) OR HAVE RESIDENT IDE CREDIT IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE. ARMY, NAVY, CIVILIAN DOD AND INTERAGENCY APPLICANTS MUST BE RESIDENT INTERMEDIATE LEVEL EDUCATION (ILE) COMPLETE.
3.B.1.F. INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS FROM NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES MUST HAVE GRADUATE-LEVEL CAPABILITY TO COMPREHEND, READ, SPEAK, AND WRITE ENGLISH (TEST OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (TOEFL): 83 ON THE INTERNET BASED TEST OR 560 ON THE PAPER BASED TEST). THE TOEFL SCORE MUST BE INCLUDED ON THE APPLICATION UNDER THE CIVILIAN EDUCATION SECTION.
3.B.1.G. INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS MUST HOLD A QUALIFYING UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE (U.S. REGIONALLY OR NATIONALLY ACCREDITED BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR EQUIVALENT).
3.B.1.H. APPLICANTS MUST BE PROMOTED TO MAJ/LCDR NLT 1 JULY 2016 AND MUST NOT HAVE PREVIOUSLY FAILED SELECTION TO LTCOL/CDR.
3.B.1.I. OFFICERS MAY NOT BE A LTCOL/CMDR OR LTCOL/CMDR (SELECT) AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION.  IF THE APPLICANT IS IN-ZONE FOR LTCOL/CMDR AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION, FAILURE TO SELECT TERMINATES SAW ELIGIBILITY.
3.B.1.J. SELECTED MARINE CORPS RESERVE, ACTIVE RESERVE, AND JOINT SERVICE RESERVE OR NATIONAL GUARD OFFICERS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE.
3.B.1.K. DUE TO HQMC'S EFFORT TO REDUCE COST ASSOCIATED WITH PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION (PCS) ORDERS, 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 2016. OFFICERS MAY CONTACT THEIR PRIMARY MOS MONITOR TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FOR PCS ORDERS.
3.B.1.L. DUE TO FISCAL CONSTRAINTS, MARINE OFFICERS ATTENDING JOINT SERVICE RESIDENT PME AT NEWPORT, FORT LEAVENWORTH, AND MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE 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 (A-ILS) SHOULD APPLY FOR ADVANCED INTERMEDIATE LEVEL PME (MARITIME ADVANCED WARFIGHTING SCHOOL (MAWS), SCHOOL OF ADVANCED MILITARY STUDIES (SAMS), OR SCHOOL OF ADVANCED AIR AND SPACE STUDIES (SAASS) AT THEIR CURRENT LOCATION. LIKEWISE, PROSPECTIVE MARINE SAMS OR SAASS STUDENTS IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION SHOULD APPLY TO SAW AS FISCAL CONSTRAINTS MAY PREVENT OFFICERS IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION FROM EXECUTING PCS ORDERS TO JOINT SERVICE A-ILS.  APPLICATIONS THAT DO NOT CONFORM TO THIS GUIDANCE WILL BE CONSIDERED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS WITH COORDINATION BETWEEN MANPOWER MANAGEMENT OFFICER ASSIGNMENTS (MMOA) AND THE SAW SELECTION PANEL.
3.B.1.M. OFFICERS SELECTED TO ASSUME COMMAND OF A RECRUITING STATION DURING FY17 ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY.
3.B.1.N. 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.2. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
3.B.2.A. APPLICANTS MUST EXPRESS INTENT TO APPLY VIA SAW’S ORGANIZATIONAL MAILBOX: MCU(UNDERSCORE)SAW(UNDERSCORE)APPLICATIONS@USMCU.EDU. APPLICANTS WILL RECEIVE USER NAME AND PASSWORD FOR ACCESS TO SAW’S BLACKBOARD SITE (CDET.BLACKBOARD.COM) VIA EMAIL ONCE INTENT TO APPLY IS RECEIVED. ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS WILL BE SUBMITTED THROUGH BLACKBOARD.
3.B.2.B. APPLICANTS MUST ACCESS AND SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS VIA BLACKBOARD: (WARNING: ALL SENSITIVE PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION (PII) MUST BE REMOVED/BLACKENED BEFORE UPLOADING TO BLACKBOARD SITE (E.G., SSN, DOB, ETC.)).
3.B.2.B.1. SAW APPLICATION FORM.
3.B.2.B.2. STANDARDIZED KNOWLEDGE TEST.
3.B.2.B.3. 500-WORD ESSAY; TOPIC PRESCRIBED ON BLACKBOARD.
3.B.2.B.4. CURRENT MASTER BRIEF SHEET OR SERVICE EQUIVALENT REVIEW OF PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE SUCH AS OFFICER RECORD BRIEF (ORB), OR SINGLE UNIT RETRIEVAL FORMATS (SURF) WITH INCLUDED OFFICER PERFORMANCE REPORTS (OPR).
3.B.2.B.5. FIVE (5) MOST RECENT OBSERVED FITNESS REPORTS OR EQUIVALENT EVALUATION.
3.B.2.B.6. COPY OF ILS DIPLOMA.
3.B.2.B.7. COLLEGE UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE TRANSCRIPTS (IF APPLICABLE). UNOFFICAL TRANSCRIPTS ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR APPLICATION. IF SELECTED TO ATTEND SAW, OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS WILL BE REQUIRED.
3.B.2.B.8. OFFICIAL PHOTO
3.B.2.B.9. RECOMMENDATION FORM FROM FACULTY ADVISOR. ADDITIONALLY, NON-RESIDENT APPLICANTS (MARINES), MUST INCLUDE REPORTING SENIOR ENDORSEMENT.
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 AY17.
3.B.3.A.2. COORDINATE WITH COLLEGE OF DISTANCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING (CDET) ON COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE DISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAM (CSCDEP) SUBMISSIONS.
3.B.3.B. CDET
3.B.3.B.1. ASSIST CSCDEP SAW APPLICANTS WITH ACQUIRING ADJUNCT FACULTY RECOMMENDATIONS. CSCDEP STUDENTS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT THEIR ADJUNCT FACULTY DIRECTLY THEN CONTACT THEIR GRADUATING REGIONAL DIRECTOR IF THEY HAVE DIFFICULTY LOCATING THEIR ADJUNCT FACULTY.
3.B.4. COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS
3.B.4.A. APPLICATION SITE (SAW BLACKBOARD) WILL BE ACTIVATED ON 30 JULY 2015.
3.B.4.A.1. UPON COMPLETION OF APPLICATION MATERIALS, CONTACT PRIMARY APPLICANT POC (SEE PARA 5.A.4.) TO CONFIRM RECEIPT.
3.B.4.B. DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS IS 8 OCT 2015.
3.B.4.C. APPLICANTS MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR AN INTERVIEW. IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS FOR OUT-OF-AREA APPLICANTS ARE NOT REQUIRED. APPLICANTS OUTSIDE THE WASHINGTON, D.C., AREA ARE ENCOURAGED TO SCHEDULE A VIDEO TELECONFERENCING (VTC) OR PHONE INTERVIEW. OUT-OF-AREA APPLICANTS WHO PREFER A FACE-TO-FACE INTERVIEW IN QUANTICO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR TRAVEL, LODGING, AND INCIDENTAL COSTS. TEMPORARY ADDITIONAL DUTY (TAD) SOLELY TO CONDUCT THE INTERVIEW IS UNAUTHORIZED.
3.B.4.D. INTERVIEW DATES FOR SAW SELECTION BOARD: 13 OCT - 13 NOV 2015.
3.B.4.E. INTERVIEW LOCATION: MARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY, MARINE CORPS BASE, QUANTICO. 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 (SEE PARAS 5.C. THROUGH 5.E.) WILL ASSIST IN THE SCHEDULING OF THESE VTC INTERVIEWS.
3.B.4.F. PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DISCUSS THEIR INTENT TO APPLY WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE MARINE CORPS MONITOR OR SERVICE ASSIGNMENTS OFFICER PRIOR TO APPLYING. SELECTED APPLICANTS MUST BE SCREENED AND ENDORSED BY MMOA OR OTHER SERVICE PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT SECTIONS. 
3.B.4.G. SELECTION RESULTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED VIA SEPARATE MARADMIN. THE GOAL FOR RELEASE OF THE SELECTION MESSAGE IS MID-DECEMBER 2015.
3.B.4.H. A-ILS GRADUATES (SAW, SAMS, SAASS, 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.
4. ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS
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@US.AF.MIL.
4.C. IF INTERESTED IN APPLYING TO MARITIME ADVANCED WARFIGHTING SCHOOL (MAWS) CONTACT ROB GARDNER, USMC (RET), COMM (401)841-2534/DSN 841-4862 OR ROBERT.GARDNER@USNWC.EDU.
5. COMMAND AND SIGNAL
5.A. POINTS OF CONTACT AT SAW:
5.A.1. SAW DIRECTOR: COL W. A. SINCLAIR, USMC, COMM 703)784-5121/DSN278 OR WAYNE.SINCLAIR@USMCU.EDU.
5.A.2. SAW DEPUTY: LTCOL T. M. JOHNSON, USMC, COMM (703)784-6890/DSN 278 OR TERRY.JOHNSON@USMCU.EDU.
5.A.3. SAW OPERATIONS OFFICER: LTCOL W. W. JOHNSON, USMC COMM (703)432-5411 OR WILLIAM.JOHNSON@USMCU.EDU.
5.A.4. PRIMARY APPLICANT POC: SAW ASSISTANT OPERATIONS OFFICER: CAPT P. D. SARAGNESE, USMC, COMM (703)784-6800 OR PETER.SARAGNESE@USMCU.EDU.
5.A.5. SAW ADMINISTRATIVE PROGRAM MANAGER: MS. ZENA GIBBS, COMM (703)432-5318/5420 OR ZENA.GIBBS@USMCU.EDU.
5.A.6. SAW ADMIN NCO: CPL MANLEY, COMM (703) 432-5420 OR DAVID.MANLEY@USMCU.EDU.
5.B. POC AT CDET: MR. DENNIS CHINAULT, COMM (703) 784-5971/DSN 278-5971 OR DENNIS.CHINAULT@USMC.MIL.
5.C. POC AT NAVAL WAR COLLEGE: COL PAUL MULLER, USMC, COMM (401)841-4862/DSN 948 OR PAUL.MULLER@USNWC.EDU;ALTERNATE IS COL ROB GARDNER, USMC (RET), COMM (401)841-2534/DSN 841-4862 OR ROBERT.GARDNER@USNWC.EDU.
5.D. POC AT ARMY CGSC IS COL JAY JOHNSON, COMM (913)684-4550/DSN 552-4550 OR JAY.E.JOHNSON6.MIL@MAIL.MIL.
5.E. POC AT AIR FORCE ACSC IS MAJ TATE BUNTZ, USMC, COMM (334)953-6592/DSN 493-6592 OR TATE.BUNTZ@US.AF.MIL.
5.F. CDET REGIONAL DIRECTORS ARE:
5.F.1. MCB CAMP LEJEUNE: NEW RIVER, NORFOLK, LITTLE CREEK,AND MCAS CHERRY POINT, MR. CESARE CARDI, EMAIL AT CESARE.CARDI@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@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@USMC.MIL, COMM(760) 725-8400/DSN 365-8400.
5.F.4. MCB HAWAII: MR. COS SPOFFORD, EMAIL AT COSMAS.SPOFFORD.CTR@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@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@USMC.MIL, COMM 011-81-6117-45-2230/2208/2500/DSN 315-645-2208/2230/2500.
5.F.7. QUANTICO, USNA, WASHINGTON DC, AND PATUXENT RIVER, MR. MARK SHIGLEY, EMAIL AT MARK.SHIGLEY@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@USMC.MIL, COMM (817)782-3207/7804/DSN 739-3207.
6. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY BGEN H. G. PRATT, COMMANDING GENERAL, EDUCATION COMMAND, PRESIDENT, MARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY.//