SOLICITING NOMINATIONS FOR THE FY17 NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE INSTITUTE (NSSI) AND AIR FORCE ADVANCED SPACE OPERATIONS SCHOOL (ASOPS) COURSES
Date Signed: 8/25/2016 | MARADMINS Number: 445/16
MARADMINS : 445/16

R 251815Z AUG 16
MARADMIN 445/16
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC PPO PL WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/SOLICITING NOMINATIONS FOR THE FY17 NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE INSTITUTE (NSSI) AND AIR FORCE ADVANCED SPACE OPERATIONS SCHOOL (ASOPS) COURSES//
REF/A/DOC/SECDEF U17370/01/18OCT2001//
AMPN/REF A PROMULGATED SECDEF GUIDANCE REGARDING CHANGES TO NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION.//
POC1/D.M. GARCIA/MAJOR/PPO PLI/-/TEL:(703)692-4322 DSN 222/EMAIL:DAVID.M.GARCIA1(AT)USMC.MIL//
POC2/E.M. TEICHERT/MAJOR/PPO PLI/-/TEL:(703)692-4321 DSN 222/EMAIL:ERIKA.TEICHERT(AT)USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. The purpose of this MARADMIN is to solicit nominees to attend FY17 basic and advanced space operations courses. The National Security Space Institute's courses include Space 200 and Space 300 courses. Space 200 is a four-week academic course sponsored by Air University 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 sponsored by Air University designed to provide training for mid- to senior-grade officers, enlisted, and civilian personnel. ASOPS courses are designed to provide advanced training in a specific field and are open to multiple specialties.
2. Background: In order to grow and maintain a high level of expertise in space knowledge, the DOD implemented a space professional strategy. 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 a key element to support the Space Cadre. HQMC PPO(PLI) provides information on space training opportunities and serves as a liaison to NSSI and ASOPS for attendance at these courses. The complexity of current operations and the increasing importance of space-based capabilities (friendly, neutral, and adversary, military and commercial) have created a corresponding demand for a cadre of formally trained personnel within the Marine Corps, including at the MEF and MARFORs. There are over 50 billets across the Marine Corps identified in TFSMS where the 0540 MOS are highly useful, to include billets at the MEF and MEU Command Elements, Division Headquarters, and MAW Headquarters. 
3. Course Description:
3.A. Name: NSSI Space 200 and Space 300
3.A.1. Space 200: Marines selected to attend Space 200 will apply DOD space acquisitions policies and mission design principles, 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, positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT), with an emphasis on navigation warfare, and use of the GPS Interference and Navigation Tool (GIANT), adversary intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, missile warning, and space and cyber 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's 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)www2.peterson.af.mil/nssi/public/
3.B. Name: ASOPS Navigation Operations (NAVOPS), Satellite Communications (SATCOM), Space Control Tactics Course (SCTC), and Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR). The ASOPS courses expand space system understanding by providing world-class, in-depth instruction of space systems, capabilities, requirements, acquisition, strategies and policies to support joint military operations and US national security.
3.C. Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
3.D. Duration: Space 200 is four weeks (18 training days). Space 300 is three weeks (15 training days). ASOPS courses are generally two weeks (10 training days).
3.E. Available course numbers and dates (read in three columns):
     SPACE 200:
     Course Number Start Date End Date
     SP200-17A    4 Oct 16     28 Oct 16
     SP200-17B    18 Oct 16    10 Nov 16
     SP200-17C    10 Jan 17    3 Feb 17
     SP200-17D    24 Jan 17    16 Feb 17
     SP200-17E    7 Feb 17     3 Mar 17
     SP200-17F    21 Feb 17    16 Mar 17
     SP200-17G    7 Mar 17     30 Mar 17
     SP200-17H    21 Mar 17    13 Apr 17
     SP200-17I    4 Apr 17     27 Apr 17
     SP200-17J    18 Apr 17    11 May 17
     SP200-17K    2 May 17     25 May 17
     SP200-17L    16 May 17    9 Jun 17
     SP200-17M    31 May 17    23 Jun 17
     SP200-17N    7 Jun 17     30 Jun 17
     SP200-17O    18 Jul 17    10 Aug 17
     SP200-17P    1 Aug 17     24 Aug 17
     SP200-17Q    15 Aug 17    8 Sep 17
     SP200-17R    29 Aug 17    22 Sep 17
     SPACE 300:
     Course Number Start Date   End Date
     SP300-16A    4 Oct 16     25 Oct 16
     SP300-16B    27 Oct 16    17 Nov 16
     SP300-16C    28 Nov 16    16 Dec 16
     SP300-16D    4 Jan 17     25 Jan 17
     SP300-16E    30 Jan 17    17 Feb 17
     SP300-16F    27 Feb 17    17 Mar 17
     SP300-16G    27 Mar 17    14 Apr 17
     SP300-16H    1 May 17     19 May 17
     SP300-16I     5 Jun 17     23 Jun 17
     SP300-16J    10 Jul 17    28 Jul 17
     SP300-16K    2 Aug 17     22 Aug 17
     SP300-16L    11 Sep 17    29 Sep 17
     ASOPS:
     Contact sponsor directly for dates.  
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 Space 300 and all ASOPS courses, all TAD (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's command is aware of the TAD funding requirement, HQMC PPO(PLI) will not provide 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 and ASOPS.
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 or 8866 designation or billets and MOS dealing with space systems and their applications to operational planning. For the ASOPS courses, preference will be given to personnel in billets tied directly to the course requested regardless of previous space-related training or education. For example, priority for the ASOPS SATCOM course will go to the 06XX community, priority for the ASOPS OPIR course will go to the 02XX community. Typically, this includes, but is not limited to, personnel in the 02XX, 06XX, 26XX, 68XX, or 75XX fields or personnel serving in the G-2/3/5/6 staff sections.
4.C. Experience: Preference will be given to personnel who have served in or are currently serving in a space-related billet. HQMC PPO(PLI) maintains a list of billets currently identified as space-related. Contact the POCs for a copy of this list.
4.D. 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. The student must have completed Space 200 or a related graduate degree in order to attend Space 300, which may be waived on a case-by-case basis.
4.E. Security Clearance: A Secret clearance is required for Space 200. A Top Secret clearance with access to SCI is required for Space 300 or ASOPS.
5. Application Procedures:
5.A. Applications will be submitted via AA Form (NAVMC 10274) to HQMC PPO, Attn: PLI. Required supporting documentation will be submitted as enclosures.
5.B. Specific Instruction for Application:
5.B.1. Block 7.  HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS
                 PLANS POLICIES AND OPERATIONS
                 ATTN: PLI (MAJ D. GARCIA)
                 3000 MARINE CORPS PENTAGON
                 WASHINGTON, DC 20350-3000
5.B.2. Block 8. Request to attend NSSI or ASOPS Space and Course Name.
5.B.3. Block 11. Include the following documents:
5.B.3.A. If applicable, copies of graduation certificates for completed space operations or related courses.
5.B.3.B. If applicable, any additional documentation substantiating space operations experience.
5.B.3.C. Commander's Endorsement (Required)
5.B.4. Block 12.
5.B.4.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.B.4.B. Security clearance and date adjudicated.
5.B.4.C. Work phone number (Commercial and DSN) and email address.
5.B.4.D. Statement indicating parent command is aware of the costs incurred (TAD only, there is no registration fee for course attendance).
5.B.4.E. Current billet title.
5.B.4.F. If applicable, billet title and description of duties where space operations experience was gained. Ensure description remains unclassified.
5.C. Applications for the courses are due to HQMC PPO(PLI) by 21 September 2016. PLI will assign course dates based on priority and student preference. Personnel selected for Space 200 or Space 300 will be notified via email or phone. Completed applications should be scanned and emailed to david.m.garcia1(at)usmc.mil or 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 application to the Marine Corps Reserve.
7. Release authorized by BGen C.J. Mahoney, Director, Strategy and Plans Division, Plans, Policies, and Operations, HQMC.//