R 292025Z AUG 16
MARADMIN 453/16
MSGID/GENADMIN/CG EDCOM PRES MCU QUANTICO VA//
SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF AND SOLICITATION OF APPLICATIONS FOR THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PHD) STRATEGIST PROGRAM (CMCSP)//
REF/A/MROCM 03-2016 PHD PILOT PROGRAM/NOTAL//
POC1/C. TUCKER/MAJ/UNIT: MCU-VPAA/-/TEL: 703-432-5503 EMAIL: CARL.TUCKER(AT)USMCU.EDU//
AMPN/REF A IS MROCM 03-2016 OF 22 AUGUST 2016, MEMORANDUM FOR THE MARINE REQUIREMENTS OVERSIGHT COUNCIL, DOCUMENTING CMCS APPROVAL OF A PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE CMCSP. CMC DIRECTS THE PRESIDENT, MARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY (MCU) TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM BEGINNING IN THE FALL OF 2017 WITH TWO MARINE CORPS OFFICERS.//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Situation.  The Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) has directed development of a six-year pilot program under the cognizance of the Commanding General, Education Command/President, MCU to create a cohort of strategic leaders for service at senior commands and staffs.  Officers selected for the CMCSP will be assigned to a doctoral program at top civilian universities in the National Capital Region (NCR).
2.  Mission.  MCU, in conjunction with Manpower and Reserve Affairs (MRA), convenes a selection board in November 2016 and selects two officers to attend PhD programs beginning in the Fall of 2017.
3.  Execution.
3.a.  Commanders Intent.  Create a cadre of high caliber officers with doctoral level credentials to serve as strategists in key billets throughout the Marine Corps and the Department of Defense.  The end state is the creation of a cadre of experts in strategic affairs within the Marine Corps.
3.b.  Concept of Operations.  A non-statutory board hosted by MCU and supported by MMOA will convene in November 2016 to review applications for the CMCSP and select two candidates for the initial program of PhD coursework commencing in the fall of 2017.  Officers selected will be assisted by MCU in completing university application requirements.
3.b.1.  Eligibility Requirements.  Officers meeting the eligibility criteria described in this Marine Administrative Message (MARADMIN) and desiring to apply should review the MCU website and submit a completed application.  The web site is:  www.mcu.usmc.mil.
3.b.1.a.  Captains through Lieutenant Colonels  who have not previously failed selection and as stipulated herein.  Captains in ground MOS must have completed or be in the equivalent of company level command.  Aviation applicants who have completed or are in their department head tours are eligible.  Lieutenant Colonels in zone for FY18 or FY19 promotion consideration are not eligible.
3.b.1.b.  Unrestricted officers from the following occupational fields:  02, 03, 04, 06, 08, 13, 18, and 75.
3.b.1.c.  Possess an accredited master’s degree with a GPA of 3.5 or higher in a discipline preferably related to one of the specified doctorial fields of study listed in paragraph 3.b.2.b.
3.b.1.d.  Current Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (i.e., GRE taken no earlier than 1 January 2012) with competitive scores.  Competitive GRE scores are generally considered minimums of 153 verbal reasoning, 144 quantitative reasoning, and 4.0 analytical writing.
3.b.1.e.  Hold at least a Secret Clearance and be eligible for a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information.
3.b.1.f.  Not have an approved separation date.
3.b.2.  Application Process.
3.b.2.a.  Methodology.  Officers desiring consideration for the fall2017 CMCSP should review the detailed application process at the indicated website and closely review their eligibility for admission to the university PhD programs.
3.b.2.b.  Universities and Doctoral Disciplines.  Initial candidate programs include American University (School of International Service and School of Public Affairs) and George Mason University (School of Public Policy and Government).  Disciplines include programs related to the study of strategy, national security, military history, and related programs.  The CMCSP track is designed for two 2) years of coursework, followed by a two (2) years assignment to MCU to complete the PhD dissertation and support faculty and curricula development.
3.b.2.c.  Applications.
3.b.2.c.1.  Officers desiring consideration should complete the application as described herein and at the designated website.
3.b.2.c.2.  Submit applications and all supporting documents to the MCU organizational mailbox no later than 1 November 2016.  The organization mailbox is:  mcu(underscore)cmcsp(underscore)application(at)usmcu.edu.
3.b.2.c.3.  Documentation Requirements.  See website for additional details.
3.b.2.c.3.a.  Statement of Purpose.  Describe in two pages the reasons for wanting to pursue a PhD in a strategy related discipline.
3.b.2.c.3.b.  List of all post-secondary education.
3.b.2.c.3.c.  Official transcripts of all post-secondary education.
3.b.2.c.3.d.  GRE scores.  Submit proof of GRE scores.
3.b.2.c.3.e.  Three letters of recommendation from former academic advisors and/or senior officers.  The application will be endorsed to at least the first general officer in the chain of command.
3.b.3.  Tasks.
3.b.3.a.  DC MRA.
3.b.3.a.1.  Per the reference, request support for CG EDCOM /President of MCU, CMCSP selection board.
3.b.3.a.2.  Assign selected CMCSP officers to the NCR for PhD coursework.
3.b.3.a.3.  Reassign CMCSP selectees to MCU (068) for two (2) years upon completion of their PhD coursework.
3.b.3.b.  CG EDCOM/President of MCU.
3.b.3.b.1.  Establish a selection board, to include representatives from MMOA, to select the best qualified applicants for the CMCSP.
3.b.3.b.2.  Assist CMCSP selectees with their applications to designated university PhD programs.
3.b.3.b.3.  Provide administration support and mentorship for CMCSP Marines throughout the program.  Support includes Reporting Senior/Reviewing Officer responsibilities for fitness reports, payment of tuition and authorized academic fees, and office space and information technology support during the dissertation phase of the program.
3.c.  Coordinating Instructions.
3.c.1.  Deadline for CMCSP applications is 1 November 2016.
3.c.2.  University PhD Program Application.  MCU will assist those officers selected with their PhD program applications.  Finalists must be prepared to work on their statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and prepare all necessary documentation to apply to PhD programs.
3.c.2.a.  For planning purposes, most PhD programs require final applications in mid December.  Selected candidates are responsible for the school application fee if it cannot be waived.  Partner university programs are highly competitive and retain the right to deny admission to applicants not competitive with their larger pool of applicants.  Officers applying for the CMCSP are cautioned not to make final application to a PhD program until officially notified that they are a selected candidate.
3.c.2.b.  Once accepted into a PhD program, the selected candidate is officially entered into the CMCSP.
4.  Administration and Logistics.
4.a.  Program Administration. In coordination with and when notified by MCU, selected officers will complete applications to an approved PhD program.
4.a.1.  Upon completing all doctorate degree requirements, officers will receive the Additional Military Occupational Specialty 05XX, Marine Corps Strategist.  The specific 05XX designation is to be determined.
4.a.2.  Utilization tours.  Officers successfully earning a PhD via the CMCSP will serve a utilization tour in a strategy related billet.  These assignments will include positions at HQMC, MCU, OSD, and MEF and Joint Staffs.  The utilization tour may follow immediately upon completion of the program, or may be delayed or curtailed in the event of selection to command, professional development considerations, or other needs of the Marine Corps.  Officers remain eligible for additional utilization tours consistent with their career development.
4.b.  Service Obligation.  The service obligation for officers completing the CMCSP is six years to begin when the PhD course work ends.  Should a participant not complete the PhD course work, they will incur a three (3) month service obligation for each month or part thereof of PhD course work.  The service obligation will run concurrent with any other individual service obligation.
5.  Command and Signal.  Additional information is available on the website at www.mcu.usmc.mil.  Points of Contact:  Maj C. Tucker, Education Officer/MCU DSN:  378-5503, Comm: (703)432-5503 Mr. R. Jaques, Director of Academic Support/Deputy VPAA/MCU DSN:  378-5489, Comm:  (703)432-5489 Capt O. Lopes, Grad Educaton Officer/MMOA-3 DSN 278-9285/86, Comm:  (703)784-9284/85.
6.  This MARADMIN is not applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve.
7.  Release authorized by BGen T. A. Gorry, Commanding General, Education Command / President, Marine Corps University.//