ALCOAST 131/18 - APR 2018 COMMAND AND STAFF POST-GRADUATE PROGRAM SOLICITATION MESSAGE

R 101452 APR 18
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-5R//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS//N01524//
ALCOAST 131/18
COMDTNOTE 1524
SUBJ:  COMMAND AND STAFF POST-GRADUATE PROGRAM SOLICITATION MESSAGE
A. COMCOGARD PSC WASHINGTON DC 06 APR 18 ALCGPSC 057/18
1. This message solicits applicants for postgraduate opportunities at the Department of
Defense’s Command and Staff Colleges.
2. Overview. Each year the Coast Guard sends officers to the Air Command and Staff
College, the Army Command and General Staff College, the College of Naval Command and
Staff, and the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. These 10-month resident programs
offer outstanding opportunities for professional development. All graduates earn a
Master’s Degree and Joint Professional Military Education Level 1 (JPME-1) credit.
   a. Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) in Montgomery, Alabama (1 Quota). Information
is available at http://www.airuniversity.af.mil/ACSC/.
   b. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) in Fort Leavenworth, KS (1 Quota).
Information is available at http://usacac.army.mil/organizations/cace/cgsc/.
   c. College of Naval Command and Staff (CNCS) at the Naval War College (NWC) in
Newport, RI (4 Quotas). Information is available at www.usnwc.edu.
   d. Marine Corps Command and Staff College (CSC) in Quantico, VA (1 Quotas).
Information is available at www.mcu.usmc.mil/csc/SitePages/Home.aspx.
3. Eligibility. This program is open to all operational specialties. Ideal candidates
are those officers just completing an operational tour. This program offers opportunities
in the Defense Operations career field (OAR-12), which values officers able to maintain
an operational career path. Attending a Command and Staff College directly from an
operational tour allows officers enough time to complete both a degree and payback tour
and not miss important windows for future assignments. In addition to the application
guidelines set forth in REF (A), applicants must meet the following criteria:
   a. Be in the grade of O-4 or be an O-4 select. O-5 selects and O-3s in zone for O-4 in
promotion year 2019 (summer 2018) are also encouraged to apply.
   b. Possess the requisite academic aptitude to earn a Master’s degree. If selected,
students will complete all of the requirements to earn a Master’s degree. (Standardized
tests are NOT required for this program.)
4. Follow on Tours. Graduates of Command and Staff Colleges can expect follow on
assignments in locations that involve execution of the Defense Operations mission, to
include: Headquarters Office of Counterterrorism and Defense Operations Policy (CG-ODO),
Area Staffs, various liaison and staff positions in the Pentagon, liaison assignments
with the Navy, and assignments to Geographic Combatant Commands. Tour lengths range from
two to four years.
5. Additional information is available on school websites. Students do not apply directly
to the school and should not contact them for application information or instructions.
For additional information, prospective students are encouraged to contact
LCDR Matthew Press at Matthew.J.Press@uscg.mil or (202) 372-2102.
6. RDML Anthony J. Vogt, Assistant Commandant for Response Policy, sends.
7. Internet release authorized.