ALCOAST 068/21 - FEB 2021 SOLICITATION FOR APPLICATIONS FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (MIT) SEMINAR XXI PROGRAM

R 241624Z FEB 21
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST

UNCLAS
ALCOAST 068/21
SSIC 1520
SUBJ:  SOLICITATION FOR APPLICATIONS FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE
OF TECHNOLOGY (MIT) SEMINAR XXI PROGRAM
1. The Coast Guard has the opportunity to select up to four people
from the Washington, DC, area to attend MIT’s "Seminar XXI:
Educating U.S. National Security Leaders" Program. Military officers
in, or already selected for, grades O-5 to O-8 and civilian
employees in grades GS-14 to SES are eligible. These criteria are
approved by MIT and no waivers are granted. Personnel who will be
stationed in the Washington, DC, area during the period September
2021 to May 2022, including those in receipt of PCS orders to the
area, are eligible to apply. Personnel outside of the DC area, who
are willing to personally incur all travel and associated costs to
ensure attendance at all required sessions in the DC area are also
eligible.
2. Seminar XXI is a prestigious educational program for 75 senior
military officers, government officials, and industry executives
in the national security policy community. The program’s goal is
to equip rising military officials and civilian executives with
the multidimensional analytic skills needed to understand foreign
relations and shape effective policy options for the United States.
Coast Guard military and civilian personnel have participated in
the MIT Seminar XXI program since 1991.
3. The next MIT Seminar XXI session convenes in the local
Washington, DC, area in September 2021 and concludes in May 2022.
The format includes six evening sessions in Washington, DC, and
three weekend sessions (late Friday afternoon through noon Sunday)
in Warrenton, Virginia. Each session brings together distinguished
faculty from American and foreign universities. Seminar XXI fellows
receive an extensive read-ahead packet and questions to help them
prepare for each session. Participants must be committed to
attending all meetings and be willing to dedicate a significant
amount of time each month to the preparatory readings. The extensive
network that fellows develop in the course of the nine-month program
is of enduring value to them and their organizations.
4. All applicants must complete the following four part application
package:
    a. A single page (PDF) letter of recommendation, in memorandum
form, from the first Flag officer or equivalent in their chain of
command addressed to "MIT Seminar XXI Selection Panel",
    b. 2021-2022 Seminar XXI Admission Form D,
    c. The “AY2021 MIT Seminar XXI Application Questionnaire” saved
in PDF form,
    d. A single page (PDF) resume (without photo, applicant’s format
choice, no template provided). Source documents (a, b, & c) are
located on the SEFP MIT XXI Portal page and accessible by all USCG
CAC holders from their personal computers:
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/cg092/cg0923/SEFP/MIT%20Seminar
%20XXI/Forms/AllItems.aspx.
5. Applicants must email these four documents as a single PDF file
to the Senior Education and Fellowship Program at
HQS-SMB-SEFP@uscg.mil no later than 15 March 2021. Any applications
not meeting the standard described above will not be considered. 
6. A panel will review the nomination packages and the Director of
Governmental and Public Affairs will release a message in early
April with the names of four Coast Guard nominees. The nominees
will then work with COMDT (CG-092) to submit an application to MIT
by 15 April 2021. MIT is expected to notify individuals of their
final acceptance by mid-summer. MIT intends to set COVID protocols
this summer. 
7. Tuition for this program will be paid by COMDT (CG-0923).
Attendees are expected to provide their own transportation to
Seminar XXI events in the Washington, DC, area. Since the program
is conducted totally outside normal working hours, there is no
service obligation associated with this program. However, members
selected are expected to:
    a. attend all sessions,
    b. submit at least one submission to the SEFP newsletter
(CG ROUNDTABLE) or other strategic publication,
    c. consider participation in other strategic initiatives.
8. Information on the Seminar XXI program can be found at their
website: http://semxxi.mit.edu/ or on the SEFP SharePoint site:
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/cg092/cg0923/SEFP/MIT%20Seminar
%20XXI/Forms/AllItems.aspx.
9. POC: LCDR Daniel Cathell, Office of Governmental and Public
Affairs, COMDT (CG-092), Daniel.B.Cathell@uscg.mil.
10. RDML Jon Hickey, Director of Governmental and Public
Affairs (CG-092), sends.
11. Internet release is authorized.