Fellowships
CY24 Navy Legislative Fellowship Call for Applications
CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 072114Z MAR 23 MID200080789792U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 066/23 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N7// INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N7// MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO/N7/MAR// SUBJ/CALENDAR YEAR 2024 NAVY LEGISLATIVE FELLOWSHIP CALL FOR APPLICATIONS// REF/A/DOC/BUPERS/12DEC17// REF/B/DOC/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC/12OCT16// NARR/Ref A is BUPERSINST 1560.21F, Legislative Fellows Program. Ref B is DODINST 1322.06, Fellowships, Legislative Fellowships, Internships, Scholarships, Training-With-Industry (TWI), and Grants Provided to DoD or DoD Personnel for Education and Training// Rmks/1. This NAVADMIN solicits applications for the 2024 Navy Legislative Fellows Program. The Legislative Fellows Program allows naval officers, senior enlisted, and Department of the Navy civilians to broaden their understanding of the legislative process and the operation of the U.S. Congress through a year-long, full-time assignment to the office of a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate. The Legislative Fellows Program also enhances the ability of the Navy to fulfill its role in the national policy development process. 2. This is a highly competitive program. Records must reflect sustained superior performance and potential for future assignments in critical billets. Upon completion of the program, officers earn the Legislative Fellowship Additional Qualification Designation (AQD 234). 3. Military Applicants. Participation is open to all Active Duty and Training and Administration of the Reserve (TAR) unrestricted line, restricted line, and staff corps officers in the permanent grades of O-3 through O-5. Enlisted participation is open to all Active Duty Navy occupational specialty codes in the permanent grades of E-7 through E-9. The selection process will focus on individual performance, promotion potential, academic and subspecialty qualifications, needs of the Navy, and availability for follow-on assignment. Officers with permanent change of station orders already issued will not be considered. a. Applicants must be available for permanent change of station assignment to the Washington, DC area in November 2023. Following orientation at the Office of Legislative Affairs, fellows will begin a 12-month assignment in January 2024 in a Congressional office. During the Fellowship, officers and senior enlisted Sailors will be assigned to the Office of Legislative Affairs for administrative purposes. Civilian administrative control will remain with their respective command. In accordance with reference (b), upon execution of orders, fellows must agree in writing to a Service commitment of three years following completion or termination of the fellowship. All officer applicants must contact their detailers for counseling on the career impact of participation in the Legislative Fellowship Program. b. Submit applications via e-mail to the Office of Legislative Affairs point of contact no later than 12 May 2023. c. Points of contact are CDR Rebeca Rodriguez, Navy Legislative Fellows Program Manager, who can be reached at (703) 697-2885/DSN 227 or via e-mail at Rebeca.S.Rodriguez.mil@us.navy.mil and LT Jacob Jepsen, Outservice Education Placement and Special Fellowships, PERS 443, who can be reached at (901) 874-3996/DSN 882 or via e-mail at Jacob.A.Jepsen.mil@us.navy.mil. d. General questions on other Navy fellowship programs should be directed to CDR Anne Stehlin, Fellowships and Scholarships Management, OPNAV N712 at (571)-256-4784 or via e-mail at Anne.C.Stehlin.mil@us.navy.mil. 4. Civilian Applicants. Senior civilian employees (GM/GS-13 and above or equivalent) interested in the Legislative Fellowship Program must contact their local civilian training officer for information on submission of applications for the 2024 program. Notably, civilian participation in the Fellowship Program differs from military requirement in that civilian selectees do not participate in a rotational assignment post-Fellowship and will return to their command and position. Civilian selectees must be able to report for the role in November 2023. November and December 2023 include orientation at the Office of Legislative Affairs followed by 12 month placement in a Congressional office (January - December 2024). Questions concerning Department of the Navy civilian participation should be directed to Ms. Sherri Hirn who can be reached at (202) 685-6493 or via e-mail at Sherri.A.Hirn.civ@us.navy.mil. Additional information is available at: https://portal.secnav.navy.mil/orgs/MRA/DONHR/Training/Pages/Developmental- Programs.aspx 5. Applicants will be notified of their selection status via their command representative. 6. Program information and submission guidance are available at: https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Reference/Instructions/BUPERS/BUPERS INST_1560.21.pdf?ver=FlPNGzZWgvHwGGM9l3f0AQ%3d%3d 7. This NAVADMIN will remain in effect until superseded or canceled, whichever occurs first. 8. Released by Vice Admiral J. W. Hughes, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Development (N7).// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//
2023 International Career Advancement Program (ICAP) Fellowship Call for Applications
Description:
1. This tasker solicits applications for the 2023 International Career Advancement Program (ICAP) Fellowship. ICAP is a professional development and networking opportunity for mid-career professionals who support the Navy Team and Navy’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy. The 2023 ICAP Fellowship consists of an optional (not funded by N1) introductory session in Washington, DC (8 September 2023) followed by a required week in Aspen, CO (22-30 September or 30 September – 8 October 2023). Registration fee (covers lodging, meals and transportation) and air travel for the ICAP Fellowship will be funded by OPNAV N1. More information regarding the ICAP program can be found at www.icapaspen.org.
2. Application. All applications require Command endorsement addressed to ICAP Selection Committee to be considered. Specific application requirements are listed in the attached application package. Application package must be completed and returned to N17 NLT 2359EST on 21 Apr 2023. Extensions will not be granted.
3. Applicants and Eligibility. This is a highly competitive program open to Navy personnel, military and civilians, according to the paygrades listed below. Specific application requirements can be found in attached document “Criteria for Selection as ICAP Fellows”. Selection and participation in the fellowship do not extend service obligation. This program is not available to USMC military or civilians.
– Military Applicants. Participation is open to all Navy O-3 to O-4 and E-7 to E-8 Active Duty and Reserve.
– Civilian Applicants. Participation is open to Navy civilian employees in the permanent grades of GS-11 to GS-13.
4. Requirement. After completion of ICAP, Fellows should continue communication with the OPNAV N174A DEI Team for participation in associated webinars, roundtables and any applicable working group meetings as permitted by Fellows’ schedules.
5. Point of Contact. LT Shereka F. Riley
Comments: Applications will not be accepted after 21 Apr 2023. Selection and participation in the fellowship do not extend service obligation.
Calendar Year 2023 Navy Legislative Fellowship Call for Applications – E7-E9 and O3-O5
UNCLASSIFIED//
ROUTINE
R 282021Z JAN 22 MID600051472945U
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC
TO NAVADMIN
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC
BT
UNCLAS
NAVADMIN 019/22
PASS TO OFFICE CODES:
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N7//
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N7//
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N7/JAN//
SUBJ/CALENDAR YEAR 2023 NAVY LEGISLATIVE FELLOWSHIP CALL FOR APPLICATIONS//
REF/A/DOC/BUPERS/17DEC12//
AMPN/BUPERSINST 1560.21F, Navy Legislative Fellowship Program.//
Rmks/1. This NAVADMIN solicits applications for the 2023 Navy Legislative
Fellows Program. The Legislative Fellows Program allows naval officers,
senior enlisted and Department of the Navy civilians to broaden their
understanding of the legislative process and the operation of the U.S.
Congress through a year-long full-time assignment to the office of a member
of the House of Representatives or the Senate. The Legislative Fellows
Program also enhances the ability of the Navy to fulfill its role in the
national policy development process.
2. This is a highly competitive program. Records must reflect sustained
superior performance and potential for future assignments in critical
billets. Upon completion of the program, officers earn the legislative
fellowship Additional Qualification Designation (AQD 234).
3. Military Applicants. Participation is open to all Active Duty and Full-
Time Support unrestricted line, restricted line and staff corps officers in
the permanent grades of O-3 through O-5. Enlisted participation is open to
all Active Duty Navy occupational specialty codes in the permanent grades of
E-7 through E-9. The selection process will focus on individual performance,
promotion potential, academic and subspecialty qualifications, and needs of
the Navy and availability for follow-on assignment. Officers with permanent
change of station orders already issued will not be considered.
a. Applicants must be available for permanent change of station
assignment to Washington, DC, from November 2022 through December 2023.
During the fellowship, officers and senior enlisted Sailors will be assigned
to the Office of Legislative Affairs for administrative purposes. Upon
execution of orders, fellows agree to serve for three years following
completion or termination of the fellowship. A follow-on utilization tour in
legislative affairs is dependent on community-specific billet requirements,
needed officer progression and availability of legislative assignments. All
officer applicants must contact their detailers for counseling on the career
impact of participation in the Legislative Fellowship Program.
b. Submit applications via e-mail to the Office of Legislative Affairs
point of contact no later than 01 April 2022.
c. Points of contact are LCDR John Piccone, Navy Legislative Fellows
Program Manager, who can be reached at (703) 697-2885/DSN 227 or via e-mail
at john.j.piccone(at)navy.mil; john.piccone.mil(at)us.navy.mil and LT Jacob
Jepsen, Outservice Education Placement and Special Fellowships, PERS 443B,
who can be reached at (901) 874-3996/DSN 882 or via e-mail at
jacob.a.jepsen.mil(at)us.navy.mil.
d. General questions on other Navy fellowship programs should be
directed to CDR Anne Stehlin, Fellowships and Scholarships Management, OPNAV
N712B at (571)-256-4784 or via e-mail at anne.c.stehlin.mil(at)us.navy.mil.
4. Civilian Applicants. Senior civilian employees, GM/GS-13 and above or
equivalent, interested in the Legislative Fellowship Program must contact
their local civilian training officer for information on submission of
applications for the 2023 program. Parent commands are responsible for all
program costs. Questions concerning Department of the Navy civilian
participation should be directed to Ms. Sherri Hirn who can be reached at
(202) 685-6493 or via e-mail at sherri.hirn(at)navy.mil. Additional
information is available at:
https://portal.secnav.navy.mil/orgs/MRA/DONHR/Training/Pages/Developmental-
Programs.aspx
5. Applicants will be notified of their selection status via e-mail.
6. Program information and submission guidance are available at:
https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Reference/Instructions/BUPERS/BUPERS
INST_1560.21.pdf?ver=FlPNGzZWgvHwGGM9l3f0AQ%3d%3d
7. This NAVADMIN will remain in effect until superseded or canceled,
whichever occurs first.
8. Released by Vice Admiral J. W. Hughes, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations
for Warfighting Development (N7).//
BT
#0001
NNNN
UNCLASSIFIED//
Throwback Thursday Classic Guest Post – Full Time Outservice Fellowship Gouge
By Dustin Schuett, DO (with MCCareer.org editorial comments in italics)
Note: The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense or the United States Government.
One of the strongest parts of Navy Graduate Medical Education (GME) is the ability to pursue Full-Time Outservice (FTOS) fellowship training. Being approved for Navy FTOS fellowship training makes you essentially a “free” fellow to whatever program you enroll in as you will continue to receive active duty Navy pay and allowances.
The biggest difficulties of a FTOS fellowship are typically logistical issues associated with being assigned to a ROTC or Reserve Unit Command. (For example, when I did my FTOS fellowship in Emergency Ultrasound in Delaware, I was assigned to the University of Pennsylvania ROTC unit.)
Here are some of the things I and some colleagues have learned thus far in our FTOS fellowship experiences that I wish I would have known before I started fellowship and even before PCSing from my prior Navy command.
- Big key: when in doubt, ask. Mark Sullivan at the Navy Medical Corps GME Office is your go-to for any questions/issues. He’s a phenomenal resource who does a great job helping out and keeping you informed leading up to and during your FTOS fellowship. (His contact info can be found on the right hand side of this page.)
- Look to see if you’re eligible for a retention bonus running concurrently to your fellowship and fellowship payback entitling you to additional money without added payback.
- If you’re going from an actual Navy command, I strongly recommend taking advance dislocation allowance (DLA, money to partially reimburse a member for the expenses incurred in relocating the household on a PCS)
- The location of your fellowship is likely not near a major Navy base with normal Navy admin support. Many are assigned to a ROTC unit or Reserve center which may be severely lacking in admin support.
- I’m currently 8.5 months into waiting for my DLA from PCSing last June and wishing I would have taken advance DLA.
- Start your state license application process early. Unless your fellowship is in the state where you are already licensed, you will likely need to get licensed in that state. This can take 3-4 months or even longer. For more arduous states like Massachusetts, I would recommend starting the October before you start fellowship. (Normally you can used any state license to practice in the Navy, and this same requirement should apply to FTOS training, but the civilian hospitals almost always want you licensed in the state they’re in. Mine did.)
- You are still required to complete the Body Composition Assessment (BCA) and the Physical Readiness Test (PRT) because you are still on Active Duty. The opportunity to skip the PRT if you scored an “Excellent Low” average with no event below “Good Low” should still apply, but check with your command.
- Because you are on Active Duty, even if you are exempt from the PRT, you will still have to pass the BCA within standards.
- Check-in is extremely variable with some commands having a full orientation day. My NROTC Unit in Boston had us coordinate a time to check in with the civilian administrative assistant. This was approximately a 2 hour process to check in, stop PCS leave, and complete the basic unit transition paperwork. It was very informal and done in civilian attire
- Command structure varies by area. If you are part of a ROTC unit, you fall under their CO and abide by their rules. Leave is arranged through your command and the rules of when you must be on leave depend on your command. The NROTC Boston rules are if you’re flying or driving more than 300 miles, you have to be on leave. (They will also do your fitreps as well. My reporting senior was a Marine Colonel at the ROTC unit.)
- Leave is typically performed through NSIPS. On arrival at your new command, see what needs to be done to get you transferred to their NSIPS roster so that you can request leave. Since you’re not actually doing work at the ROTC/Reserve unit, almost any leave will be approved.
- International leave still has the same rules as at a regular Navy command, so plan in advance for any trips out of the country and engage your Chain of Command early.
- Access to mail.mil email is variable. My account was disabled by my old command soon after I arrived while a friend doing fellowship across town still can access his email account with his CAC reader. Plan to not have access to your military email during fellowship, so save important emails and email addresses you may need outside of Outlook just in case.
- Fitreps in FTOS fellowships are almost exclusively non-observed. There are stories of rare commands completing observed Fitreps, but this is not the norm. (I do know someone who was able to contribute to the ROTC command and got a ranked fitrep.) You can still put text into the block 41 narrative detailing your accomplishments during your fellowship to include publications, meeting presentations, obtaining board certification, etc.
- You will have a non-observed Fitrep when your rank’s normal Fitrep hits (January for LT, October for LCDR, April for CDR) and a non-observed departing Fitrep when you check out. The only exception could be a CAPT in fellowship with potentially just a July regular non-observed Fitrep.
- Funding for TAD/conferences is usually through your fellowship or out of your own pocket. There may be very limited opportunities to get TAD funded by your local Navy command, but check with your command first. Most commands have no issue with placing you on no-cost TAD or special liberty for trips to conferences/meetings and other travel outside of your leave boundaries required by your training program.
- You will be on your command’s random urinalysis (UA) roster. Most commands understand that you have a busy and often inflexible schedule. When my name has come up for random UA, I received an email a day or two ahead saying the available times with the opportunity to reply if I could not make those times with the understanding that another time ASAP would need to be worked out.
- If you will be taking your Board Certification Exam or the final step of your Board Certification Exam soon before reporting or while PCSing, you will be eligible for Board Certification pay once you have been notified of passing. Board certification pay requests are routed through Mark Sullivan at the Medical Corps GME Office in Bethesda. You will need to route an endorsement through your CO at your unit, but the majority of the paperwork and the funding is handled by the GME office.
- If you are in zone for consideration by a promotion board, being in a FTOS Fellowship does not change this. I highly recommend doing everything you can to prep your record including ensuring all documentation is correct, you have an officer picture, and everything else listed in the Promo Prep document Dr. Schofer has put together 6-12 months BEFORE PCSing from your pre-fellowship command. It is exponentially easier to do this at an actual Navy command than through a reserve/ROTC command. Your access to BUPERS Online (BOL) and other CAC-enabled sites may be limited during your fellowship and most of the time you will be very busy. Getting your record ready 6-12 months before your start fellowship ensures you have plenty of time to correct any discrepancies well in advance of the board.
- Letters to the board can potentially help your promotion odds. FTOS fellows in the past have had their fellowship program directors write letters to the board detailing their performance in fellowship, some even had the fellowship directors write the letter hitting all of the Fitrep performance traits (Professional Expertise, Command Climate/EO, Military Bearing, etc.) specifically to replicate a Fitrep as closely as possible.
- Moonlighting is not permitted in any form during FTOS fellowship. Sorry. Your co-fellows may be moonlighting a ton and making more money, but keep in mind they’re likely making around $70,000 from the fellowship while you are making $100,000 plus and potentially close to $200,000 if you’re able to do the retention bonus/fellowship loophole plus untaxed money in the form of Basic Allowances for Housing (BAH) and Subsistence (BAS).
- Industry/externally funded travel/courses may come up during your fellowship. These are often great opportunities to obtain additional education and training without paying for it. You will need a Proffer letter from the company specifically detailing what is being offered in terms of monetary value in travel, lodging, meals, education etc. You will send this Proffer letter to Mark Sullivan who will also need an email from your fellowship program coordinator/director stating that the training is an integral part of your education and that it is being offered to all fellows and not just because of your affiliation with the DoD.
- Mark will then forward this on to Navy legal who will reply with any requests for information and usually give you a final decision within a few weeks. The decision will be sent in a Navy standard letter detailing your being allowed to proceed. Often, the company sponsoring your travel will need a copy of this letter for their records.
- Try to stay as far ahead as possible for this. I had an instance where the entire process was able to be completed and approved in a 2 week period, but ideally a month or more should be allotted. It’s a pretty simple process overall and you do not want to get into an unauthorized commitment situation.
- My command has allowed me to take special liberty for all of these courses so far which has allowed me to save up leave.
- Keep in mind that while you’re FTOS, you’re still in the Navy. You may not need to shave/put your hair in a bun every day, but don’t show up for your PRT with a full beard (yes that happened and yes the whole unit got an email from the XO about it).
- Enjoy the time in fellowship and being as close to a civilian as many of us will have for a 10-20 year stretch of our lives!
- What other questions do you have about FTOS fellowship? Please leave a comment or email me at djschuettdo < at > gmail < dot >com and I will try to answer any further questions.
Throwback Thursday Classic Guest Post – The Fellowship-Retention Bonus “Loophole” Still Exists; Are You Eligible?
By Dustin Schuett, DO
Note: The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense or the United States Government.
The 2018 Navy Graduate Medical Education Selection Board results were released 12 DEC 2018. For a select few Navy physicians pursuing fellowship, the opportunity exists to take a Retention Bonus (RB, formerly Multi-year Specialty Pay) and pay back their fellowship obligation and the RB obligation concurrently without extending their Navy commitment.
To be eligible, the physician must meet all of the following requirements:
- Be at 8 years or more of active duty time in the Medical Corps.
- Have completed all pre-commissioning obligation time:
- All initially obligated HPSP/USUHS/HSCP time AND any ROTC or USNA obligated time
- This does not include residency obligation time
Essentially, if you went to medical school on a 4 year HPSP scholarship, have completed or will have completed 4 or more years of combined GMO and post-residency payback time BEFORE starting fellowship and have 8 total years active duty Medical Corps time, you’re likely eligible.
Here is my personal example:
4 year HPSP > 1 year internship > 2 years as a GMO > 5 years of residency > 2 years post-residency staff time (4 total including GMO time) = 4 years of total payback completing HPSP obligation, 10 years in Medical Corps
As an orthopaedic surgeon, our annual Incentive Pay (IP) is $59,000. I was able to take a 3 year RB which increases my IP to $73,000 annually plus an additional $33,000 lump sum paid annually for a total of $106,000/year, a $47,000 increase per year without increasing my obligation time.
If you have questions about special pay, please follow the current BUMED guidance:
Members should contact their command administration office/special pays coordinator with any questions they have. The command administration office/special pay coordinators will contact BUMED Special Pays should they have questions that cannot be answered or require clarification of the FY20 Pay Guidance.
For more information, see the Medical Corps Special Pay Guidance that can be found on the BUMED Special Pays website.
Good Luck!
2021 Navy Legislative Fellowship Call for Applicants
The call for the Navy’s CY21 Legislative Fellowship has been released. The NAVADMIN can be found here:
https://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/Documents/NAVADMINS/NAV2020/NAV20016.txt
Call for 2020 SECDEF Executive Fellows – O5/O6
The NAVADMIN that announces this program mentions multiple fellowships, but Staff Corps officers are only eligible for the Secretary of Defense Executive Fellowship. Here’s the link:
https://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/Documents/NAVADMINS/NAV2019/NAV19171.txt
Guest Post – Full Time Outservice Fellowship Gouge
By Dustin Schuett, DO (with MCCareer.org editorial comments in italics)
Note: The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense or the United States Government.
One of the strongest parts of Navy Graduate Medical Education (GME) is the ability to pursue Full-Time Outservice (FTOS) fellowship training. Being approved for Navy FTOS fellowship training makes you essentially a “free” fellow to whatever program you enroll in as you will continue to receive active duty Navy pay and allowances.
The biggest difficulties of a FTOS fellowship are typically logistical issues associated with being assigned to a ROTC or Reserve Unit Command. (For example, when I did my FTOS fellowship in emergency ultrasound in Delaware, I was assigned to the University of Pennsylvania ROTC unit.)
Here are some of the things I and some colleagues have learned thus far in our FTOS fellowship experiences that I wish I would have known before I started fellowship and even before PCSing from my prior Navy command.
- Big key: when in doubt, ask. Mark Sullivan at the Navy Medical Corps GME Office is your go-to for any questions/issues. He’s a phenomenal resource who does a great job helping out and keeping you informed leading up to and during your FTOS fellowship. (His contact info can be found on the right hand side of this page.)
- Look to see if you’re eligible for a retention bonus running concurrently to your fellowship and fellowship payback entitling you to additional money without added payback.
- If you’re going from an actual Navy command, I strongly recommend taking advance dislocation allowance (DLA, money to partially reimburse a member for the expenses incurred in relocating the household on a PCS)
- The location of your fellowship is likely not near a major Navy base with normal Navy admin support. Many are assigned to a ROTC unit or Reserve center which may be severely lacking in admin support.
- I’m currently 8.5 months into waiting for my DLA from PCSing last June and wishing I would have taken advance DLA.
- Start your state license application process early. Unless your fellowship is in the state where you are already licensed, you will likely need to get licensed in that state. This can take 3-4 months or even longer. For more arduous states like Massachusetts, I would recommend starting the October before you start fellowship. (Normally you can used any state license to practice in the Navy, and this same requirement should apply to FTOS training, but the civilian hospitals almost always want you licensed in the state they’re in. Mine did.)
- You are still required to complete the Body Composition Assessment (BCA) and the Physical Readiness Test (PRT) because you are still on Active Duty. The opportunity to skip the PRT if you scored an “Excellent Low” average with no event below “Good Low” should still apply, but check with your command.
- Because you are on Active Duty, even if you are exempt from the PRT, you will still have to pass the BCA within standards.
- Check-in is extremely variable with some commands having a full orientation day. My NROTC Unit in Boston had us coordinate a time to check in with the civilian administrative assistant. This was approximately a 2 hour process to check in, stop PCS leave, and complete the basic unit transition paperwork. It was very informal and done in civilian attire
- Command structure varies by area. If you are part of a ROTC unit, you fall under their CO and abide by their rules. Leave is arranged through your command and the rules of when you must be on leave depend on your command. The NROTC Boston rules are if you’re flying or driving more than 300 miles, you have to be on leave. (They will also do your fitreps as well. My reporting senior was a Marine Colonel at the ROTC unit.)
- Leave is typically performed through NSIPS. On arrival at your new command, see what needs to be done to get you transferred to their NSIPS roster so that you can request leave. Since you’re not actually doing work at the ROTC/Reserve unit, almost any leave will be approved.
- International leave still has the same rules as at a regular Navy command, so plan in advance for any trips out of the country and engage your Chain of Command early.
- Access to mail.mil email is variable. My account was disabled by my old command soon after I arrived while a friend doing fellowship across town still can access his email account with his CAC reader. Plan to not have access to your military email during fellowship, so save important emails and email addresses you may need outside of Outlook just in case.
- Fitreps in FTOS fellowships are almost exclusively non-observed. There are stories of rare commands completing observed Fitreps, but this is not the norm. (I do know someone who was able to contribute to the ROTC command and got a ranked fitrep.) You can still put text into the block 41 narrative detailing your accomplishments during your fellowship to include publications, meeting presentations, obtaining board certification, etc.
- You will have a non-observed Fitrep when your rank’s normal Fitrep hits (January for LT, October for LCDR, April for CDR) and a non-observed departing Fitrep when you check out. The only exception could be a CAPT in fellowship with potentially just a July regular non-observed Fitrep.
- Funding for TAD/conferences is usually through your fellowship or out of your own pocket. There may be very limited opportunities to get TAD funded by your local Navy command, but check with your command first. Most commands have no issue with placing you on no-cost TAD or special liberty for trips to conferences/meetings and other travel outside of your leave boundaries required by your training program.
- You will be on your command’s random urinalysis (UA) roster. Most commands understand that you have a busy and often inflexible schedule. When my name has come up for random UA, I received an email a day or two ahead saying the available times with the opportunity to reply if I could not make those times with the understanding that another time ASAP would need to be worked out.
- If you will be taking your Board Certification Exam or the final step of your Board Certification Exam soon before reporting or while PCSing, you will be eligible for Board Certification pay once you have been notified of passing. Board certification pay requests are routed through Mark Sullivan at the Medical Corps GME Office in Bethesda. You will need to route an endorsement through your CO at your unit, but the majority of the paperwork and the funding is handled by the GME office.
- If you are in zone for consideration by a promotion board, being in a FTOS Fellowship does not change this. I highly recommend doing everything you can to prep your record including ensuring all documentation is correct, you have an officer picture, and everything else listed in the Promo Prep document Dr. Schofer has put together 6-12 months BEFORE PCSing from your pre-fellowship command. It is exponentially easier to do this at an actual Navy command than through a reserve/ROTC command. Your access to BUPERS Online (BOL) and other CAC-enabled sites may be limited during your fellowship and most of the time you will be very busy. Getting your record ready 6-12 months before your start fellowship ensures you have plenty of time to correct any discrepancies well in advance of the board.
- Letters to the board can potentially help your promotion odds. FTOS fellows in the past have had their fellowship program directors write letters to the board detailing their performance in fellowship, some even had the fellowship directors write the letter hitting all of the Fitrep performance traits (Professional Expertise, Command Climate/EO, Military Bearing, etc.) specifically to replicate a Fitrep as closely as possible.
- Moonlighting is not permitted in any form during FTOS fellowship. Sorry. Your co-fellows may be moonlighting a ton and making more money, but keep in mind they’re likely making around $70,000 from the fellowship while you are making $100,000 plus and potentially close to $200,000 if you’re able to do the retention bonus/fellowship loophole plus untaxed money in the form of Basic Allowances for Housing (BAH) and Subsistence (BAS).
- Industry/externally funded travel/courses may come up during your fellowship. These are often great opportunities to obtain additional education and training without paying for it. You will need a Proffer letter from the company specifically detailing what is being offered in terms of monetary value in travel, lodging, meals, education etc. You will send this Proffer letter to Mark Sullivan who will also need an email from your fellowship program coordinator/director stating that the training is an integral part of your education and that it is being offered to all fellows and not just because of your affiliation with the DoD.
- Mark will then forward this on to Navy legal who will reply with any requests for information and usually give you a final decision within a few weeks. The decision will be sent in a Navy standard letter detailing your being allowed to proceed. Often, the company sponsoring your travel will need a copy of this letter for their records.
- Try to stay as far ahead as possible for this. I had an instance where the entire process was able to be completed and approved in a 2 week period, but ideally a month or more should be allotted. It’s a pretty simple process overall and you do not want to get into an unauthorized commitment situation.
- My command has allowed me to take special liberty for all of these courses so far which has allowed me to save up leave.
- Keep in mind that while you’re FTOS, you’re still in the Navy. You may not need to shave/put your hair in a bun every day, but don’t show up for your PRT with a full beard (yes that happened and yes the whole unit got an email from the XO about it).
- Enjoy the time in fellowship and being as close to a civilian as many of us will have for a 10-20 year stretch of our lives!
- What other questions do you have about FTOS fellowship? Please leave a comment or email me at djschuettdo < at > gmail < dot >com and I will try to answer any further questions.
Navy Military, Civilian Applicants for Navy Legislative Fellowship Sought
WASHINGTON (NNS) — Navy announced a call for Navy civilian, officer and senior enlisted applicants for the calendar year 2020 Navy Legislative Fellows Program in NAVADMIN 056/19, Mar. 4.
The program is a year-long full-time assignment to the office of a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate to broaden understanding of the legislative process and the operation of the U.S. Congress. The program also enhances the Navy’s ability to fulfill its role in the national policy development process.
This highly competitive program is open to O-3 through O-5 active-duty and Full-Time Support officers, enlisted E-7 through E-9 active-duty Sailors and senior Navy employees GM/GS-13 and above or equivalent.
Military applicants must be available for permanent change of station assignment to Washington, D.C. from November 2019 through December 2020. During the fellowship, officers and senior enlisted Sailors will be assigned to the Office of Legislative Affairs for administrative purposes and must agree to serve for three years following completion or termination of the fellowship.
Military applications must be submitted no later than Apr. 15, 2019.
Program information and submission guidance for military applicants is available at https://www.mnp.navy.mil/group/training-education-qualifications, click “Navy Legislative Fellowship” in the “Looking For?” section.
Applicants selected for the Legislative Fellowship Program will be contacted via email and a list of selectees will be posted at https://www.mnp.navy.mil/group/training-education-qualifications.
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