thedrifter
03-16-07, 06:50 PM
Congressional Fellowship Program expands
By John Hoellwarth - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Mar 16, 2007 16:10:58 EDT
The number of Marine officers working with Congress must increase roughly threefold next year, according to a Corps-wide message released Tuesday.
“In response to a growing need for military expertise in Congress, the secretary of defense directed all military services to increase their presence on Capitol Hill,” according to MarAdmin 175/07.
The application deadline for officers who want to be considered for the Congressional Fellowship Program has been extended to April 6 in hopes of soliciting enough applications to expand the program, according to the message.
Congressional fellowships historically have been offered only to active-duty and Active Reserve captains and majors, but the Defense Department-wide push to increase the number of officers on the Hill has prompted the Corps to expand eligibility to first lieutenants and lieutenant colonels, as well as members of the Selected Marine Corps Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve, said an Office of Legislative Affairs official.
Though the MarAdmin said the number of Marines on the Hill must “triple” in 2008, the Defense Department hasn’t set a final goal for each service; the message “used that word to convey that the program is increasing by a significant amount,” the legislative official said.
The program assigns Marines to administrative duties in and around Congress, including billets on the staffs of key senators and congressmen, to familiarize them with the legislative process, “which is vital to the Marine Corps,” according to the message.
Congressional fellows can expect to draft legislation, plan committee hearings, brief members of Congress for floor debates and plan international dialogues, among other duties, according to the message.
Ellie
By John Hoellwarth - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Mar 16, 2007 16:10:58 EDT
The number of Marine officers working with Congress must increase roughly threefold next year, according to a Corps-wide message released Tuesday.
“In response to a growing need for military expertise in Congress, the secretary of defense directed all military services to increase their presence on Capitol Hill,” according to MarAdmin 175/07.
The application deadline for officers who want to be considered for the Congressional Fellowship Program has been extended to April 6 in hopes of soliciting enough applications to expand the program, according to the message.
Congressional fellowships historically have been offered only to active-duty and Active Reserve captains and majors, but the Defense Department-wide push to increase the number of officers on the Hill has prompted the Corps to expand eligibility to first lieutenants and lieutenant colonels, as well as members of the Selected Marine Corps Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve, said an Office of Legislative Affairs official.
Though the MarAdmin said the number of Marines on the Hill must “triple” in 2008, the Defense Department hasn’t set a final goal for each service; the message “used that word to convey that the program is increasing by a significant amount,” the legislative official said.
The program assigns Marines to administrative duties in and around Congress, including billets on the staffs of key senators and congressmen, to familiarize them with the legislative process, “which is vital to the Marine Corps,” according to the message.
Congressional fellows can expect to draft legislation, plan committee hearings, brief members of Congress for floor debates and plan international dialogues, among other duties, according to the message.
Ellie