R 141413Z MAY 12 ALCOAST 235/12 COMDTNOTE 1500 SUBJ: ADVANCED EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES SPONSORED BY DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR MISSION SUPPORT (DCMS) A. U.S. Coast Guard Competency Management System Manual, COMDTINST M5300.2 (series) B. COMCOGARD PERSCOM ARLINGTON VA 231313Z APR 12/ALCGPSC 053/12 C. COMCOGARD FORCECOM NORFOLK VA 031749Z APR 12/ALCOAST 155/12 D. COMCOGARD PERSCOM ARLINGTON VA 102011Z FEB 12/ALCGENL 024/12 1. This message describes CG-funded advanced education opportunities sponsored by DCMS for eligible active duty officers (including Reserve Program Administrators (RPAs) in select programs) and enlisted members. These programs supply the advanced skills necessary to carry out our technical authority responsibilities in agile, effective and efficient mission support systems. In addition, these programs provide members with the educational foundation necessary to apply changing technologies to operational demands. DCMS sponsored advanced education develops member competencies in order to meet established position competency requirements IAW Ref (A). Graduates of DCMS advanced education programs will be placed in positions of significant responsibility, impacting CG missions, systems and resources at a variety of levels. Subsequent rotational tours into operational assignments are encouraged to develop well-rounded leaders who are capable of both operating and supporting operations. Members desiring a challenging career with a variety of opportunities in positions of increasing responsibility are encouraged to apply. 2. This message applies to the following advanced education programs: a. Human Systems Integration (HSI): not available this year b. Industrial Engineering (IE): not available this year c. Performance Technology (PT) d. Operations Research (OR) e. Manpower Systems Analysis (MSA): new program f. Reserve Program Management (for RPAs) 3. Application instructions and timelines are published in Ref (B). Nearly all advanced education programs require completion of a standardized test such as the GRE, GMAT, or SAT/ACT. Required testing for each program is detailed below. To learn more about these tests or test fee reimbursement, contact your unit ESO. Members applying to an advanced education program must proactively schedule completion of their standardized testing so that results are available for submission with their application IAW deadlines outlined in Ref (B). 4. For questions regarding general program administration for the HSI, IE, OR and MSA programs, contact Ms. Mary Fuata at 202-475-5737, email: Mary.K.Fuata(at)uscg.mil. For the PT program, contact LCDR Scott Casad at (202) 475-5479, email: Scott.S.Casad(at)uscg.mil. RPAs (for all programs) should contact CDR Kofi Aboagye at (202) 475-5465. 5. Advanced education programs are described below with additional eligibility information from the sponsoring directorates. Preferred schools for each program are listed below or in appendix A of the advanced education program guide, available on the CG Portal under the Training and Education Tab, then Education, then Advanced Education programs, under DCMS-81 advanced education resources. The POCs listed below for each program should be contacted regarding program specific information, including follow-on tours and career guidance. A. Human Systems Integration (HSI): No TAB available for this years panel. Next solicitation is anticipated in FY2015. Program representative is Mr. Dan Blechel, Commandant (CG-1B3) at (202) 475-5040. B. Industrial Engineering (IE): No TAB available for this years panel. Program representative is LCDR Thomas Gwilliam, Commandant (CG-1B1) at (202) 475-5043. C. Performance Technology (PT): Per Ref (C), eight officers and one enlisted member will be selected for this Masters degree program. PT is the application of science for improving human performance through integration of learning psychology, adult education, instructional design, organizational behavior and other fields. Graduates will perform payback tours in challenging assignments in FORCECOM Training Division (FC-T) or at Training Centers. Officers who finish the program, complete a payback tour, and maintain strong operational backgrounds are strongly competitive for follow-on Training Center command cadre and other high visibility positions at the O5 and O6 paygrades. PT graduates are currently in command or prospective command of TRACENS Cape May, Petaluma, Yorktown, the Maritime Law Enforcement Academy and the Leadership Development Center (Director). All active duty members O3(sel) to O4 (less than one year in grade at the application deadline), E6 above the cut for E7 and E7 to E9 are eligible to apply without a waiver. Enlisted members should comply with application guidance in Ref (D). Applications must include GRE scores that are less than five years old. Successful applicants generally have GRE scores averaging better than 1000 (approximately 300 on new scoring system). Total program length is 15-months (four semesters, December graduation). Upon selection, members will apply to and attend one of seven schools in Fall of 2013: Florida State, San Diego State, Penn State, Indiana, Wayne State, Old Dominion or Central Florida. All applicants shall be fully prepared to attend a resident program as the online option from previous years is no longer available. At least one selectee will specialize in advanced distributed learning or training modeling and simulation. Members can expect a four year payback tour following graduation. Program representative is LCDR Scott Casad, FORCEOM (FC-T) at (202) 475-5479 or Scott.S.Casad(at)uscg.mil. D. Operations Research (OR): active duty junior officers with bachelor degrees in operations research, applied mathematics, computer science or other related majors with strong mathematical backgrounds are encouraged to apply for an 18-month program leading to a Master of Science in Operations Research or a closely related discipline. Matching its universal application to a broad spectrum of specialties, the operations research program selects established performers from all specialties. The service need for graduates with this challenging, career-enhancing skill set has grown significantly in recent years and continues to grow. Graduates of this program should expect high-impact and challenging assignments in analytical, forecasting or modeling and simulation billets throughout the CG. Prior coursework in high level mathematics including multivariate calculus, linear or matrix algebra and probability is required for selection. The GRE is the preferred standardized test for the OR application, however the panel will accept the GMAT. While OR has received six TABS in Ref (C) for this years panel, one TAB has been allocated for an approved deferment from last years panel. Preferred schools for OR include George Mason University, the College of William and Mary and the Naval Postgraduate School (Applied Mathematics Department). Officers interested in a degree specializing in modeling and simulation should make their desires known in the e-Resume as part of the application to the OR program. Program representative is Mr. Tony Ellis, Commandant (CG-12A) at Carl.A.Ellis(at)uscg.mil or (202) 475-5243. E. Manpower Systems Analysis (MSA): MSA is a 21-month program leading to a Masters of Science in Management. The program will equip CG officers with the fundamentals and advanced theory in manpower, personnel, training, education, policy development, managing diversity, compensation systems, enlistment supply and retention models, manpower training models, manpower requirements determination processes, career mix, enlistment/reenlistment incentives, training effectiveness measures, and hardware/manpower tradeoffs. The curriculum emphasizes mathematical, statistical, and other quantitative and qualitative analysis methods. MSA graduates will be assigned to positions responsible for developing and analyzing policies to ensure the CG is recruiting, training, utilizing and retaining personnel in the most effective/efficient ways. The primary school is Naval Postgraduate School located in Monterey, CA. Civilian schools may be selected where the program fulfills CG needs. Program representative is LCDR Thomas Gwilliam, Commandant (CG-1B1) at (202) 475-5043. 6. Reserve Program Management: Two high-performing Reserve Program Administrators (RPAs) (in the O3 to O4 paygrades) will be selected to attend the following 12 to 18-month graduate programs: Master of Public Administration in Public Policy (MPP), Public Administration (MPA), or a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance. RPAs must follow the guidance provided in Ref (B), demonstrate a strong record of performance as an RPA and indicate by transcripts and GRE/GMAT test scores the likelihood for admission to one of a number of preferred universities. Following graduation, anticipated assignments in support of the Reserve program will draw on academic specialty and may include Policy and Resource staff positions at Commandant (CG-131), PSC-rpm or Area/District Reserve Force Readiness staffs. RPAs must indicate that their application is for the Reserve Program Management PG Degree Program. Program Representative is CDR Kofi Aboagye, Commandant (CG-1311) at (202) 475-5465. A. For consideration for the MPA/MPP program, officers with GRE Scores lower than 500 (verbal), 630 (quantitative) and 4.0 (analytical) on the old GRE Scoring Format (or lower than 153 (verbal), 150 (quantitative) and 4.0 (analytical) on exams taken after 1 August 2011 are encouraged to retake the exam to remain competitive. Schools considered by the program include Syracuse University, George Washington University, University of Washington and University of Maryland. Other schools may be considered, especially if they have been used in the past by the CG MPA Advanced Education Program. RPAs are encouraged to review information on the CG-DCO-81 Portal: https://collab.uscg.mil/lotus/myquickr/masters-public-administration- --mpa-program/welcome. B. Qualifications for consideration for the MBA include a GMAT SCORE OF 550 and academic GPA OF 2.7 or higher. The successful candidate will apply to and attend Syracuse University or George Washington University, or may request consideration for an alternate university identified by the CG Finance PG Program. RPAs are encouraged to review the CG Finance PG Program message for additional guidance. 7. VADM J. P. Currier, Deputy Commandant for Mission Support, sends. 8. Internet released authorized.