R 181725Z MAY 12

ALCOAST 253/12
COMDTNOTE 1524
SUBJ: POSTGRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES - PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
POSTGRADUATE PROGRAM
A. COMCOGARD PSC ARLINGTON VA 231313Z APR 12/ALCGPSC 053/12
1. This notice solicits officers for the Public Affairs Postgraduate
Program. This is a solicitation for applicants who are O-2 to O-4
select and will be tour complete in AY13. Candidates must have
completed at least one operational tour.
2. The panel will convene this summer to select three officers to
attend this program beginning summer 2013.
3. This program was established to provide personnel, from a variety
of backgrounds, with instruction in the disciplines of Communication,
Journalism, Public Relations, and Mass Communication. This program is
not to be confused with graduate work in Public Administration (MPA),
which is the academic discipline of public or governmental
administration. The Coast Guard Public Affairs Program is a
Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, and Mass Communication
specialty.
4. Selected officers for this program will be expected to attend, and
have the ability to be accepted to, schools with strong university
programs leading to a Master of Arts degree or Master of Science
degree in the previously mentioned disciplines. Universities with
strong governmental or military communication research focuses are
preferred.  Officers should not assume that a university will make
any special exception for admission based on military experience or
achievement. Selected officers must have strong academic skills.  The
Public Affairs Programs Division (CG-09225) maintains a list of
schools acceptable and attended by previous candidates.
5. The Public Affairs Program Division, in consultation with the
Deputy and Chief, Coast Guard Public Affairs, must approve all
courses of study. Different graduate programs often have similar
names, selected officers should not assume programs at schools of
their choosing will meet Public Affairs Program requirements and
should not expect easy approval of alternate programs. The officer
must bear any costs above the Programs funding ceiling.
6. Graduates should expect a follow-on assignment at an Area or
District Public Affairs Office or at Coast Guard Headquarters. Later
assignments might include more senior leadership responsibilities in
the External Affairs Program.
7. Applications must be submitted via e-resume IAW Ref (A).
Applicants must use their work e-mail address in order to receive
system notifications. Up to three examples/excerpts of the applicants
writing style must be submitted to CG PSC-OPM-1 IAW Ref (A), not to
exceed five pages total, to illustrate the breadth and quality of
their writing ability. Documentation is to be forwarded in scanned
.pdf files.
8. Action: Area and District Commanders, Force Readiness Command,
Commanding Officers of Headquarters units, Assistant Commandants for
Directorates, Chief Counsel and Special Staff Officers at
Headquarters shall ensure widest dissemination of this ALCOAST.
9. Questions should be directed to CWO2 Barry Lane at (202) 372-4638
or Mr. Jordan St. John at (202) 372-4625.
10. RDML Karl L. Schultz, Director of Governmental and Public Affairs
sends.
11. Internet release authorized.