12 September 2000
NSCC INFORMATION LETTER 13-00
| From: |
Deputy Director, U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC) |
| To: |
Distribution |
|
|
| Subj: |
NSCC Federal Funding Support and Summer Training for
Year 2001 |
1. NSCC national efforts to obtain federal funding in
support of the NSCC have been successful. Legislation passed by the House and Senate in
support of $1 million dedicated to the NSCC has been signed by the President for fiscal
year 2001. Action to maintain federal funding in the out years is already underway and NHQ
is optimistic that funding will continue far into the future.
2. NSCC
presented to Congress its need based on actual and escalating costs to cadets for
training. Congressional approval was based on
expectation and desire to defer cadet training costs for our NSCC youth citizenship
program. Accordingly, NSCC intentions are to
fully fund NSCC and NLCC cadet summer 2001 berthing and messing costs as detailed below.
The total
dollar amount of federal funding only allows funding support for cadet and escort
berthing, messing, and selective administrative costs, except for the foreign exchange
programs, where we expect to also provide training grants to help defray overseas travel
costs.
Funded
training will be training as contained in the 2001 Foreign Exchange Programs Information
Letter and the 2001 Summer Training Schedule Information Letter. Both these information letters are expected to be
published not later than end February 2001.
For the
Foreign Exchange Programs, berthing and messing costs as charged by host countries will be
paid by the NSCC. Logistic costs for training as arranged by Senior Escort Officers
and approved by NHQ will also be covered. Cadets approved for
participation in the Foreign Exchange program may also expect to receive training grants to help defray overseas travel
costs. Coordination will continue
through Senior Escort Officers and NHQ. Details
for each exchange to include costs and/or expenses that will be paid up front or
reimbursed, what’s paid for by NHQ and what’s not, will be as promulgated in the
Information Letter. Because competition for quotas will be keen, all hands may expect
cadet eligibility prerequisites to be adjusted
to target those cadets with sustained superior performance.
Funded
training will include berthing and messing for Coast Guard Training as contained in
the Summer Training Schedule as well as training at USCG activities not advertised
but locally arranged and carried out for 5 days or more under NSC-24C orders.
Specific direction will be provided in the Summer Training Schedule Information Letter and
will probably follow the reimbursement process for all other NSC 24C training as outlined
immediately below in the next paragraph. Requirements for prior approval will be in the
Information Letter.
-
For all other locally arranged training
carried out under NSC 24C orders of 5 days or more in length,
not in the summer training schedule, we
expect to be able to fund
messing and berthing expenses as well. However, prior approval from NHQ will be required. NHQ
will provide necessary request for approval forms for use by Unit COs who desire this training.
We plan to post forms on the internet and include them
in the next edition to the Advancement and Training Manual,
and the next update of the Admin
Manual. Generally, what we will be looking for is that the
proposed training meets NSCC goals and objectives and that berthing
and messing costs are reasonable, and roughly comparable to
costs as if onboard a Naval Base or other military installation.
We anticipate berthing and messing costs incurred as
a result of all training on NSC-24C orders will be subject to reimbursement,
with reimbursements accomplished via the unit CO at the end
of the summer. Once again, local training subject
to reimbursement will have to be approved in
advance by NHQ so that
funding can be reserved.
At summer’s end, unit CO’s will batch submit
their NSC-24C's for all
their cadets, for all NSC-24C
training over the summer. We will ask for a grand total cost
for all approved NSC-24C summer training.
NHQ will reimburse that cost to the unit, and units will
directly reimburse cadets.
For
summer 2001 training as contained in the Foreign Exchange and Summer Training Schedule
Information letters, we anticipate the process to
be:
- Cadets and escorts will submit requests for orders to NHQ via the
COTC just as has been the practice for the last two years.
- Requests will be due to the COTC one month prior to the training
start date.
- One month prior to training, COTC’s will complete and forward to
NHQ their funding support request based on the number of cadet and escort orders received,
cost of berthing and messing, and historical/best guess administrative costs. NHQ will
provide COTCs all necessary forms.
- COTCs will forward to NHQ their request for funding support.
- Upon receipt, NHQ will issue to COTCs funding to support training.
COTC’s to have funding in hand approximately 2-3 weeks prior to training, as provided
by NHQ.
- Upon completion of training, COTC’s will submit training audit
reports as currently required. Excess funds will be returned, shortages will be
reimbursed.
Generally, training deposits will
not be required unless directed in the advertising information
letters. Training
deposits were implemented to reduce no-shows, and provide COTCs
seed money. Federal funding now eliminates
seed cost requirements. (See Action Letter 6-00) Responsibility
to control no-shows will rest with the Unit COs. No shows represent
a wasted quota, and each wasted quota represents one cadet who
didn’t get a paid for training opportunity. Unit COs who abuse this responsibility
will be subject to poorer annual inspection grades by Regional
Directors. (Please
remember, COTCs send NSCTNG-012s to Regional Directors
after training and no-show information can be included.)
- Travel costs to and from the training site will not be funded. This is current policy and practice and will
remain unchanged, with the exception of training grants to defray overseas travel costs
for the foreign exchange program. It will
remain the parent and unit responsibility to get their cadets to the training site.
If there are any funds remaining after cadet summer training is paid
for, we plan to partially reimburse cadet enrollment fees and to fund fall 2001 officer
OPD berthing, messing, and course administration fees. This is entirely dependent upon availability of funds
at summer’s end, after all cadet training is paid for, and can not be guaranteed.
Cadet no-shows for summer training may be
ineligible for this partial reimbursement of enrollment fees, if it is implemented.
All hands must understand that while our goal to
reduce costs for summer training in 2001 stands firm, and cadet training costs in 2001 will be greatly
reduced, specifics presented herewith with
regard to process and other longer range goals are subject to change. The primary
intent of this letter is to present and announce reduced training costs for 2001, and give
all NSCC personnel a rough idea of how funds will be applied, so that you may inform your cadets, plan
accordingly, and incorporate this information into discussions with new and prospective
cadets, and their parents.
3. The
Naval Sea Cadet Corps is healthier than ever before, holds great promise for the future,
and clearly stands on its own merit as a premier national youth program. It has now been recognized by Congress for
it’s outstanding contribution to the youth of our nation and is a program that all
members can be proud of. Because of its
merit, newly recognized status, and congressional support, the challenge now is to further
expand among even more of our nations youth the opportunity to join and enjoy the benefits
of our NSCC program. Hopefully these reduced
costs will allow the prospective cadet who previously didn’t join due to expense, to
now join and experience “The Adventure of a Lifetime”.
4. We
here at NSCC headquarters will work hard to further expand summer training opportunities
for even more cadets. In the interim,
we ask you to inform your cadets of our progress, and explain to them the reduced training
expenses that they may anticipate, for sure in 2001, and hopefully for many years to come. Please hold an all hands meeting, and invite all
parents to come. We also ask that you hold
the doors open for all additional cadets who may desire to join, and encourage their
participation in accordance with the goals of the NSCC.
Additional adults will be needed, and we solicit your support as well in expanding adult
ranks. Growth
is anticipated, desired, and necessary in that it will be the basis for continued and
additional congressional funding in the out years.
5. This
information letter is canceled when contents have been noted, and for record purposes on 1
October 2001.
|
H.J. Nyland |
Distribution:
NSCC National Chairman and National President
NSCC/NLCC Unit Commanding Officers
NSCC/NLCC Regional Directors and Headquarters Representatives |