11 February 2005

NSCC INFORMATION LETTER 3-05

1. ALL HANDS NOTE: Cadet costs for the NSCC International Exchange Program (IEP) for this year remain significantly reduced thanks to federal funding support, once again available in 2005. These lower costs will hopefully continue to improve cadet opportunity, generate greater interest, and result in enough applications to fill all quotas. To better serve cadets and Senior Escort Officers (SEO), assist in travel arrangements, and ensure equitability in cadet selection, NSCC LCDR Mike Campbell, Regional Director for Region 1-2, continues as the IEP Director. The IEP Director reports to the NSCC Deputy Director for all IEP matters. A committee has been established to receive and review applications, make selection recommendations to NHQ, and to assist in making international flight arrangements. Selection criteria is included at TAB A to encl (1) for your reference. The IEP Director, NSCC LCDR Mike Campbell is responsible for chairing this committee. General information for this years' program immediately follows.

• Russia and Scotland are new this year.
• USCG Barque EAGLE opportunities are included this year due to it’s European venue.
  
  
• For below listed INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS (encl (2) through (10)), NSCC NHQ will pay for travel costs from major airports nearest cadet departure home locations to host country international arrival airports. The only costs to cadets will be host country exchange fees/program deposit of $200 for two weeks and personal spending money. Prerequisites recognize more senior cadets; those who have a greater longevity in the NSCC program, have demonstrated a commitment to the goals of the program, matriculated to leadership positions, and who have maintained in their home communities outstanding records of scholarship and citizenship. The enclosure (1) 2005 Cadet/SEO International Exchange Application package is to be used for all applicants for exchanges detailed in enclosures (2) through (10). All applications for these "adventure of a lifetime opportunities" will go before a selection committee, selectees and non-selectees will be notified in a most timely manner, and for those selected, travel arrangements will be made for them. A non-refundable $200 deposit, which will be applied towards host country exchange fees and IEP program costs will be required from each cadet at the time of selection to confirm his or her quota. If a selectee cannot go, this non-refundable deposit will be applied towards costs to cancel and/or reschedule airline fares. Specific guidance regarding deposits will be provided for each exchange following selections. We will need senior escort officers as well, and their applications are to go before the same selection committee. For those desiring to be Senior Escort Officers, advise LCDR Mike Campbell at seacadet1@aol.com of your interest in advance of your application. Also call NHQ Capt Nyland (703) 312-1544 or e-mail: HNYLAND@navyleague.org to advise of your interest. Application instructions and information regarding each exchange are as per enclosures (2) through (10). At TAB B to encl (1) are ISCA Forms 1 and 2. Some ISCA host nations require these forms upon reporting. Follow instructions per encl (2) through (10) for each nation and exchange. And, all applicants are referred to www.usnscc.org , click International Exchange Program, for more detailed instructions and hints regarding completion of applications. Senior Escort Officer travel expenses will also be paid for by NHQ.
  
  
• POLICY REGARDING REPEAT PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS. NSCC IEP goals are to afford as many cadets as possible the opportunity to participate in the IEP during their tenure as a cadet in the NSCC. It is also an NSCC goal to recognize and honor (by giving preference) those cadets who have demonstrated commitment to the goals of the program, matriculated to more senior leadership positions, and who have maintained in their home communities outstanding records of scholarship and citizenship as stated above. The selection committee is charged to balance these two goals using the following policy guidelines:
  
  

  • Cadets may apply for repeat participation in successive years.
  • All applications will go before the selections committee and all applications will be scored (encl (1) refers).
  • Priority in filling quotas will be given to first time applicants who score well.
  • First time applicants scoring poorly will compete with high scoring repeat applicants for remaining quotas.
  • Selection committee is charged to select those cadets whom they judge to be the most deserving IAW program goals stated above, and those who will be the best NSCC program ambassadors with our ISCA host nations, and those cadets who will best support their SEO for the particular exchange.
    

• MIDSHIPMEN ARE GENERALLY NOT ELIGIBLE AND WILL ONLY BE ENTERTAINED FOR A QUOTA IF THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH CADETS TO FILL AVAILABLE QUOTAS.
  
  
• SCOTLAND EXCHANGE WITH NSCC INST SENIOR CHIEF DON WIENER, LICS USNR (Ret). Cadets must pay their own airfare from home to Scotland. There will be no cost to cadets once in Scotland except for personal spending. Senior Chief Wiener will assist in making travel arrangements as best he can. Submit NSCTNG 001 or 002 to Senior Chief Wiener. Protocol is first come, first served for all qualified subject to SEO Senior Chief Wiener's approval. There is no competition for this exchange, do not send applications (encl (1) package) to LCDR Campbell. Follow directions in encl (11).
  
  
• CANADA EAST AND WEST opportunities remain essentially unchanged from previous years. Cadets are responsible for getting to points of debarkation, either Vancouver or Halifax, N.S., and for paying their own way to get there. For Canada East to Nova Scotia, there is no longer a Canadian C-130 airlift. Cadets will fly directly to Halifax where they will meet their escort. We did this in 2003 and 2004 and it worked well for all. An $80 deposit to NHQ with the request for training authority is required. Pre-requisites are as per the enclosures and requests for training are to be forwarded first to the Senior Escort Officer, who will in turn further forward to NHQ for order writing. There is no selection committee process for the Canadian Exchanges and acceptance protocol will be first come first served. Follow directions as contained in enclosures (12) and (13).
  
  
• INTERNATIONAL HOSTED IN NEWPORT AND CANADA WEST HOSTED AT FORT LEWIS opportunities remain essentially unchanged from previous years, except the international this year is being hosted in NEWPORT, RI. Cadets are responsible for their own transportation to and from, Newport. The $80 deposit goes to the SEO, with the request for training authority. Pre-requisites are as per the enclosures and requests for training are to be forwarded first to the Senior Escort Officer, who will in turn further forward to NHQ for order writing. There is no selection committee and acceptance protocol will be first come first served. Follow directions in encls (14) and (15).
  
  
• LAST BUT NOT LEAST, A VERY VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: There are always instances of truly outstanding cadets who should get the opportunity, but for some reason don't meet all the pre-requisites or criteria. To that end, prerequisites and participation criteria may be waived for outstanding cadets. Submit waiver requests with applications when you think appropriate. AND FOR ANY OUTSTANDING CADET HAVING HARDSHIP WITH THE $200 DEPOSIT, DO NOT LET THIS HARDSHIP PRECLUDE SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION!!!! Unit CO to advise LCDR Campbell of the hardship at time of application. He and NHQ will review for determination of action to lessen the hardship if possible. No promises, but we will do our best to support outstanding cadets.
  

2. The following is the list of the exchange programs for 2005. The spring exchange opportunity with Australia and the one with Russia were previously advertised via internet posting to all Unit CO's. Details for those exchanges are included for information purposes only, in that we expect these exchanges will be offered again in 2006. Summary information for all 2005 International Exchanges is as provided below.

* Dates and details pending, most likely July, early August. Cadets should apply now, do not wait. Dates will be posted on the 1 MC, Compass and at the IEP website as soon as known.

USCG BARQUE EAGLE

And at encl (16) is this year's opportunity for 2 cadets to sail onboard Eagle. It is advertised in this IEP announcement in view of the European schedule for Eagle this summer. It will also be included in the Summer Training Schedule under USCG opportunities. Follow the directions in encl (16).

3. Application procedures are as per the enclosures. Cadets desiring to apply for more than one program can indicate second and third choices in enclosure (1) choices. Only one program per cadet will be approved for 2005. For those cadets traveling at their own expense (encl (11) through (15)), do not purchase airline tickets until notified of selection by NHQ. This is generally accomplished by you receiving your orders. In all cases stay away from non-refundable tickets! NHQ cannot reimburse for cancellations, regardless of reason. For those participating in FX-SC with Senior Chief Wiener, do not purchase tickets until told to do so by Senior Chief Wiener. And remember, stay away from non-refundable tickets!

4. For all cadets applying for International Exchanges encl (2) through (10) and sending application packages to LCDR Campbell in CT, if using FEDEX, DO NOT CHECK THAT A RECEIPT SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED. This only delays your package. And please note that all applications must be received by LCDR Campbell not later than May 6. Do not delay sending your application because of pending recommendations…..get it submitted soonest. The selection committee meets right after the due date and applications received after that date will not be considered.

5. For all cadets selected or approved for International Exchange Program participation, additional guidance and/or information will be as provided either by NHQ with orders, or by the Senior Escort Officer (SEO)/COTC for the exchange. No exchange will take place unless escort requirements are met. Amplifying information will be as provided by Senior Escort Officers (SEO)/COTC, or as published in updates to this information letter

H.J. Nyland

Distribution:
NSCC Chairman, President and Executive Director
NSCC Regional Directors, Associate Regional Directors, and Field Representatives
NSCC Unit Commanding Officers

THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME
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