MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (NOV.11,2011) -- The United States Marine Corps plans to nominate eight officers to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs to participate in The United States Senate Youth Program’s upcoming event in March 2012. The program is in search of 17 officers from all branches of the military to serve as military mentors to high school students participating in this year’s program held in Washington, D.C.
The William Randolph Hurst Foundation and the United States Senate sponsor the program.
The program provides more than 100 high school students the opportunity to learn about the functions of the government firsthand, by affording them the opportunity to meet with government officials including the president of the United States, senators and senior members of the national media.
The officers selected to participate will serve as counselors, facilitators and ambassadors of the U.S. military. These officers will interact with the student delegates on a personal level and help mentor them. Many of the students have a limited understanding of the role the military plays in society, and the chosen officers will teach and enlighten the teenagers about their respective service.
Program mentorship is open to first lieutenants, captains, majors and lieutenant colonels, to include at least one female Marine to directly interact with the female youth senate participants.
The officers selected to participate must attend a three day orientation course at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., from March 1-3. Those selected to fill the roles of senior mentor officer and assistant senior mentor officer are required to arrive earlier to attend additional training from Feb. 27-March 3.
All applicants must meet Marine Corps height and weight standards and have their command’s approval to contribute their time and services to the program.
Qualified applicants are required to submit an application package, including a full length photo, to hattie.powell-ray@usmc.mil no later than Dec. 9. The subject line of the email must contain “2012 Senate Youth Program Application,” applicant’s rank and name.
Sample nomination packages and program information and requirements can be found at www.ussenateyouth.org.
All officers chosen to participate must gain permissive temporary additional duty orders or be on leave status during the time period of the program and obtain transportation to and from Washington, D.C., at their own expense.