2007 Information Letter

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17 January 2007

NSCC INFORMATION LETTER 3-07

From:   Deputy Director, U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC)
To:       Distribution

Subj:    2007 NSCC INTERNATIONAL, CANADIAN, AND U.S. HOSTED
            EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

1.  This is NSCC Information Letter 3-07 NSCC International Exchange Programs (IEP) for 2007. It includes exchange guidance for all ISCA and non ISCA sponsored exchanges this year. BUT FIRST:

THE NSCC INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE WEBSITE IS  iep.seacadets.org    GO HERE FOR THE LIST OF INTERNATIONAL SEA CADET ASSOCIATION (ISCA) MEMBER AND NON MEMBER  NATIONS SPONSORING EXCHANGES THIS YEAR.  EXCHANGE APPLICATION PROCESS AND DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR EACH EXHANGE ARE POSTED AT THIS SITE. COUNTRY SPECIFIC EXCHANGE INFORMATION IS ALSO AT THIS SITE.  CLICK ON “EXCHANGES”, AND THEN CLICK ON THE “INSTRUCTION DOCUMENT” FOR THE SPECIFIC COUNTRY LISTED TO GET EXCHANGE DATES AND DETAILS.

COUNTRY SPECIFIC DATES AND DETAILS WILL BE POSTED UNDER THE APPROPRIATE “INSTRUCTION DOCUMENT” AS THAT INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE TO THE NSCC.  THEY WILL ALSO BE POSTED TO THE 1 MC.   TYPICALLY POSTINGS WILL START IN JANUARY AND EXTEND THROUGH APRIL, SO CHECK OFTEN FOR DATES AND DETAILS FOR THE EXCHANGE YOU’RE INTERESTED IN.  

  • SPECIAL NOTE:  Participants must be US citizens and have a passport for all IEP program participation and crossing international borders !!! If you have any questions or concerns here, double and triple check with your SEO.  While actual legislation may lag behind Department of Homeland Security policy, it is the goal of Homeland Security to have the passport requirement in place for all land, sea, and air travel across US borders as soon as possible.  NSCC policy is to ensure each cadet is OK.  MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A PASSPORT!!!!!!

2.  CANADA EAST AND WEST opportunities remain essentially unchanged from previous years, with the exception that quotas for CE are fewer than in prior 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. Cadets will fly directly to Vancouver or  Halifax where they will meet their escort  Do not purchase airline tickets until approved by your SEO and 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.  A $150 deposit to NHQ with the request for training authority is required.  Pre-requisites are at the iep.seacadets.org website 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. Go to iep.seacadets.org for additional information.

3.  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 selection process for this exchange, do not send applications to LCDR Campbell.  Follow directions for this exchange at the website.  Do not purchase tickets until told to do so by Senior Chief Wiener.  And remember, stay away from non-refundable tickets!  Go to iep.seacadets.org for additional information.

4.    INTERNATIONAL HOSTED IN NEWPORT AND CANADA WEST HOSTED AT FORT LEWIS opportunities remain essentially unchanged from previous years. Cadets are responsible for their own transportation to and from, Newport and Fort Lewis.  Do not purchase airline tickets until approved by your SEO and notified of selection by NHQ. This is generally accomplished by you receiving your orders. In all cases stay away from non-refundable tickets!   The $150 deposit goes to the SEO, with the request for training authority. Pre-requisites are at the iep.seacadets.org website 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.  Go to iep.seacadets.org for additional information.

5.  FOR ALL OTHER EXCHANGES, 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. Prerequisites for all exchanges 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.  Selection criteria is also at iep.seacadets.org for your reference. These exchanges may include (but are not limited to): Bermuda; United Kingdom; Netherlands; Sweden; Russia; Japan; Hong Kong; Korea; Singapore; and Australia.  General notes for these exchanges are as follow:

  • COSTS. Generally NSCC NHQ will pay for travel costs from major airports nearest cadet departure home locations to host country international arrival airports. Generally the only costs to cadets will be host country exchange fees/program deposit of $200 for two weeks and personal spending money. Some (Russia) may be higher due to higher costs to NHQ to facilitate the exchange. A committee has been established to receive and review applications, make selection recommendations to NHQ, and to assist in making international flight arrangements.   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.  ISCA Forms 1 and 2 are at iep.seacadets.org.  Some ISCA host nations require these forms upon reporting. Senior Escort Officer travel expenses will also be paid for by NHQ. 
  • POLICY REGARDING REPEAT PARTICIPATION IN THE  IEP 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.  For selected cadets, 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 (criteria at iep.seacadets.org).
  • 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.
  •  Cadets desiring to apply for more than one program can indicate second and third choices in their applications.  Only one program per cadet will be approved for 2007. 
  • For all cadets applying for International Exchanges  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 4.  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.
  • 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.  LCDR Campbell  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.

6.  For all cadets selected or approved for any 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 exchange specific information at iep.seacadets.org.

 

H. J. NYLAND