Army National Guard Leader Development Program

Enhance and support the State's and Territories' capability to develop Army National Guard leader's knowledge, skills, competencies, attributes, and behaviors to produce agile and adaptive leaders at echelon, who are able to operate and succeed in complex and dynamic environments. By creating and providing leader development resources, opportunities, and content in the experiential and self-development realms of professional development, which deliver broadening experience or increased technical and conceptual competency in order to enable Leader Development across the 54 States and Territories.

Broadening Opportunities

Reference the Broadening Opportunities Catalog for specific information related to Guardsmen applications, eligibility and more.

Opportunities

White House Fellowship Program
Founded in 1964 by Lyndon B. Johnson, the White House Fellows program is one of America's most prestigious programs for leadership and public service. White House Fellowships offer exceptional young men and women first-hand experience working at the highest levels of the federal government. Selected individuals typically spend a year working as a full-time, paid Fellow to senior White House Staff, Cabinet Secretaries and other top-ranking government officials. Fellows also participate in an education program consisting of roundtable discussions with leaders from the private and public sectors, and trips to study U.S. policy in action both domestically and internationally. Fellowships are awarded on a strictly non-partisan basis.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/get-involved/fellows/


Congressional Fellowship Program
The Army Congressional Fellowship Program is a 44-month program which includes pursuit of a Master's Degree in Legislative Affairs at George Washington University, service on the staff of a Member of Congress, and utilization on the Army Staff in a congressional-related duty position. Army National Guard Congressional fellows receive a fully-funded graduate degree from George Washington University earning a master's degree in Legislative Affairs while gaining Capitol Hill experience, followed by a 2-year utilization tour. The National Guard Bureau's Office of Legislative Liaison encourages eligible Army Captains, Majors, and senior Non-commissioned Officers in Title 10 AGR, Title 32 AGR, and M-Day status to apply to this prestigious career-broadening opportunity. The program seeks service members who have demonstrated outstanding promotion potential.
https://www.nationalguard.mil/Leadership/Joint-Staff/Personal-Staff/Legislative-Liaison/Congressional-Fellowship-Program/


SGM Academy Fellowship Program
The USASMA Fellowship Program is a merit-based scholarship program where select sergeants major will compete for up scholarships for a master's degree in Adult Education through Penn State University or a master’s degree in Instructional Design, Development and Evaluation from Syracuse University. Interested National Guard Soldiers should submit an application through ARNG-TRL at ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mbx.arng-g3-ltd@mail.mil.
https://www.ncoworldwide.army.mil/Academics/SGM-A-Fellowship-Program/


CGSC Interagency Broadening Fellowship
The CGSC Interagency Broadening Fellowship immerses MAJs and LTCs of all branches and functional areas into a federal Dept/agency for one year to develop a more thorough understanding of the agency’s mission, culture, capabilities, and procedures while contributing to the host Dept/agency mission as a fully integrated staff officer. This broadening assignment allows officers to build key relationships while developing comprehensive solutions for our nation’s most difficult national security challenges. This broadening fellowship requires an innovative mindset and individual initiative. Fellows need to be comfortable routinely interacting with very senior officials within the interagency community.
https://www.cgscfoundation.org/interagency-fellowship-program-opportunities-available/


Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency DARPA Service Chiefs SCP Internship Program
The DARPA Program exposes rising military officers to a unique organization whose mission is to rapidly develop imaginative, innovative, and often high-risk research ideas. This 3 month fellowship will provide officers with insight into specific cutting-edge technology and potentially aid in developing a future DARPA technology. Participants for each of the Services will also have the opportunity to deep dive into specific technology of interest to them and to their respective Service, as well as for an understanding of the breadth of DARPA research across the spectrum of technology.
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency DARPA Service Chiefs SCP Internship Program


Harvard Strategist Program
The Harvard Strategist Program seeks to place qualified officers on a pathway to serve as strategists. Strategists lead multidisciplinary groups and facilitate senior leader decision-making by assessing, developing, and articulating policy, strategy and plans at the national and theater levels. Selected officers will pursue the Mid-Career Master in Public Administration at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and incur a three-year Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) upon graduation. During the utilization tour officers will complete the Basic Strategic Arts Program (BSAP) and be assessed into the Title 10 AGR program and complete their remaining ADSO as a utilization assignment.
usarmy.knox.hrc.mbx.epmd-strategic-broadening-manager@mail.mil


Defense Strategy Course (DSC)
The DSC is a four-month online course taught by the Army War College. The program will improve student understanding about the role of the DoD in the development of National Security Strategy within a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous (VUCA) international environment. The DSC includes four sections of 13 lessons and each lesson takes approximately 7 to 10 hours to complete. The course work includes classical thinking about strategic theory and the military schools of thought and will examine the current strategic environment. There are three written essays and an online forum that constitute the evaluation requirements for the course. Successful completion of DSC authorizes the student the additional skill identifier (ASI) of 6Z-Strategic Studies Graduate per DA Pam 611-21.
https://dde.carlisle.army.mil/LLL/DSC/Lessons/L1.cfm


Reserve Component National Security Course (RCNSC)
The RCNSC is a two-week resident seminar offered to senior officers (MAJ-LTC) and non-commissioned officers (MSG-SGM) of the U.S. Reserve Components, allied officers, and select interagency civilians and industry fellows working in national security. There are three iterations of the course for FY 2021: 25 January-5 February 2021, 5-16 April 2021 and 19-30 July 2021. The course is taught by faculty at the National Defense University at Ft. McNair, Washington, DC and consists of guest lectures (General Officers and Ambassador-level), work in seminar rooms, and a strategic policy exercise.
https://rcnsc.dodlive.mil


HQDA Strategic Broadening Seminars
The SBS are unique opportunities designed to introduce mid-grade officers, warrant officers and NCOs into strategic planning and policy formulation and non-traditional problem solving techniques. The various programs provide three to five week resident courses that enhance appreciation for the complex contemporary security environment. The diverse curriculum and unique characteristics will challenge attendees to think critically and creatively. Soldiers that complete an SBS will be awarded the 6Z (Strategic Studies Graduate) additional skill identifier (ASI).
https://www.army.mil/article/196778/strategic_broadening_seminars_developing_ready_and_agile_leaders


Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Fellowship
This fellowship exposes officers to educational and research opportunities comparable to graduate level study. Selected officers will undertake and complete multiple major research projects of relevance to the Dept. of the Army and publish their work. Fellows regularly interact with the Institute of Land Warfare (ILW) senior fellows which include prominent retired 3-star and 4-star level Army general officers. Fellows also have the opportunity to participate in ILW's many forums and professional development venues. This Fellowship is 9-12 months long.
https://www.ausa.org/sites/default/files/senior-fellows-flyer.pdf


United Kingdom Intermediate Command and Staff College
The UK ICSC is a two week residential, comprehensive career course run at the Army Division of the Joint Services Command and Staff Course at the UK Defense Academy, Shrivenham, UK. The course provides training and education for all British officers across a broad range of subjects. The course is comparable to U.S. Army ILE phases. It is delivered through a series of modules and consists of central lectures, seminar work (classes of 12 students) with additional time dedicated to reading and reflection. Future dates are TBD.
https://www.da.mod.uk/courses/intermediate-command-and-staff-course-land


Strategic Awareness Seminar
This Strategic Awareness Seminar provides M-Day National Guard Soldiers a unique two week broadening opportunity to engage the national security enterprise providing future leaders of the organization un-paralleled access to current senior leaders and subject matter experts. As an ATRRS Course each seminar will fall into one of three different themes: Homeland Defense, Partnerships, or The Warfight.
Strategic Awareness Seminar


Are we missing anything?
Contact: ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mbx.arng-g3-ldt@army.mil