January 30, 2009

 

International Fellows Program                                                            

 

 

International Fellow, Class of 2010

c/o: American Embassy-Capital

SAO – Training Officer

 

 

Dear International Fellow:

 

            Congratulations on your appointment to attend the United States National Defense University (NDU).  Your year at the National Defense University will be both interesting and challenging.  You will participate alongside your American classmates in a rigorous 10-month academic program at one of the major colleges at NDU.  Additionally, you will join more than 50 other senior officers from countries all over the world in the International Fellows Program (IFP). This program begins with your arrival in Washington and concludes with graduation the next summer. It includes an eight-week orientation program during the summer and an extensive field studies program throughout the United States.

 

            The International Student Management Office (ISMO) will be your primary point of contact at the University to assist you with your arrival and getting settled in the Washington, DC area.  Additionally, you will be assigned a sponsor who has volunteered to help you with your transition to life in the Washington metropolitan area.  Your main sources of assistance in getting settled are your Embassy, the ISMO staff, and your sponsor.  They want to know your needs and are willing to help make many arrangements for you even before you arrive.

 

 

            The report date for the IFP Class of 2010 is Monday, 15 June 2009.  You will have a couple of days to adjust to the time change before orientation classes begin on 17 June at 0800 in Eisenhower Hall, Building 59, Room 124 located at Ft. Lesley J. McNair.  An optional early bird in-processing will be offered on Monday, 15 June 2009 and Tuesday, 16 June 2009 at 0800 hours.  During this time, you can obtain the US military and NDU ID cards.  You must notify ISMO if you plan to come to early-bird in-processing and ISMO must receive your military ID questionnaire forms prior to this in-processing.

 

 

            The main purpose of the NDU International Fellows Program is engagement of allied and friendly governments with the United States. Fellows are selected and sent to the United States for many reasons, academics being only one. You (and your family if you are accompanied) will live in the United States for one year and participate in many different activities during your stay. You will learn about our government, our culture, and our people. The NDU-IFP has the most extensive Field Study Program of any senior Professional Military Education (PME) institution in the country. We go to great lengths to expose you to as much of our country and way of life as possible. You will make life-long friends among the other Fellows, as well as with your American classmates. Getting a graduate degree is incidental to the main purpose of the program.

 

            NDU is an accredited institution.  The National War College offers a Masters Degree in National Security Strategy, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces offers a Masters Degree in National Resource Strategy.  International Fellows who qualify may compete for one of these degrees.  To qualify for an advanced degree, you must successfully complete the following requirements:

            International Fellows who do not meet the degree requirements or who otherwise decline to participate in the NDU degree program, study under the same academic syllabus, but are graded to a ‘non-degree’ standard and receive a diploma from their schooling. 

 

            Core academic classes commence in early August and continue until graduation in June, with a two-week semester break at the end of December.  The reading and writing assignments throughout the year are extensive and intensive.  I would suggest that you prepare for your upcoming academic studies by reading or reviewing two classic works before you arrive:  Clausewitz’s On War and Sun Tzu’s The Art of War.  This will give you a head start in your academic studies and allow you more time to focus on the articles and readings required after classes begin.

 

            To help prepare you for this rigorous academic workload, we will conduct several days of specialized preparatory seminars and classes during the summer.  These classes consist of computer training, an Introduction to Graduate Writing and Research course, an American Studies course associated with your Field Studies program, and some introductory academic classes in your respective college.  You will be issued a state-of-the-art laptop computer shortly after you arrive which you may use throughout the year for academic preparation and Internet access.  Your government purchased the laptop for your use during the academic year and you assume custody of it after graduation.  Please note that your laptop is for official business only and usage must comply with Department of Defense network standards. Your ability to download and install software (i.e. digital cameras, Skype, etc.) will be extremely limited.  If you have a personal computer you would like to use for such purposes, you may want to consider bringing it. NDU is embracing the Information Age – if you are not yet computer literate, you will be shortly after arriving here.  (NDU uses Microsoft Office programs, such as Word and PowerPoint). I strongly encourage you to concentrate on developing your personal computing skills over the next year. There are many different resources available to assist you in this area at NDU.

 

            Please arrive prepared to present a 20-30 minute oral country briefing.  This presentation should address (a) your country's major security interests and challenges; (b) the economic, social, and political dynamics of your country; (c) the mission and organization of your country's armed forces; (d) an outline of your country's defense policy and (e) the manner in which your country's chief executive exercises control over the armed forces.  You may wish to bring some demographic data and visual aids pertaining to your country.  You will present this briefing to your International Fellow classmates, and may be asked to make similar presentations at each of the colleges, during field study trips, and possibly to other interested audiences during your time here at NDU.  This is not a travelogue, but should be a substantive presentation.  Please come prepared with this briefing, since you may be asked to present it to your classmates during the first weeks of the summer.

             I highly recommend that you establish a major credit card account such as MasterCard, VISA, or American Express before you arrive in the United States.  It is almost impossible for international visitors to get a U.S. credit card without a credit history in the U.S.  Most businesses in the U.S. require credit cards for transactions.  For example, you will need a credit card at hotels we use during the year if you wish to use the phones or any other services they offer.  Likewise, you may need a credit card to rent a car after you arrive, etc. 

 

            The Washington metropolitan area is an expensive place to live.  You will need a MINIMUM of $3,000 per month to live here.  Additionally, you may need at least $3,000 when you first arrive to cover required deposits for housing, utility service, etc.  You may be eligible to collect a temporary living allowance while you are in the U.S.  Check with your Security Assistance Officer at the U.S. Embassy in your country before you depart.  (Once eligible, your orders must show authorization for this allowance).

            Medical care in the United States is very expensive.  Make sure that you understand who is responsible for any medical care you may need, especially if your family comes with you.  You are entitled to medical and emergency dental care at U.S. military facilities.  Your dependents probably are not entitled to this benefit.  Many Fellows are shocked to learn that they must pay medical expenses for their dependents out of their own pocket.  The U.S. government has bilateral agreements with other governments that address medical coverage.  Each of these agreements is unique.  Eligibility for care at a military medical facility for your dependents does not necessarily mean that there will be no cost for that care.  Dependents are not eligible for military dental care.   Discuss medical coverage with the Security Assistance Officer at the U.S. embassy in your country, and also with your appropriate government and military agencies before you depart.  You are absolutely required to purchase international health insurance to cover your dependents while in the United States if they are not covered by military health care.  You must provide a copy of the insurance policy to ISMO upon arrival.  If you do not provide a copy of the insurance policy for your dependents they will not be issued I.D. cards. 

 

 

            Fellows who receive a Living Allowance from the US government will be allocated corporate apartments that include all furniture, utilities and many other amenities. These apartments rent for $3600-$4800 per month depending on the number of bedrooms.  Fellows not receiving a living allowance from the US Government will face major decisions regarding housing and transportation.  Most available housing are apartment units that are rented on an annual basis, usually unfurnished. Houses can also be rented but they are more difficult to find and considerably more expensive.  Furnished apartments and houses are sometimes available but are very expensive.  You can expect to rent a one-bedroom unfurnished apartment from about $1,400 a month.  Rental furniture and house wares for a one-room apartment are approximately $340 a month.

 

            If you plan to rent an unfurnished property, I recommend you obtain authorization from your government to ship some of your household furnishings to the U. S. or, as a minimum, to authorize return shipment of any household goods that you may have to buy while here.  The rental process for living accommodations can be greatly simplified if your government instructs your Defense Attaché in Washington to help complete those arrangements for you prior to your arrival.

 

            I strongly encourage you to bring your family with you this year.  Many of our program activities include families.  If your spouse does not drive, the specific location of where you live is very important since the public transportation system in the Washington D.C. area may not be as good as you are used to.  It will be more convenient for your spouse if you live close to schools and shopping centers.  Family housing in Washington D.C. is scarce.  Many university students and most of the previous International Fellows have lived in Virginia, since many Virginia locations are closer to the NDU than are similar locations in Maryland.  Your Defense Attaché may be able to make a valid comparison for you.

 

            A few Fellows are able to make it through their year here without a car.  However, most buy at least one used car.  Many second hand cars are available for sale in the area.  I advise caution, however, because you can expect to pay at least $3,000 and up for a reliable automobile.  If your spouse drives, you may need to purchase two cars.  Car insurance is also expensive.  Remember to bring your home country and international drivers license.

            I am enclosing a variety of literature on the National Defense University, your academic program and the Washington DC area.  I am sure you will find this information useful and I hope that it will be helpful to you as your prepare to join us.  Please look through it at your leisure. 

 

            In order to prepare the ISMO staff and your sponsor for your arrival, I ask that you complete the enclosed registration forms and questionnaires and return them to ISMO as soon as possible.  (All of these questionnaires and forms can also be completed and submitted online at http://www.ndu.edu/ismo/.) I have provided an addressed envelope for your convenience.   If you have any questions in completing the forms, you can direct them to the U.S. Defense Attaché or Security Assistance Officer in your country.  A pre-arrival document checklist is included to assist you in ensuring that the required forms are completed and returned to us and that you have other necessary documents (translated into English if possible) with you when you arrive in the United States.   

 

            You may find more information about the National Defense University at the following websites:

 

National Defense University:                           www.ndu.edu

International Fellows Program:                        www.ndu.edu/ismo/

National War College:                                      www.ndu.edu/nwc/

Industrial College of the Armed Forces:          www.ndu.edu/icaf/

 

Feel free to e-mail, write or call me or any other staff member if you have any questions after you have reviewed this material:

 

Senior Director, Mr. John Charlton, Col, USAF, (Ret)

charltonj@ndu.edu, 202-685-4242

 

Deputy Director and Program Manager, Mr. Douglas Bellows, CAPT, USNR (Ret)

bellowsd@ndu.edu, 202-685-4239

 

Program Specialist, Ms. Stephanie Larsen

larsens@ndu.edu, 202-685-0482

 

Program Specialist, Mr. Matt Waldrip

waldripm@ndu.edu, 202-685-4240

 

Program Specialist, Mr. Paul Lambert

lambertp3@ndu.edu, 202-685-1704

 

            We look forward to your participation in the International Fellows Program during the coming year.  My staff and I extend a warm welcome to you and your family.  We look forward to meeting you and sharing a wonderful learning experience.