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DoD INFORMATION ASSURANCE SCHOLARSHIP
APPLICATION
BACKGROUND AND REQUIREMENTS
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CONTENTS
Background
Description of Scholarship and Employment Opportunities
Minimum Eligibility for Scholarship and Appointment
Area of Consideration
General Information
Application Requirements for Current IASP Students
Application Requirements for New Applicants
1. BACKGROUND
Information assurance (security) is considered so
important to our national defense that a formal department of
Defense (DoD) Information Assurance Scholarship Program was
established by the National Defense Authorization Act for 2001
(Public Law 106-398). The purpose is to promote the education,
recruitment, and retention of rising junior and senior
undergraduate and graduate/doctoral students in information
assurance (security) studies and of students seeking graduate
certificates in information assurance disciplines.
The DoD is seeking rising junior and senior
(third and fourth year) undergraduate and graduate/doctoral
students who are interested in full-ride scholarships
for concentrated studies in information assurance. Students
selected for the program will receive full scholarships. This
requires the student to agree to serve one year of service to
the DoD, upon graduation, for each year of scholarship, in
addition to the internship identified below. An opportunity
also exists for Reserve and National Guard participation. The
time frame for pay back under these scenarios is a little
different given the nature of the work for the Reserves and
National Guard. The obligated service commitment here will be
considered to be two years of service for every year of
scholarship, rather than “one-for-one” as it is for those
participating in the DoD Civilian workforce. If you are
interested in the National Guard or Reserves, as a means to
meeting your requirements, please indicate this in the
application.
During breaks in their academic studies, Information Assurance
Scholars will receive progressive, hands-on experience in
information security internships. In return, scholars
must agree to some restrictions and obligations regarding
curriculum, GPA, and pre- and post-program employment. If all
conditions are met, Information Assurance Scholars will receive
full-time conditional/permanent positions in agencies and
components of the DoD upon program completion.
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HOW TO APPLY |
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1.
Only students at
designated NSA Centers of Academic Excellence in
Information Assurance Education (CAE/IAE) may
apply. Review the list of schools included with
this announcement for clarification. Note, students
selected must attend full-time.
Review all application instructions and materials
included with this announcement. Pay close
attention to the mandatory conditions of financial
assistance and employment.
Check with the identified Point of Contact for your
college or university to find out what you must do
to apply and to obtain an augmented application
package if your school requires one. (Application
due dates and requirements may vary from school to
school.)
Obtain all of the information required for a
complete application package. You must provide all
information that is requested in this announcement,
plus any information that may be required by your
school. (Application due dates and requirements may
vary from school to school.)
Fill out and sign the required SCHOLARSHIP
APPLICATION, provide and sign all supplemental
statements that are part of the package. Include
name and SSN.
DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE. Submit your application package directly to
the appropriate Point of Contact for your college or
university. See the list included with this
announcement for the identity of that person. |
2. DESCRIPTION OF SCHOLARSHIP AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The National Defense Authorization Act (Public Law 106-398)
directed the DoD to establish an Information Assurance
Scholarship Program (IASP). The purposes of the program are to
recruit and retain well-qualified personnel for work in the
vital information assurance field and to cultivate continuing
capacity for information assurance workforce development at
select institutions of higher learning (called “Centers of
Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAE/IAE)”)
throughout the United States. As directed by the Secretary of
Defense, the Assistant Secretary of Defense Networks and
Information Integration) (OASD(NII)) has delegated authority and
responsibility to establish scholarship and institutional grant
programs to achieve these purposes, including the authority to
conduct civilian employee recruitment for these purposes. This
program, which is executed by the National Information Assurance
Education and Training Program (NIETP) of the National Security
Agency (NSA).
Rising junior and senior undergraduates, masters and doctoral
candidates, and graduate certificate program students who are
U.S. citizens and are at least 18 years of age are eligible for
consideration for the program. Information assurance
scholarships will pay for the full cost of tuition, fees, books,
lab expenses, supplies and equipment incurred by students
selected for the program. In addition, students selected for
the program will be provided a stipend to cover room and board
expenses: undergraduate students will receive a stipend of
$10,000, and graduate (masters and PhD) students will receive a
stipend of $15,000, per academic year. Disabled students may
receive additional allowances. There are no allowances for
dependents. Additional years of scholarship awards are
dependent upon satisfactory academic progress, internship
performance, and the availability of funds. Returning students
will be given first priority over new students to the program as
long as they continue to meet the IASP requirements and
appropriate funding is available . Scholarship recipients who
successfully complete the terms of an initial one or two year
scholarship (for example, complete an undergraduate degree), may
apply for a second scholarship of up to two years for completing
an advanced degree or graduate certificate program.
Appointment and Hiring Authorities
P.L. 106-398 anticipates that recipients of information
assurance scholarships will participate in experiential learning
assignments (called “internships” in the law) at DoD components
and agencies while completing their academic degree programs.
The Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) appointment
authority established by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
will be one of the means used to establish the relationship
between scholarship and internship. Some agencies are eligible
to participate through excepted service, and will bring students
in to perform internships, in accordance with the regulations of
their Agency. Under the SCEP appointment, scholarship recipients
will receive federal civilian appointments in the General
Schedule (GS) pay plan as “Student Trainees.” This appointment
authority also allows federal employers to offer prospective
applicants the recruitment incentive of conversion to permanent,
full-time status as federal employees without further
competition upon successful completion of academic and
internship program requirements. The SCEP is described in detail
at 5 CFR 213.3202 (http://www.opm.gov/employ/students/2133202.HTM).
For more information on the Student Employment Programs, please
see
http://www.opm.gov/employ/students/index.htm. Some of the
DoD Agencies are exempt from the SCEP appointments, and will
bring interns (and student hires) on board through their
appropriate hiring authorities.
Information Assurance Scholars will be appointed at those
General Schedule grade levels for which qualified and selected
by DoD component officials. Since the Area of Consideration for
scholarship and SCEP applicants includes rising junior and
senior year undergraduates, masters and doctoral degree
candidates, and graduate/doctoral certificate program students,
it is anticipated that applicants will (variously) meet minimum
qualification standards for Student Trainee appointments at
GS-0099-4, GS-0099-5, GS-0099-7, and GS-0099-9. The Military
Departments and DoD components that select and appoint students
will decide at what grade levels successful Information
Assurance Scholars will be appointed in light of any applicable
component-unique factors such as the target occupations or
full-performance position levels for the candidates. To obtain
some information on the general salary schedules for FY04,
please visit
http://www.opm.gov/oca/04tables/index.asp.
3. MINIMUM ELIGIBLITY FOR SCHOLARSHIP AND APPOINTMENT
To be eligible for the Information Assurance Scholarship and
Student Career Experience Program opportunity described in this
announcement, you must meet all of the following minimum
requirements:
You must be 18 years of age or older.
You must be a citizen of the United States at the time of
application. Note, if family members are not U.S.
Citizens, some DoD Agencies may be unable to process the
applicant (student) to the security clearance level required.
Every effort will be made to assign eligible students at an
Agency without such restrictions.
You must be enrolled (or accepted for enrollment) in one of the
identified CAE/IAE colleges or universities listed in this
announcement, or enrolled (or accepted for enrollment) at an
institution selected by a CAE/IAE as a collaborative partner for
these purposes.
You must have completed (or by September 2005 will have
completed) at a minimum the first two years of an undergraduate
degree program and be eligible to (a) begin either the third or
fourth years of an undergraduate degree program; (b) begin the
first or second year of a masters degree program; (c) pursue
doctoral studies; or (d) complete a graduate certificate program
in information assurance.
You must be pursuing a course of study and/or have a declared
major in one of the scientific, technical or managerial
disciplines related to computer and network security, with a
concentration in an information assurance function.
For these purposes, the scientific, technical and managerial
disciplines related to computer and network security are:
Mathematics
Biometrics
Electrical Engineering
Electronic Engineering
Computer Science
Computer Engineering
Software Engineering
Computer Programming
Computer Support
Data Base Administration
Computer Systems Analysis
Operations Research
Information Security (Assurance)
Business Management or Administration
For these purposes, the information assurance functions are:
System/Network Administration and Operations
Systems Security Engineering
Information Assurance Systems and Product Acquisition
Cryptography
Threat and Vulnerability Assessment, to include Risk Management
Web Security
Operations of Computer Emergency Response Teams
Information Assurance Training, Education and Management
Computer Forensics
Defensive Information Systems
See the web page information below, which provides resources as
to what is necessary for you to fulfill the necessary security
requirements. Failure to be able to obtain a security clearance
is grounds for dismissal from the DoD IASP. You must be able to
obtain the required security clearance for the position
selected. You may be required to undergo certain tests,
including drug and polygraph tests, to obtain and maintain a
clearance. Before awarding you a scholarship or hiring you, you
will be required to complete certain forms to initiate the
security clearance process. Some of these forms will
require that you reveal extensive information about your
background, such as potentially sensitive information about your
financial circumstances and any arrests and/or convictions for
offenses of any kind. You must agree to all of these conditions
of employment and you must complete these forms as a condition
of financial assistance and appointment.
Current web
pages from OPM and DSS are provided below. These are provided for
your review and consideration in determining whether you believe you
will be eligible for a security clearance. They may not be all
inclusive, however, it is highly recommended you review and
understand the requirements prior to signing up to participate in
the DoD IASP.
http://www.opm.gov/extra/investigate/
http://www.opm.gov/egov/clearance_overview.asp
http://www.dss.mil/psi/index.htm
The following web page contains additional information from a U.S.
military web site about security clearances which also may be useful
to you when determining whether you will be eligible for a security
clearance:
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/security/blsecuritymenu.htm
Your school (CAE/IAE) must recommend you for scholarship.
4. AREA OF CONSIDERATION
The Area of Consideration for the Information Assurance
Scholarship and Student Career Experience Program consists of rising
Junior and Senior undergraduate, master, doctorate and
graduate-level certificate program students who are enrolled (or
accepted for enrollment) at the colleges and universities listed in
the Attachment D and Annex I to this application.
Each CAE/IAE may select additional institutions of higher education
as collaborating partners in implementation of the Information
Assurance Scholarship Program. Students enrolled, or accepted for
enrollment, at the collaborating institutions are also within the
Area of Consideration. The identity of collaborating partner
institutions, IF ANY, must be obtained from the CAE/IAEs.
Each CAE/IAE has designated a campus liaison, or Principal
Investigator (P.I.), for Information Assurance Scholarship Program
management and administration. The above referenced Annex provides
known points of contact for the current CAE/IAEs. You are
responsible for identifying the applicable P.I. for the IASP on your
campus.
5. GENERAL INFORMATION
a. Application Forms and Materials
On the application and the following pages you will find
instructions for preparing and submitting an application for the
Information Assurance Scholarship and Student Career Experience
Program, as well as application forms and materials. Please read
all information and instructions for application preparation before
you begin. The application itself consists of your resume and all
of the OF612 supplements. The OF612 Supplemental Competency
Statement and Resume must be included or the package will be deemed
non-responsive.
Please be aware that your school (CAE/IAE) is required by the
Department of Defense to participate in the evaluation of your
application for scholarship assistance under this program. Your
school may fulfill its responsibilities to evaluate your application
in a variety of ways. Your school might constitute a panel to
review your application materials or conduct interviews with you or
other applicants. To fulfill its responsibilities, your school may
require that you obtain and submit information and/or materials in
addition to those required in the application package. Any written
information or material that your school requires shall become the
CAE/IAE Supplement to your OF612 and must be included in the final
application package that your school transmits to the Department of
Defense in order for you to receive consideration.
Therefore, if you are interested in applying for this opportunity,
you should check with the Information Assurance Scholarship
Program Point of Contact for your school immediately to
learn of any additional application requirements (see the annex for
numbers).
Privacy and Public Burden Statements
The Office of Personnel Management and other Federal agencies
rate applicants for Federal jobs under the authority of sections
1104, 1302, 3301, 3304, 3320, 3361, 3393, and 3394 of title 5 of the
United States Code. Section 1104 of Title 5 allows the Office of
Personnel Management to authorize other federal agencies to rate
applicants for Federal jobs. We need the information requested in
this vacancy announcement to evaluate your qualifications, that is,
to see how well your education and work skills qualify you for a
Federal job and for tuition assistance pursuant to P.L. 106-398 and
the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 5, Chapter 1, Part 213,
Subpart C, Section 213.3202(b)(17). Other laws require us to ask
about citizenship and military service, to see whether you are
affected by laws we must follow in deciding whom the Federal
Government may employ.
We must have your Social Security Number (SSN) to keep your records
straight because other people may have the same name and birth date.
The SSN has been used to keep records since 1943, when Executive
Order 9397 asked agencies to do so. Giving us your SSN or any other
information is voluntary. However, we cannot process your
application if you do not give us the information we request. As
allowed by law or Presidential directive, we use your SSN to seek
information about you from employers, schools, banks, and others who
know you. Your SSN may also be used in studies and computer matching
with other Government files, for example, files on unpaid student
loans. If you do not give us your SSN or any other information
requested, we cannot process your application, which is the first
step in getting a job. Ensure your last name and social security
number are contained on the top right of each application page.
We may give information from your records to: training facilities;
organizations deciding claims for retirement, insurance,
unemployment or health benefits; officials in litigation or
administrative proceedings where the Government is a party; law
enforcement agencies concerning violations of law or regulation;
Federal agencies for statistical reports and studies; officials of
labor organizations recognized by law in connection with
representing employees; Federal agencies or other sources requesting
information for Federal agencies in connection with hiring or
retaining, security clearances, security or suitability
investigations, classifying job contracting, or issuing licenses,
grants, or other benefits; public or private organizations including
news media that grant or publicize employee recognition and awards;
and the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Office of Special
Counsel, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Federal
Labor Relations Authority, the National Archives, and congressional
offices in connection with their official functions.
We may also give information from your records to: prospective
nonfederal employers concerning tenure of employment, civil service
status, length of service, and date and nature of action for
separation as shown on personnel action forms of specifically
identified individuals; requesting organizations or individuals
concerning the home address and other relevant information on those
who might have contracted an illness or been exposed to a health
hazard; authorized Federal and nonfederal agencies for use in
computer matching; spouses or dependent children asking whether an
employee has changed from self-and-family to self-only health
benefits enrollment; individuals working on a contract, service,
grant, cooperative agreement or job for the Federal Government;
non-agency members of an agency's performance or other panel; and
agency-appointed representatives of employees concerning information
issued to an employee about fitness-for-duty or agency-filed
disability retirement procedures.
We estimate the public burden for reporting the employment
information will vary from 20 to 240 minutes with an average of 40
minutes per response, including time for reviewing instructions,
searching existing data sources, gathering data, and completing and
reviewing the information. You may send comments regarding the
burden estimate or any other aspect of the collection of
information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the
U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Reports and Forms Management
Officer, Washington, DC 20415-0001.
b. Veteran’s Preference in Hiring
If you served on active duty in the United States Military and were
separated under honorable conditions, you may be eligible for
veteran’s preference. For further details, call the Office of
Personnel Management at 912-757-3000 or visit:
http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.asp.
To claim 5-point veterans' preference, attach a copy of your DD-214,
Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other proof
of eligibility, to your Optional Form 612 - Optional Application for
Federal Employment, as required at Item 15 of the application.
To claim 10-point veterans' preference, attach a SF 15, Application
for 10-Point Veterans' Preference, plus the proof required by that
form, to your Optional Form 612 - Optional Application for Federal
Employment, as required at Item 15 of the application.
c. Applicants With Disabilities
You can find out about alternatives for submitting your application
by calling the Office of Personnel Management at 912-757-3000. If
you have a hearing disability, call TDD 912-744-2299. You can
obtain case-by-case assistance by calling the Department of Defense
point of contact for this announcement. The name, address, and
telephone number of the points of contact for this announcement are
below:
Ms. Christine Nickell, DoD IASP
National Security Agency
Attn: NIETP, I02E, Suite 6744
9800 Savage Road
Fort George G. Meade, MD 20755-6744
Phone: 410-854-6206
d. Equal Employment Opportunity
The Department of Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All
qualified persons shall receive consideration for this opportunity
without regard to political, religious, labor organization
affiliation or non-affiliation, marital status, race, color, sex,
national origin, non-disqualifying physical disability, age, or
sexual orientation.
5. OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY
Before hiring you, the appointing agency will ask you to complete a
Declaration for Federal Employment or other agency or component
specific form to determine your suitability for Federal employment
and to authorize a background investigation of your suitability. The
agency will also ask you to sign and certify the accuracy of all the
information in your application. If you make a false statement in
any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired
after you begin work; or you may be fined or jailed.
You will be required to obtain and maintain eligibility for a
security clearance in order to receive financial (scholarship)
assistance or an appointment under the Information Assurance
Scholarship and Student Career Experience Program The appointing
agency will ask you to complete certain forms to initiate the
security clearance process. These forms require you to reveal many
details about your background, including your financial
circumstances, and other sensitive matters such as any arrests
and/or convictions for offenses of any kind. You must complete
these forms as a condition of financial assistance and appointment.
If you are a male over age 18 who was born after December 31, 1959,
you must have registered with the Selective Service System (or have
an exemption) to be eligible for a Federal job.
Federal law prohibits officials from appointing, promoting, or
recommending their relatives.
Federal annuitants (military and civilian) may have their salaries
or annuities reduced. All employees must pay any valid delinquent
debts or the employee’s payroll office may garnishee their salary.
APPLICATION CONTENT REQUIREMENTS
6. APPLICATION CONTENT REQUIREMENTS for CURRENT IASP
STUDENTS WHO ARE REAPPLYING:
An acceptable application package for the Information Assurance
Scholarship and Student Career Experience Program consists of a
letter and the maintenance of your grade point average.
One (1) Letter of Reference from the current Principal Investigator
or key faculty member who is fully knowledgeable of your potential
for successful learning, your knowledge, and your ability, based
upon this past year of effort.
Official (certified) or unofficial (current and accurate, but not
certified) copies of all of your transcripts from all the
institutions of higher learning you have attended, SINCE your
last submission. You are required to maintain the appropriate grade
point average to maintain your status in the program.
Note regarding the Supplemental Statement of General Academic and
Employment Conditions. This form has been submitted under your
previous application. Following the selection of students for
scholarship, letters will be sent to selected students, containing
similar information, which affirms the student’s willingness to
commit to the internship (if applicable) and the obligated service
requirement. It will also note that failure to do so will require
pay back of Scholarship to the U.S. Government. Once signed, this
will be attached to previous documentation for the record.
Therefore, it is not necessary to submit the supplemental statement
again.
7. APPLICATION CONTENT REQUIREMENTS for STUDENTS NOT CURRENTLY IN
THE IASP:
An acceptable application package for the Information Assurance
Scholarship and Student Career Experience Program consists of a
completed, signed, and dated Resume, all of the supplements to the
OF612 described below, AND all written information or materials
required by your school (CAE/IAE):
Supplemental OF612 Continuation Sheets. If the OF612 does not have
sufficient space for you to provide complete answers to all
questions asked, you must attach separate sheets of plain 81/2” X
11” paper on which you record your responses or the continuations of
your responses. On each such page, indicate your name, your social
security number, and the OF612 item numbers to which your responses
apply.
Supplemental Academic Sufficiency Statement. You must complete the
Statement of Academic Sufficiency supplement to the OF612, to which
you must attach the following additional supplemental statements:
One (1) Letter of Reference from a current faculty member who
is fully knowledgeable of your potential for successful learning,
your knowledge, and your ability. See remainder of application
package for instructions about the content of this Letter of
Reference.
One (1) additional Letter of Reference from either a current or
former faculty member, or a current or former supervisor who is
fully knowledgeable of your potential for successful learning,
your knowledge, and your ability. See remainder of application
package for instructions about the content of this Letter of
Reference.
Official (certified) or unofficial (current and accurate, but not
certified) copies of all of your transcripts from all the
institutions of higher learning you have attended.
Supplemental Competency Statement. You must complete the OF612
Supplemental Competency Statement with narrative responses that
describe the level of your attainment of the knowledge and ability
factors indicated. See remainder of application package for
instructions about the content of this supplemental statement.
Supplemental Statement of General Academic and Employment
Conditions. If you agree with the all of the academic and
employment conditions required for your receipt of scholarship
assistance and appointment under the Information Assurance
Scholarship and Student Career Experience Program, and wish to be
considered for it, you must complete the OF612 Supplemental
Statement of General Academic and Employment Conditions, and include
it in your application package.
Your school (CAE/IAE) is required by the Department of Defense to
assist in the evaluation of Information Assurance Scholarship
Program applicants. At its discretion, your school may require
that you provide additional information or material to enable its
evaluation of your eligibility and candidacy for scholarship
assistance. The school may not decrease the requirements of the
DoD IASP. If your school requires written information or material in
addition to that described above, that additional information or
material shall constitute an OF612 Optional Center of Academic
Excellence in Information Assurance Education Supplement, and must
be included in your application package for you to receive full
consideration. Contact the Information Assurance Scholarship
Program liaison for your school to find out if your school has
additional application requirements. (See the web annex titled
“Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education”
for the points of contact.)
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