The Congressional Fellowship Program
Understanding the Congress
by LtCol Raymond A. Celeste
There is an undervalued yet mission critical program called the Marine Corps Congressional Fellowship. While the fellowship is a long-established program, it was not until Gen James L. Jones became the 32d Commandant that the congressional fellowship program was truly utilized. This program is one of the most challenging and prized fellowships in the Marine Corps.
By design the fellowship exposes military officers and government civilians to the inner workings of the United States Congress. It is open to captains and majors (any military occupational specialty) and civilians (GS–12 and above). The program is 1 year long and is accomplished in three phases. First comes the on-the-job training phase that exposes the “fellow” to the organization of the Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA). Included in this phase are rotations in both the House and Senate offices on Capitol Hill. Usually, the incoming fellow is placed with an exiting fellow so that he can learn about how a congressional office operates. Additionally, the incoming fellow will spend some time in the Special Correspondence Branch of OLA. The importance and challenge in this section can’t be overstated; the Special Correspondence Branch responds to more than 4,000 congressional inquiries per year. These inquiries range over a wide variety of issues and, on occasion, have aided Marines and their families.
After 1 or 2 months of on-the-job training, the fellow moves to the government orientation program. This is a 2 1/2-week program that provides an intensive overview of the organization of Congress, how a bill becomes an act of Congress, and many other aspects of the legislative branch. The faculty of Georgetown University’s Government Affairs Institute is contracted by the U.S. Government to teach this program. Specific subjects include testimony preparation, appropriations/authorization process, congressional committee process, and other topics concerning the legislative branch of government.
The intent of the program is realized when a fellow takes on a staffer position during the third phase of the program. Fellows are interviewed and selected by a congressional office—either House or Senate—to perform the duties of full-fledged staff members. Most often the fellow will work with the congressional office’s military legislative assistant who will utilize the fellow’s knowledge and understanding of military matters. Almost all fellows will serve in the office of a Member of Congress who serves on either the House or Senate Armed Services Committee or the House Appropriations Committee-Subcommittee on Defense. These committees have jurisdiction over policy or budget issues for the Department of Defense.
Almost immediately upon introduction to a member’s military affairs officer, the fellow becomes an integral member of the official staff. Duties are challenging and dynamic. It is within these offices that the fellow will learn the most and be utilized effectively. Serving as a military affairs subject matter expert, the fellow will learn to craft legislative language, draft questions for members to pose at hearings, build coalition support on matters of national importance, or travel on military issues-related factfinding trips.
Fellows benefit Congress in unique ways. The fellow’s active duty status makes him a duty expert on any number of subjects. Most permanent staff members have not served in the military. Congressional staff members who have served in the military are no longer current within their former occupational specialty or about issues facing the Services. Fellows provide competent professional advice on military matters—especially those affecting military budgets and equipment programs—that is sound, useful, and informed. By aiding Members of Congress in this manner, fellows benefit the Marine Corps through their capable knowledge and support.
When the fellowship is completed, the Marine has an opportunity to apply his experience and newfound expertise immediately. Exiting fellows must perform a “payback” tour (also known as a utilization tour) that immediately follows the fellowship. Most common payback tours include budgeting or policy branches within the Departments of Aviation and Plans, Policies, and Operations or within OLA itself. The fellow’s newly acquired skill set pays dividends to the Marine Corps and to the individual Marine.
Candidate qualification requirements for the fellowship program are outlined in a Marine administrative message released each year during January/February.
>Col Celeste is a congressional affairs officer assigned to the OLA.
