Boren Scholars must begin to fulfill the service requirement no later than three years after the date of graduation from, or termination of, the program of study for which the scholarship was awarded.
Boren Fellows must begin to fulfill the service requirement no later than two years after the date of graduation from, or termination of, the program of study for which the fellowship was awarded.
The Department of Defense (DoD) provides the forces needed to deter war, protect the security of the United States, and render global humanitarian assistance as directed by the President. The department includes all offices and organizations that comprise the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, three military departments (Army, Navy, Air Force), nine Unified Combatant Commands, the DoD Inspector General, fifteen defense agencies, and seven DoD field activities. NSEP recipients have found employment in many different offices within the Department of Defense, including the Defense Information Systems, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and the National Defense University. For more information on the department, visit http://www.defenselink.mil/.
The Department of Homeland Security is a network of 22 federal agencies and organizations involved in efforts to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage from potential attacks and natural disasters. NSEP recipients have found employment in many different offices within the Department of Homeland Security, including the Transportation Security Administration and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. For more information on the department, visit http://www.dhs.gov/.
The Department of State is the lead federal agency responsible for U.S. foreign affairs. The department employs individuals in both civil and foreign service positions. Many NSEP recipients are currently working for the Department of State as foreign service officers throughout the world and as civil service employees in offices within the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, among others. For more information on the department, visit http://www.state.gov/.
The Intelligence Community is a group of executive branch agencies and organizations that work both independently and collaboratively to carry out intelligence activities necessary for the conduct of foreign relations and the protection of the national security of the United States. The Intelligence Community comprises many organizations including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the National Security Agency (NSA), and the Bureau of Intelligence and Research in the Department of Defense. NSEP award recipients have found work in these agencies and others. For more information on the Intelligence Community, visit http://www.intelligence.gov/.
All Boren Scholars and Fellows must make a full and good faith effort to identify and secure positions in the federal government. Award recipients seek employment on their own, with some assistance from NSEP. This effort includes a requirement to create and routinely update an online resume that will be made available to hiring officials in the U.S. federal government departments and agencies. Boren Scholars and Fellows must document specific efforts to identify employment opportunities in the federal government that would fulfill the NSEP service agreement.
NSEP is committed to working with Boren Scholars and Fellows before and after graduation to help identify federal job opportunities. To assist in and facilitate the federal job search process, NSEP has developed an interactive web site NSEPNET(www.nsepnet.org) to help Scholars and Fellows simplify and organize their job search efforts. NSEPNET maintains an online collection of federal job search tips, job notices, and resumes posted by recipients of a Boren award. These resumes are made available to hiring officials in all federal departments and agencies where relevant employment opportunities exist. Boren Scholars and Fellows should also use other widely available employment resources, such as college and university career offices, www.usajobs.opm.gov and www.studentjobs.gov
In addition to serving as a repository of resumes prepared by Boren award recipients, NSEPNET is also a tool that Boren Scholars and Fellows must use to document their job search efforts. Through NSEPNET, award recipients are required to maintain a Job Search History Log of their activities to identify and pursue opportunities in the federal government that would satisfy the NSEP service requirement.
A Boren Scholar's and Fellow's Job Search History Log must demonstrate to NSEP that he or she has made a full and good faith effort to identify and apply for federal employment that satisfies the service requirement, especially in the three priority departments and the Intelligence Community. By maintaining detailed log entries, award recipients demonstrate specific efforts that were made to identify suitable job opportunities and, in particular, the types of positions that were available to them at the time they were seeking to fulfill the service requirement.
If Boren Scholars and Fellows are not successful in identifying positions in the three priority departments or the Intelligence Community, they should pursue employment in another federal agency in a position with national security responsibilities. If a Scholar or Fellow finds such a position he or she must justify why the position has national security responsibilities. There is an expectation that Boren Scholars and Fellows, during their period of employment to fulfill the service requirement, will utilize the language or area expertise acquired during the course of the Boren Scholarship or Fellowship.
While NSEP is deeply committed to helping Boren Scholars and Fellows secure federal employment, the federal government is not obligated to hire any individual who has received funding through this program. Therefore, if a Scholar or Fellow demonstrates to NSEP that no appropriate position is available in the Federal Government, the Scholar or Fellow may petition NSEP to fulfill the requirement in an education position directly related to the language(s) or area(s) studied by the individual during the Boren Scholarship or Fellowshp or to another language or area where the individual has demonstrated competency.. The education option is available only after exhausting all opportunities to fulfill the requirement in the Federal Government in accordance with conditions established by NSEP.
Boren award recipients enjoy several advantages as they seek federal employment. First NSEPNET, connects award recipients directly with potential federal employers. Federal hiring officials perform searches of Boren award recipients' resumes for specific types of expertise. Second, NSEP maintains staff that is available to assist Scholars and Fellows in their job search efforts. Further, Boren award recipients benefit from several legal provisions that allow them to be hired in the federal government without regard to most federal hiring restrictions.
Boren Scholars and Fellows are required to accept only paid positions commensurate with the level of education and experience they possess. Award recipients may elect to satisfy the service requirement by accepting suitable paid or unpaid full-time, part-time, temporary, and/or internship positions. NSEP does not have the authority to require an individual to accept any position. Employment in the federal government prior to receipt of the Boren Scholarship or Fellowship does not count toward fulfilling the service requirement.
Deferrals of the service requirement and their durations will be considered on a case-by-case basis for Boren Scholars and Fellows who pursue an advanced degree, and who demonstrate a commitment to sustain or advance their expertise in the language and/or geographic area for which the Boren Scholarship or Fellowship was awarded.
Yes, The USAID administrator serves as the director of foreign assistance at the Department of State. Therefore, any service completed at USAID shall be the same as service completed at the Department of State.
