FY 2008 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Executive Potential Program (EPP) Solicitation

1. IAW REF A, THE CIVILIAN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT 
SECTION IS SOLICITING CIVILIAN MARINE NOMINATIONS FOR THE UNITED 
STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) EXECUTIVE POTENTIAL 
PROGRAM BEGINNING THE WEEK OF 9 MARCH 2008. THE EPP IS A PART OF 
THE CENTRALLY MANAGED PROGRAMS PROVIDING DEVELOPMENTAL 
OPPORTUNITIES TARGETING GS-13 THROUGH GS-15 LEVEL POSITIONS AND 
EQUIVALENTS TO INCLUDE NON-APPROPRIATED FUNDED (NAF) EMPLOYEES. 
FOR PERSONNEL THAT HAVE BEEN CONVERTED TO NSPS, PLEASE REFER TO 
REF B.  TO VIEW REF B, REFER TO THE CPMS WEBSITE AT 
WWW.CPMS.OSD.MIL, CLICK ON NSPS, NSPS DOCUMENTS, THEN CONVERSION 
INTO NSPS. 
2.  THE EPP IS A 12-MONTH PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE 
TRANSITIONING INTO MANAGEMENT AS A SECOND PROFESSION.  EPP 
PROVIDES TRAINING, DEVELOPMENTAL WORK EXPERIENCES, NEEDS 
ASSESSMENT AND CAREER PLANNING TAILORED TO THE FEDERAL 
ENVIRONMENT, WHICH WILL ENHANCE THE LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES AND 
GAIN IMPORTANT INSIGHTS TO MOVE INTO HIGHER LEADERSHIP POSITIONS. 
3.  THIS IS A COMPETITIVE, CAREER ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM. CHOOSE 
YOUR COMMAND NOMINATIONS CAREFULLY.  THE CIVILIAN MARINES THAT DO 
NOT EXHIBIT CHARACTER TRAITS OF POTENTIAL LEADERS OR MANAGERS 
SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED TO REPRESENT YOUR COMMAND FOR THE EPP. 
4.  HEADQUARTERS MARINES CORPS WILL CENTRALLY FUND THE TUITION, 
TRAVEL, AND PER DIEM COSTS.  A LIMITED NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WILL 
BE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM.  SELECTIONS WILL BE 
MADE AT THIS HEADQUARTERS BY A PANEL CONSISTING OF SENIOR 
EXECUTIVE SERVICE MEMBERS. APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DOCUMENT 
THEIR PARTICIPATION IN MENTORING AND OTHER LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT 
ACTIVITIES IN THEIR NOMINATION PACKAGE. 
5. WE HAVE PROVIDED VIA SEPARATE CORRESPONDENCE SAMPLE PACKAGES TO THE LOCAL CCLD ADMINISTRATORS.  FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU MAY REFER TO THE CIVILIAN MARINE WEBSITE AT WWW.MANPOWER.USMC.MIL.  CLICK ON CIVILIAN MARINES, CIVILIAN WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT, CIVILIAN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SECTION MPC-30, LEADERSHIP, AND THEN CENTRALLY MANAGED PROGRAMS. 
6.  THE NOMINATION PACKAGE MUST INCLUDE: 
A.  A CURRENT OF-612, OR RESUME SIGNED AND DATED THAT SHOWS CURRENT HOME ADDRESS. 
B.  A COMPLETED SF182, AUTHORIZATION, AGREEMENT, AND CERTIFICATION OF TRAINING AND REIMBURSEMENT.  IT MUST INCLUDE A SIGNED COPY OF 
THE "AGREEMENT TO CONTINUE IN SERVICE". 
C.  A COMPLETED EXECUTIVE POTENTIAL PROGRAM APPLICATION. 
D.  A STATEMENT BY THE FIRST-LINE SUPERVISOR OR APPROPRIATE AGENCY OFFICIAL ASSESSING THE NOMINEE'S POTENTIAL FOR LEADERSHIP OR 
MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND THAT THE NOMINEE CAN BE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE. 
E.  A COMMAND LETTER OF ENDORSEMENT NOTING THE SELECTION WAS BASED ON A COMPETITIVE PROCESS, AND THE NOMINEE'S WILLINGNESS TO ABIDE BY THE GUIDELINES FOR PARTICIPATION IN CENTRALLY MANAGED PROGRAMS. 7. NOMINATION PACKAGES MUST BE RECEIVED BY HEADQUARTERS, UNITED 
STATES MARINE CORPS, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION, MPC-30, 
3280 RUSSELL ROAD, QUANTICO, VA  22134-5103, NO LATER THAN CLOSE OF BUSINESS, 4:30 P.M. EST, WEDNESDAY, 9 JANUARY 2008 (NO EXTENSIONS WILL BE GRANTED). 
8. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY MR. M. F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR,  MANPOWER 
PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION, M&RA.