03 July2012

MEMORANDUM

From:

To:AssociateDirector of Research and Scholarship for Internships & Technology Transfer

Via: (1) LCDR Jason Chiodi, USN Department of Political Science Internship Coordinator

(2) CDR Tom Robertson, USN Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Internship Coordinator

Subj: AFTER-ACTION REPORT FOR INTERNSHIP, SUMMER 2012

Ref: (a) COMDTMIDN/ACDEANINST 1531.73A

A. Summary Information:

  1. This After-Action Report (AAR) is provided in accordance with reference (a).

Internship details:

Location: Washington, D.C. – Pentagon

Dates: 30 May – 22 June 2012

B. Technical:

1. Title of Project:Midshipmen Activity in the Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy (DUSN) Office for Plans, Policy, Oversight, and Integration (PPOI), International Engagement Team.

  1. Objectives:

The goal of midshipmen activity within the International Engagement Team of the DUSN (PPOI) Office was to assist the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) in his interaction with international officialswhile developing a personal understanding of staff duties, coordination between different offices within the Department of Defense (DOD), and cooperation in a civilian-military work environment.

  1. Approach:

Between 30 May 2012 and 22 June 2012, Midshipman 1/C Dean Zettler and I worked with both the DUSN (PPOI) Office and SECNAV’s Protocol Office to assist the SECNAV in his various international engagements. Those included SECNAV’s travels to Croatia, Montenegro, France, and Albania, a barge cruise with the Japanese and Mongolian Ambassador, the Concert on the Avenue Reception in Washington D.C., an office call with the United Kingdom’s (UK’s) First Sea Lord (CNO Equivalent), and the War of 1812 Bicentennial Celebration in Baltimore.

  1. Accomplishments and My Contributions to the Project:

I prepared, represented, and recorded SECNAV engagements with various international officials. To prepare the SECNAV, I wrote a multi-page read-ahead on the country of Japan that was used by SECNAV while meeting with the Japanese Ambassador. I also wrote informative cards on five different ambassadors and their respective countries that included talking points used by the SECNAV to express official U.S. Policy at the Concert on the Avenue Reception in Washington, D.C. I also assisted in preparation by creating and confirming guest lists for high level SECNAV events and prepped gifts for his travels to Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, and France. Representing the SECNAV, the Senior Director of DUSN (PPOI) and I attended the Ecuadorian and Mexican tall ship receptions in Baltimore, dined with the Montenegrin and Croatian Defense Attaches in Washington, D.C, and attended an office call between SECNAV and the United Kingdom’s First Sea Lord and wrote a read out from their meeting that recorded official agreements made between them. Enclosed is a certificate of appreciation I received from the DUSN at the internship’s conclusion.

  1. Publications and/or Presentations:

While interning at the DUSN (PPOI) Office I wrote over ten pages of international engagement material that was approved by the Senior Director of the DUSN (PPOI) Office, the DUSN’s Office, and utilized by SECNAV. These documents expressed official U.S. Policy and agreements between foreign leaders and SECNAV. The security classification of these documents precludes me from attaching them to this AAR.

C. Administrative

  1. Logistics:

Interning at the DUSN (PPOI) Office can be logistically challenging if one does not have access to nearby housing and/or a vehicle. Considering the default housing, Bancroft Hall, would require Midshipmen to drive a total of two to four hours a day depending on traffic, lodging near Washington, D.C. becomes nearly essential. The D.C. Metro system connects nicely with the Pentagon, butif one is not housed within walking distance of a metro stop, having a vehicle becomes necessary as well. It is also important to note that as an unfunded internship, the overall cost of transportation and food (buy or bring your lunch to the Pentagon) far exceeds the Midshipmen monthly pay.

  1. Administrative:

The security clearance required for this internship is Secret//No Foreign, which means the majority of Midshipmen are eligible and doesn’t mandate much paperwork. Once on site it takes about two days to create NIPRNet and SIPRNet accounts, which are essential to working at the Pentagon and hence Midshipmen should be proactive in troubleshooting any network problems. The uniform of the day is Khakis, and Midshipmen may travel to/from the Pentagon in civilian clothes and change into uniform while on site.

D. Evaluation

  1. Relevance:

Interning at the DUSN (PPOI) Office was a great contributor to both my academic and professional development as a future Naval Officer. Academically, it was an introduction to the methods of staff research, writing, and presentation. I also gained a greater understanding of how countries interact with each other, particularly in diplomatic and military mediums. Professionally, I learned how to use SIPRNet to gather classified information, its proper physical handling, and the role intelligence plays in forming U.S. Policy.I also grew in my ability to interact with senior officials and best represent the U.S. Navy during international engagements.

  1. Impact:

This internship opened my own eyes to a plethora of valuable information. I also feel confident in bringing back this knowledge to the Naval Academy and sharing these insights in the classroom and with peers. In addition, this internship confirmed my desire to service selectSurface Warfare Officer- Intelligence (SWO-Intel). Both talking to Navy Intel Officers and seeing the intelligence communities’ impact on the DUSN (PPOI) Office and DOD as a whole fostered a deeper understanding and interest in Navy Intel that renewed my commitment to work hard toward service selection.

  1. Level of interest/challenge:

Interning at the DUSN (PPOI) Office provided both interesting and challenging experiences. Most fascinating was quarrying SIPRNet and reading everything from embassy cables to intelligence reports. Still interesting but more challenging was learning how to write read-aheads and other international engagement material for SECNAV. Mining for information across networks, the nuances of staff writing, and an understanding that one was expressing U.S. Policy in their writing to be utilized in an official setting, made such tasks dynamic and unforgettable.

E. Recommendation(s)

If both the DUSN (PPOI) Office and Midshipmen feel it worthwhile, the office could schedule a day in May when all the interns would travel to the Pentagon and submit their NIPRNet and SIPRNet paperwork so they can be closer to computer access upon arrival. Otherwise, interns will spend at least two days without computer access, making immediate integration into the work environment difficult.

F. Other

This is a valuable internship to both Midshipmen and the Naval Academy. Not requiring a Top Secret/ Secure Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) Clearance, interning at the DUSN (PPOI) Office remains relatively cheap for the Naval Academy while continuing to provide an outstanding experienceto those Midshipmen fortunate enough to participate. I use the word fortunate because as an unfunded internship, it remains somewhat exclusive to Midshipmen with housing connectionsin/around Washington, D.C. (see C. Administrative 1. Logistics). Nonetheless, I am grateful for the opportunity to intern at the DUSN (PPOI) Office and I highly recommend it be offered next summer to other Midshipmen.