To: Associate Director of Research and Scholarship for Internships & Technology Transfer

09 AUG 2012

MEMORANDUM

From:

To: Associate Director 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: DUSN- PPOI

Dates: 23 July- 15 August 2012

B. Technical:

1. Title of Project: Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy for Policy, Planning, Oversight and Integration

2. Objectives: The objective was to assist the Office of the DUSN PPOI with relevant projects to include SECNAVs upcoming trip to Africa and budgetary briefs for the Department of the Navy.

3. Approach: I was one of two midshipmen working in DUSN PPOI. We were assigned with tasks contributing to the preparation for SECNAVs travels. These tasks included writing Read Ahead reports for SECNAV and face cards on important personnel in the countries of interest. We were also assigned with tasks contributing to defense platform budgetary briefs.

4. Accomplishments and My Contributions to the Project: While MIDN Brannon and I were at DUSN PPOI, we collectively wrote two Read Aheads for SECNAVs trip to Africa (10 pages in length each), 22 Face Cards, and 13 Program Profiles. I appraised gifts that the Secretary of the Navy received on travel, and helped determine if he were legally allowed to keep them or not. Additionally, MIDN ____ and I sat in on conference calls planning the USNA-Notre Dame Football game in Ireland.

5. Publications and/or Presentations: As mentioned in the above paragraph, we wrote many reports and profiles while interning at DUSN PPOI. The Read Aheads required a lot of labor and editing; however, they are classified documents, and thus we cannot give a copy to USNA. However, some of the Face Cards and Program Profiles are attached.

C. Administrative

This internship was extremely difficult in terms of administrative problems. I knew absolutely nothing about this internship (other than my training block and office) until one of the officers from this office contacted me a week before my internship. I had no idea that this internship was even located in the Pentagon, I had just assumed because that is where most of the Political Science internships are located. During my second block of training, I was underway for three weeks, so I had no way to communicate with my office once they started contacting me. While I was underway, they sent an email asking for more information about me, but I could not respond because I was without internet. The lesson learned here is that more information about the internship needs to be given out prior to the end of the academic year. I do not believe that this is DUSN PPOI’s responsibility, but rather that of USNA.

While I very much enjoyed interning at DUSN, the financial constraints definitely put a damper on the experience. Since lodging was not provided, I lived in Annapolis. Luckily I found somebody else who was working in D.C. to carpool with, but the commute was about an hour and a half each way. I know that other academies provided lodging and a budget for their cadets, so I hope that USNA adopts this policy too.

Additionally, there should be some sort of way that we could collect our COMRATS before our internship. This money would greatly offset the cost of food. For my experience on LSAP last year, they gave us our money upfront so that we could afford to pay for food and various other expenses. I hope that there is some way we can claim our MIDRATS during this academic year, and that some sort of guidance will be provided.

D. Evaluation

1. Relevance: This internship would be of interest to any Political Science major specializing in International Affairs. There were two Foreign Area Officers working alongside us, and the professional knowledge they shared with us was extremely beneficial. Each day we became foreign policy experts of a multitude of countries, which will definitely provide good background for me to rely on in future Political Science courses.

2. Impact: Working at DUSN PPOI opened my eyes to the shore support aspect to the United States Navy. Previously, I had always had a curiosity about what kind of work was conducted in the Pentagon, and now I have first-hand knowledge. The work of an FAO is extremely interesting and rewarding, and this experience introduced me to a community I had never previously given a thought to. If I could come back and work in this office years from now, I would gladly seize the opportunity.

Additionally, LCDR Derbyshire was very helpful in setting up meetings for me with officers in other communities. Since I plan to become a Surface Warfare Officer, I had the opportunity to talk to several SWOs who offered me some great advice. I have always expressed an interest in the Public Affairs community, and the staff in my office had me speak with several PAOs. This experience was invaluable because the PAOs filled me in on the whole lateral transfer process and what their daily job duties consist of. I know this experience could not have been mirrored at the Academy, and I am glad I had this internship for that reason.

3. Level of interest/challenge: The work I submitted at DUSN PPOI was extremely gratifying. I submitted “face cards” and “read aheads” that the Secretary of the Navy actually read on his trip to Africa. Talking with other Pentagon interns, it seems like this office is one of the few that actually trust interns to submit real work. The staff in the office said that they loved our company since it permitted them to take some leave time in the summer.

I only wish we would have been able to attend events hosted by our office or other similar offices. During earlier blocks, midshipman interns were able to attend several diplomatic receptions hosted by our office. Since our office did not host any similar receptions during our block, we did not have that opportunity, but it would not have been difficult to arrange for us to attend events hosted by other offices (i.e. OPNAV).

E. Recommendation(s)

I think that DUSN PPOI needed more information about the Midshipman interns before they arrived. While I was able to talk to Public Affairs Officers within the Secretary of the Navy’s Office, more meetings and opportunities may have been available if LCDR Derbyshire would have known further in advance that my interest was Public Affairs.

Also, MIDN ____ and I knew very little about where we were going beforehand. We were emailed less than a week in advance with information on when and where to show up.

A packing list might help interns next year. While we were not able to attend any events, if the opportunity had arisen, we would have been pressed to find the correct uniform. The uniforms for many events were Choker Whites, which did not occur to me to bring to this internship. I left my Choker Whites in storage with laundry before the summer commenced, so it would have been impossible for me to gain access to them over the internship.

Lastly, something needs to be done with these AARs. I had no access to the AARs submitted by other Midshipmen who interned here last year. Had I read their reports, I may have learned from their experience and not made the same mistakes. I urge the Political Science Department to make my report available to whomever interns at DUSN PPOI next year.

F. Other

I was initially set to intern at the Office of Naval Intelligence. After funding had been cut last minute for Top Secret Clearances, I was assigned this internship. I had no idea what DUSN PPOI was, or what my work would entail. However, I see the switch as a blessing in disguise because this internship was a lot more fulfilling than I ever expected it to be. I am extremely happy that I had the opportunity to spend a month in this office with DUSN PPOI’s helpful staff. The professional lessons I learned here were numerous, and the connections I made will be helpful on every level of my naval career.