John S. McCain Strategic Defense Fellowship Program

Eligibility

Participation in this Program is open to citizens of the United States or lawful permanent residents of the United States. To be eligible to apply, applicants must be:

1. A recent graduate who has earned a graduate degree from an accredited institution of higher education in the United States not more than 2 years before the date of acceptance into the Fellows Program; OR
2. A current graduate student who will be awarded a graduate degree from an accredited institution of higher education in the United States not more than 6 months after the date of acceptance into the Fellows Program.

The date of acceptance into the Fellows Program is defined as the Fellow’s Entry on Duty (EOD) date. The Fellow’s EOD date is contingent upon their successful completion of all pre-employment and onboarding requirements. The EOD date for Cohort 5 McCain Fellows is projected to be between October and December 2024.

Application Requirements

Applicants are evaluated on their technical and professional excellence, character, commitment to public service and academic achievement.

To be eligible to apply, applicants must meet the eligibility requirement as defined above and must be able to pass background and security investigations.

Incomplete application packages will not receive further consideration and late submissions CANNOT be accepted.

Completed application package and supporting documents:

1. Completed Résumé.
2. Two letters of recommendation from previous employers, professors, coaches, internship supervisors, volunteer activity leads, or work colleagues addressing work ethic, academic ability and any other extracurricular activities.
3. An endorsement letter from the applicant’s graduate institution (i.e., academic advisor, career counselor, guidance counselor, university dean or professor) addressing the applicant’s academic history and overall character (i.e., no record or honor investigations, plagiarism, accusations, suspension, misconduct, etc.).
4. Unofficial transcripts of educational achievement at the undergraduate and graduate level.
5. Provide an academic writing sample (i.e., published articles, dissertation, thesis, etc.).
6. Provide compelling narratives:
   1. Career goals. Describe your career goals, areas of interest, and how the McCain Fellows Program will help you achieve those goals.
   2. Accomplishments. Describe and provide examples/evidence of any learning, professional, leadership and work accomplishments.
   3. Benefits for the Department of Defense. Describe how your selection benefits the DoD and your motivation for service in the Department.
   4. Essay. Describe what you want to accomplish and achieve during the fellowship.