Employment Options Expanded for National Security Education Program

The President recently signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act of FY2008, including a provision to expand the federal service requirement of the National Security Education Program (NSEP) beyond the provision adopted into law last year.  The new provision will allow a recipient of an NSEP scholarship or fellowship to meet the mandatory service requirement by working in the field of education in a position related to the discipline for which the award was provided. This expansion will apply to those who receive awards in 2008 and beyond. 

However, in order to take advantage of the expanded service option, the recipient must demonstrate that no position is available in the departments, agencies or offices covered by the Act. Entities currently covered by the David L. Boren National Security Education Act of 1991 include: the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of State (DOS) or another federal agency or office in a position identified by the Secretary of Defense as having national security responsibilities if the recipient demonstrates that no position is available in the DoD, the intelligence community, DHS or DOS.

Undergraduate awardees must begin their service within three years of completing their degrees and graduate fellows must begin within two years of degree completion. In the case where a scholarship or fellowship recipient is required to obtain a security clearance to complete the service requirement, that individual can be given a temporary employment status while completing their degree and for up to two years after degree completion.

For more information on the National Security Education Program (NSEP), click here.