NSEP Service Requirement


As a condition of their award, NSEP Scholars and Fellows agree to work in qualifying national security positions for a minimum of one year. This unique service requirement generates a pool of U.S. undergraduate and graduate students with competencies in critical languages and area studies who are highly committed to serving at the federal level in the national security community.
 
The NSEP Service Requirement was amended by Congress in 2008 to expand creditable federal employment under the Service Agreement. Award recipients from 2008-present are required to first seek employment within the four “priority” areas of government, namely:

  • Department of Defense;
  • Department of Homeland Security;
  • Department of State (including the US Agency for International Development); or
  • Any element of the Intelligence Community.
 In addition to the four priority areas, Boren award recipients may expand their search for employment to include any federal position with national security responsibilities. NSEP requires that award recipients serving outside the four priority areas make a specific, detailed, and focused case for how their position supports national security.

Working in the Government

Commitment to Public Service
NSEP’s goal is to enhance the capacity of the federal sector to deal effectively with the challenging global issues of the 21st century. NSEP supports Boren Scholars, Boren Fellows, and English for Heritage Language Speakers (EHLS) Scholars, a vital pool of highly motivated individuals, in finding employment in Federal Government organizations. NSEP strongly emphasizes the importance of seeking employment with Federal Government organizations whose missions and functions are directly related to national security.

NSEP Alumni in the Federal Government

NSEP works closely with each Scholar and Fellow and with U.S. Government agencies to identify employment opportunities throughout the national security community. NSEP award recipients have completed work in more than 5,200 federally funded positions, a majority with the Departments of Defense, State, and Homeland Security, as well as the Intelligence Community. Special hiring authorities create opportunities for employers to streamline the hiring of NSEP candidates.

NSEP Service Requirement Deadlines

Boren and EHLS Scholars have three years from their date of graduation to begin completing the service requirement, while Boren Fellows have two years after graduation. Deferrals of the service requirement are considered on a case-by-case basis for NSEP award recipients who pursue approved, qualifying further education, which includes at least half-time enrollment in any degree granting, accredited institution of higher education.

To remain in good standing with DLNSEO, award recipients must, upon graduation, annually submit a Service Agreement Report. They must also update their online NSEP database job search log on a regular basis.

Pipeline to Federal Service

NSEP provides an innovative pathway to federal service for these talented award recipients. Boren Scholars, Boren Fellows, and EHLS Scholars have:
 
  • Superior academic performance
  • Majors from a wide range of academic disciplines
  • Unique skill sets
  • Documented capabilities in less commonly studied languages
  • Sustained in-country experience studying in, and about, less commonly visited world regions
  • Congressional hiring authorities as authorized by Section 802 (k) of the David L. Boren National Security Education Act of 1991 (50 USC 1902 (k)), including:
    • Section 956 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (NDAA’13)
    • Schedule A, 5 CFR 213.3102 (r)
  • Eligibility for Streamlined Hiring
  • U.S. citizenship
Supporting Award Recipients

While it is each award recipient’s responsibility to secure federal employment in support of national security, NSEP provides a variety of resources to assist awardees. DLNSEO staff:
 
  • Provide guidance and support to award recipients throughout the job search process via job consultations, resume reviews, and cover letter reviews,
  • Design and execute workshops and webinars on the NSEP Service Requirement,
  • Disseminate logistical and administrative information to award recipients about fulfilling the NSEP service requirement,
  • Collaborate with interagency partners to establish hiring pipelines that lead to the creation of job announcements for NSEP award recipients (these job announcements are made possible in part through the competitive appointment eligibility granted to NSEP award recipients by statute),
  • Organize, advertise, and execute hiring events and career fairs,
  • Partner with federal agencies on exclusive internship programs, and
  • Manage a mentorship program matching recently returned award recipients with mid to senior-level NSEP alumni.

Commitment to Federal Service

NSEP focuses on identifying scholarship and fellowship applicants motivated to work for the Federal Government and facilitates their entry into the federal workforce. NSEP uses a hands-on approach to ensure that each award recipient is equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to secure a federal position consistent with their skills and career objectives.
To ensure that award recipients are committed to working in the Federal Government, the applications for Boren Scholarships, Boren Fellowships, and EHLS Scholarships require applicants to indicate their career goals and to discuss the federal agencies in which they are most interested in working. Clear indication of motivation to work in the Federal Government is a critical factor in the selection of award recipients by the review panels for each program. 

The terms and conditions of the NSEP Service Requirement are emphasized to students from the time of application until the service requirement has been fulfilled. Students sign and acknowledge materials that clearly outline these terms.