The National Security Education Program (NSEP) is a
U.S. federal government initiative to enhance U.S. national security and economic competitiveness by increasing
“critical-need” foreign language skills, cultural understanding, and regional expertise within the U.S. federal workforce. NSEP oversees eight initiatives designed to support and expand
language
Language is a structured system of communication that consists of grammar and vocabulary. It is the primary means by which humans convey meaning, both in spoken and signed language, signed forms, and may also be conveyed through writing syste ...
and
cultural
Culture ( ) is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, Social norm, customs, capabilities, Attitude (psychology), attitudes ...
skills within the federal workforce.
NSEP Programs provide pathways to careers in federal government, and select programs include a year-long federal service requirement upon completion of academic study.
NSEP was established by the David L. Boren National Security Education Act in 1991. Oversight for NSEP is provided by the National Security Education Board (NSEB), which meets "to review and make recommendations based on program mission and objectives.
The NSEB consists of a 14-member board including representatives from eight Cabinet-level departments. Four non-federal members,
appointed by the President, also serve on the NSEB. The Office of the
Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
The under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, or USD (P&R) is a high-ranking civilian position in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) within the United States Department of Defense responsible for advising the United State ...
(OSD/P&R) provides policy oversight for NSEP.
On February 6, 2012, the National Security Education Program became part of the
Defense Language and National Security Education Office, which “provides strategic direction, supports policy development, and provides programmatic oversight to Military Departments, Defense Agencies, and the Combatant Commands on present and future requirements related to language, regional expertise, and culture,” including language and culture support for the DoD.
Initiatives
NSEP oversees eight programs:
See also
*
National Security Language Initiative
The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) is a US Department of State ECA program launched in 2006 by President George W. Bush to develop the foreign language skills of American high school students in eight critical-need la ...
*
Defense Language Office
References
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External links
Official website
United States national security policy
Scholarships in the United States
Learning programs