This program is designed to educate and train selected Army officers and civilians in congressional activities, emphasizing those matters regarding the Department of Defense. The FY03 ACFP supersedes all previous congressional fellowship programs. Selected officers and civilians begin the fellowship with a HQDA orientation from August 2002 until December 2002 . Military fellows will be temporarily assigned to the Army Secretariat or Staff in support of the legislative affairs function.
Civilian fellows remain in their current position if it is in the geographic area.
All fellows participate in the orientation, which includes a variety of meetings and seminars, educational readings, and attendance at the one-week Force Integration Course. After the HQDA orientation, fellows complete a classroom phase with the institution or foundation chosen as the FY03 ACFP sponsor. Fellows will then serve as staff assistants to Members of Congress during the Second Session of the 107 th Congress. Fellows are typically given responsibility for drafting legislation, arranging congressional hearings, writing speeches and floor statements, and briefing Members for committee deliberations and floor debate. Immediately following the fellowship, military officers will be assigned to a position requiring expert knowledge of the operations of Congress for a two-year utilization.