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Photo Information

Master Sgt. Kathryn Denham, will spend the next three years as a congressional liaison for the Marine Corps.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Timothy Norris

Air Station Marine selected as congressional liaison

10 May 2012 | Lance Cpl. Timothy Norris Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

Master Sgt. Kath­ryn Denham, Air Station operations chief, will begin walking down a road less traveled when she climbs the steps of Capitol Hill as a legislative assistant to a member of Con­gress later this fall.

The Congressio­nal Fellowship Pro­gram takes officers and staff non-com­missioned officers and integrates them into the legislative branch of U.S. gov­ernment for three years.

“I’ve always want­ed to [be a part of CFP] since I heard about the program back in 2009,” Den­ham said. “I look at politics not so much as a career, but as a need to know or an interest to know how it works.”

Typical responsi­bilities for the first year include draft­ing legislation, floor debate preparation, planning and analy­sis of public policy, and serving as con­gressional liaisons to constituents.

Denham is the only Marine to apply for the CFP from the Tri-Command this year. She said with how unique and ben­eficial the program is, she is surprised more SNCOs don’t apply or even know about the program.

Denham has been selected for the program this year, the real test of her knowledge and tal­ents will occur next year in Washington, D.C.

“A Marine on [Capitol Hill] among our lawmakers can have the same posi­tive or negative im­pact that a recruiter in our communities or a Marine on liber­ty in a foreign coun­tr y can have,” said Master Gunnery Sgt. Richard Moore, Headquarters Ma­rine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs senior enlisted advi­sor. “This can have a direct impact on the Department of De­fense and the Marine Corps as congres­sional leaders shape policies that impact the armed forces.”

The selection pro­cess is very in-depth in order to choose the best possible Marines.

None of the appli­cants ever see each other and the re­quirements dive into more than a service record book.

According to Moore, Marine Corps leadership traits and principles that are required of the outstanding SNCO leaders can help in Washington, D.C.

The ability to work in a truly independent situ­ation, strong leadership, professionalism, a wel­coming personality, abil­ity to articulate orally and in a written format, strong work ethic and drive are the traits desired of a Ma­rine congressional liai­son, Moore explained.

All of the standards are included in MARADMIN 572/11, to allow Marines ample time to prepare for the opportunity not only to have a unique experi­ence, but to give the small­est branch of the military a voice in an arena where countless voices compete for attention.

“Without Marines on the Hill we don’t have a voice to provide the rest of the story,” Moore concluded.

Moore is scheduled to give a presentation aboard the Air Station Monday about the oppor­tunities and requirements to apply for the program.

For more information regarding the CFP or the upcoming brief, con­tact you squadron career