Cooperative Education Program - Language (Maryland)

About the role

NSA's Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program offers students exciting, impactful professional work opportunities (with pay and benefits!) to grow their knowledge of the Intelligence Community and federal government while advancing NSA's two primary missions: 1) Collecting, analyzing, and producing foreign signals intelligence; and 2) Providing cybersecurity solutions and guidance to protect critical national infrastructure.

What you will do

• NSA's Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program at Fort Meade, MD offers students exciting, impactful and professional work opportunities (with pay and benefits!) to grow their knowledge of the Intelligence Community and federal government while advancing NSA's two primary missions: 1) Collecting, analyzing, and producing foreign signals intelligence; and 2) Providing cybersecurity solutions and guidance to protect critical national infrastructure.
• This Co-op opportunity is open to students who are pursuing a Chinese or Farsi language-focused major ONLY.
• Right from the start, you will be involved in real life projects and will have full use of NSA labs, equipment, and advanced technologies.
• These areas will offer you increasing challenges and satisfying learning experiences, since our mission demands that we work on the cutting edge of technology.
• The full listing of each Co-op description and details can be found by visiting: Intelligencecareers.gov/nsa/students-and-internships.
• (If unable to open this link, please copy and paste into your browser).
• Program Details: - 52 weeks of alternating semesters of school and work at NSA - During work tours, students work a 40-hour week - Subsidized student housing and travel entitlements during work tours if over 75 miles from Fort Meade, MD - Tuition reimbursement for one technical course per semester (up to $2,500) - Potentially eligible for full time employment following successful completion of the program ***PLEASE NOTE: As this program requires students to rotate between semesters of work and study, applicants are encouraged to discuss the possibility of participating in this type of program with their school (Academic Advisor, Co-Op Advisor, Registrar and/or Financial Aid Office, etc.) to determine the effect it may have on their full time student status during scheduled work tours as well as any effects it may have on scholarships and financial aid.

Education

- Must be pursuing a Chinese or Farsi language-focused major - Must be a second semester college freshman or a college sophomore - Preferred cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for all college work completed

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. ***

Documents you must provide

• The National Security Agency (NSA) is part of the DoD Intelligence Community Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS).
• All positions in the NSA are in the Excepted Services under 10 United States Codes (USC) 1601 appointment authority.
• DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement.
• If you are a veteran claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you may be asked to submit documents verifying your eligibility.

What to expect next

***

Additional information

Salaries are determined by the percentage of credits completed toward a degree. Each 20% block of credits completed with at least a 3.0 GPA will allow you to be promoted to the next grade. Grades range from GGD-03/05 to GGD-07/01 (which can be found at OPM.gov) annually.

Due to the rotational nature of the Co-op program, students are paid proportionate to the number of weeks worked in a year and are authorized Leave without Pay during scheduled school rotations. The salaries aforementioned include a locality based comparability payment. Students will receive annual leave, sick leave and paid federal holidays.