Selection and Eligibility Requirements

General

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
• Applicants must be federal government employees with at least two consecutive years of service by and immediately preceding the start of the pre-departure training in order to apply.
• After completing the program, Fellows are required to serve at least two years in the federal government, where it is anticipated they will continue to work on projects and issues concerning Japan and U.S.-Japan relations.
• Prospective Fellows must have written approval to apply from their home agency.

Recently, the Mansfield Foundation was informed that the U.S. Air Force has paused program support for the Mansfield Fellowship Program until further notice. USAF applicants will not be eligible for selection in the upcoming application cycle. Please direct any questions to Stephen Ching, Japan Country Director, USAF (stephen.ching.4@us.af.mil).

Selection Criteria

Ideal Fellows will be accomplished federal professionals who are hard working, self-reliant and self-disciplined, flexible and sociable. They must be fully dedicated to the program and be able to cope with the challenges of working and living in a different culture.

Fellows will need to:

• understand that the year in Japan is a full-time program;
• recognize that the program is not an independent project, but rather the objective of the Mansfield Fellowship Program is to observe and experience the Japanese decision-making process;
• know what they want to accomplish in the program, but at the same time be open to new possibilities;
• have an interest in broadening their knowledge about Japan;
• have a clear idea about how they will use the knowledge gained during the Fellowship when they return to their home agencies, and patience to work toward the long-term goal;
• be willing to share their contacts and what they have learned in Japan with their colleagues in the federal government as well as with individuals and organizations in the public and private sectors;
• be willing to participate in group activities and support the program’s larger goals and objectives; and
• work collaboratively with the Mansfield Foundation offices in Washington, D.C., Missoula, MT and Tokyo, Japan and other Fellows.

Japanese Language Standards – 31st Class

Individuals interested in applying to join the 31st Class of Mansfield Fellows should refer to the following Japanese language proficiency guidelines, which are based on the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) framework.

1. ILR Level 0: Fellows must take full-time language classes during the pre-departure training period (30+ hours per week)
2. ILR Level 1: Fellows will be strongly encouraged to take full-time language classes during the pre-departure year (30+ hours per week). Candidates at Level 1 who have agency authorization to participate in full-time pre-departure training may be privileged above those who are only authorized for part-time training.
3. For Level 1 Fellows with part-time authorization who are exceptional in other selection criteria, a regimen of 10-20 hours a week may be pursued.
4. ILR Level 2: Fellows will be required to take at least 10 hours of language classes per week.
5. ILR Level 3 or above: Fellows will be required to take at least 4 hours of language classes per week.

Detail to the Mansfield Foundation

• Fellows from the executive branch participate in the program as detailees to the Mansfield Foundation. During the one-year program in Japan, executive branch Fellows’ home agencies are required to continue paying Fellows’ salaries and benefits and must guarantee Fellows will have a position upon their return.
• Fellows from the legislative and judicial branches participate as non-detailees.

Applicants are encouraged to attend a Fellowship information session for more information about selection and eligibility requirements.