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Internship Program

The Regional Security Studies Intern Program (RSSIP) puts capable, motivated students and recent college graduates at the heart of DKI APCSS.  As an intern, you will be expected to

  • Support DKI APCSS on-island courses by assisting professors in seminars attended by U. S. and foreign military and civilian security practitioners. Take part in lesson planning, assist and participate in lectures and policy discussions, and join in on course social activities across the island.
  • Perform research and develop projects in collaboration with DKI APCSS faculty and staff departments.
  • Attend visits from U. S. officials and foreign dignitaries
  • Explore historical and cultural venues on the island of Oahu

Internships should last 16 weeks or longer, with a 12 week minimum. Interns are expected to work 40 hours per week during resident events, and 20 hours a week when courses are not in session. The RSSIP is uncompensated; Interns are responsible for travel, accommodations and living expenses.

The RSSIP can qualify for academic credit. Interns are responsible for verifying whether their schools offer this and making the necessary arrangements.

Candidates should demonstrate the following:

  • Participation in an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited institution
  • Recent completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited institution.
  • Academic and professional goals relevant to international affairs, economics, or federal service
  • Interest in Indo-Pacific issues
  • Strong interpersonal skills, an understanding of teamwork and a commitment to professionalism
  • A grasp of classroom etiquette
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs
  • U.S. citizens and internationals who can obtain an F-1 or J-1 Visa.
  • It is the responsibility of the foreign candidates to apply for a visa to enter the United States. DKI APCSS does NOT sponsor visas. Foreign student candidates with questions about securing a visa should address them to rssip@apcss.org
  • Graduate and undergraduate students with a minimum 3.25 GPA, recent graduates (less than 3 years) have priority in recruitment
  • Other applicants may be considered according to the needs of the Center
  • All applicants must be able to pass a background investigation

Research Fellowship Program

The Research Fellowship Program (RFP) puts capable, motivated graduate students and recent college graduates at the heart of the work of DKI APCSS. As a Research Fellow, you will be expected to…

  • Support DKI APCSS’ suite of on-island courses by assisting professors in seminars attended by U. S. and foreign military and civilian security practitioners. Take part in lesson planning, assist and participate in lectures and policy discussions, and join in on course social activities across the island.
  • Pursue research and develop projects outlined in your research proposal with approval from DKI APCSS College leadership
  • Attend visits from U. S. officials and foreign dignitaries
  • Explore historical and cultural venues on the island of Oahu
  • Publish peer-reviewed articles in the Center’s academic journal and on the Center’s different social media websites.

Fellowships should last 16 weeks or longer, with a 12 week minimum. Fellows are expected to work 40 hours per week during resident events, and 20 hours a week when courses are not in session. The RFP is uncompensated; Fellows are responsible for travel, accommodations and living expenses.

The RFP can qualify for academic credit. Interns are responsible for verifying whether their schools offer this and making the necessary arrangements.

Candidates should demonstrate the following:

  • Participation in a graduate degree program from an accredited institution
  • Recent completion of a graduate degree from an accredited institution
  • Academic and professional goals relevant to international affairs, economics, or federal service
  • Interest in Indo-Pacific
  • Strong interpersonal skills, an understanding of teamwork and a commitment to professionalism
  • Research experience, analytical and writing capabilities and a grasp of classroom etiquette
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs
  • U.S. citizens and internationals who can obtain an F-1 or J-1 Visa.
  • It is the responsibility of the foreign candidates to apply for a visa to enter the United States. DKI APCSS does NOT sponsor visas. Foreign student candidates with questions about securing a visa should address them to rssip@apcss.org
  • Graduate students with a minimum 3.25 GPA, recent graduates (less than 3 years) have priority in recruitment
  • Other applicants may be considered according to the needs of the Center
  • All applicants must be able to pass a background investigation

Visiting Scholar Program

The Visiting Scholar Program (VSP) puts working professional and PhD candidates at the heart of the work of DKI APCSS. As a Visiting Scholar, you will be expected to…

  • Support DKI APCSS’ suite of on-island courses. Scholars partner with professors in seminars attended by U. S. and foreign military and civilian security practitioners. Take part in lesson planning, assist and participate in lectures and policy discussions, and join in on course social activities across the island.
  • Pursue research and develop projects outlined in their research proposal with approval from DKI APCSS College leadership
  • Attend visits from U. S. officials and foreign dignitaries
  • Explore historical and cultural venues on the island of Oahu
  • Publish peer-reviewed articles in the Center’s academic journal and on the Center’s different social media websites.
  • Scholars may participate in course development where their expertise matches.

Visiting Scholars should last 16 weeks or longer, with a 12 week minimum. Scholars are expected to work 40 hours per week during resident events, and 20 hours a week when courses are not in session. The VSP is uncompensated; Scholars are responsible for travel, accommodations and living expenses.

The VSP can qualify for academic credit. Scholars are responsible for verifying whether their schools offer this and making the necessary arrangements.

Candidates should demonstrate the following:

  • 10+ years of professional experience in international relations, political science, economics, and foreign affairs or participation in a PhD program from an accredited institution
  • Recent completion of a PhD program from an accredited institution
  • Academic and professional goals relevant to international affairs, economics, or federal service
  • International experience and an interest in Indo-Pacific issues
  • Strong interpersonal skills, an understanding of teamwork and a commitment to professionalism
  • Research experience, analytical and writing capabilities and a grasp of classroom etiquette
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs

Candidates should demonstrate the following:

  • U.S. citizens and internationals who can obtain an F-1 or J-1 Visa.
  • It is the responsibility of the foreign candidates to apply for a visa to enter the United States. DKI APCSS does NOT sponsor visas. Foreign student candidates with questions about securing a visa should address them to rssip@apcss.org
  • PhD students with a minimum 3.5 GPA,
  • Other applicants may be considered according to the needs of the Center
  • All applicants must be able to pass a background investigation

How to apply

The following outlines the due dates, documents required, and submission method for each of the programs. Candidates with questions should address them to rssip@apcss.org.

Recruitment seasons for all the programs:

  • Fall season (mid-August – end of December) deadline is June 1st
  • Spring season (January – May) deadline is September 1st
  • Summer season (June – mid-August) deadline is February 7th
Required documents list
Your application will not be considered complete and eligible for review until all items are submitted.
Regional Security Studies Internship Program:
  1. Resume
  2. Cover Letter
  3. Two Letters of Recommendation
  4. Transcripts*
  5. Volunteer Information Form
Research Fellowship Program:
  1. Resume
  2. Research Proposal (4 page minimum)
  3. Two Letters of Recommendation
  4. Transcripts*
  5. Volunteer Information Form
Visiting Scholar Program:
  1. Resume
  2. Research Proposal (4 page minimum)
  3. Two Letters of Recommendation
  4. Transcripts*
  5. Volunteer Information Form

Submit Documents to RSSIP@APCSS.ORG. All documents should be labeled Lastname, Firstname_document and in PDF format, for example, Doe,Jane_Resume.pdf. Security documents (SF-85, OF-306) should be submitted via the DoD secure dropbox.

* Transcripts are required to verify enrollment or graduation from an accredited institution. Unofficial transcripts may be submitted in the beginning. Once accepted into the program official transcripts will be required.

**International and Dual Citizen candidates background check is processed through NCIS. Any missing information may delay the clearance process and in turn delay your acceptance into the programs. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure the form is correct and filled out completely. Candidates who are members of the U.S. military are only required to submit the OF-306 to verify service and security clearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. In order to make sure you get the most out of your time with us you need to be in the right program. Each program while similar in base level experiences expands into responsibilities fitting the different programs. For example a Visiting Scholar may be asked to give a presentation during our in residence courses but, an intern will assist in the behind the scenes execution of the presentation prepping microphones and rounding up fellows.

Short answer is yes. You can apply to be a research fellow but, this program is designed for the development and execution of your research proposal. Once accepted into the program a series of deliverables will be set. Failure to deliver without reasonable justification may result in your fellowship ending early.

Yes. Our Regional Security Studies Internship Program is designed for college students who are interested in international relations and government service regardless of their college major. If you are interested in how government works both in the US and around the world this is a great program for you.

Yes. Once accepted into a program you will have the opportunity to extend your internship/fellowship for another session. There is a limit you can participate up to 1 year/12months total at DKI APCSS in any one program.

No. While we encourage our volunteers to consider government and public service there is no requirement that they must do so at the end of the program.

No. If you are already in the United States attending university and you already have a visa to enter the country that will work for our program. The J-1 visa is designed for international students who are only coming to the US to participate in our programs.

Yes. You can apply to any of our volunteer programs. However, DKI APCSS does NOT sponsor visas for international applicants you will need to find a 3rd party to sponsor your visa. This takes quite a bit of time and we encourage applicants who will need to go this route to apply for a session 1 year in advance. This allows time for us to conduct our background check and notify you if you were accepted and still have time to get your visa sorted

No. Hawaii is the 50th state of the United States of America.

The program itself doesn’t charge volunteers to participate. However, applicants should be prepared to take on the following cost:

  • Travel to and from Hawaii
  • Rent/dorm costs associated with finding a place to live
  • Food expenses
  • Transportation cost to and from work at DKI APCSS

No. There is currently no scholarship or grant opportunities awarded by DKI APCSS. Applicants are encouraged to seek external scholarships or grants from their university or external sources.