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Begun in 1982 as the Multiplikatoren Seminar (Multiplier Seminar) and co-sponsored by the German Marshall Fund and the Armed Forces Office of the German Defense Ministry, the annual Manfred Wörner Seminar brings together 30 young Americans and Germans to examine German and European security policy and to discuss U.S.–German and U.S.–European security interests. The Seminar serves to deepen understanding between participants from both countries and offers an excellent opportunity to broaden professional networks.
The ten-day program takes place each year in three German cities — Bonn, Cologne, and Berlin — and in Brussels, Belgium, and consists of meetings with experts on security and defense in both the German–American and European–American framework. Participants are drawn from a diverse range of professional and educational backgrounds and, once selected, pay a $700 fee to attend the Seminar. All other program expenses, including travel, accomodations, and meals, are paid by the German government.
In 2012, participants of seminar included representatives from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung, the German Bundestag, and Airbus on the German side and representatives from the Department of Defense, the Department of State, the U.S. Navy, the National Security Council, the International Rescue Committee, and Lockheed Martin on the American side.
The group’s program included briefings by senior representatives of the German Ministry of Defense, the European Commission, and the European Parliament. In addition, participants met with Egon Ramms, Commander of NATO’s Joint Forces Command in Brunssum, and Hans Ulrich Klose, Member of the German Bundestag and Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Call for Applications 2013
Call for Applications
2013 Manfred Wörner Seminar
May 25- June 2, 2013
The German Marshall Fund invites individual applications for the 2013 Manfred Wörner Seminar (MWS), which will take place from May 25-June 2, 2013, from Americans between 25 and 35 years of age at the time of travel who have a background in security and defense policies.
Deadline: For American candidates interested in participating in the 2013 program, the deadline for applications is Friday, February 1, 2013, at 4:59 pm Eastern Time.
Application Procedure: Applications must be submitted online through GMF’s Easygrants system. Detailed information about the application process for American candidates is listed on page 2 of this document. German candidates should contact the German Armed Forces Office at SicherheitspolitikSeminare@bundeswehr.org
Eligibility: Begun in 1982 as the Multiplikatoren Seminar, and co-sponsored by the German Marshall Fund and the Armed Forces Office of the German Defense Ministry, the annual Manfred Wörner Seminar brings together 30 young Americans and Germans to examine German and European security policy and to discuss U.S.–German and U.S.–European security interests. The ten-day program takes place each year in three German cities — Bonn, Cologne, and Berlin — and in Brussels, Belgium, and consists of meetings with experts on security and defense in both the German–American and European–American framework.
Participants should be between 25 and 35 years of age at the time of travel and have an outstanding record of achievement in their profession. We seek candidates in politics, government (both national and local), the media, business, academia, and the nonprofit sector (think tanks and NGOs). Because the Seminar is designed primarily with the interests in mind of those who have not yet traveled to Europe or who have traveled very little in Europe, candidates who have completed an undergraduate or graduate degree in a European university, or who have worked for a period longer than six months in Europe, may not be appropriate for the program. The Fellowship is intended to expand the community of Americans interested in and knowledgeable about Europe rather than to repeat a travel experience for someone who has already traveled extensively in Europe.
Formal Application Requirements: Complete applications must include:
- Cover letter indicating how the candidate learned of the Seminar and how the candidate would contribute to and benefit from the program.
- Current résumé with full contact information. Please include your e-mail address.
- Additional personal information (a template will be provided).
- A passport photo or headshot for the seminar brochure (color or black & white).
- Formal letters of recommendation are not required, but are welcome.
The Selection Process: Soon after the application deadline, the Defense Attaché’s staff at the German Embassy and the American Seminar Director from the German Marshall Fund will select the American participants. Immediately thereafter, the American Seminar Director will notify all candidates of the decision regarding who is invited to participate on the upcoming program. At that time, candidates will have the opportunity to either accept or decline the invitation. In addition to the 15 candidates invited to participate in the seminar, the Embassy will select 4 to 5 alternates. In the event that someone withdraws from the American delegation after accepting their invitation, the American Seminar Director will contact the alternates to offer them any opening(s) on the program. Once selected, participants pay a $700 fee to attend the seminar. All other expenses are paid by the German Government and the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
Application Process:
The Manfred Wörner Seminar application process takes place online using Easygrants. The application process has three steps:
1. Register for Easygrants (if first-time user; previous users should use same log in information)
2. Complete application
3. Submit application
Register for Easygrants:
Using Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari web browers, please go to http://easygrants.gmfus.org/ and register as a new user. Please choose one email address to serve as your login, and please note that your login e-mail address and password are case sensitive. You will also need to disable your pop-up blocker. If you need assistance for this, please click here.
Complete Application:
Once registered, please click the following link on the homepage: Click the button that says ‘Apply for Funding.’ Then choose the following Available Funding Opportunity: 2013 Manfred Wörner Seminar. Please do not select any other option.
This will open your Manfred Wörner application. You can save your application, log out, and return at any time. To save your application, click the ‘Save and Close’ button. To access your application again, login to Easygrants and you will see a hyperlink on your homepage that says ‘Submit Application – Manfred Wörner Seminar’, simply click this hyperlink and your application will open. Once you have started an application, do not click on the link ‘Apply for Funding’ again. This will cause you to initiate new applications, rather than accessing your initial application.
The MWS application consists of four required parts that applicants have to upload to the Easygrants system:
- Cover letter indicating how the candidate learned of the Seminar and how the candidate would contribute to and benefit from the program.
- Current résumé with full contact information.
- Additional personal information (please use the template that is provided in the Easygrants; fill in the information, save the document to your computer, and then upload it to the database).
- A passport photo or headshot for the seminar brochure (color or black & white).
- Optional letters of recommendation.
Please be sure to read and follow all on-page instructions provided for each step of the application process.
Submit Application:
Once all information – including letters of recommendation – is received, you must submit your application by logging in and clicking the “Submit” button found in the ‘Review and Submit’ section. You will receive email notifications once your letters of recommendation have been received. All applications must be submitted online by Friday, February 1, 2013 at 4:59 pm Eastern Time for consideration.
If you have questions about the application process, please contact mws@gmfus.org or visit http://www.gmfus.org/fellowships/manfred
Dr. Megan Doherty, Program Officer
The German Marshall Fund of the United States
1744 R Street, NW Washington, DC 20009
Tel. 202-683-2645
Fax. 202-265-1662
Email: mdoherty@gmfus.org
