Looks very formal and exclusive, but fine print does not identify the "selection" method nor nominator - and it seems to be major bucks. Seems to imply this leads to a career at DIA/CIA/NSA.
We threw it away - son is fielding offers from fine colleges for academic/athletic stipends anyway.
I imagine your daughter is, too.
My daughter did this program, the legislative one, not the defense one. I don't think it is super exclusive, but you do have to be nominated by your school to participate. My daughter's teachers (who were very good) encouraged it as a resume builder. It was rather costly (about $1500.00 I think) but due to some good circumstances we were able to afford it without a big pinch.
The program is totally on the up and up, very classy really. The kids stay at the 4-H convention center in Maryland, which is the only convention center in the nation specifically designed for young people. My daughter really enjoyed it VERY MUCH and so did the other participants. She is currently attending college in Virigina, did this program help her get in? We'll never really know, but I'm sure you could say it didn't hurt.
My daughter is very friendly and outgoing, so things like this are easy for her. Was it worth the money? I can't really answer that either, our travel costs were low, and the "value" of the program would vary so much from person to person. It is a good experience of being away from home and gives you a good taste of life in our nation's capital city. Had it been a financial struggle to send her we would not have done it and I'm sure she wouldn't be any worse off for that. But she did really enjoy it and met some very nice, very clean cut kids, and had a great deal of fun.
Feel free to freepmail me if you want to ask anything off the thread.