MARADMINs

This MARADMIN establishes a reimbursement program for Marine Corps judge advocates and civilian attorneys working under the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant to recover their annual professional bar association licensing fees. Eligible attorneys who serve or are projected to serve over 179 days in fiscal year 2026 may receive up to $500 reimbursement for mandatory bar membership dues. Applications will be accepted from March 1, 2026 through July 1, 2026.

This MARADMIN announces the convening of the FY26 Joint Selection Board to recommend a Marine Corps Judge Advocate for the position of Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, scheduled for approximately March 25, 2026. Eligible officers (brigadier generals or colonels with date of rank March 1, 2024 or earlier, holding MOS 4402) must submit written OPT-IN requests by February 27, 2026, and are encouraged to submit correspondence to the board by March 13, 2026.

This MARADMIN announces the results of the FY26 Funded Law Education Program (FLEP) and Unfunded Law Education Program (ULEP) selection board that convened on November 4, 2025. Three officers were selected as primary FLEP selectees, eleven officers as primary ULEP selectees, with additional alternates for both programs. Selected officers must confirm acceptance within 10 days and secure law school acceptance by April 1, 2026.

This MARADMIN implements Department of Navy guidance establishing an enhanced approval framework for Marine Corps personnel participation in external engagements with non-Federal entities. It applies to all active duty, reserve, and civilian Marine Corps personnel who wish to speak, present, or attend external events in their official capacity, and establishes a tiered approval authority based on rank/grade with specific submission requirements through ETMS2.

This MARADMIN establishes the Fiscal Year 2026 Judge Advocate Continuation Pay (JACP) Program, offering up to $110,000 in retention bonuses to eligible Marine Corps judge advocates. The program targets captains and majors with 4-12 years of commissioned service who have accepted Career Designation, providing payments in three phases throughout their careers in exchange for three-year active duty service obligations. Applications are accepted from October 1, 2025, through June 1, 2026.

This MARADMIN updates Marine Corps Order 5354.1G regarding prohibited activities and conduct by establishing different appeal standards for discrimination versus harassment/hazing/bullying complaints and clarifying commanders' authority to dismiss complaints that don't meet regulatory definitions. The changes align with Department of Defense initiatives to restore good order and discipline while maintaining appropriate oversight of prohibited conduct complaints.

This MARADMIN announces the Fiscal Year 2026 military justice and special victim litigation training schedule for Marine Corps trial counsel (including special trial counsel), defense counsel, victims' legal counsel, and legal support personnel. The message outlines comprehensive training courses offered throughout FY26 by the Trial Services Organization, Office of Special Trial Counsel, Defense Services Organization, and Victims Legal Counsel Organization to ensure quality military justice practice within the Marine Corps.

This MARADMIN announces the FY26 Funded Law Education Program (FLEP) and Unfunded Law Education Program (ULEP) selection board convening on November 4, 2025. The programs allow eligible commissioned officers (captain and below) to attend accredited law schools to earn a Juris Doctor degree and serve as Marine Corps judge advocates. Applications are due by October 24, 2025, and must include LSAT scores (minimum 150), chain of command endorsements, and law school applications.

This MARADMIN announces the convening of a FY27 selection board on October 15, 2025, to recommend a Marine Corps judge advocate for appointment as Lead Special Trial Counsel (LSTC). If the current Assistant Judge Advocate General of the Navy (AJAG) is selected as LSTC, a contingent AJAG selection board will convene immediately afterward to fill the AJAG position.

This MARADMIN announces the Fiscal Year 2026 Senior Leader Legal Course (SLLC) schedule, a three-day course designed for executive officers, senior enlisted leaders, and commanders not attending Cornerstone. The course covers critical legal topics including military justice, investigations, administrative actions, ethics, and personnel law. Multiple in-person sessions at Newport, RI and virtual offerings are scheduled throughout FY26, with registration required six weeks prior to each course date.

This MARADMIN announces the Fiscal Year 2026 Legal Officer Course (LOC) schedule, a two-week training program for non-lawyer military personnel who serve or will serve as legal officers. The course covers administrative separations, standards of conduct, administrative investigations, and military justice processes through lectures, practical exercises, and examinations. Multiple in-person sessions are offered at San Diego and Norfolk locations, as well as virtual options throughout FY 2026.

This MARADMIN establishes guidance for travel of Marine Corps general officers, senior executives, and sergeants major to serve as guests of honor or speakers at 2025 Marine Corps birthday balls. It emphasizes minimizing government-funded travel costs by prioritizing local leaders and retired community members, and requires DMCS approval for non-local active-duty guests of honor at least 10 business days prior to the event.

This MARADMIN establishes a reimbursement program for Marine Corps judge advocates and civilian attorneys working under the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant to recover their annual professional bar association licensing fees. Eligible attorneys can receive up to $500 per fiscal year for mandatory bar membership dues in up to two state or U.S. territory bar associations, with applications accepted from April 15, 2025 through July 11, 2025.

This MARADMIN announces Change 1 to the CY25 Enlisted to Officer Selection Boards, specifically introducing the Academic Year 2026-2027 Enlisted to Judge Advocate (E to JA) program. The program offers eligible enlisted Marines (E-5 to E-7) with 4-8 years of service a funded opportunity to attend law school, commission as officers, and serve as judge advocates. Applications follow the standard Enlisted to Officer procedures outlined in MARADMIN 590/24, with additional law-specific requirements including LSAT scores of 150 or higher.

This MARADMIN reinforces current policy regarding access to classified information for Marine Corps personnel. It emphasizes that only personnel with a demonstrated need-to-know based on their current billet assignment may be granted access to classified material or Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), and requires immediate debriefing of personnel who no longer have a valid need-to-know, including those on administrative leave, retired, or separated from service.

This MARADMIN announces the expansion of legal assistance services provided by Marine Corps Exceptional Family Member (EFM) attorneys to include representation of EFMP-enrolled students in Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) school matters, short of litigation. Four specialized attorneys stationed at MCB Quantico, Camp Pendleton, Camp Lejeune, and Hawaii provide these services in a regional construct to eligible active duty Marines, reservists, and their families.

This MARADMIN updates notification requirements for covered offenses under the Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC), canceling MARADMIN 655/23 effective 1 January 2025. Commanders must promptly report all allegations of covered offenses—including sexual assault, domestic violence, murder, retaliation, and substantiated sexual harassment complaints—to the appropriate regional OSTC office based on the accused's duty station. The OSTC has exclusive authority to determine disposition of covered offenses and serves as the exclusive referral authority for courts-martial.

This MARADMIN announces critical updates to sexual harassment (SH) complaint procedures effective 1 January 2025, including mandatory use of independent trained investigators (primarily NCIS) for all formal SH complaints, mandatory initiation of administrative separation for all substantiated formal SH complaints, and implementation of the Behavioral Intervention and Professional Reset Program (BIPR) as an alternative to separation in certain cases. These changes align with Department of Defense policy reforms to improve investigation quality and accountability for sexual harassment offenses.

This MARADMIN announces a major reorganization of the Marine Corps legal services structure in response to statutory military justice reforms, SECDEF mandates, and Force Design initiatives. The reorganization establishes three Regional Law Centers with subordinate Law Centers to provide legal support beyond organic command capabilities, and formalizes the creation of independent prosecution organizations (OSTC and TSO) alongside the existing Defense Services Organization and Victims' Legal Counsel Organization. The changes optimize legal support delivery, improve military justice quality, and enhance the Marine Corps' ability to manage legal talent and meet emerging requirements.

This MARADMIN announces the results of the FY25 Funded Law Education Program (FLEP) and Excess Leave Program (ELP) selection board that convened on November 4, 2024. Four officers were selected as primary selectees for FLEP, two as alternates for FLEP, three as primary selectees for ELP, and two as alternates for ELP. Selected officers must confirm acceptance by December 14, 2024, and secure law school admission by April 1, 2025.