MARADMINs

This MARADMIN solicits nominations for the Second Half CY26 Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Service Chiefs' Fellowship Program (SCFP), a 12-week quarterly program designed to expose Marine Corps officers to DARPA's cutting-edge technology development efforts. The program is open to active duty Majors and Lieutenant Colonels (and Captain Major-selects) in all MOSs, with applications due by 1 May 2026 for Quarter 3 (29 June - 16 September 2026) and Quarter 4 (21 September - 16 December 2026).

This MARADMIN announces the Fiscal Year 2026 Career Counselor Retention Planning and Training Symposium, scheduled for 17-21 August 2026 at Quantico, VA. The symposium is designed for Career Counselors serving at Major Subordinate Command (MSC) and Major Subordinate Element (MSE) levels, with participation capped at 40 Marines. Attendees must notify POCs and confirm lodging reservations by 2 August 2026.

This MARADMIN announces the results of the Fiscal Year 2025 Career Counselor of the Year Award Board. Staff Sergeant Ryan V. Payne from Marine Corps Installations Pacific was selected as the FY25 Career Counselor of the Year, with Sergeant Yanielis Paganmartinez from 12th Littoral Combat Team, 3rd Marine Division, as runner-up. The winner will be formally recognized at the FY25 DC M&RA Professional Awards Dinner on 9 April 2026 at The Clubs at Quantico, Virginia.

This MARADMIN announces the results of the FY26 2nd Quarter Marine Corps Reserve Instructor Pilot (MCRIP) selection board, which selected 12 officers (Captains and Majors) across various aviation MOSs to serve as reserve flight instructors at Training Wings 1, 4, and 5. Selected officers must accept or decline within 30 days and affiliate with MATSG-42 by August 1, 2026.

This MARADMIN announces the results of the FY26 Foreign Area Staff Non-Commissioned Officer (FAS) Program study track selection panel. Three Gunnery Sergeants have been selected to participate in the program, with assignments to INDOPACOM and AFRICOM regions. Selectees are directed to contact the point of contact for further guidance on orders to either Naval Postgraduate School or training locations in the National Capital Region.

This MARADMIN announces changes to the FY26 Staff Sergeant Promotion Selection Board, updating the promotion zones, allocations, and Active Federal Active Duty Base Date (AFADBD) cutoffs for Sergeants being considered for promotion to Staff Sergeant. The changes affect various Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs) across above zone, promotion zone, and below zone categories, with three MOSs (1316, 6222, and 6227) remaining closed for promotions.

This MARADMIN announces the Calendar Year 2026 U.S. Marine Corps Reserve non-statutory board and panel schedule, which will slate and assign personnel to Fiscal Years 2027 and 2028. The message lists seven boards/panels with convening dates ranging from April 2026 to November 2026, and reminds applicants to ensure their Official Military Personnel Files and Master Brief Sheets are accurate and complete before each board convenes.

This MARADMIN establishes centralized approval authority for all civilian 1035-series (public affairs/communication specialist) position changes within the Marine Corps, requiring Director of Communication (DIRCOMM) review and approval before submission to Total Force Structure Division. The policy applies to all commands requesting to create, remove, convert, or adjust the grade of 1035-series positions, effective immediately.

This MARADMIN solicits applications for Fiscal Year 2027 lateral moves to three specialized officer military occupational specialties: 1702 Cyberspace Warfare Officer, 1706 Maritime Space Officer, and 1707 Influence Officer. Active component unrestricted officers in grades of captain through lieutenant colonel who meet specific eligibility requirements may apply by May 25, 2026, with the selection panel convening on June 15, 2026.

This MARADMIN announces the FY27 Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Program (PHDP) Selection Board, which offers two fully-funded doctoral education tracks: the Strategist Program (PHDP-S) for strategic affairs and the Technical Program (PHDP-T) at Naval Postgraduate School. Applications are due by 23 April 2026, with the selection board convening on 04 May 2026, and the program selects up to two officers per track annually.

This MARADMIN announces the results of the Fiscal Year 2026 Career Designation Panel Number 1 (CDP 1), which convened on 5 February 2026. Selected active component Marine officers are being offered Career Designation (CD), allowing them to remain on active duty beyond their initial service obligation. Officers must accept or decline the offer within 14 days of the MARADMIN release via Marine Online (MOL).

This MARADMIN announces the Fiscal Year 2027 Enlisted to Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CWO2) Marine Gunner Selection Board, which will convene on or about 7 July 2026. Qualified infantry senior staff noncommissioned officers (Gunnery Sergeants and above) with primary MOS 0321, 0363, 0369, or 0372 are encouraged to apply by the deadline of 2 June 2026. Marine Gunners serve as technical specialists and experts on infantry weapons and combat marksmanship, requiring extensive operational experience and MOS credibility.

This MARADMIN announces the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Enlisted to Warrant Officer Reserve Selection Board, scheduled to convene on or about 2 June 2026. Qualified Marines in the Selected Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR), Active Reserve (AR), Mobilized Reserve, Individual Ready Reserve, and Standby Reserve (Active list) are encouraged to apply for available warrant officer billets across multiple military occupational specialties. Applications must be submitted electronically via DoD SAFE by 15 April 2026.

This MARADMIN announces the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Enlisted to Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CWO2) Recruiter Selection Board, convening on or about 28 July 2026. Only active duty career recruiters (MOS 8412) in the grade of gunnery sergeant and above with 8-20 years of service are eligible to apply. Applications must be submitted by 22 June 2026, and selectees will be appointed on or about 1 April 2027.

This MARADMIN announces Change 2 to the Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test and Body Composition Evaluation Process, specifically updating the Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) standard to less than or equal to 0.52 for all Marines regardless of sex. This change modifies paragraph 6 of the previous MARADMIN 066/26, while all other instructions from that message remain in effect.

This MARADMIN announces March 2026 Staff Noncommissioned Officer (SNCO) promotions for Marine Corps Reserve components (Active Reserve, Selected Marine Corps Reserve, and Individual Ready Reserve) and provides projections for April and May 2026 promotions. Commanders are authorized to effect promotions on or after 1 March 2026 for selected Marines who meet obligated service requirements, with specific promotion numbers provided for each grade and component.

This MARADMIN announces the results of the FY26-02 Colonel Acquisition Command Screening Board, which selected seven colonels and colonels (select) for assignment to acquisition command billets. The selected officers are from MOS 8059 (Aviation Acquisition) and MOS 8061 (Ground Acquisition) fields and will fill various Program Manager and Commanding Officer positions within Marine Corps and Navy acquisition commands.

This MARADMIN announces changes to the Marine Corps body composition evaluation process, replacing the semiannual height and weight requirement with a waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) methodology effective 1 January 2026. All Marines in the Total Force are affected and must be evaluated using the new WHtR standard of <0.52, with those exceeding the standard undergoing body fat evaluation via tape test or bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA).

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 authorizes non-competitive promotions from Corporal to Sergeant for active-duty Drill Instructors serving at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island or San Diego. Effective 1 March 2026, eligible corporals currently serving as Drill Instructors may be promoted, and future graduates of Drill Instructor School will be promoted effective the first day of the month after reporting to their assigned MCRD.