Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) and Fiscal Year 2028 (FY28) Ground and Intelligence Personnel Exchange Program Selection Board Announcement

1.  Purpose.  This MARADMIN solicits applications to
fill FY27 and FY28 Ground and Intelligence Personnel Exchange 
Program (PEP) billet vacancies.  The International Affairs Program 
(IAP) seeks qualified Marines to represent the Marine Corps by 
serving in PEP billets embedded in the armed forces of allies and 
partners.  Marine Corps PEPs conduct extended military-to-military
engagement with allies and partners to exchange and standardize 
operational doctrine and enhance interoperability between coalition 
partners.  Selected Marines will complete a two to three-year tour 
with designated allies and partners.
1.a.  Major timeline milestones (read in two columns):
Date                       Milestone
26 June 2026               Applications due
31 August 2026             Board convenes
2.  Eligibility
2.a.  Eligibility requirements
2.a.1.  Applicants must be on active duty.
2.a.2.  Must receive monitor concurrence. 
2.a.3.  Time on station requirements
2.a.3.a.  FY27 PEP billets.  Applicants must meet minimum prescribed
tour control factor (TCF) and be eligible for permanent change of
station (PCS) orders in FY27.  
2.a.3.b.  FY28 PEP billets.  Applicants must meet minimum prescribed
TCF and be eligible for PCS orders in FY27 to allow for language 
training and reporting to their follow-on PEP billet in FY28, as 
required.
2.a.4.  If an applicant does not meet prescribed TCF requirements in
paragraph 2.a.3., they must submit an exception to policy (ETP), 
endorsed by the first O-6 in the chain of command, via NAVMC 10274
(AA-Form), with their application.  Transfer inside of the 
prescribed TCF will result in a gap for that command until the TCF
has concluded.  If a Marine is selected prior to his/her normal 
rotation date, Manpower Management Officer Assignments (MMOA) or 
Manpower Management Enlisted Assignments (MMEA) will attempt to 
provide a backfill.  A commander's endorsement of the AA Form is 
considered acknowledgement of this situation.  MMOA or MMEA will 
adjudicate the ETP separately from the board process and must be 
approved by MMOA or MMEA before a Marine will be considered for a 
PEP billet vacancy.  A Marine with an approved ETP will be a FY27 
mover regardless of selection to the PEP program. 
2.a.5.  Applicants must meet the grade criterion (or be selected 
for promotion to that grade) of the associated duty for which they 
are applying and must possess the career timing to serve a full tour 
of duty in the grade of the billet for which they are applying.  
2.b.  Ineligibility criteria
2.b.1.  Officers with an established separation or retirement date.
2.b.2.  Officers in the above zone.  Captains and majors offered 
continuation and lieutenant colonels in the above-zone may be 
considered on a case-by-case basis.
2.b.3.  Applicants selected for or currently attending programs 
that have a designated utilization assignment are ineligible.
2.b.4.  Officers serving in an 0505 utilization tour or a Standard 
Joint Duty Assignment are ineligible unless they have completed 24 
months of their tour at the date the selection board convenes.  
Applications submitted prior to completion of 24 months must include
command and PMOS monitor endorsements.
2.b.5.  Officers on a graduate education program utilization tour 
may not apply without concurrence from the Graduate Education 
Manager (MMOA-3) and PMOS monitor.
2.c.  Intelligence Billets.  Deputy Commandant for Information 
is the sponsor for all intelligence billets and will screen  
respective packages for eligibility prior to the convening of the 
selection board.
3.  The FY27 and FY28 PEP selection board will screen Marines for 
assignment to the following PEP positions.  This list is subject to
change up until the conclusion of the board based on IAP 
requirements.  For the most current list, visit the website listed 
in paragraph 5.c.1.
3.a.  FY27 PEP billet vacancies (read in seven columns):  
GRD BMOS  Billet                        Country     Date   MCC  Note
O6  804X  AMPHIBIOUS PLANS OFFICER      AUSTRALIA   JUL-27 KDB  1
O4  8006  COMBINED ARMS BRIGADE PLANNER FRANCE      DEC-26 TF2  2
O3  0202  J-25 INT PLANS OFFICER        AUSTRALIA   SEP-27 KDA
O3  0203  INTELLIGENCE OFFICER          AUSTRALIA   JUN-27 TF2
O3  0206  ELEC WARFARE STAFF OFFICER    UK          JUN-27 KBU
O3  0207  OIC, LIGHTNING INTEL SPT CRSE UK          JUL-27 TL4
E7  0861  FIRES SNCO SME                CHILE       AUG-27 NBE  3
3.b.  FY28 PEP billet vacancies (read in seven columns):
GRD BMOS  Billet                       Country      Date   MCC  Note
O4  8006  G7 ALLIED EXERCISE PLANNER   NORWAY       JUN-28 KDF  4
O3  0302  ASST OPS OFFICER             NETHERLANDS  NOV-27 KDE  5
E7  0321  RECON SNCO                   NETHERLANDS  AUG-28 KDE  5
E7  0369  COMBAT ARMS INSTRUCTOR       COLUMBIA     JUL-28 KDD  3
E6  0369  INFANTRY INSTRUCTOR          CHILE        NOV-27 KBK  3
Note 1:  Post-O6 command and/or extensive understanding of 
distributed operations with sustained MAGTF experience (both ashore 
and sea-based) in maritime environments preferred.
Note 2:  Must have at least 2/2 in French.  Will report in early 
FY27. Combat arms MOS preferred, captains are eligible to apply for 
this billet.  
Note 3:  Requires Spanish language training at DLI-Monterey, if not 
at 2/2 level.
Note 4:  Requires Norwegian language training at DLI-Washington, if 
not at 2/2 level.
Note 5:  Requires Dutch language training at DLI-Washington, if not 
at 2/2 level.
4.  All PEP billets listed in paragraph 3 will PCS in FY27.  
FY28 applicants should plan on attending language training prior 
to reporting to PEP duties, if not at a 2/2 level.  The language 
requirement is based on Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) 
score of (2/2) in the target language with Oral Proficiency 
Interview (OPI) score of at least 1 (plus).  If the selected 
candidate does not meet DLPT and OPI requirements, language 
training will take place at the Defense Language Institute (DLI) in 
either Monterey, CA or Washington, DC as listed in paragraph 4.c.1.   
4.a.  Applicants requiring foreign language training must have a 
minimum Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) score of 95 for: 
Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch.
4.b.  Applicants requiring language training must take into 
consideration DLI course length to ensure minimum time on station 
requirements will be met before applying.  Training will begin in 
late CY27 or early CY28 depending on DLI course schedules for 
required language.  DLI course length is 36 weeks.
4.c.  Foreign Language proficiency requirements
4.c.1.  Billets at the following locations require foreign language 
training or existing proficiency (read in four columns):
Language    Country                  Duration      Training Location
Spanish     Chile / Colombia         36 Weeks      Monterey, CA
Norwegian   Norway                   36 Weeks      Washington, DC
Dutch       Netherlands              36 Weeks      Washington, DC
5.  Application process.  This section provides an overview of the 
application process and requirements.
5.a.  Families and overseas screening.  Families are an important 
element of PEP assignments.  Applicants with dependents enrolled in
the Exceptional Family Member Program are eligible to apply, but may
not be able to participate pending availability of required care.  A
full medical screening is not required for the application process, 
however, all applicants must provide a certification of suitability 
for overseas assignment, found on the website in paragraph 5.c.1. 
for themselves and all family members.  It is imperative applicants 
disclose ongoing conditions to ensure the applicant and family 
members' needs can be met.  Once selected, PEP candidates and their
families must complete a full medical overseas screening within 90 
days of acceptance. 
5.b.  Language proficiency is desirable but is not a prerequisite 
to submit an application.
5.c.  Application timeline and method
5.c.1.  Interested Marines must submit their application to the IAP 
Office.  Applications must arrive to the IAP Office no later than 
2359 Eastern Time on 26 June 2026 to be considered by the board.  
Applicants can find templates and additional information on the IAP 
website at:  http:(slash)(slash)www.ppo.marines.mil/Units/Strategy-
and-Plans-Division/International-Affairs-Branch/International-
Affairs-Program/Resources/
5.c.2.  Applications must be submitted in a single portable document
format (PDF) titled: "1234567890_LAST_FIRST_MI_RANK_PEP". 
Applications must be submitted through the IAP website under the 
IAP Submissions and Registration section, using the link referencing 
PEP Submissions. 
5.c.3.  Enlisted applicants must submit applications electronically 
using the Special Duty Assignment/Miscellaneous Reenlistment 
Extension Lateral Move (RELM) in the Total Force Retention System 
(TFRS) via the normal RELM routing chain to Commandant of the Marine
Corps (CMC) Manpower Management Enlisted Assignments (MMEA).  Unit
Career Planners have access to the TFRS system.  
5.c.4.  OMPF update material.  Applicants should submit OMPF update 
requests via OMPF-Records Management Application (O-RMA).  If 
assistance is required, contact your unit S-1 or local IPAC. 
Applicants are responsible for ensuring their OMPF and Master Brief
Sheet is accurate at all times.  Board members will have access to
the OMPF during the board.   
5.d.  Application procedures.  The application must include the 
following:
5.d.1.  A completed application form for the PEP positions listed 
in paragraphs 3.a. and 3.b., the form is located at the website 
listed in paragraph 5.c.1.  This application will include all 
billet preferences, previous foreign security force advisor tours, 
security cooperation experience, pertinent regional, academic, 
personal, or professional experience, or skill capability that may 
be relevant for consideration by the selection board, and DLAB and 
DLPT scores (as required). 
5.d.2.  Command endorsements through the first O-6.
5.d.3.  At least one letter of recommendation.  Any letters of 
recommendation shall include an assessment of the applicant's 
potential to serve as a representative of the Marine Corps on 
independent duty as an embedded member in the armed forces of 
allies and partners in overseas locations.
5.d.4.  Correspondence from PMOS monitor confirming eligibility.
5.d.5.  Certification of security clearance from security officer.
5.d.6.  Certification of suitability for overseas assignment.
5.d.7.  Enlisted applicants must include completed independent duty 
screening and financial worksheets for OCONUS tours.
5.e.  The board will not consider incorrect or incomplete packages.
5.f   Applicants shall have 1-2 months pay in reserve to support 
PCS costs and changes in cost of living. 
6.  Marines selected to serve as a PEP may be eligible to receive 
the Foreign Area Officer, Regional Area Officer, or Foreign Area
Staff Non-commissioned Officer additional MOS (AMOS) for their
respective regions.  Upon meeting the criteria for experience track
AMOS designation, Marines will notify the IAP Office to apply for 
the respective AMOS after completion of PEP assignment.  Assignment 
of this AMOS makes Marines eligible for further service utilization 
in 82XX billets.
7.  When applying for PEP applicants will be able to submit country 
preference but should understand that the board may slate an 
individual for any country being screened, and those countries being
screened may change through the duration of the board.  Marines 
who decline selection will have a declination letter uploaded to 
their OMPF and are ineligible for future PEP boards, unless 
otherwise approved by the Director, Manpower Management due to 
extraordinary circumstances.
8.  Deconfliction with Active Component O-5 and O-6 Command 
Screening Boards (CSB) and Top Level School (TLS) Board.  If a 
Marine is selected for the FY27 CSB or AY27-28 TLS board, the CSB 
or TLS selection will take priority and the Marine will no longer 
be eligible for consideration to the FY27 and FY28 Ground and 
Intelligence Personnel Exchange Board or like assignment.  
Marines considering applying to this or similar programs are 
recommended to contact their PMOS monitor with further questions.
9.  This message is only applicable to the active component.
10.  Release authorized by BGen Fridrik Fridriksson, Director,
Manpower Management Division.