Application Process for Reserve Officers Applying to the College of Distance Education and Training Command and Staff College and Expeditionary Warfare School Funded Weekend Seminar Program with Start Dates in Academic Year 2027

1.  This MARADMIN explains the format, eligibility 
criteria, application process, and prerequisite requirements for 
reserve officers applying for funded orders for Expeditionary 
Warfare School (EWS) or Command and Staff College (CSC) Weekend 
Seminar Program (WSP).
2.  Expeditionary Warfare School Weekend Seminar Program (EWSWSP).
Officers in the ready reserve (SMCR and IMA) or Individual Ready 
Reserve (IRR) are eligible for consideration for the EWSWSP if 
they meet the specific eligibility criteria.  EWSWSP is conducted 
one weekend every month for two Academic Years (AYs); the first AY 
will cover 8671 and 8672 followed by the second AY which will cover 
8673 and 8674.  
2.a.  The following personnel are eligible to participate in EWSWSP 
(in order of priority).
2.a.1.  Marine 03 (unrestricted and limited duty)
2.a.2.  Marine 03 selects and Chief Warrant Officer (CWO)3s
2.a.3.  Marine 02
2.a.4.  Marine CWO2 (Requires waiver for enrollment)
3.  Command and Staff College Weekend Seminar Program (CSCWSP):  
Officers in the ready reserve (SMCR and IMA) or Individual Ready 
Reserve (IRR) are eligible for consideration for the CSCWSP if they 
meet the specific eligibility criteria. CSCWSP is conducted one 
weekend every month for two AYs; first AY runs from October to May 
covering 8901 through 8904 followed by the second AY that runs the 
following year from October to May covering 8905 through 8908.
3.a.  The following personnel are eligible to participate in CSCWSP 
(in order of priority).
3.a.1.  Marine 04 (unrestricted and limited duty) 
3.a.2.  Marine 04 selects
3.a.3.  CWO4
3.a.4.  Captains (complete with professional military education for 
grade and 24 months time in grade)
3.a.5.  CWO3 (requires waiver for enrollment)
4.  Officers who meet any of the following criteria are ineligible 
to apply for funded WSP:
4.a.  Officers who are in the above zone on the next scheduled 
promotion board.
4.b.  Officers who are above grade for PME (e.g., lieutenant colonels
are ineligible for funded CSCWSP).
4.c.  Officers that have completed an equivalent Formal Level School 
(FLS) or DEP.
4.d.  Officers with approved retirements, resignations, or pending 
conditional release.
4.e.  Officers applying for funded WSP whose mandatory removal date 
is within four years of the date of application.
4.f.  Officers who have more than 18 years of creditable service 
towards a reserve retirement. 
5.  Reserve officers participating in any funded PME program of 
study (excluding two week staff training courses) will incur a 
Selected Reserve (SELRES) drilling affiliation obligation for 24 
continuous months following the completion of the program of study.  
This requirement is to ensure that the Reserve Component (RC) 
effectively realizes a return on the investment made in funding the 
education of officers through these programs.  To more effectively 
enforce this requirement, the following applies:
5.a.  SMCR/IMA/IRR officers selected for any funded PME program of
study will be required to sign a Statement of Understanding (SOU). 
A SOU is a contractual agreement between the Marine Corps and a 
non-mandatory participant which obligates the Marine to participate 
in Reserve training in the Selected Reserve (SelRes).
5.b.  Ninety days following graduation, officers must be joined to 
either a Selected Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR) drilling unit or an 
Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) Billet Identification Code 
(BIC) that matches his or her grade and military occupational 
specialty.
5.c.  Subsequent failure to affiliate following graduation will be 
handled in accordance with the SOU signed at the time of 
graduation.
6.  Program Prerequisites.
6.a.  EWSWSP:  Students enrolling in EWSWSP for the first time are 
required to complete the 8670 prerequisite course prior to the first 
seminar.  Students will submit enrollment requests for the 8670 
prerequisite through MARINENET, Course Code:  EWSDEPPREQ.
6.b.  CSCWSP:  None.
7.  Application Process
7.a.  The application window is continuous and rolling.  The deadline 
for submitting an application for the AY 27 WSP is 1 July 2026, and 
is on a first come first served basis as long as funding is available
7.b.  The application package for the WSP can be found on the College 
of Distance Education (CDET) website at 
https:(slant)(slant)www.usmcu.edu/CDET/#funded-seats.  The package 
includes:
7.b.1.  CDET WSP student application.
7.b.2.  SWAT, initialed and signed by the applicant, and witnessed by 
a commissioned officer.
7.c.  All application packages will be submitted in Portable Document 
Format (PDF) via email to MCU_CDET_RLO@usmcu.edu.
8.  Administration
8.a.  Excess BIC.  To avoid a break in SELRES affiliation while 
enrolled in nonresident PME, SMCR Marines may elect to request 
transfer to an excess BIC within their unit in accordance with 
reference (e).
8.b.  Ensure email addresses and telephone numbers are current and 
are provided on the application.  Update any changes to personal 
contact information promptly to the CDET Reserve Liaison Officer 
(RLO) via email to MCU_CDET_RLO@usmcu.edu or via phone at 
(703) 784-3015.
8.c.  Notification of selection.  All applications will be screened 
and selected based off a first-come, first-served policy.  The number
of funded seats available in an AY will be determined by Marine 
Forces Reserve (MFR).  Applications screenings and selectee 
notifications occur monthly.  In September of each year, all 
selected applicants will be provided administrative guidance via 
email for orders processing and issuance.
8.d.  Seminar Location.  Each selectee will be assigned a seminar 
location based on current CDET business practices.
9.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the reserve component 
(SMCR, IMA, and IRR members) and has been coordinated with MFR.
10.  Release authorized by Brigadier General M. W. Tracy,
President, Marine Corps University.