Fiscal Year 2027 Command Screening Boards Announcement

1.  Purpose.  This message announces the timeline
for the fiscal year 2027 Command Screening Boards (CSB), outlines
eligibility criteria, and provides information on board 
communication and where to find a list of available colonel and 
lieutenant colonel commands for assignment.
1.a.  Major timeline milestones are (read in two columns):
Date                                Milestone                           
Release of this message             CSB questionnaire open 
30 May 2026                         Completed questionnaire due 
30 May 2026                         Remove by request (RBR) due 
07 July 2026                        Lieutenant colonel CSB convenes
08 July 2026                        Colonel CSB convenes
TBD August 2026                     CSB results released  
1.b.  The purpose of the Command Screening Program is to ensure that
Marines receive the best possible leadership and to provide eligible
officers with a fair and equitable opportunity to command.
1.c.  The CSBs will select officers for designated command billets
projected to generally be available between 1 June 2027 and 31 May 
2028.
1.d.  In order to ensure focus on unit mission while allowing 
officers appropriate time for transition and to reinvest the 
valuable skills and experience from successful commanders, Manpower
Management Separation and Retirement Branch (MMSR) will not 
normally endorse requests to retire within 24 months of completion 
of a command tour.
2.  Process.  The boards will select those who are best and most 
fully qualified for command from the eligible population.  The 
board will select a number of officers equal to the number of 
commands available as primaries.  Additionally, the boards will 
select a sufficient number of officers as alternates to meet 
command requirements when primaries decline or otherwise cannot 
take command.  The boards will propose a command slate for the
primary selectees and will forward the slate, along with the 
alternate list, to the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) for 
approval.  When approved, board results listing the primary 
selectees will be announced via Marine Administrative message 
(MARADMIN).
3.  Board composition.  The CSBs will consist of officers whose
Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs) represent all elements of 
the Marine Air-Ground Task Force and supporting establishment.
4.  Eligibility.  The eligibility rosters are posted
on the following website under MMOA-3 Top Level Schools and 
Programs Tab in the Command Screening Program sub-folder: 
https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Manpower-Management/Officer-
Assignments/#tab/top-level-schools-and-programs.  Please contact
your Primary Military Occupational Specialty (PMOS) monitors with
questions about eligibility.
4.a.  Eligibility criteria.  All unrestricted colonels or colonels
(select) and lieutenant colonels or lieutenant colonels (select),
except as outlined in paragraph 4.b.
4.b.  Ineligibility criteria
4.b.1.  Officers with an established separation or retirement date.
4.b.2.  Officers with a mandatory retirement date prior to 
1 June 2030.
4.b.3.  Lieutenant colonels in or above the promotion zone for the
calendar year 2026/fiscal year 2028 Promotion Selection Boards.
4.b.4.  Officers who have previously held command in one of the
designated colonel or lieutenant colonel command screened billets 
for a period of at least 12 months, are currently in command, or are
slated and awaiting command as a result of a previous command
screening board.  This does not preclude colonels (select) currently
in a lieutenant colonel command from eligibility for a colonel
command.
4.b.5.  Officers who have previously declined command.
4.b.6.  Officers currently assigned to payback tours following 
graduation from the School of Advanced Warfighting, School of 
Advanced Military Studies, School of Advanced Air and Space 
Studies, or the Maritime Advanced Warfighting School who will not 
complete 12 months of assignment by 31 October 2026.
4.b.7.  Officers currently attending graduate education programs.
These officers will be eligible to screen for command after 
graduation from school.  
4.b.8.  Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Program-Strategist 
(PHD-S).  Officers enrolled in PHD-S programs who will not be All
But Dissertation (ABD) complete by 31 Jun 2027.
4.b.9.  Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Program-Technical 
(PHD-T).  Officers who entered the PHD-T program between FY16 and
FY24 are eligible for command screening provided they meet all 
other eligibility criteria — this applies to all PHD-T officers 
that this board will consider.  Beginning only with the FY25 PHD-T
selection cohort, officers who enter the program will be ineligible
for future command screening.  
4.b.10.  Officers inbound to a joint duty assignment or currently
serving in a joint duty assignment who will not have completed 
12 months of the joint duty assignment by 30 July 2026.
4.b.11.  Officers with the acquisition Primary Military Occupational
Specialty (8059/8061).
4.b.12.  Limited duty officers.
4.b.13.  Officers who have been relieved for cause from a designated
lieutenant colonel or colonel command screened billet.
4.b.14.  Officers who will not complete their planned tour by 31 
July 2026 for board selected assignments or programs that require 
one or more years of training for assignment; this includes, but is
not limited to Marine Attaché, Personnel Exchange Program, or 
Security Cooperation Organization.
4.b.15.  Officers who are currently enrolled in Top Level School 
programs that require utilization tours. 
5.  Board communication.
5.a.  CMC directs all eligible officers to communicate with the
board.  The online questionnaire is the primary mechanism for board
correspondence.  Officers may call attention to any matter they 
deem important to selection or slating including command 
preferences, location preferences, and family or personal 
situations to inform the board's decision making.  A common access
card certificate is not required to access the questionnaire.
5.b.  Command screening questionnaire (colonel and lieutenant 
colonel) can be found on the MMOA-3 website under Top Level Schools
and Programs Tab in the Command Screening Program sub-folder:
https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Manpower-Management/Officer-Assignm
ents/#tab/top-level-schools-and-programs
5.c.  Officers may submit any material not found in their Official
Military Personnel File (OMPF) via the questionnaire.  Instructions
on how to upload material are provided on the final page of the
questionnaire.  Files submitted that do not comply with the 
instructions will not be presented to the board.  Officers who 
experience difficulty with the questionnaire upload process 
should contact Manpower Management Officer Assignments Branch, 
Plans, Programs, and Boards Section (MMOA-3) by phone at (703) 
784-9284 for assistance.  Documents will not be accepted via email.
5.d.  The deadline for submitting the online questionnaire is
2359 EST on 30 May 2026 in order to facilitate pre-board actions.
5.e.  The questionnaire does not allow for an officer to edit their
responses after progressing to the next item or after submission.
Officers who desire to change their responses should submit a new
questionnaire, using the link above.  Officers will be given the 
opportunity to download a summary of their responses once they have 
finalized their submission.  MMOA will not provide a copy of another
questionnaire submission.  MMOA will provide the board with the 
results of the most recent submission.
5.f.  All correspondence to the board must originate from or be 
endorsed by the screening officer.  Any correspondence submitted 
after the convening of the board will be considered at the 
discretion of the board president.
5.g.  OMPF update material.  Officers should submit OMPF update 
requests via OMPF-Records Management Application (O-RMA). If 
assistance is required, contact your unit S-1 or local IPAC. 
Officers are responsible for ensuring their OMPF is accurate at all
times.  A members' OMPF, including their Master Brief Sheet, will 
be accessible to the board.
5.h.  Photographs are used in the CSBs per references (d), (e), and
(f).
5.i.  Fitness reports.  Completed fitness reports must be submitted
to Performance Evaluation Section (MMPB-2) for inclusion into the
OMPF.  Incomplete fitness reports will not normally be accepted or
forwarded to the board.
5.j.  Body Composition.  Reference (e) modifies the Height and 
Weight requirement to a Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) requirement.
At present, there is no method for the Digital Boardroom to pull
current WHtR information aside from an officer's official 
photograph or fitness reports.  Accordingly, an officer will not 
be viewed negatively solely because a current WHtR measurement is
not available to the board.  However, previous Height and Weight 
measurements contained within an officer's record will be 
considered, as well as any fitness reports that were processed with
a WHtR directed comment.  Officers who desire to have their current
WHtR made available to the board may update their official 
photograph in their OMPF accordance with reference (f).
5.k.  Remove by request (RBR)
5.k.1.  Officers who are eligible but do not desire to screen must
complete the online command screening questionnaire and attach an AA
form requesting RBR.  The AA form must be endorsed by the first
Marine in the fitness report routing chain.  The Senior Marine
Representative or administrative reviewer may be used if there is no
Marine in the chain.  Officers without properly endorsed AA forms
for RBR will screen for command.
5.k.2.  MMOA-3 must receive requests for RBR via the online
questionnaire no later than 2359 EST on 30 May 2026.  Officers
requesting RBR must also email a copy to their PMOS monitor.
5.k.3.  Officers who submit a RBR AA form but subsequently wish to
withdraw that request must do so via a second AA form.  The AA form
must be signed by the Marine requesting to be screened and does not
require other endorsements.  Submit these AA forms to PMOS monitor
and MMOA-3 at smb_mmoa_planso@usmc.mil.  
6.  Command availability.
6.a.  Command availability will be posted on the command screening
questionnaire and on the MMOA-3 website under MMOA-3 Top Level 
Schools and Programs Tab in the Command Screening Program 
sub-folder:  https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Divisions/Manpower-Man
agement/Officer-Assignments/Plans-and-Programs-MMOA-3/#tab/top-level
-schools-and-programs
6.b.  The list of commands screening will be updated periodically
prior to the board and is subject to change up until the conclusion
of the board.
7.  Board results.  Manpower Management will release the results
of the CSBs at the beginning of August 2026 via MARADMIN.
7.a.  Alternates.  Officers selected as alternates will be 
prioritized by the board for assignment when command vacancies 
occur.  MMOA-3 will post an alphabetical list of alternates on 
the MMOA-3 website following the release of the board results.  
Alternates will be given formal offers of command when vacancies 
occur.
7.b.  Declinations.  Officers who request to decline command must 
submit a request for declination in writing (AA Form) via the first
general officer in their chain of command addressed to HQMC via 
MMOA-3.  The request for declination process is the same if an 
alternate is offered command.  The MARADMIN announcing results will
establish a timeline for acceptance or declination.  Officers who 
decline command are ineligible for future command, unless otherwise
approved by the Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.
7.c.   Deferrals.  Officers selected for command who are unable to
execute orders due to extraordinary circumstances may request a
deferral.  If approved, the Director, Manpower Management will 
defer the officer to a future command screening board.  Primary 
selectees may submit a deferral request in writing (AA Form) to 
HQMC (MMOA-3) via the first general officer in their chain of 
command.
8.  Points of contact:
Col E. J. Smith
  Branch Head, MMOA
  Comm:  (703) 784-9300
  Email:  erik.smith@usmc.mil
Col E. F. Bradley
  Combat Arms Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel Monitor
  Comm:  (703) 784-9274
  Email:  evan.bradley@usmc.mil
Col R. B. Tompkins
  Aviation Colonel Monitor
  Comm:  (703) 784-9300
  Email:  ralph.tompkins@usmc.mil
LtCol E. C. Buxton
  Aviation Lieutenant Colonel Monitor
  Comm:  (703) 784-9267
  Email:  eben.buxton@usmc.mil
Col N. V. Bastian
  Combat Service Support Lieutenant Colonel Monitor
  Comm:  (703) 784-9274
  Email:  nicole.v.bastian.mil@usmc.mil
LtCol D. C. Burton
  Information Lieutenant Colonel Monitor
  Comm:  (703) 784-9274
  Email:  david.c.burton@usmc.mil
Major D. B. Heaton
   Field Grade Center Desk
   Comm:  703-784-9272
   Email:  davin.heaton@usmc.mil
9.  This message is only applicable to the active component.
10.  Release authorized by MajGen Fridrik Fridriksson, Director,
Manpower Management Division.