Fiscal Year 2027 Commandant's Professional Intermediate-Level Education Board (CPIB) Announcement

1.  Purpose.  This message announces the Fiscal
Year 2027 (FY27) Commandant's Professional Intermediate-Level
Education Board (CPIB) convening on 04 August 2026 as part of the
Commandant's Education Board (CEB).  The purpose of this message is
to announce the available programs, eligibility criteria, and
timelines for the CPIB execution.
1.a.  Changes.  In accordance with reference (g), effective 1
April 2026, Headquarters Marine Corps sponsored non-promotion boards
will have access to official military personnel file (OMPF)
photographs during the conduct of non-promotion selection boards.
1.b.  A photograph is considered current if the photograph is taken
365 days prior to a selection board's convene date.  It remains the
Marine's responsibility to ensure a current photograph is in their
Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) no later than 10 business
days prior to the board's convene date for which they are eligible.
1.c.  Reference (h) 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, Marines 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 a Marine's
record will be considered, as well as any fitness reports that were
processed with a WHtR directed comment.
1.d.  Major milestone timeline (read in two columns):
NLT Date                  Milestone
Release of this message   Eligibility roster published
Release of this message   CEB questionnaire opens
20 July                   All Exceptions to Policy (ETP) due
20 July                   CEB questionnaire closes
20 July                   Applications/board correspondence due
20 July                   Remove by Requests (RBR) due
24 July                   Non-compliance list published
31 July                   Final eligibility list published
04 August                 CEB convenes
2.  Background.  The CPIB, as part of the CEB, is the premier
Professional Military Education (PME) opportunity provided to
majors, majors (select), and those in-zone for major.  The board
will convene for approximately four weeks to select the best and
most fully qualified officers for resident PME programs, graduate
education programs, and special duty assignments.
3.  Eligibility criteria
3.a.  All majors and majors (select) who will complete their
current tour control factor (TCF) by 30 September 2027.  Officers
whose TCF is complete by 31 December 2027 may be considered with
PMOS monitor approval.
3.a.1.  Direct questions regarding tour lengths and dates of
departure to the appropriate PMOS monitor.
3.a.2.  All majors and majors (select) interested in attending the
Naval Postgraduate School but do not meet the eligibility criteria
outlined in 3.a. should reach out to their PMOS monitor and the
MMOA-3 Graduate Education Manager.
3.a.3.  Captains in-zone on the CY26/FY28 Major Promotion Selection
Board who have completed their minimum time-on-station requirement.
3.a.4.  Captains who are in-zone for major who have not completed
the minimum time-on-station requirement and wish to be considered
should submit an ETP request.
3.b.  Ineligibility criteria
3.b.1.  Officers with a training PMOS or departing PMOS training.
3.b.2.  Captains in the above-zone for promotion to major.
3.b.3.  Officers currently enrolled in or who have completed a
education program slated by a previous CPIB.
3.b.4.  Officers who have not yet fulfilled an obligated utilization
tour for a previously attended program by 30 September 2027.
3.b.5.  Officers enrolled in or who have completed the Command and
Staff Blended Seminar Program (CSCBSP) or have completed
Intermediate Level School (ILS) (i.e. SAW, SAMS, MAWS, SAASS) are
not eligible for resident PME schools but are eligible for graduate
education programs (e.g. NPS, RAO, Olmsted, etc).
3.b.6.  Officers with an approved lateral move in CY26 are
ineligible for FY27 CPIB selection and attendance due to PMOS
training and assignment.
3.b.7.  Officers with an approved separation or retirement date.
3.b.8.  Restricted officers.
4.  CPIB Available Programs
4.a.  CPIB Resident PME ILS
4.a.1.  Marine Corps Command and Staff College (MCCSC).
4.a.2.  Army Command and General Staff College (ACGSC).
4.a.3.  College of Naval Command and Staff (CNCS).
4.a.4.  Air Command and Staff College (ACSC).
4.a.5.  Space Force Command and Staff College (USSFCSC)
availability to be determined.
4.a.6.  Foreign PME (FPME).  FPME no longer grants Joint PME
(JPME) I credit.
4.b.  Commandant of the Marine Corps Fellowships (subject to change)
4.b.1.  Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
4.b.2.  Judicial Clerkship Navy Marine Corps Court of Criminal
        Appeals (NMCC) at the Navy Yard (4402s only).
4.b.3.  Logistics Fellows, Penn State.
4.b.4.  Federal Express.
4.b.5.  Morgan Stanley.
4.b.6.  Dominion Energy.
4.b.7.  National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
4.b.8.  U.S. Attorney's Eastern District of Virginia (4402s only).
4.b.9.  Office of the Federal Defender (4402s only).
4.b.10.  International Security Center, Notre Dame.
4.b.11.  Apple Inc.
4.b.12.  Asia Pacific Center.
4.b.13.  University of Southern Mississippi (0202s only).
4.c.  Graduate Education Programs
4.c.1.  Naval Postgraduate School (NPS)
        a.  NPS Curricula: 3006, 8824, 8825, 8826, 8834, 8840, 8844,
            8846, 8848, 8850, 8852, 8862, 8866, 8870.
        b.  Marines holding a PMOS of 4402 are not eligible to apply
            to NPS curricula.
        c.  8844 is limited to 3404 PMOS. Exceptions made by request
            to MMOA-3 for other MOSs.
        d.  1706s eligible to screen will only be considered for the
            8866 curriculum.
        e.  8870 is limited to 0370 PMOS.
        f.  NPS Curricula information can be found at https://nps.
            edu/web/usmc/students/prospective.
4.c.2.  Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT)
        a.  AFIT Curricula: 8820, 8831.
        b.  8820 is restricted to 75XX PMOS.
        c.  AFIT Curricula information on the Aeronautical
            Engineering Program (8820) can be found at https://www.
            afit.edu/EN/programs.cfm?a=view&D=1.
        d.  AFIT Curricula information on the Engineering Management
            Program (8831) can be found at https://www.
            afit.edu/EN/programs.cfm?a=view&D=44.
4.c.3.  Civilian Institutions
        a. Curricula: 8802, 8878, 4505.
        b. Education (8802) applicants shall compose a letter to the
           board, submitted through the questionnaire, stating
           previous education and training experience, the desired
           focus of education study and three prospective
           universities.
        c. 8802 selected officers will earn a Master's degree
           from a civilian university in 24 months, followed by a
           utilization tour within Marine Corps Training and
           Education Command.
        d. History (8878) applicants shall compose a letter to the
           board, submitted through the questionnaire, with the
           preferred area of historical study and three prospective
           universities.
        e. 8878 selected officers will earn a master's degree from a
           civilian university in 24 months, followed by a
           utilization tour as a History Instructor at the US Naval
           Academy.
        f. San Diego State University (SDSU) (4505) is limited to
           4502s.  Selected 4502s will earn a master's degree in
           Mass Communication from SDSU.  Interested officers are
           required to have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.9.
           Applications to SDSU are submitted after the board
           selection.
        g. Tuition.  Marine Corps University will provide funding
           for 8802 and 8878 officers up to $19,500 per year for
           public or private institutions for up to two years. Any
           tuition cost exceeding these amounts will be paid by the
           officer.  There is no cap amount at SDSU.
4.c.4.  The Judge Advocate Generals Legal Center and School
        (TJAGLCS)
        a. TJAGLCS program is restricted to 4402 PMOS Captains and
           Majors.  It is a graduate-level program located at the
           University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia where
           a Master of Laws (LLM) in multiple disciplines can be
           obtained.
4.c.5.  Advanced Civilian Schools Program (ACSP)
        a. ACSP provides officers the ability to devote a year as a
           resident student to complete a master's degree of their
           choice while maintaining career progression. Participants
           are highly encouraged to pursue areas of study and
           research topics of interest to the Marine Corps.
        b. Limited to no longer than 12 months and qualifies as
           partially funded education per reference (a).
        c. Selected officers will receive their regular pay and
           allowances, but application fees, tuition, and
           matriculation fees, cost of textbooks and materials, and
           all similar fees and expenses will be borne by the
           officer.
        d. No utilization tour is required.  The officer's follow-on
           assignment will be based on the needs of the Marine Corps
           and the participant's career progression.
        e. Interested officers are required to have current GRE
           scores unless proof is provided the GRE is waived.
4.c.6.  Regional Affairs Officer Program (RAO)
        a.  Officers interested in the RAO program must be a major
            or major select having between 9 and 15 years of
            commissioned service by June 2027.
        b.  Interested officers must submit a statement highlighting
            interest in the RAO program, to include planning
            experience with partner nations, regional exposure,
            desire to serve as a RAO, and clarification on regional
            preferences.
        c.  Additional information about the RAO Program can be
            found in reference (c).
        d.  Upload a letter via the questionnaire as a file titled
            "edipi_RAO_lastname".
4.c.7.  Olmsted Scholar Program (OSP)
        a.  OSP is a strategic leader development program for top
            performing officers of the U.S. Armed Forces.  The
            program provides outstanding Marine Corps officers an
            unsurpassed opportunity to achieve fluency in a foreign
            language, pursue graduate study in that language at an
            overseas university, and acquire an in-depth
            understanding of foreign cultures, thereby further
            equipping them to serve in positions of great
            responsibility as senior leaders in the Marine Corps.
        b.  Limited to officers with no more than 13 years and
            6 months of total Federal service as of 1 April 2027.
            Time at service academies does not count.
        c.  Limited to the following PMOSs, as determined by the
            Foundation: 02xx, 03xx, 0402, 0602, 0802, 1302, 17xx,
            1803, 3002, 4502, 5803, 60xx, 66xx, 7204, 7209, 7315,
            7318 and 75xx.
        d.  Applicants must have completed a Defense Language
            Aptitude Battery (DLAB) test with a minimum score of 95
            in order to be eligible to apply.
        e.  The selection process involves two steps:  (Phase 1) The
            board nominates up to 8 applicants for further
            consideration; (Phase 2) the Olmsted Foundation
            evaluates those nominated, conducts interviews in
            January 2027 and makes selections in March 2027.
        f.  Nominees not selected by the Olmsted Foundation in the
            second phase will be slated to other PME or graduate
            education opportunities.
        g.  For more information on the Olmsted Foundation:
            https://olmstedfoundation.org.
        h.  Interested officers should submit an initial application
            to the board questionnaire using the naming protocol:
            "edipi_OSP_lastname".
        i.  Phase 2 requirements are timely and applicants are
            recommended to start the process immediately.  Further
            application instructions can be found at https://www.
            manpower.marines.mil/Divisions/Manpower-Management/
            Officer-Assignments/Plans-and-Programs-MMOA-3/#tab/
            graduate-education-boards
4.c.8.  Foreign PME (countries subject to change).
        a.  Foreign PME countries available: Brazil, Canada, Chile,
            France, Japan, South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom,
            Fort Benning Western Hemisphere Institute for
            Security Cooperation (WHINSEC).
        b.  Marines may be assigned to any country listed regardless
            of their preference provided in the questionnaire.
        c.  Marines must obtain and submit a DLAB score (regardless
            of which country they are interested in).  Interested
            officers must submit a letter to the board with source
            documentation of DLAB test score results and an
            explanation of the desire to attend FPME along with any
            other qualifications.
        d.  FPME completion grants service PME; however, JPME Phase
            I is no longer credited for completion of FPME.  Both
            service PME and JPME Phase I are required to be
            considered PME complete for grade.  Marines considering
            FPME who have not completed ILS already should plan
            accordingly in order to be PME complete in time for
            their respective promotion board.
4.d.  Program and further curricula information can be found at
https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Divisions/Manpower-Management/
Officer-Assignments/Plans-and-Programs-MMOA-3/#tab/graduate-
education-boards
5.  General instructions for the eligible population
5.a.  The list of eligible officers being considered for CPIB is
posted on the USMC Manpower, MMOA-3 Plans and Programs webpage:
https://manpower.usmc.mil/Manpower-Management/Officer-Assignments/
Plans-and-Programs-MMOA-3/#tab/graduate-education-boards/.
Questions regarding eligibility should be directed to the
appropriate PMOS monitor.
5.b.  All eligible officers are required to complete the FY27
CEB Questionnaire no later than 2359 EST on 20 July 2026.
The questionnaire is located at: https://www2.manpower.usmc.mil/
application_cac/.
5.c.  Note 1, Note 2 and No Note
5.c.1.  Note 1.  Within the eligibility list, officers with
sufficient career timing to participate in programs ranging up to
five years (i.e., NPS, AFIT) have a Note 1 next to their name.
Officers with a Note 1 beside their name are required to apply and
submit undergraduate transcripts to NPS no later than 2359 EST on
20 July 2026.  NPS Admissions website is located at:  https://nps.
edu/web/admissions/apply/.
      a.  After submitting the NPS application, applicants must
order official transcripts from all attended undergraduate and
graduate institutions for delivery from the institution(s) directly
to NPS Admissions.  Transcripts must come directly from the
institution or their designated transcript exchange service.  NPS
does not accept transcripts submitted by the applicant.
      b.  Officers that have previously applied to NPS must submit
an additional application but are not required to resubmit
transcripts.  Officers can submit up to three applications for those
curricula listed in paragraph 4.b.1.
      c.  NPS will notify MMOA-3 of an officer's acceptance to NPS
with the curricula for which the individual may or may not qualify.
NPS does not provide an acceptance letter or status of acceptance to
individual officers.
      d.  Officers with a Note 1 beside their name who are
interested in AFIT should apply and submit undergraduate transcripts
to AFIT no later than 2359 EST on 20 July 2026.
      e.  The AFIT admissions website is located at: https://www.
afit.edu/ADMISSIONS/AFITApplicationProcess/.
      f.  All officers must verify that a copy of their
undergraduate transcripts is in their OMPF.  Officers must upload
all higher learning institutional transcripts to their OMPF.
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.
5.c.2.  Note 2.  Officers with sufficient career timing to
participate in programs ranging up to three years have a Note 2
beside their name.
5.c.3.  No Note.  Officers without a note beside their name only
possess the career timing to attend a one-year program.  Officers
without a note beside their name who believe they have the career
timing to be considered for a Note 1 or 2 program should contact
their PMOS monitor.
5.c.4.  Officers outside the FY27 consideration window who are
interested in CPIB programs, must submit an Administrative Action
(AA) Form endorsed by the first O-6 in the Marine's chain of command
NLT 20 July 2026 via the online questionnaire.
5.c.5.  Marines wanting to change their Note 1, 2 or No Note status
must reach out to their PMOS monitor.
5.c.6.  All members requesting an ETP should also fill out the
questionnaire NLT 20 July 2026 regardless of ETP status.
5.d.  Removal by Requests (RBR)
5.d.1.  Officers who are listed on the eligibility roster, but do
not want to be considered must submit an AA Form, positively or
negatively endorsed, by the first O-6 in the Marine's chain of
command NLT 20 July 2026 via the online questionnaire.
5.d.2.  All requests must be labeled "edipi_RBR_lastname" via the
online questionnaire and members requesting an RBR should also fill
out the questionnaire NLT 20 July 2026 regardless of pending RBR.
6.  Coordinating Instructions
6.a.  Graduate education programs are not a service equivalent for
PME.  Marines participating in a graduate education program are
required to complete a PME program commensurate with their grade on
their own initiative to be considered PME complete for their grade.
Marines shall complete grade specific PME during their respective
Graduate education programs.
6.b.  FPME completion grants service PME; however, JPME Phase I is
no longer credited for completion of FPME.  Both service PME and
JPME Phase 1 are required to be considered PME complete for grade.
Marines considering FPME who have not completed ILS already should
plan accordingly in order to be PME complete in time for their
respective promotion board.
6.c.  Obligation
6.c.1.  All service PME schools are 12 months or less in length and
incur a 24-month service obligation.
6.c.2.  Graduate programs vary from one to two years followed by a
three-year utilization tour, unless otherwise noted, and an
additional year of service obligation for a total of four years.
Utilization tours will be assigned within this four year service
obligation.
6.c.3.  For additional information on program lengths and
descriptions, see reference (a) or contact the program officer in
paragraph 7 below.
6.d.  Questionnaire
6.d.1.  Eligible officers must submit program preferences,
applications (expect for NPS and AFIT), letters to the board, RBRs
etc.  via the questionnaire.  The questionnaire is the only method
for MMOA-3 to receive board correspondence.  Once responses are
submitted via the questionnaire, MMOA-3 will receive an automatic
notification of completion.
6.d.2.  Do not submit more than 7 documents.
6.d.3.  Each document must not exceed 800 KB and must be in .pdf
format.
6.d.4.  File naming convention is very important for board
correspondence collection/consolidation.  Name the file
appropriately according to the program you are applying for i.e.
"edipi_OSP_lastname" or "edipi_FAO_lastname".  Condense all
documents for a specific program application into one scanned PDF.
If due to size constraints the application must be split up, label
as such  "edipi_RAO_lastname (1), edipi_RAO_lastname (2)".
If submitting a supplemental board correspondence label as such:
"edipi_LOR_lastname" and remove by request "edipi_RBR_lastname".
6.d.5.  Direct questionnaire functionality and accessibility
questions and issues to MMOA-3 at SMB_MMOA_GRAD_EDU@USMC.MIL.
6.e.  Board Correspondence.  All correspondence to the board must
originate from the officer being considered.  All submissions
(letters of recommendation, clarifying statements of service, etc.)
must be uploaded into the questionnaire no later than 2359 EST on
20 July 2026.
6.f.  Non-Compliance.  Officers are considered non-compliant with
the above instructions:
6.f.1.  They have a Note 1 next to their name on the eligibility
roster and fail to apply and submit transcripts to NPS.
6.f.2.  They have a Note 1 or 2 next to their name and do not
complete the questionnaire and upload a legible copy of their
transcripts to OMPF.
6.f.3.  Officers who fail to complete the questionnaire, fail to
apply to NPS, or fail to submit transcripts will still be considered
and may be slated to a program at the board's discretion.
6.f.4.  A list of non-compliant officers will be provided to
commands on or about 24 July 2026 for those officers who have not
yet applied to NPS.
6.g.  Subsequent MARADMINs will announce FY27 CPIB results and FY27
Graduate Education Program Results.  The results MARADMINS will
serve as notification of orders for all primary selectees.
7.  Program Points of Contact
7.a.  Intermediate Level Schools
         Contact your PMOS monitor.
7.b.  Foreign PME, CMC Fellowships, Olmsted Scholar Program
         Maj Taylor Wulff-Morrison
         DSN:  378-4837, Comm:  (703) 784-1209
         Email:  Fellows_FPME_Olmsted@USMCU.edu
7.c.  Naval Postgraduate School
         Admissions Office
         Comm:  (831) 521-2190
         Email:  admissions@nps.edu
7.d.  Master's of Education
         LtCol Alex P. McGraw (TECOM)
         Comm:  (703) 432-2068
         Email:  alex.mcgraw@usmc.mil
7.e.  Master's of History
         Maj Bradley S. Worthan (USNA)
         Comm:  (410) 293-6293
         Email:  worthan@usna.edu
7.f.  Engineering Management - 8831 (AFIT)
         Maj Jason McDonald
         Comm:  (571) 256-2789
         Email:   jason.mcdonald1@usmc.mil
7.g.  Law Programs
         Maj Matthew W. Schoneweis
         Comm:  (703) 693-9059
         Email:  matthew.schoneweis@usmc.mil
7.h.  San Diego State University (SDSU)
         Maj Sarah Rhodes
         Comm:  (703) 693-4906
         Email:  sarah.rhodes@usmc.mil
7.i.  International Affairs Program (IAP)
         LtCol Brett McCormick
         DSN:  222-0322, Comm:  (703) 614-0322
         Email:  brett.mccormick@usmc.mil
7.j.   Graduate Education Manager
         Maj Delaney Dumanovsky
         Comm: 703-784-9285
         Email: SMB_MMOA_GRAD_EDU@USMC.MIL
8.  This MARADMIN is not applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve.
9.  Release authorized by MajGen Fridrik Fridriksson, Director,
Manpower Management Division.