Fiscal Year 2027 Class Dates for Cornerstone: The Commandant's Combined Commandership Course

1.  Situation.  President, Marine Corps University
(MCU), as executive agent for the Commandant of the Marine Corps, 
conducts commanders and Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL) 
programs along with a workshop for command team spouses.  A CSEL is 
defined as a Sergeant Major who works for an O5, or O6 board-
selected and slated commander.  Attendance is mandatory for 
commanders and CSELs either prior to or shortly after arriving at 
their new command. Attendance for spouses, while not required, is 
encouraged. 
2.  Mission.  MCU conducts Cornerstone at Marine Corps University 
campus onboard Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico, VA to prepare 
board-selected commanders, CSELs, and their respective spouses for 
the challenges of command.
3.  Execution
3.A.  Commander's Intent
3.A.1.  Purpose.  To inform board-selected commanding officers, 
command-equivalents, CSELs, and their spouses, of the programs and 
practices that contribute to a successful command tour, as well as 
receive information briefs from senior Marine Corps leaders about 
the state of the Marine Corps and status of major policy 
initiatives.
3.A.2.  Method.  The program will address the demands and 
challenges of command, furnish opportunities to focus on 
communities of interest, provide time for mentoring and cross talk, 
and encourage the cohort to take advantage of networking events to 
establish supportive relationships that will be valuable during 
command.  The program will emphasize the art and science of command 
with leadership, critical thinking, and unit readiness providing 
the basic foundations for instruction.  The curriculum maximizes 
the use of small-group guided discussions with current and former 
commanders, CSELs, and their spouses to permit a frank exchange of 
observations, ideas, and methods.
3.A.3.  End State.  Command team members are aware of the tools, 
resources, best practices, and connections to further prepare them 
to meet the unique challenges of command. 
3.B. Concept of Operations.  Cornerstone is an eight training day 
program, involving combined education opportunities for 
board-selected commanding officers, command equivalents, and CSELs.  
The Spouses Workshop runs concurrently during the second week.  
Spouses receive combined education with their Marines and 
spouse-specific curriculum. 
3.B.1.  Course Dates:
3.B.1.A.  Cornerstone
3.B.1.A.1. O5-level Commanders and Sergeants Major:
Course          Report Date     Convene Date    Grad Date
2027001          19 Jan 27        20 Jan 27       29 Jan 27
2027002          20 Apr  27       21 Apr 27       30 Apr 27
3.B.1.A.2. O6-level Commanders and Sergeants Major:
Course          Report Date     Convene Date    Grad Date
2027001          24 Jan 27        25 Jan 27       29 Jan 27
2027002          25 Apr 27        26 Apr 27       30 Apr 27
3.B.1.B.   Spouses Workshop
Course          Report Date     Convene Date    Grad Date
2027001          24 Jan 27        25 Jan 27       29 Jan 27
2027002          25 Apr 27        26 Apr 27       30 Apr 27
3.C.  Coordinating Instructions
3.C.1.  Course Attendance.  The following servicemembers 
are directed to attend Cornerstone: O5 and O6 board-selected 
commanders, including acquisition commanders; CSELs, and 
CSEL (selects) selected on the FY 2027 promotion board; as well as 
U.S. Navy equivalents identified by Manpower Management Officer 
Assignments Branch.  Spouses of eligible attendees are authorized
to attend the Spouses Workshop at government expense.  Attendance 
is required for commanders either prior to or shortly after 
arriving at their new command; attending before assuming command is 
strongly encouraged. For O5 level Sergeants Major, attendance is 
required within one year of their SgtMaj selection. For O6 level 
CSELs, attendance is required within one year of being assigned to 
an O6 level billet.  
3.C.1.A. Recruiting Station Commanding Officers may attend 
Cornerstone prior to assuming command if approved by their parent 
command. Attendance following assumption of command is not 
authorized.
3.C.2.  Registration instructions.  Attendees must register NLT 45 
days prior to their desired course report date.  Attendees will 
complete the registration form at 
https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/rMzjqmHLaU.  
Once complete, The Lejeune Leadership Institute (LLI) will register 
all attendees into the Marine Corps Training Information Management 
System (MCTIMS). LLI will send notifications to attendees once they 
have been registered along with follow-on instructions.
3.C.3.  Reporting Instructions
3.C.3.A. Cornerstone attendees will check in at the Gray Research 
Center (GRC), MCU between 0700-0800 on the course convening date 
and execute return travel NET 1630 on the course graduation date.
3.C.3.B. Spouses Workshop attendees will check in at the GRC 
between 0730-0800 on the course convening date.  Return travel 
NET 1630 on the course graduation date. Childcare is not provided.
4.  Administration and Logistics
4.A.  Orders.  All attendees shall travel on non-reporting orders. 
Orders are the responsibility of the attendee's parent command. 
Defense Travel System (DTS) orders will suffice.  
4.B.  Minimum clearance is SECRET.  Send clearance info via Defense 
Information System for Security (DISS) through your local security 
manager to Security Management Office (SMO) code: MS3302. POC: Mr. 
Chip Spicer at email:carlton.spicer@usmcu.edu and phone: 
703-784-0252. 
4.C.  Students are required to bring a Personal Electronic Device 
(PED), such as a laptop, tablet, etc.
4.D. Billeting and messing. Government lodging aboard Marine Corps 
Base Quantico is recommended when available. Options include 
Liversedge Hall and Inns of the Corps Quantico. Both facilities can 
be reached at (703) 630-4444. Attendees should check government 
lodging availability before securing commercial lodging. Lodging 
arrangements will be made in accordance with parent command 
policies and funding guidance. Government billeting is available on 
a limited basis. Messing is available aboard Marine Corps Base 
Quantico; however, directed messing is not required due to the 
course schedule and curriculum.
4.E.  Active Component Funding and Travel
4.E.1.  TAD costs for active component attendees 
will be funded by their respective parent commands. Travel, per 
diem, lodging, meals, and incidental expenses are to be included in 
unit-funded DTS orders. 
4.E.2.  Spouses of Active Component.  Travel, meals, and incidental 
expenses for spouses of active-duty attendees are authorized and 
will be funded by MCU.  Lodging for spouses will not be funded, as 
lodging for the active-duty service member will be unit-funded. 
Local travel will not be funded.  Active-duty Marines must create
an invitational travel authorization for their spouse under the 
service member's DTS profile to properly process travel.  
Directions on how to properly create and submit spouse 
authorizations and vouchers will be provided via separate 
correspondence.  All active component spouses attending 
Cornerstone, except active-duty military spouses, must sign and 
return a DD Form 2793 (Volunteer Agreement for Appropriated Fund 
Activities form) NLT 45 days prior to travel to be considered 
registered. The DD Form 2793 will be provided via separate email 
correspondence after attendees register.
4.F.  Reserve Component Funding and Travel
4.F.1.  Marine Corps Forces Reserve (MARFORRES) G-3/5 Formal 
Schools will fund all Reserve Marines designated to attend the 
Cornerstone Course.  Funding requests are submitted as follows: 
4.F.1.A. For Selected Marine Corps Reserve and Individual 
Mobilization Augmentee Marine attendees, provide a copy of the MCU 
notification of registration letter or email to the parent 
organizations administration section for action.  Unit 
administrators will use the Marine Reserve Order Writing System to 
generate orders as appropriate and will attach registration letter.  
Funding and order information is as follows: 
Order type: Schools
Sub-type: (K3) PME
School/Training Selected: Other. FY 2027 Cornerstone: Commandant's 
Combined Commandership Course.
Command: Force
PID code: CDT.
The G3/MR BEA/BESA sub allocation is compulsory for all CDT MROWS 
orders.
4.F.1.B. For Active Reserve Marine attendees, provide a copy of the 
MCU notification of registration letter or email to the parent 
organization's administration section for action.  Unit 
administrators will ensure the cross organizational worksheet for 
DTS LOA is submitted to the MARFORRES G-3 Training organizational 
mailbox at MFR_G-3/5_FORMAL_SCHOOLS@usmc.mil.
4.F.1.C. Spouses of Selected Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR) and Active 
Reserve Marine attendees.
4.F.1.C.1.  MARFORRES G-3/5 Formal Schools will fund all spouses of 
SMCR Marine attendees.
4.F.1.C.2.  Unit administrators will generate the invitational 
travel authorization in DTS/DTSR utilizing MARFORRES G-3 Training 
Line of Accounting per approved cross organizational worksheet.
4.F.2.  Any travel or DTS related questions for Reserve or Active 
Reserve component attendees or spouses of a reserve or Active 
Reserve component attendee, should be directed to 
MFR_G-3/5_FORMAL_SCHOOLS@usmc.mil or call (504) 697-7323. 
5.  Command and Signal.  Questions or concerns about this Marine 
Administrative Message can be directed to the MCU point of contact.  
Specific questions regarding E-9 attendance should be directed to 
the 8999 Programs Lead, Marine Corps Senior Enlisted Academy, 
Sergeant Major Jacqueline Townsel, at Jacqueline.Townsel@usmcu.edu 
or (703) 432-3224.
6.  Release authorized by Brigadier General M. W. Tracy, 
Commanding General, Education Command and President, Marine Corps 
University.