Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) and Fiscal Year 2028 (FY28) United States Military Group (USMILGP) / Security Cooperation Organization (SCO) Selection Board Results
This MARADMIN announces the results of the FY27 and FY28 United States Military Group (USMILGP) / Security Cooperation Organization (SCO) selection board. Three officers were selected as primary selectees for lieutenant colonel SCO billets in Colombia, Thailand, and Norway, and two officers were selected as alternates. Primary selectees must accept or decline their selection within 10 days of the message release date.
Issued: September 24, 2026
1. The FY27 and FY28 USMILGP SCO selection board convened on 31 August 2026 to select officers to serve in joint SCO billets with respective geographic Combatant Commands (CCMD). The board selected officers based on their specific political-military and security cooperation experience, language, regional expertise, and cultural (LREC) skills, and performance as Marine Air Ground Task Force officers. 2. Board results 2.a. Primary selectees 2.a.1. The board selected the following officers as primaries for lieutenant colonel SCO billets (read in three columns): Name MOS FY and Billet BenetezRuiz, Rafael 1707 FY28 Colombia Castro, Victor 0602 FY27 Thailand Giannetto, Melissa 1707 FY28 Norway 2.b. Alternate selectees 2.b.1. The board selected the following officers as alternates for lieutenant colonel SCO billets (read in two columns): Name MOS Lippert, Keith 7563 Pinzon, Juan 3404 3. Coordinating instructions 3.a. Primary selectees 3.a.1. Acceptance of selection. Primary selectees are to accept or decline via email to their Primary Military Occupational Specialist (PMOS) monitor and will copy the email to the IAP office at IAPMarine@usmc.mil no later than (NLT) 10 days after the release of this message. 3.a.2. Reporting dates and orders. Manpower Management Officer Assignments (MMOA) and the IAP office will contact primary selectees with exact information on tour lengths, required SCO and language training, as applicable, and reporting timelines after receiving acceptance of selection. 3.b. Alternate selectees. No action is required on the part of Marines on the alternate list in paragraph 2.b. In the event that a billet becomes vacant, Manpower Management will fleet-up an officer from the alternate list. PMOS monitors will directly contact any alternate selected as a fleet-up. 3.c. Declinations and deferrals 3.c.1 Declinations. Marines who decline assignment to a SCO billet must submit a declination in writing (AA form) via the first O-6 in their chain of command addressed to HQMC via MMOA-3 NLT 10 days after the release of this message. Marines who decline will be ineligible for future SCO billets, unless otherwise approved by the Director, Manpower Management. 3.c.2. Deferrals. Marines selected for assignment to a SCO billet who are unable to execute orders due to extraordinary circumstances may request a deferral. If approved, the Director, Manpower Management will defer the Marine to a future SCO selection panel. Primary selectees may submit a deferral request in writing (AA form) via the first O-6 in their chain of command addressed to HQMC via MMOA-3. 4. Officers selected to serve as SCOs may be eligible to receive the Foreign Area Officer, and Regional Affairs Officer additional MOS (AMOS) for their respective regions. Upon meeting the criteria for experience track AMOS designation, officers must apply for the appropriate AMOS through the IAP Office. The assignment of this AMOS will make officers eligible for further service utilization of their political-military, security cooperation, and LREC skills gained through their SCO assignments. 5. Completion of a tour of duty in a Joint Duty Assignment List (JDAL) position that meets all statutory requirements will result in joint credit. Those positions not considered an Standard Joint Duty Assignment with an assigned JDAL will require an experience -based joint credit submission via separate correspondence within the corresponding calendar year. A separate message will address the Experience-based Joint Duty Assignment requirements. 6. This message is only applicable to the active component. 7. MMOA Points of Contact are: Col E. J. Smith Branch Head DSN: 278-9300, COMM: (703) 784-9300 Email: erik.smith@usmc.mil Col E. F. Bradley Ground Colonel Monitor DSN: 278-9300, COMM: (703) 784-9300 Email: evan.bradley@usmc.mil Col J. C. Davis Aviation Colonel Monitor DSN: 278-9300, COMM: (703) 784-9300 Email: jeffrey.c.davis1@usmc.mil Lieutenant Colonel B. D. Kelly Aviation Lieutenant Colonel Monitor DSN: 278-9485, COMM: (703) 432-9485 Email: brandon.d.kelly@usmc.mil Lieutenant Colonel B. A. Salter Combat Arms Lieutenant Colonel Monitor DSN: 278-9275, COMM: (703) 784-9275 Email: brandon.salter@usmc.mil Lieutenant Colonel D. C. Walker Combat Service Support Lieutenant Colonel Monitor DSN: 278-9433, COMM: (703) 784-9433 Email: daniel.c.walker.mil@usmc.mil Lieutenant Colonel C. T. Thompson Information Lieutenant Colonel Monitor DSN: 278-9274, COMM: (703) 784-9274 Email: clinton.t.thompson@usmc.mil 8. Release authorized by MajGen Fridrik Fridriksson, Director, Manpower Management Division.