Invitational Professional Military Education Processes and Procedures

1. Background. 1.a. This MARADMIN provides
an overview of the processes and procedures governing
quota-constrained Invitational Professional Military
Education (I-PME) for Marine Corps War College (MCWAR),
Command and Staff College (CSC), and Expeditionary Warfare
School (EWS). I-PME is the extension of invitations to
specific allied and partner nations to send personnel to
attend professional military education (PME) programs at
Marine Corps University (MCU). All other Marine Corps
International training and education requests do not
require Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) prioritization.
Examples of eligible courses outside of I-PME include The
Basic School, the Noncommissioned Officer Academies, and
beyond.
1.b. I-PME is a valuable security cooperation tool that
supports national, Department of War (DoW), Department of
the Navy, and Service-level strategic objectives.
International Military Student (IMS) attendance at USMC
schools assists priority allied and partner nations to
further professionalize their security forces with USMC
warfighting ethos and methods.
2. The I-PME Process.
2.a. Preparation. Marine Corps Service Component Commands
(MARFORs) and respective U.S. Embassy Military Groups
(MILGP) should shape the partner nation's request in
forums such as bilateral defense dialogues or key leader
engagements, by providing recommendations for school seats
aligned with partner nation's capability, capacity, and
U.S. higher-level objectives. These forums are critical
when the MILGP does not have assigned Marines to inform
the partner nation of USMC I-PME opportunities. Such
engagement should be informed by the two-year cycle for
programming I-PME seats.
2.b. Initiation. The I-PME process begins when the U.S.
Embassy MILGP receives a request from the partner nation
for a specific school seat. Partner nations must request a
school seat through the MILGP to be officially considered.
2.c. Registration. MILGP personnel must register the
partner nation's request via the country's Combined
Education and Training Program Plan (CETPP) no later than
30 days prior to the respective annual Security
Cooperation Education and Training Working Group (SCETWG).
2.d. Confirmation. Each CCMD conducts an annual SCETWG to
plan and review Security Assistance and Security
Cooperation training programs for each country. MARFORs
should coordinate with MILGPs prior to the respective
SCETWGs to ensure they are informed of USMC priorities
when shaping future training programs.
2.e. Finalization. MARFORs should proactively communicate
and coordinate with the CCMD to ensure their I-PME
prioritization list aligns with Service priorities and the
partner nation's capabilities. Failure to get desired
additions or removals into CCMD prioritization lists
before they are approved and sent to the Joint Staff will
result in an extremely low likelihood such out-of-cycle
requests will be accommodated.
2.f. Distribution. CCMDs send their final I-PME
prioritization list to the Joint Staff J-5 by
mid-November. The Joint Staff compiles the CCMDs
prioritization lists and distributes them to the Services.
2.g. Allocation. The Services allocate invitations and
prioritize alternates for I-PME opportunities, informed by
the CCMDs prioritization lists. Invitations are sent
approximately 12-18 months prior to partner nation
enrollment.
3. The Role of Headquarters, Marine Corps, DC PP&O
3.a. Per REF A, DC PP&O is tasked to prioritize, allocate,
and coordinate USMC I-PME according to national, DoW,
CCMD, and Service priorities.
3.b. DC PP&O Strategy and Plans Division, International
Affairs Branch (PLU) develops the prioritization of school
seats for partner nations based on the CCMD prioritization
lists and Service priorities. PLU establishes a primary
and alternate list for MCWAR, CSC, and EWS invitees which
is formally staffed to the MARFORS at the O-6/GS-15 and
then General Officer/Senior Executive Service levels for
further input. CCMD prioritization list dictates a partner
nation request for a seat in a specific course; the
services cannot modify, add to, or change from that CCMD
approved list. USMC Training and Education Command will
distribute invitations based on the finalized list
approved by DC PP&O.
4. The Role of the MARFORs.
4.a. MARFORs need to ensure partner nations understand
USMC I-PME opportunities and seek to advise their
counterparts on those that should be pursued.
4.b Each MARFOR should work with the CCMD and respective
MILGPs to ensure I-PME requests are properly submitted for
invitation consideration.
5. The Role of DC T&E.
5.a. Coordinate with the MILGP to provide information on
USMC I-PME opportunities.
5.b. Represent the Service through G3 (Security Assistance
Branch) attendance at annual CCMD SCETWGs.
5.c. Distribute invitations per DC PP&O approved
prioritization and PLU guidance to CCMDs and MILGPs.
6. Release authorized by Brigadier General Daniel B.
Taylor, Director, Strategy and Plans Division.