Solicitation of Marine Corps Priority Research Topics for Manpower Systems Analyst Thesis Research

1. Purpose. This MARADMIN solicits research
topics from Marine Corps commands, organizations, units, and
individual Marines for consideration by 8840 Manpower Systems
Analyst students conducting graduate-level thesis research at
the Naval Postgraduate School.
2. Background. The Marine Corps leverages the Naval Postgraduate
School to develop Manpower Systems Analysts through graduate-level
education and thesis research. Reference (a) establishes a
repeatable process between Manpower Plans and Policy Division (MP)
and the Department of Acquisition, Finance, and Manpower (DAFM) to
identify, refine, and communicate Marine Corps priority research
needs. Under this process, MP develops the Manpower Priority
Research List (MPRL) for approval for release by Director, MP. DAFM
retains responsibility under NPS academic governance for evaluating
and approving individual thesis projects.
3. Objective. The objective of this solicitation is to identify
manpower-related research topics that address current and
emerging Marine Corps requirements. Topics should support
manpower policy, force planning, talent management, retention,
assignments, promotions, training, education, resource allocation,
program evaluation, forecasting, or other manpower-related areas of
interest.
4. Eligibility to Submit. Marine Corps commands, organizations,
units, and individual Marines may submit research topics for
review. Submissions should identify a clearly defined manpower
or personnel-focused research need and explain how the research
could inform a Marine Corps decision, policy, or program
requirement.
5. Action. Submit proposed research topics using the MPRL Submission
Template. Submissions should be complete, concise, and scoped for
completion within a nine-month graduate student thesis timeline.
Submission of a topic does not guarantee student selection for
study, assignment to a faculty advisor, or data availability.
6. Submission Requirements.
6.a. Each submission should include:
6.a.1. Topic title.
6.a.2. Problem statement and Relevance.
6.a.3. Research question or questions.
6.a.4. Data considerations.
6.a.5. Topic Advocate Information.
6.b. Topics should be appropriate for graduate-level analysis
and should have a clear connection to Marine Corps manpower
decision-making.
6.c. Submitters should avoid overly broad or undefined research
areas. Topics should be framed as specific problems, decisions,
or questions that can be researched within the thesis timeline.
6.d. Completed templates will be named using the following
convention: Organization_TopicTitle_MilitaryDateFormat. Example:
IIMEF_RetentionIncentives_20261201. Individual submitters may
use their command, unit, section, or organization in the
organization field.
7. Access to Template and Example Form.
7.a. The MPRL Submission Template and completed fictional example 
will be made available through https://www.manpower.marines.mil/
Divisions/Plans-and-Policies/Manpower-Plans-and-Policy/Plans-
Programs-and-Budget-MPP/. Scroll down to MPP Focus Areas. Find the
Current Plans (MPP-11) card and click to download the MPRL Template
and/or MPRL Example.
7.b. The completed example is fictional and is provided only to
demonstrate the requested format, level of detail, and scope.
7.c. Personnel unable to access the template or example form should
contact the POCs listed in this MARADMIN.
8. Timeline and Submission Method.
8.a. The annual MPRL solicitation opens no later than 1 October.
8.b. Completed research topic submission templates are due to MP
no later than 1 December.
8.c. Commands and staff agencies in receipt of the associated ETMS2
tasker are to submit responses through the ETMS2 response tab.
8.d. Individuals, units, or organizations submitting topics
outside of the ETMS2 staffing process will submit completed
templates through MRA_MPP-11@usmc.onmicrosoft.com.
8.e. MP will review and refine submitted topics in the development
of the MPRL. Following approval for release by Director, MP, the
list will be provided to DAFM for academic review and consideration
during MSA thesis topic development.
9. Coordinating Instructions.
9.a. This solicitation is intended to improve alignment between
Marine Corps manpower research needs and MSA thesis research. It
does not require students to select a topic exclusively from the
MPRL and does not supersede NPS academic governance, faculty advisor
responsibilities, student academic requirements, data-access
requirements, human subjects research review, security requirements,
or disclosure restrictions.
9.b. Topics involving sensitive, controlled, classified, or
personally identifiable information must identify applicable
restrictions at the time of submission.
9.c. Topic advocates should be prepared to support student and
faculty engagement, provide available background material and
subject matter expertise, assist with potential data-access
coordination, and provide feedback on completed research when
requested.
9.d. MP may coordinate with submitters to clarify research
questions, refine scope, assess data availability, or
consolidate similar topics.
9.e. Topics not selected by MSA students may be retained for future
consideration or made available for other graduate-level research
opportunities, when appropriate.
10. Applicability. This MARADMIN is applicable to the Total Force.
11. Direct all questions to the MARADMIN POCs.
12. Release authorized by Senior Executive Service Michael R.
Melillo, Acting Director, Manpower Plans and Policy Division,
Manpower & Reserve Affairs.