Announcement of Fiscal Year 2026 Career Designation Panel 1 for Active Component Marine Corps Officers

1.  The Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Career Designation
Panel 1 (CDP1) will convene on or about 4 February 2026.  During
this panel, Active Component (AC) officers will be screened for
Career Designation (CD).  CD is a vital force-shaping program that
enables the Marine Corps to select qualified Marine officers to
continue their service, strengthening the Marine Corps' overall
readiness and operational effectiveness.
2.  Eligibility Requirements
2.a.  This MARADMIN provides a temporary update to reference (a).
To be screened on the FY26 CDP1, officers must meet the eligibility
criteria below. 
2.b.  Must be assigned a non-student Primary Military Occupational
Specialty (PMOS) and designated in their PMOS for 540 days from the
start of CDP1.  This date is no later than 12 August 2024. For
example, an officer that graduated Infantry Officers Course (IOC),
was assigned a PMOS of 0302 on 12 August 2024, and has served
continuously for 540 days following PMOS assignment
(IOC graduation) will meet this eligibility requirement.   
2.c.  Must be an unrestricted officer in the AC and have not
previously declined CD.  First lieutenants who have been twice
passed for promotion to captain are not eligible to screen.  
2.d.  Must have an expiration of active service (EAS) date no
earlier than 1 March 2026.  Any officer with an EAS date earlier
than 1 April 2026 is encouraged to request an extension through
their monitor to allow for results to be published.  AC officers
not selected by the CDP may request an EAS extension up to 30 August
2026 to transition.  AC officers who decline CD will execute their
current EAS.
3.  Coordinating Instructions
3.a.  The CDP will screen all officers who satisfy the eligibility
criteria listed above.  Prior to the convening of the CDP, the
Retention and Release Officer (RRO) will publish a list of all
eligible officers at
https:(slash)(slash)www.manpower.marines.mil/Divisions
/Manpower-Management/Officer-Assignments/Plans-and-Programs-MMOA-3/
#tab/retention-and-release.
b.  Every non-career designated officer should review the
eligibility list prior to the panel convening and contact the RRO
if they believe their name should or should not be on the
eligibility list. 
3.c.  The RRO will report Code 1 "Active Screening on a CDP" to
the Marine Corps Total Force System (MCTFS) Officer Data (OFFD)
screen via Unit Diary Marine Integrated Personnel System.
3.d.  Admin Chiefs, Personnel Chiefs, Personnel Officers, Manpower
Officers, IPACs, and G1's can utilize the OFFD screen via MCTFS to
verify an officer's CD status. 
3.e.  Any eligible officer with a current EAS that does not support
at least one opportunity for CD screening may request an EAS
extension in accordance with enclosure (2) of reference (a).
Requests must be submitted to MMOA-3 at
SMB_MANPOWER_OFFICER_PROGRAMS@USMC.MIL no later than
15 January 2026.  
3.f.  Communication with the panel is not required.  However, if an
officer chooses to communicate with the panel, such communication
shall be sent to MMOA-3 at SMB_MANPOWER_OFFICER_PROGRAMS@USMC.MIL no
later than 15 January 2026.  Any late communication will not be
presented to the panel.  All correspondence must be saved as a
single PDF file and named "EDIPI_LastName_CD".  Failure to do so
will result in material not being forwarded to the CDP.
3.g.  Remove by Request correspondence is not required for CDP.
Officers that are screened and selected will be provided an
opportunity to accept or decline with the release of the results
MARADMIN.
4.  This MARADMIN is not applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve.
5.  Release authorized by BGen Fridrik Fridriksson, Director,
Manpower Management Division.