FY21 ACTIVE AND RESERVE MARINE ATTACHE SELECTION BOARD

MARADMINS : 183/19

R 221152Z MAR 19 MARADMIN 183/19 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM// SUBJ/FY21 ACTIVE AND RESERVE MARINE ATTACHE SELECTION BOARD// REF/A/MSGID:DOC/MCO/YMD: 20090709// REF/B/MSGID:DOC/MCO/YMD: 20140918// REF/C/MSGID:DOC/SECNAVINST/YMD: 20131029// REF/D/MSGID:DOC/DIAI/YMD: 20140509/NOTAL// NARR/REF A IS MCO 3821.2, THE DEFENSE ATTACHE SYSTEM (DAS). REF B IS MCO 1300.8, THE MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY. REF C IS SECNAVINST 1300.16 DEFENSE ATTACHE SYSTEM (DAS). REF D IS DEFENSE ATTACHE SERVICE OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT.// POC/T. A. BROWNE/LTCOL/UNIT: HQMC IEO/-/TEL: 703-693-5421/EMAIL: THOMAS.BROWNE@USMC.MIL// POC/P. J. JEFFREY/LTCOL/UNIT: HQMC IER/-/TEL:703-614-7631/TEL:DSN 224-7631/ EMAIL: PETER.JEFFREY@USMC.MIL// POC/C. R. BAER/UNIT: HQMC SSO/-/TEL:703-693-6005 EMAIL: HQMC_SSO@USMC.MIL// GENTEXT/Remarks/1. Purpose. In accordance with the references, this MARADMIN outlines the active duty and reserve component Marine Corps Attache (MARA) program and the procedures for application. Attaches are volunteers competitively selected for this prestigious assignment through a board process to ensure the best and most fully qualified officers are assigned to represent both the Marine Corps and the United States in our embassies worldwide. Marines are screened based on performance as MAGTF officers and slated based on their specific Language, Regional Expertise, and Cultural (LREC) skills. This message solicits applications for the FY21 MARA program. 2. MARAs fill influential, strategic-level positions within the country team of their respective embassies. Depending on the specific billet and country, they serve as the direct representative of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Navy, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Geographic Combatant Commanders, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Marine officers serving as MARAs may also serve as the Senior Defense Official/Defense Attache (SDO/DATT). SDO/DATTs direct, control, operate, and administer the Defense Attache Office to which assigned. Attache duties vary by country, but all advise the Chief of Mission on military matters and security assistance issues. 3. The MARA Selection Board is tentatively scheduled to convene from 19 to 23 August 2019 at Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. In selecting the most qualified officers to fill each billet, the board will carefully consider each applicants career progression. No additional service obligation is incurred following a MARA tour. MARAs may apply for designation as a Foreign Area Officer or a Regional Affairs Officer (FAO or RAO) upon completion of tours to identify and track LREC skills. FAO/RAO POC is Mr. Clayton Fisher: clayton.fisher@usmc.mil or by phone (703) 614-0322. The following prerequisites and requirements apply: 3.a. Applicants must belong to the Marine Corps active component to be eligible for active duty billets. 3.b. Majors with at least two years time in grade may apply for billets coded for the next higher rank. 3.c. Applicants must have completed minimum time on station requirements, typically 24 months, in accordance with reference (b) prior to executing orders. 3.d. Per references (a) and (b), applicants must have completed a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) or Top Secret (TS) security investigation and have Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) eligibility to apply to the Marine Attaché Program. Application to the MARA Program is not sufficient justification for investigation/SCI eligibility determination. SSBI/TS requests will not be submitted as part of the DAS application. Officers selected by the board will be required to either have a current (within the last 5 years) Counterintelligence Scope Polygraph, or obtain one prior to attending the Joint Military Attache School (JMAS). For questions regarding clearances, contact USMC SSO at 703-693-6005 or hqmc_sso@usmc.mil. 3.e. The MARA Program is open to all ground officers. Officers with a PMOS of 75XX or 7315 must be obtain approval from MMOA prior to applying. Additionally, Manpower and Reserve Affairs may restrict certain specialties from board consideration after the release of this MARADMIN based on a number of variables. 3.f. Applicants must notify their primary MOS monitor of their intent to apply to the program prior to submitting an application. Applicants are highly encouraged to discuss career timing with their monitor as well as impacts the MARA Program may have on career progression. Applicants must notify their monitor of any other programs they have applied for in this fiscal year that would impact their selection to the MARA program. 3.g. RAO/FAO experience and language proficiency are highly desirable but are not prerequisites. 3.h. Applicants in the above zone for promotion will only be considered on a case-by-case basis. 3.i. Applicants who have been issued orders will not be considered. 3.j. Applicants who have been selected to other programs (e.g., Commandants Career-Level Education Board, Commandants Professional Intermediate-Level Education Board, Top Level School, test pilot, School of Advanced Warfighting, International Exchange, etc.) will not be considered. Foreign Area Officers requiring a utilization tour must inform their monitor prior to submitting their MARA application to ensure a thorough review of each officers career timing and the possible impacts of a MARA tour. If the officer is subsequently selected, their utilization tour will be considered complete upon successful completion of their MARA tour. 3.k. Families are an important element of the MARA Program. Attaches are encouraged to take their families to most assignments. The attache, spouse, and other family members work as a team, participating in a variety of social and diplomatic functions. Attache families can derive great experiences and benefits through exposure to different cultures such as learning a second language. Applicants with dependents enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) are eligible to apply but may not be able to participate if there are no countries that meet the familys medical needs. 3.l. Applicants with a foreign-born spouse are eligible to apply for the program. The spouse must be a naturalized US Citizen at the time of assignment overseas. Applicants will not be eligible for assignment to the country in which the spouse was born. 4. Attache training is conducted over approximately 13 weeks at the JMAS at the Defense Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC. Officers who successfully complete this training are then available for assignment abroad. Language training is also required or desired for most billets. The length of language training will be based on the language and proficiency level required or desired. Training start dates are dependent upon language training (could be up to 64 weeks), Attache training (13 weeks), and the country to which selected. In some cases, this training may start as early as January 2020. Active duty officers participating in the MARA Program are ADCON to the Marine Corps Intelligence Activity in Quantico, VA while in training and on station. 5. The FY21 board will screen the following Active Component Maj and LtCol billets: (Note: Fill dates are approximate) (read in six columns) Country Fill Date Tour Lang Accompanied Rank Georgia Jul 2021 24 Russian/Geo Yes LtCol Iraq Oct 2021 12 Arabic No LtCol Israel Jun 2021 36 Hebrew Yes Maj Japan Jan 2022 36 Japanese Yes LtCol Jordan Jun 2021 36 Arabic Yes Maj Kenya Oct 2021 24 Swahili Yes Maj Papua New Guinea Jun 2021 24 English No LtCol Philippines Jun 2021 36 Tagalog Yes Maj Tunisia Jun 2021 24 Arabic Yes LtCol Tunisia Note: Accompanied with restrictions. Dependents must be at least 18 years old. 6. Reserve Attaches primary purpose is to augment the DAS utilizing drills and annual training @ periods but may also have opportunities to support while on Active Duty Operational Support (ADOS) orders for periods of up to one year. Reserve Attache Program selectees will be transferred to the HQMC Intelligence Departments IMA Detachment (RUC 88600) prior to the start of the Reserve Attache training course. The reserve JMAS runs annually for two weeks beginning in December and attendance at the reserve MARA course is required prior to filling any assignments abroad. Drill attendance sheets, orders requests, and other administrative requirements associated with this duty will be processed by HQMC Intelligence Department. 6.a. For reserve billets, applicants must belong to the reserve component (SMCR, IMA, and IRR) or the active component with a transfer date to the USMCR before the end of the FY. 6.b. Reserve candidates must have had four satisfactory years of service (50 points minimum each year) during the last five years. 6.c. Reserve component applications must include a favorable endorsement from the applicants command (IMA Detachment or SMCR). IRR officers should obtain this endorsement from the Marine Corps Individual Reserve Support Activity (MCIRSA). 6.d. Reserve candidates are not required to submit a family photo, family members NAVPERS 1300/16, family members NAVMED 1300/1, family members DD 2807-1, or a spouse SF-86. 6.e. For more information or questions regarding the Reserve Attache Program, contact LtCol Peter Jeffrey: Tel: 703-614-7631 or Email: peter.jeffrey@usmc.mil. 7. The FY21 board will screen the following Reserve Component O-4 or O-5 billets: Billets: (read in two columns) Region Trng Date Asia-Pacific As soon as available (Reserve JMAS is held in December) Middle East As soon as available Europe-Eurasia As soon as available Americas As soon as available 8. All applications must be prepared in accordance with the guidance posted to the HQMC Intelligence Department website as outlined below. Applications will be submitted through the chain of command and must include an endorsement from the first General Officer in the applicants chain of command. “By direction” endorsements are not acceptable. Applicants should list available billets in order of preference, although country selections will be based on the needs of the Marine Corps. All application documents and templates are available at: http://www.hqmc.marines.mil/intelligence/Intel-OPS-PERS/Defense-Attache-Program/. 9. Applications must arrive at HQMC Intelligence Department NLT 21 June 2019. Any applications received after 21 June 2019 will not be considered by the selection board. Applications should be emailed to: mara.application@usmc.mil. Applicants will receive a confirmation of receipt from this email address as soon as the application has been received at HQMC Intelligence Department. If applicants do not receive a confirmation email within (3) business days, applicants should send a follow-on email and/or call 703-693-5421. Registered mail for hardcopy applications is not recommended due to Pentagon security screening delays. For questions regarding the application process, contact HQMC Intelligence Department at 703-693-5421. 10. Results of the Attache Selection Board will be published by MARADMIN with orders issued by M(and)RA via separate correspondence. This bulletin is applicable to the Marine Corps Active and Reserve components. 11. CMC (MMOA) Points of contact are: LtCol R. H. Pitchford, Ground LtCol Monitor DSN: 278-9279 Comm: (703) 784-9279 email: richard.pitchford@usmc.mil LtCol C. M. Murray, Aviation LtCol Monitor DSN: 278-9267 Comm: (703) 784-9267 email: christopher.m.murray@usmc.mil LtCol M. D. Nicholson, Head, MMOA-3 DSN: 278-9284, COMM: (703) 784-9284 email: mark.nicholson@usmc.mil Maj R. C. Anness, Deputy Ground LtCol Monitor DSN: 278-9279 Comm: (703) 784-9279 email: ryan.anness@usmc.mil Maj J. J. Onuska, Deputy Aviation LtCol Monitor DSN: 278-9267 Comm (703) 784-9267 email: joshua.onuska@usmc.mil Maj E. V. Holton, Combat Arms Maj, MMOA-1 DSN: 278-9279 Comm: (703) 784-9279 email: edward.holton@usmc.mil Maj C. A. Graham, CSS Ground Maj, MMOA-1 DSN: 278-9279 Comm: (703) 784-9279 email: colin.graham@usmc.mil Maj T. A. Norman, Fixed Wing Aviation Maj, MMOA-2 DSN: 278-9267 Comm (703) 784-9267 email: thane.norman@usmc.mil Maj C. A. Denver, RW Aviation Maj, MMOA-2 DSN: 278-9267 Comm (703) 784-9267 email: christopher.denver@usmc.mil Maj F. Perez, Aviation Ground Maj, MMOA-2 DSN: 278-9267 Comm (703) 784-9267 email: freddie.perez@usmc.mil 12. This message was developed by HQMC Intelligence Department in coordination with Manpower Management Officer Assignments Division, Officer Assignments Branch, Plans and Programs section (MMOA-3) and Plans Policy and Operations, International Affairs Branch (PP&O-PLU). 13. This MARADMIN is applicable to the Marine Corps Total Force. 14. Release authorized by MajGen Craig C. Crenshaw, Director, Manpower Management Division.//