R 301332Z MAY 19
MARADMIN 322/19
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//
SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE FY20 MARINE CORPS DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAMS (PHDP)//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/MCO 1300.8/YMD:20140918//
REF/B/MSGID: DOC/DODI 1322.10/YMD:20080429//
REF/C/MSGID: WEB/10 U.S.C 2013/YMD:20110107//
NARR/REF A IS MCO 1300.8, THE MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY. REF B IS DOD INSTRUCTION 1322.10, POLICY ON GRADUATE EDUCATION FOR MILITARY OFFICERS, REF C IS 10 U.S.C SECTION 2013, TRAINING AT NON-GOVERNMENT FACILITIES//
POC/R. J. ARANT/MAJ/USMC/MCU/CMCSP EMAIL: MCU_CMCSP_APPLICATION@USMCU.EDU//
POC/C. C. WAKEMAN/MAJ/USMC/OAD/PHDP-T EMAIL: CLIFFORD.WAKEMAN@USMC.MIL//
POC/S. A. HUMR/MAJ/USMC/MMOA-3 EMAIL: SMBMANPOWEROFFICERPR@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  This MARADMIN establishes the provisions for eligibility and selection to the Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Program (PHDP) and provides guidance for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) implementation.  Nested in the overarching program that provides a fully-funded education are two tracks:  the Commandant of the Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Strategist Program (CMCSP) Pilot and the Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Technical Program (PHDP-T) Pilot.  This MARADMIN is a solicitation for applications.  Applications are due no later than 2 August 2019.
2.  The purpose of the PHDP is to make fiscally disciplined investments in education that develops, under the cognizance of President, Marine Corps University: DC, CD&I: and DC, M&RA, a cohort of strategic thinkers and technical leaders capable of applying substantive knowledge, directing original research, and leveraging relationships with industry and elements of national security combined with their operational MAGTF experiences to achieve the innovative thinking desired by the Marine Corps.  Uniformed doctorates provide the Marine Corps deployable, highly-skilled manpower in support of senior leader decision-making as well as helping generate national, defense, and service strategies in an increasingly complex world.  Senior leadership recognizes the need to develop resident talent within the Corps and manage and retain our highly educated Officers.
3.  Eligibility.
3.a.  CMCSP.
3.a.1.  Unrestricted officers: captains with two (2) years or more time in grade as of 1 January 2020, in-zone for major, major (selects), majors, lieutenant colonel (selects), and lieutenant colonels with less than 20 years commissioned service by 1 August 2020.
3.a.2.  Officers with no less than two-years time on station by the start of PhD coursework (roughly August 2020).
3.a.3.  Hold at least a Secret Clearance and be eligible for a Top Secret or Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI).
3.a.4.  Officers with an accredited Masters degree GPA of 3.5 or higher in a discipline related to one of the specified doctoral fields of study listed in paragraph 5.a.
3.a.5.  Officers with a current Graduate Record Examination (GRE).  To be considered current, GRE must have been taken no earlier than 1 January 2015.  Competitive GRE scores are generally considered minimums of 153 verbal reasoning, 144 quantitative reasoning, and 4.0 analytical writing.
3.b.  PHDP-T.
3.b.1.  Unrestricted active duty majors through lieutenant colonel.  Officers in-zone for major, major (selects), majors, and lieutenant colonel (selects) with less than 20 years commissioned service by 1 July 2020.
3.b.2.  Officers with no less than two-years time on station by the start of PhD coursework (roughly July 2020).
3.b.3.  Hold at least a Secret Clearance and be eligible for a Top Secret or Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI).
3.b.4.  Officers with an accredited Masters degree GPA of 3.5 or higher in a discipline related to one of the specified doctoral fields of study listed in paragraph 5.b.
3.b.5.  Officers with a current Graduate Record Examination (GRE).  To be considered current, GRE must have been taken no earlier than 1 January 2015.  Competitive GRE scores are generally considered minimums of 153 verbal reasoning, 144 quantitative reasoning, and 4.0 analytical writing.
3.b.6.  Current Special Education Program participants are eligible to apply.
3.b.7.  The specified doctoral fields of study for the PHDP-T are listed in paragraph 5.b.
4.  Ineligibility.
4.a.  Officers in the above zone.
4.b.  Officers with an approved separation or retirement date.
4.c.  Restricted officers.
4.d.  Officers currently in a Special Education Program (SEP) or Advance Degree Program (ADP) utilization tour are not eligible to apply until they have completed at least 24-months of their assigned utilization tour.
4.e.  Officers in a required utilization tour incurred through education or training, other than SEP/ADP, with a date of departure after 30 September 2020.
5.  Program Specifics.
5.a.  CMCSP.  The purpose of the strategist program is to select up to two officers to fill Marine Corps requirements for doctorates with a focus on strategic affairs.  This track is designed for two years of coursework followed by a two-year assignment to Marine Corps University (MCU) to complete the dissertation.  Candidate programs in the National Capital Region (NCR) within range of a no-cost move to Marine Corps University, Quantico include:  American University (School of International Service and School of Public Affairs), George Mason University (School of Public Policy and Government) and Georgetown University.  Other schools in the NCR and beyond the NCR will be considered on a case-by-case basis by assessing any fiscal constraints and program timelines.  Schools and disciplines include programs related to the study of strategy, national security, military history, public policy, political science, government, and related programs.  Those interested in Military History programs leading to a PhD would be encouraged to apply to The Ohio State University (OSU) and Texas A&M University (TAMU) as key professors at those graduate schools that have expressed interest in the CMCSP.
5.a.1.  Tuition.  CMCSP tuition and required academic fees are paid by Education Command directly to the students respective educational institution.  Optional student fees are the responsibility of the student.  Officers selected will contact the Commanding General, Education Command (CG, EDCOM) at MCU_Fiscal@usmcu.edu to obtain a third-party billing letter.  The email must contain the schools name and physical address:  the students name:  student identification number:  student EDIPI:  MARADMIN number showing the students selection: the name, phone number, and email address for the schools third party billing office.  CG, EDCOM will provide a third party billing letter with instructions for tuition payments to the student and the schools third party billing office.  It is the students responsibility to ensure the school receives the letter and the tuition is paid.
5.a.2.  Books.  In accordance with reference (c), students will receive a 500 dollar book stipend per semester for up to four semesters while completing coursework.  Students will receive a one-time 1,000 dollar book stipend at the beginning of their dissertation phase.  EDCOM will pay stipends directly to the student and in parallel with tuition payments.  Reimbursement for parking fees and other discretionary fees is not authorized.
5.b.  PHDP-T.  The purpose of the technical program is to select up to two officers to participate in a fully-funded doctoral program with a technical focus.  This track selects officers to assess into a doctoral candidacy at the Naval Postgraduate School for approximately three years, for those with a SEP Masters degree, or approximately five years total for Masters and PhD.  Disciplines considered for officers matriculating in 2020 will include:  Operations Research, Modeling Virtual Environments and Simulation (MOVES), Information Sciences and Computer Science.  Officers will indicate their desired course of study in the application process, but final selection will be determined based on the needs of the Marine Corps.
6.  Application Process.
6.a.  The application templates for the PHDP-T can be found on the PHDP-T webpage on the main USMC Manpower and Reserve Affairs website at:  https:(slash)(slash)www.manpower.usmc.mil/webcenter/portal/OA3CEB/pages_cpibcclebupdates.
6.b.1.  Additional information and updates for the PHDP-T program will be posted at https:(slash)(slash)www.manpower.usmc.mil/webcenter/portal/OA3CEB/pages_page1.
6.b.2.  Additional information and updates for the CMCSP will be posted at https:(slash)(slash)www.usmcu.edu/Academic-Programs/CMC-Fellows-Strategists-Foreign-PME-Olmsted-Scholars/Commandant-of-the-Marine-Corps-Strategist-Program.
6.c.  Send completed applications via e-mail to smbmanpowerofficerpr@usmc.mil, subject titled “Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Program (PHDP) Application”.
6.d.  Applications are due NLT 2 August 2019.
6.e.  Applicants shall not apply to the Naval Postgraduate School or other institutions prior to being notified of their acceptance into the program.
7.  Service Requirements.
7.a.  All applicants must agree in writing to:
7.a.1.  Not tender resignation or request separation or retirement while participating in the program or during period of service obligation.
7.a.2.  An active duty service commitment from the date of completed coursework for six years.  Should participants fail to meet the PhD coursework requirements, they will incur an active duty service obligation equal to three times the number of months of education completed during the first year of coursework or four years if the education received is greater than twelve months.  The service obligation will run concurrently with any other individual service obligation.
7.b.  Upon successful completion of the degree program, participants will serve in at least one utilization tour prior to separation from the active duty Marine Corps, based on the needs of the Marine Corps.
8.  Selection.
8.a.  Officers will be pre-screened by elements of MCU and CD&I to determine whether the applicants are qualified to represent the Marine Corps.
8.b.  Officers recommended with confidence in the pre-screening will be forwarded to the Commandant Education Board for final selection as a sub-board.
8.c.  Officers will be notified via a results MARADMIN directly following the conclusion of the board.
8.d.  Receipt of orders to either of the tracks is contingent upon official acceptance to an approved doctoral program.  Dir, MM is the final approval authority for all assignments to the PHDP.
8.e.  Marines pending screening by a promotion board may be selected contingent upon selection to the next rank.
9.  Professional Military Education Requirement.  This program is not considered service equivalent PME for any grade and does not meet JPME requirements.  Marine lieutenant colonels will be granted Top-Level School credit by MCU upon completion of the CMCSP.  Otherwise, Marines selected to participate in the PHDP are required to complete the appropriate PME for their grade while in the program.
10.  Questions.
10.a.  CMCSP questions may be directed to MCU for program requirements via e-mail to mcu_cmcsp_application@usmcu.edu.
10.b.  PHDP-T questions may be directed to Clifford.wakeman@usmc.mil.
10.c.  Application submission questions may be directed to MMOA-3 for the PHDP via email to smbmanpowerofficerpr@usmc.mil, subject titled “Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Program (PHDP)”.
11.  This MARADMIN is not applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve.
12.  Release authorized by Craig C. Crenshaw, Director, Manpower Management Division.//