R 161447Z OCT 19
MARADMIN 571/19
MSGID/GENADMIN/CG TECOM QUANTICO VA//
SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2020 FIRST SERGEANTS COURSE (COURSE IDENTIFICATION M02L645)//
POC/DIRECTOR, SENIOR ENLISTED ACADEMY/COLLEGE OF ENLISTED MILITARY EDUCATION/MCU/TEL: (703) 432-4793/EMAIL: ERIC.CAYSON@USMC.MIL AND SEPME.3@USMCU.EDU//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Situation.  Since 1996, the Marine Corps has conducted a formal course of instruction for all newly promoted or selected first sergeants.  The course facilitates the transition from gunnery sergeant to first sergeant.
2.  Mission.  Senior Enlisted Academy will conduct the First Sergeants Course to provide instruction covering the duties and responsibilities of Marines with the rank of first sergeant.
3.  Execution
3.A.  Commanders Intent.  Instruct students on the duties and responsibilities of a first sergeant.  Course end state is achieved when students are equipped with the knowledge to effectively support commanders and fulfill billet responsibilities.
3.B.  Concept of Operations
3.B.1.  The First Sergeants Course will be conducted over a two-week period.  Instruction is presented through a variety of lectures and guided discussions.  The focus of effort is to prepare first sergeants to advise their commanders regarding all matters affecting enlisted personnel and to assist commanders in the performance of their duties.
3.B.2.  The First Sergeants Course will be conducted at Marine Corps Base (MCB), Quantico, VA.
Course          Report          Convene         Graduate
1-20            23 Feb 20       24 Feb 20       6 Mar 20
2-20            12 Jul 20       13 Jul 20       24 Jul 20
3.C.  Coordinating Instructions
3.C.1.  The Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 First Sergeants Courses will be conducted at the Marine Corps University.  Reserve and active duty attendees will report to Quantico, VA.  Coordinating instructions will be sent via separate correspondence approximately three weeks prior to the course convening date.
3.C.2.  Attendance.  All first sergeants selected during FY 2020, those who have received remedial promotion, and those who received a FY 2019 or FY 2018 exemption are required to attend.  Those who did not receive an exemption must request one from their major subordinate command level sergeant major.  First sergeants in receipt of orders to an Inspector-Instructor or reserve first sergeants should register for class 2-20, unless otherwise excused.  Master sergeants serving in the billet of a first sergeant may attend, however, a letter describing their current duties and responsibilities and a command endorsement must be submitted to the Director, Senior Enlisted Academy, prior to being authorized to attend.  All requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.  Direct all correspondence to the Director, Senior Enlisted Academy at eric.cayson@usmc.mil and sepme.3@usmcu.edu.
3.C.3.  Registration.  Attendees are required to register for class 1-20 no later than (NLT) 22 January 2020 and class 2-20 NLT 10 June 2020.  Parent command G-3s/S-3s are required to submit nominees names to the Director, Senior Enlisted Academy, Sergeant Major Eric E. Cayson at eric.cayson@usmc.mil and sepme.3@usmcu.edu.  Once students are registered in Marine Corps Training Information Management System, funding letters will be available for download following approval from Training and Education Command (TECOM) Formal Schools.
4.  Administration and Logistics
4.A.  Active Component
4.A.1.  Orders.  Temporary Additional Duty orders will be non-reporting.
4.A.2.  Travel/per diem is provided by TECOM World-Wide Travel.  Parent command G-3s/S-3s are required to request funding.
4.B.  Reserve Component
4.B.1.  Orders.  Marine Reserve Order Writing System Professional Military Education/school orders will be routed through Marine Forces Reserve G-3 in order to receive funding and will be non-reporting.
4.B.2.  Travel/per diem will be requested through Defense Travel System (DTS)-Reserve.
4.C.  Transportation.  Attendees should not schedule any flight departures prior to 1600 on their scheduled graduation date.  Parent commands are responsible for the cost of rental cars.
4.D.  Lodging.  Accepted attendees who require lodging are required to lodge at Liversedge Hall, commercial:  (703) 784-3149 or The Crossroads Inn commercial:  (703) 630-4444.  If billeting is not available, Marines must receive a non-availability statement from Liversedge Hall before arranging off-base lodging.  MCB Quantico is part of the DTS lodging pilot program.  Attendees are required to reserve off-base lodging through DTS after receiving a non-availability statement.  More information about the DTS pilot program may be found at:  https:(slash)(slash)www.quantico.marines.mil/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=2MS_fRRYyqI%3D&tabid=18638&portalid=147&mid=46202.
4.E.  Uniform
4.E.1.  The prescribed uniform is the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform.
4.E.2.  Students should bring a sufficient number of uniforms for the duration of the course.
4.E.3.  All weather coat is optional.
4.E.4.  Appropriate civilian attire and coat/tie is required.
4.F.  Social Events.  All attendees will attend a professional dinner.  The prescribed uniform for the dinner is civilian attire (male:  suit and tie, female:  dress or equivalent business attire).
5.  Command and Signal.  Inquiries regarding the content of this Marine Administrative Message can be directed to Sergeant Major Eric E. Cayson, Director, Senior Enlisted Academy.
6.  Release authorized by Major General William F. Mullen III, Commanding General, Training and Education Command.//