R 191916Z FEB 21
MARADMIN 083/21
MSGID/GENADMIN/CG TECOM QUANTICO VA//
SUBJ/APPLICATION PROCESS FOR RESERVE OFFICERS APPLYING TO THE COLLEGE OF DISTANCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE AND EXPEDITIONARY WARFARE SCHOOL FUNDED WEEKEND SEMINAR PROGRAM WITH START DATES WITHIN ACADEMIC YEAR 2022//
REF/A/DOC/CMC/YMD: 20131126//
REF/B/DOC/CMC/YMD: 20080125//
REF/C/MSG/CMC/YMD: 20081211//
REF/D/MSG/CMC/YMD: 20190716//
REF/E/MSG/CMC/YMD: 20201229//
NARR/REF A IS MCO P1900.16G, MARINE CORPS SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT MANUAL. REF B IS MCO 1553.4B, PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION (PME). REF C IS MARADMIN 703/08, OFFICER PME SUMMARY. REF D IS MARADMIN 396/19, EXPEDITIONARY WARFARE SCHOOL DISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAM CURRICULUM TRANSITION FROM 8660 TO 8670 SERIES. REF E IS MARADMIN 772/20, EXCESS BILLET IDENTIFICATION CODE FOR SELECTED MARINE CORPS RESERVE MARINES ENROLLED IN NON-RESIDENT PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION.//
POC/E. J. LEDREW/MAJ/CDET/TEL: (703) 784-3015/DSN: 278-3015/E-MAIL: ERIN.LEDREW@USMCU.EDU//
POC/MRS. MICHELLE KEOGH/CIV/MARINE FORCES RESERVE (G-3/5)/TEL: (504) 697-7375/DSN: 647-7375/EMAIL: MICHELLE.MULLEN@USMC.MIL//
POC/MR. BRENNETT FORD/CIV/RESERVE AFFAIRS/TEL: (703) 784-0523/DSN: 278-0523/EMAIL: BRENNETT.FORD@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  This Marine Administrative Message (MARADMIN) explains the format, eligibility criteria, application process, and prerequisite requirements for Reserve Officers applying for funded orders for Expeditionary Warfare School (EWS) Weekend Seminar Program (WSP) or Command and Staff College (CSC) WSP.
2.  Format
2.A.  Intermediate Level Distance Education Program (DEP):  CSC WSP.  One weekend every month for two academic years (AY).  First AY runs from October to May covering 8901 through 8904 followed by the second AY that runs the following year from October to May covering 8905 through 8908.
2.B.  Career Level DEP Courses:  EWS WSP.  One weekend every month for two AYs.  The 8670 curriculum is comprised of a short prerequisite online self-paced course and four courses; first AY will cover 8671 and 8672 followed by the second AY that will cover 8673 and 8674.
3.  Eligibility
3.A.  CSC WSP Eligible Officers
(1) Major and major (select)
(2) Captain (complete with PME for grade and three years time in grade)
(3) Chief warrant officer 5 and chief warrant officer 5 (select)
(4) Chief warrant officer 4 and chief warrant officer 4 (select)
(5) Chief warrant officer 3 (complete with PME for grade and have two years time-in-grade at the time of first seminar)
3.B.  EWS WSP Eligible Officers
(1) Captain and captain (select)
(2) First lieutenant
(3) Chief warrant officer 3 and chief warrant officer 3 (select)
(4) Chief warrant officer 2
4.  Officers who meet any of the following criteria are ineligible to apply for funded DEP:
4.A.  Officers who are in the above zone on the next scheduled promotion board.
4.B.  Officers who are above grade for PME (e.g., lieutenant colonels are ineligible for funded CSC WSP).
4.C.  Officers that have completed an equivalent formal level school or DEP.
4.D.  Officers with approved retirements, resignations or pending conditional release.
4.E.  Officers applying for funded DEP whose mandatory removal date is within four years of the date of application.
4.F.  Officers who have more than 18 years of creditable service towards a reserve retirement.
5.  Reserve officers participating in any funded PME program of study (excluding 2 week staff training courses) will incur a Selected Reserve (SELRES) drilling affiliation obligation for 24
continuous months following the completion of the program of study.  This requirement is to ensure that the reserve component effectively realizes a return on the investment made in funding the education of officers through these programs.  To more effectively enforce this requirement, the following applies:
5.A.  Officers will sign a separate written agreement to train (SWAT) at the time of application to all funded DEP PME programs of study to acknowledge and accept the SELRES drilling affiliation requirement.  DEP applications submitted without a signed SWAT will not be accepted.
5.B.  Ninety days following graduation, officers must be joined to either a Selected Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR) drilling unit or an Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) billet identification code (BIC) that matches his or her grade and military occupational specialty.
5.C.  Subsequent failure to affiliate following graduation will be handled by Commandant of the Marine Corps Reserve Affairs in accordance with the SWAT signed at the time of application.
6.  Program Prerequisites
6.A.  CSC WSP:  None.
6.B.  EWS WSP:  Students enrolling in EWS DEP for the first time are required to complete the 8670 prerequisite course prior to the first seminar.  Students will submit enrollment requests for the 8670 prerequisite through MARINENET, Course Code:  EWSDEPPREQ.
7.  Application Process
7.A.  Application window is continuous and rolling.  Deadline for submitting an application for the AY22 WSPs is 31 July 2021, and is on a first come first serve basis as long as funding is available.
7.B.  The application package for the WSP can be found on the College of Distance Education (CDET) website at https:(slash)(slash)www.usmcu.edu/CDET/funded-seat.  Package includes:
7.B.1.  CDET WSP Student Application
7.B.2.  A SWAT must be initialed and signed by the applicant and must be witnessed by a commissioned officer.
7.C.  All application packages will be submitted in a portable document format via email to MCU_CDET_RLO@usmcu.edu.
8.  Administration
8.A.  Excess BIC.  To avoid a break in SELRES affiliation while enrolled in non-resident PME, SMCR Marines may elect to request transfer to an excess BIC within their unit in accordance with reference (e).
8.B.  Ensure e-mail addresses and telephone numbers are current and are provided on the application.  Update any changes to personal contact information promptly to the CDET Reserve Liaison Officer via email to:  MCU_CDET_RLO@usmcu.edu or via phone at (703) 784-3015.
8.C.  Notification of Selection.  All applications will be screened and selected based off a first come first serve policy.  The number of funded seats available in an AY will be determined by Marine Forces Reserve (MFR).  Applications are screened monthly with selectee notifications made each month.  In September of each year, all approved applicants will be provided administrative guidance via e-mail for orders processing and issuance.
8.D.  Seminar Location.  Each selectee will be assigned a seminar location based on current CDET business practices.
9.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the reserve component (SMCR, IMA and Individual Ready Reserve members) and has been coordinated with MFR.
10.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General Lewis A. Craparotta, Commanding General, Training and Education Command.//