FY23 ACTIVE AND RESERVE MARINE ATTACHÉ SELECTION BOARD
Date Signed: 5/7/2021 | MARADMINS Number: 252/21
MARADMINS : 252/21

R 061910Z MAY 21
MARADMIN 252/21
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//
SUBJ/FY23 ACTIVE AND RESERVE MARINE ATTACHÉ SELECTION BOARD//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/MCO/YMD: 20090709//
REF/B/MSGID: DOC/MCO/YMD: 20140918//
REF/C/MSGID: DOC/MCO/YMD: 20150219//
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 CIS MCO 1900.16 W/ CH 2, MARINE CORPS SEPARATIONS MANUAL.//
POC/E. D. ALBIN/MAJ/MMOA-3/703-784-9284/EMAIL: ERIC.ALBIN@USMC.MIL//
POC/C. J. PETERSEN/MAJ/MMEA-25/703-432-9472/EMAIL: CLARK.PETERSEN@USMC.MIL//
POC/R. T. SOTELO/GYSGT/MMEA-25/703-432-9473/EMAIL: RYAN.SOTELO@USMC.MIL//
POC/C. E. TROKEN/MAJ/RAM-2/703-784-0530/EMAIL: CHRISTOPHER.TROKEN@USMC.MIL//
POC/M. R. POPE/CAPT/INTEL DEPT/703-693-5421/EMAIL: MATTHEW.R.POPE@USMC.MIL//
POC/S. N. PTAK/CIV/MCIA/703-432-7510/EMAIL: SPTAK@MCIA.OSIS.GOV//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  In accordance with the references, this MARADMIN outlines the active duty and reserve component Marine Corps Attaché (MARA) program and the procedures for consideration for service with the Defense Attaché Service (DAS) and solicits applications for the FY23 MARA Program.  Marines are screened based on performance as MAGTF officers and Marines and slated based on their specific language, regional expertise, and cultural skills.
2.  MARA’s 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.  Marines serving as MARAs may also serve as the senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché (SDO/DATT) at particular embassies.  SDO/DATTs direct, control, operate, and administer the Defense Attaché Office to which assigned.  Attaché duties vary by country, but all personnel will advise the Chief of Mission on military matters and security assistance issues.
3.  Eligibility criteria.
3.a.  Grade.  Officers must meet the grade criterion (or be selected for promotion to that grade) of the associated duty for which they are applying.  Officers applying for positions other than their current grade will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
3.a.1.  Marines applying must possess the career timing to serve a full tour of duty (36 months) in the grade of the billet for which they are applying.  Requests for exceptions will not normally receive favorable consideration.
3.a.2.  Enlisted Marines in grade E5 to E8 and PME complete for grade.
3.b.  FY22 mover based upon current prescribed tour length.  If selected, Marines will depart their current duty station in FY22 to attend training prior to reporting to their assigned country in FY23.
3.b.1.  Officers may request via AA form to screen if they are scheduled to complete their prescribed tour length in FY23 or beyond.  Requests must be endorsed by the first colonel in the chain of command and therein acknowledge a potential gap in staffing should the requesting Marine be selected for service with the DAS, and inventory does not support a replacement.
4.  Ineligibility Criteria.
4.a.  Marines with an established separation or retirement date.
4.b.  Restricted officers.
4.c.  Marines with pending legal action.
4.d.  Officers and Marines in receipt of PCS/PCA orders, IAW refs (b) and (c).
4.e.  Officers and Marines selected for or currently attending programs who have a designated utilization assignment are ineligible.  Examples include, but are not limited to, Commandant’s Education Board, Test Pilot, School of Advanced Warfighting, and Funded Law.
4.f.  Naval aviators completing two or more consecutive years in DIFDEN status during FY22 will not normally be screened.  These officers may request consideration by contacting their monitor.
4.g.  Captains and Majors in the above-zone for promotion not selected for continuation are statutorily not eligible to apply.  Lieutenant Colonels in the AZ may apply on a case-by-case basis.
4.h.  Marines affiliated with the Active Reserve Program.
5.  The following requirements apply.
5.a.  All interested officers must include email correspondence from their PMOS Monitor confirming their eligibility for this program.  Any officer application without PMOS Monitor confirmation will not be boarded.  Inventory levels and other manpower considerations may preclude eligibility, IAW ref (b).
5.b.  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.  Application to the MARA program is not sufficient justification for an investigation eligibility determination.  SSBI/TS requests will not be submitted as part of the MARA application.  Officers and Marines 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 Attaché School (JMAS).  For questions regarding clearances, contact USMC SSO at 703-693-6005 or hqmc_sso@usmc.mil.
5.c.  FAO/RAO experience and language proficiency are highly desirable but are not prerequisites.
5.d.  Families are an important element of the MARA program.  Attaches are encouraged to take their families to most assignments.  Applicants with dependents enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) are eligible to apply, but may not be able to participate pending availability of required care.
5.e.  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.
6.  Training.  Joint Military Attaché School (JMAS) is conducted over approximately 13 weeks at the Defense Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC.  Marines 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 (up to 64 weeks in duration, depending on country assigned), JMAS (13 weeks), and the country to which selected.  In some cases, this training may start as early as January 2022.  Active duty officers serving as MARAs are ADCON to the Marine Corps Intelligence Activity (MCIA) while in training for the program and while assigned to their respective countries.
7.  Vacancies.  The FY23 board will screen for the below positions.  This list is subject to change.  All are 36 month accompanied tours unless noted otherwise.
7.a.  Officers.
Country             Language   Rank      Remarks
Australia           English    LtCol
China               Mandarin   LtCol
Dominican Republic  Spanish    LtCol
Ghana               French     LtCol
Iraq                Arabic     Maj       12mo Unaccompanied
Latvia              Russian    LtCol
Russia              Russian    Maj
Papua New Guinea    Tok Pisin  LtCol     24mo accompanied
Singapore           English    LtCol
Spain               Spanish    Maj
Vietnam             Vietnamese Maj
7.b.  Enlisted.
Country         Language Remarks
Bahrain         Arabic
Egypt           Arabic   24mo accompanied
Ukraine         Russian
El Salvador     Spanish
Nepal           English  24mo accompanied
Ethiopia        English  24mo accompanied
8.  Reserve Attaché's 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 Attaché Program selectees will be transferred to the HQMC Intelligence Department’s IMA Unit (RUC 88600) prior to the start of the Reserve Attaché training course.  Reserve JMAS runs annually for two weeks beginning in December, and attendance at this 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.
8.a.  For reserve billets, eligible applicants must belong to one of the following categories of the ready reserve (SMCR, IMA, or IRR) or the active component with a transfer date to the ready reserve before the end of the FY.
8.b.  Reserve candidates must have had four satisfactory years of service (50 points minimum each year) during the last five years.
8.c.  Reserve component applications must include a favorable endorsement from the applicant's command (IMA Unit or SMCR).  IRR officers should obtain this endorsement from the Marine Corps Individual Reserve Support Activity (MCIRSA).
8.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.
8.e.  The FY23 board will screen five primary and five alternate Reserve Component O-4 or O-5 billets.
9.  Application process.  All applications will follow guidelines posted to the HQMC Intelligence Division website as outlined below.  Applications must include a command endorsement from the O6 commander in the applicant’s chain of command.  Applicants will list billets in order of preference, although country selections will be based on the needs of the service.  Prospective applicants must be prepared to serve at any duty station solicited above, if selected.
9.a.  Application contents.
9.a.1.  Command endorsement.
9.a.2.  Application for Defense Attaché Service as outlined.  This will include all country preferences, language regional expertise and cultural experiences, DLAB scores, a GCT score, summary of military education, and written personal justification.
9.a.3.  At least one letter of recommendation.
9.a.4.  Correspondence from PMOS monitor confirming eligibility (officers only).
9.a.5.  Certification of security clearance from local SSO.
9.a.6.  Applicant and dependents family photograph with applicant in Service Alpha uniform.  Photographs are not used for board purposes.  Photographs of selectees will forwarded on to the DAS and the Department of State.
9.a.7.  NAVMED 1300/1 for applicant and dependents.
9.a.8.  SF86 for applicant and spouse.
9.a.9.  Certificate of suitability for overseas assignment.
9.a.10. Spouse certificate of naturalization (if applicable).
9.b.  Documents and templates are available at:  https:  (slash)(slash)www.hqmc.marines.mil/intelligence/intel-ops-pers/defense-attache-program/
9.b.1.  Every document within the application must be a separate file in Portable Digital Format (.pdf).
9.b.2.  The board will not consider incomplete packages.
9.c.  Applications must arrive NLT 16 July 2021 in order to be considered by the board.
9.c.1.  Applications will be submitted to:  mara.application@usmc.mil.
9.c.2.  Enlisted Marines applying will additionally submit their application via the Special Duty Assignment Miscellaneous Reenlistment Extension Lateral Move (RELM) in the Total Force Retention System (TFRS) via the normal RELM routing chain to CMC (MMEA-25).  Unit Career Planners have access to the TFRS program.
10.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the Marine Corps Total Force.
11.  Release authorized by BGen Michael J. Borgschulte, Director, Manpower Management Division.//