FY24 MARINE CORPS DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAMS SELECTION BOARD ANNOUNCEMENT
Date Signed: 6/2/2023 | MARADMINS Number: 283/23
MARADMINS : 283/23

R 021330Z JUN 23
MARADMIN 283/23
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//
SUBJ/FY24 MARINE CORPS DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAMS (PHDP) SELECTION BOARD ANNOUNCEMENT//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/MPO/YMD: 20210510//
REF/B/MSGID: DOC/DODI/YMD: 20080429//
REF/C/MSGID: WEB/U.S.C/YMD: 20110107//
REF/D/MSGID: DOC/CMC/YMD: 20210519//
NARR/REF A IS MCO 1300.8 W/CH 1, 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. REF D IS MCO 1524.2, MARINE CORPS DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAM POLICY.//
POC/D. E. SAUNDERS/LTCOL/USMC/PP&O/PHDP-S/EMAIL: DAVID.SAUNDERS@USMC.MIL//
POC/J. D. PARKER JR/LTCOL/USMC/CD&I/PHDP-T/EMAIL: JEFFREY.D.PARKER@USMC.MIL//
POC/J. ALVAREZ/MAJ/USMC/MCU/EMAIL: MCU_PHDPS_APPLICATION@USMCU.EDU//
POC/D. P. FOLEY/MAJ/USMC/MMOA-3/EMAIL: SMBMMOAGRADEDU@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  This message establishes the provisions for eligibility and selection to the Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Program (PHDP) and provides guidance for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) PHDP Selection Board implementation.  Nested in the overarching program are two fully-funded education tracks:  the Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Strategist Program (PHDP-S) and the Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Technical Program (PHDP-T).  This MARADMIN solicits for applications.  Applications are due no later than 2359 on 31 July 2023.
1.a.  Major milestone timeline (read in two columns):
NLT Date                        Milestones
Release of this message         PHD Questionnaire opens 
31 July 2023                    PHD Questionnaire closes
6 September 2023                PHD Board convenes
2.  The purpose of the PHDP is to provide the Marine Corps a cohort of strategic and highly technical thinkers to support senior leader decision making, assist in developing defense and service strategies, and to help inform long range concept and capability development areas.  Furthermore, uniformed officers with doctorate-level education provide deployable, highly-skilled support to senior leaders, as well as help generate national, defense, and service strategies in an increasingly complex world.
3.  Eligibility.
3.a.  PHDP-S.
3.a.1.  Unrestricted active duty officers: majors, and lieutenant colonels with less than 19 years commissioned service by 31 July 2024.  This ensures that officers selected will have the career timing to complete a three-year education and the six-year service obligation prior to the 28-year service limitation.
3.a.2.  Officers with no less than two years time-on-station by the start of PhD coursework (estimated July 2024).
3.a.3.  Hold at least a Secret clearance and be eligible for a Top Secret or Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance.
3.a.4.  Earned Master’s degree with a grade point average (GPA) of 
3.5 or higher from an institution accredited by an accreditor recognized by the Department of Education in disciplines related to one of the specified doctoral fields of study listed in paragraph 5.a.
3.a.5.  Officers with a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken no earlier than 1 January 2019.  Competitive GRE scores are generally considered minimums of 153 verbal reasoning, 156 quantitative reasoning, and 4.0 analytical writing.
3.a.6.  Applicants may request a waiver on a case-by-case basis when a civilian institution’s doctoral program prerequisites differ from these minimum standards.
3.a.7.  Officers who completed an Advanced – Intermediate Level School program (SAW, SAMS, MAWS, and SAASS) are highly encouraged toapply for the PHDP-S track. 
3.b.  PHDP-T.
3.b.1.  Unrestricted active duty officers:  career designated captains, majors, and lieutenant colonels with less than 19 years commissioned service by 31 July 2024.  This ensures that officers selected will have the career timing to complete a three-year education and the six-year service obligation prior to the 28 year service limitation.
3.b.2.  Officers with no less than two years time-on-station by the start of PhD coursework (estimated July 2024).
3.b.3.  Hold at least a Secret clearance and be eligible for a Top Secret or Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance.
3.b.4.  Officers with an accredited master’s degree GPA of 3.5 or higher in a discipline related to one of the specified doctoral fields of study as listed in the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) Academic Programs and Degree guide.
3.b.5.  Officers with a GRE taken no earlier than 1 January 2019.  Competitive GRE scores are generally considered minimums of 153 verbal reasoning, 156 quantitative reasoning, and 4.0 analytical writing.
3.b.6.  Current students completing coursework as Graduate Education Program (GEP) 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 GEP utilization tour are not eligible to apply until they have completed at least 24-months of their assigned utilization tour by 30 September 2024.
4.e.  Officers in a required utilization tour incurred through education or training, other than GEP, with a date of departure after 30 September 2024.
5.  Program Specifics.
5.a.  PHDP-S.
5.a.1. 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 candidates to complete coursework within two academic years and a dissertation within one academic year.  Candidate programs in the National Capital Region (NCR) 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, and government.
5.a.2.  Utilization.  These officers will be used in roles at the Service, Joint, OSD, and higher levels of the national security enterprise that are strategy oriented. PHDP-S graduates will retain the ability to episodically compete for command opportunities at the O5 level and higher but will not be expected to return to their original primary MOS under other circumstances.  
5.a.3.  Tuition.  PHDP-S tuition and required academic fees are paid by Education Command (EDCOM) directly to the student's respective educational institution via third party billing letter.  Optional student fees are the responsibility of the student. PHDP-S candidates are expected to complete the program within three academic years, with no more than one additional year during utilization tour to complete dissertation. Funding beyond four years may be borne on the individual student or require a waiver to be approved by CG EDCOM.  
5.a.4.  Books.  In accordance with reference (c) and (d), students will receive a $1,000 book stipend per academic year for up to two academic years while completing coursework.  Students will receive a one-time $1,000 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.  
5.b.1.  The purpose of the technical program is to select up to two officers per year to participate in a fully-funded doctoral program with a technical focus.  This track selects officers to assess into a doctoral program at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) for approximately three years.  Current assignment to NPS in a master’s program does not preclude eligibility for follow on assignment to the PHDP-T assuming all eligibility requirements have been met by established deadlines.  Interested officers may visit NPS website at https:(slash)(slash)nps.edu/web/admissions/programs for details on the specified doctoral fields available; however, officers will indicate their desired course of study in the application process.  Final selection will be determined based on the needs of the Marine Corps.  Officers interested in doctoral programs outside of NPS may contact the POC for guidance. 
5.b.2.  Tuition.  PHDP-T students assigned to Naval Postgraduate School are not subject to tuition and academic fees.
5.b.3.  Books.  In accordance with reference (c) and (d), students will receive a $1,000 book stipend per academic year for up to two academic years while completing coursework.  Students will receive a one-time $1,000 book stipend at the beginning of their dissertation phase.  EDCOM will pay stipends directly to the student.  Reimbursement for parking fees and other discretionary fees is not authorized.
6.  Application Process.
6.a.  The application templates for the PHDP can be found on the Commandant’s Education Board webpage on the main USMC Manpower and Reserve Affairs website at:  https:(slash)(slash)www.manpower.usmc.mil/webcenter/portal/OA3CEB/
6.a.1.  Additional information for the PHDP-S can be found at https:(slash)(slash)www.usmcu.edu/Academic-Programs/Commandant-of-the-Marine-Corps-Strategist-Program.
6.a.2.  Additional information for the PHDP-T enrollment at NPS can be found at https:(slash)(slash)nps.edu/web/admissions/programs.
6.b.  Submission of applications must be completed through the online board questionnaire.
6.b.1.  The FY24 Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy board questionnaire can be found at https:(slash)(slash)go.max.gov/dod/FY24PHDP 
6.b.2.  Submit application as one single PDF file titled “EDIPI_PHD-S_Last name” or “EDIPI_PHD-T_Last name”
6.b.3.  Files size should not exceed more than 8 MB.
6.c.  Applications are due no later than 2359 on 31 July 2023.
6.d.  Applicants shall not apply to NPS 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 and accepted dissertation, thesis, or capstone 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.
7.c.  Participants in the PHDP-S will not be eligible to screen on the Lieutenant Colonel Command Screening Board until they have completed at least 24-months of their assigned PHDP utilization tour.
7.d.  Participants in the PHDP-T will not be eligible to screen on any future Command Screening Board after selection.
8.  Selection.
8.a.  Officers will be pre-screened by elements of Marine Corps University (MCU), the Senior Service Representative at NPS, Combat Development and Integration (CD&I), and Plans, Policies and Operations (PP&O) to determine whether the applicants are academically qualified to represent the Marine Corps.
8.b.  Officers recommended with confidence in the pre-screening will be forwarded to the Commandant's Education Board for final selection.
8.c.  Officers will be notified of PHDP selection results via MARADMIN immediately following the PhD selection portion of the Commandant’s Education Board to provide selected candidates sufficient time to apply to doctoral programs.
8.d.  Receipt of orders to either of the tracks is contingent upon official acceptance to an approved doctoral program.  Director, Manpower Management (MM) is the final approval authority for all assignments to the PHDP.
8.e.  Marines pending screening by a promotion board may be selectedcontingent upon selection to the next rank.
9.  Professional Military Education Requirement.  Officers successfully completing the PHDP track are considered Top Level School (TLS) complete; however, TLS credit will only be granted to those officers who have previously completed Intermediate Level School and Joint PME, Phase I.  TLS completion via PHDP does not provide Joint PME, Phase II credit.
10.  Questions.
10.a.  General PHDP questions may be directed to MCU for program requirements via email to MCU_PHDPS_APPLICATION@USMCU.EDU.
10.b.  PHDP-S questions may be directed to david.saunders@usmc.mil.
10.c.  PHDP-T questions may be directed to jeffrey.d.parker@usmc.mil.
10.d.  Application submission questions may be directed to MMOA-3 for the PHDP via email to SMBMMOAGRADEDU@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 MajGen Michael J. Borgschulte, Director, Manpower Management Division.//