R 301300Z AUG 23
MARADMIN 430/23
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//
SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 (FY24) MARINE CORPS GRADUATE EDUCATION PROGRAM ENLISTED//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/MCO/30MAY2019//
REF/B/MSGID: DOC/TITLE 10 ARMED FORCES, CH 855/10AUG1956//
REF/C/MSGID: DOC/FY24 NDAA, TITLE V/14JUL2023//
REF/D/MSGID: DOC/MCO/11MAY2021//
REF/E/MSGID: DOC/MCO/08SEP2010//
REF/F/MSGID: DOC/TALENT MANAGEMENT 2030 UPDATE/MAR2023//
NARR/REF A IS MCO 1524.1, THE MARINE CORPS GRADUATE EDUCATION PROGRAM. REF B TITLE 10, U.S. CODE, CH 855 IS LAW ON NAVAL POSTRADUATE SCHOOL. REF C FY24 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT (NDAA), IS THE SASC AND HASC RELEASE TEXT OF THE FY24 NDAA. REF D IS MCO 1326.6 W/CH-1, SELECTING, SCREENING, AND PREPARING ENLISTED MARINES FOR SCREENABLE BILLETS AND INDEPENDENT DUTIES (SCREENMAN). REF E IS MCO 1040.31, ENLISTED RETENTION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. REF F IS TALENT MANAGEMENT 2030 UPDATE, DATED MARCH 2023.
POC/A. B. ROZNOWSKI/LTCOL/NPS/TEL: 831-656-2794/ EMAIL: AMY.ROZNOWSKI@NPS.EDU//
POC/D. S. TYKWINSKI/CAPT/MMEA-25/TEL: 703-784-9257/ EMAIL: DREW.TYKWINSKI@USMC.MIL//
POC/T. D. STOKES/GYSGT/MMEA-25/TEL: 703-432-9473/ EMAIL: TYLER.D.STOKES@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose. Per the references, this MARADMIN establishes the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Marine Corps Graduate Education Program–Enlisted (MCGEP-E). The purpose of this MARADMIN is to announce the provisions for eligibility and selection to the MCGEP-E and provide guidance for FY24 implementation. This MARADMIN is a solicitation for applications for Marines to attend the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) for a master’s degree in selected programs. Applications are due to Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) no later than (NLT) Thursday, 30 November 2023.
1.a.  Major milestone timelines:
     NLT Date           Milestone
     20 Oct 2023        Applications due to NPS
     30 Nov 2023        Applications due to HQMC
     07 Dec 2023        MCGEP-E Board Commences
     31 Dec 2023        Release of Selection Board Results MARADMIN
     01 Jul 2024        Report to NPS
2.  Background. Senior leadership recognizes the need to develop resident talent within the enlisted ranks and to manage and retain our highly educated Marines. The purpose of the MCGEP-E is to send selected enlisted personnel to earn master’s degrees at NPS. This is a fiscally disciplined investment in education that will develop cohorts of enlisted professionals for duty in directed assignments.  Selection will be based upon: consistently outstanding professional performance; promotion potential; and academic background, capabilities, and accomplishments. Program and utilization placement shall be commensurate with the academic qualifications, needs of the Marine Corps, and in coordination with the NPS admissions office and Manpower Management Enlisted Assignments (MMEA). Details regarding the standard curricula are listed in paragraph 4.a of this message.
3.  Eligibility
3.a.  Grade
3.a.1.  Active-duty Marines in the grades of E6 and above with no more than 16 years of service by end of degree completion and prior to beginning utilization tour (case-by-case exceptions).
3.a.2.  Marines in the grade of E5 may apply and request a grade exception.
3.a.3.  First Sergeants, Master Gunnery Sergeants, and Sergeants Major are not eligible due to manpower shortfalls.
3.a.4.  Gunnery Sergeants who denote "f" in section 8c of their fitness reports may apply, but will have a lower chance of selection based upon the decreased likelihood of completing the utilization tour.
3.b.  Any Primary Military Occupational Specialty (PMOS) is encouraged to apply, though a focus will be placed on those most closely correlated to an eligible program (paragraph 5.b).
3.c.  Must meet reenlistment requirements per reference (e) and obligate sufficient service for the program length and (48) months of service after degree completion. The (48) month service requirement upon degree completion will include a (24) month utilization tour and a (24) month tour in the Marine's PMOS.
3.d.  Applicants must have a minimum of (24) months time on station prior to the NPS report date (July 2024). Waivers may be requested.
3.e.  All applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree.
3.f.  The application criteria for NPS is further described, promulgated, and updated via the NPS Admissions Office website.
3.g.  Must hold, or be eligible for, a security clearance as required by program placement and utilization. See paragraph 4.a.
3.h.  Applicants must be Professional Military Education complete for their current rank prior to executing orders.
4.  Program Information
4.a.  Programs available for application:
     Program                                    NOTE
     847 – Manpower Systems Analysis            1
     837 - Defense Financial Management         2
     360 – Operations Analysis
     817 - Defense Systems Analysis             3
     827 – Defense Logistics Management         4
     Notes
     1 - Aligns with 0111 and 4821 PMOSs. 
     2 - Aligns with 34xx PMOSs.
     3 - Must be eligible for a secret security clearance.
     4 - Aligns with 04xx/30xx/35xx/66xx PMOSs. 
4.b.  Marines are not charged for program tuition and will receive a book stipend based on the length of their curriculum. Students will retain all rated allowances. 
4.c.  Program lengths vary and can be found via the NPS Admissions Office Website. Students will be required to follow the designated curriculum for degree completion but are authorized to take additional credit hours, if available. Additional courses offered by NPS are covered through enrollment at no cost to the Marine. 
5.  NPS Application Process
5.a.  Applications to NPS must be submitted by 20 October 2023.
5.b.  The steps to apply to NPS can be found at https:(slash)(slash)nps.edu/web/admissions/apply
5.c.  Applicants will need to request copies of official undergraduate and graduate transcripts to be sent directly to NPS. This should include all undergraduate schools, if more than one was attended.
5.c.1.  Transcripts must come directly from the institution or their designated transcript exchange service. NPS does not accept transcripts submitted by the applicant.
5.d.  Joint services transcripts (JST) should be requested from https:(slash)(slash)jst.doded.mil/smart/signIn.do to be sent directly to NPS. The JST will cover other types of military education and training not included in undergraduate transcripts.
6.  USMC Application Process
6.a.  Completed applications, including conditional acceptance letters from NPS, are due NLT 2359 EST on 30 November 2023.
6.b.  Completed packages must be submitted electronically using the "SDA/Reenlistment/MISC" Reenlistment Extension Lateral Move (RELM) request type in the Total Force Retention System (TFRS). RELMs will be submitted to CMC (MMEA-25) via the normal RELM routing chain. Unit Career Planners have access to TFRS. The enclosures to the RELM will contain the following:
6.b.1.  Administrative Action (AA) Form (found on TFRS).
6.b.2.  NPS conditional acceptance letter.
6.b.3.  Statement of Purpose (template found on TFRS).
6.b.4.  Official biography and professional resume.
6.b.5.  Copy of diploma and official transcripts.
6.b.6.  Any supporting documentation or educational attainments.
6.b.7.  Letters of recommendation (limit of 4).
6.b.8.  Security clearance verification letter.
6.c.  In the required Administrative Action (AA) form, all applicants must acknowledge the following:
6.c.1. Not request separation or retirement while participating in the program or during the period of service obligation.
6.c.2.  Accept an active-duty service commitment from the date of completed coursework for four years.
6.c.3.  To serve in at least one utilization tour of (24) months immediately following program completion. 
7.  Selection
7.a.  Applicants will be boarded by elements of NPS staff and HQMC to determine which applicants will be selected for the MCGEP-E.
7.b.  Applicants will be notified, via separate correspondence, of the results directly following conclusion of the screening process.  They will also receive any necessary guidance for completing their enrollment with NPS.
7.c.  Director, Manpower Management is the final approval authority for all assignments to the MCGEP-E.
8.  Questions
8.a.  NPS curriculum questions should be directed to the USMC Deputy Senior Marine at NPS, LtCol Amy Roznowski, via email to amy.roznowski@nps.edu.
8.b.  NPS admission questions should be directed via e-mail to admissions@nps.edu.
8.c.  USMC application submission questions can be directed to GySgt Tyler Stokes via email tyler.d.stokes@usmc.mil.
9.  This MARADMIN is not applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve.
10.  Release authorized by BGen Ryan S. Rideout, Director, Manpower Management Division.//