R 191100Z JAN 24
MARADMIN 022/24
MSGID/GENADMIN/CG EDCOM PRES MCU QUANTICO VA//
SUBJ/ACADEMIC YEAR 25-26 UNITED STATES ARMY WAR COLLEGE DISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAM SOLICITATION ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ACTIVE DUTY OFFICERS//
REF/A/DOC/CMC/YMD: 20080125//
AMPN/REFERENCE A IS MARINE CORPS ORDER 1553.4B THAT DEFINES THE REQUIREMENTS, OBJECTIVES, POLICIES, PROGRAMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR MARINE CORPS PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION.//
POC/MR. WILL KIRKBRIDE/GS14/CDET OPSO/LOC: QUANTICO/TEL: (703) 784-5971/EMAIL: WILFRID.KIRKBRIDE@USMCU.EDU//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Situation
1.A.  The United States Army War College annually solicits active component Marine Corps officers for participation in the United States Army War College Distance Education Program (USAWCDEP).  The USAWCDEP is a Top Level School (TLS) program that offers Marine Corps officers a unique opportunity to complete their Professional Military Education (PME) requirements. The USAWCDEP allows you to participate in a two-year, high quality program of instruction that results in the award of the same military education level and the same fully-accredited Master of Strategic Studies degree awarded to graduates of the USAWC resident program.  The USAWCDEP is accredited by the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, as a program for joint education, Phase I Senior Level (JPME I) and for selected students in Phase II Senior Level (JPME II).
2.  Mission
2.A.  Marine Corps University (MCU)/College of Distance Education and Training (CDET) facilitates the opportunity for active component Marine Corps officers to participate in the USAWCDEP in order to enhance our overall TLS PME efforts.
3.  Execution
3.A.  Commanders Intent.  To provide an opportunity for Marine officers to participate in TLS by soliciting applications to attend the USAWCDEP.  MCU/CDET will administer the program to screen the officers' applications to ensure they meet all USAWCDEP pre-requisites.  The end state is an increase in Marine Corps officers graduating from TLS.
3.B.  Concept of Operations.  The USAWCDEP is a managed program that commences annually in May.  The program consists of a series of eight primary online courses, an elective or directed research project, and two summer resident courses at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, taken over a two-year period.  Each course is composed of numerous lessons consisting of selected readings and other educational materials that support the accomplishment of course objectives.  Course performance is evaluated through writing, forum participation, and exercises.
3.B.1.  The initial resident phase is scheduled for the last two weeks in June 2025, between the first and second Academic Year (AY).  The final resident phase is scheduled for the third and fourth week of July 2026 at the end of the second AY.  Attendance at both resident sessions is mandatory for successful course completion.
3.B.2.  The course of instruction requires the student to have internet access.
3.B.3. This program requires a significant level of personal commitment.  All prospective students should have a high level of confidence in their availability to attend the two mandatory resident summer sessions, as well as the ability to commit to the required hours (approximately 15 hours per week) for course work completion.
3.B.4.  MCU/CDET will screen all applications and select those best qualified officers to participate in the AY 25-26 USAWCDEP.  Those officers selected will be notified via email of their selection and their enrollment information will be forwarded to the USAWCDEP Registrar for official registration.
3.B.5.  JPME II seminar selections will be made after student enrollment by the AWCDEP staff dependent on a proportionate joint student mix.
3.C.  Coordinating Instructions
3.C.1.  Program prerequisites are as follows:
3.C.1.A.  Lieutenant colonels or colonels.  Rank requirement is non-waiverable.  Selected lieutenant colonels must be promoted prior to the March 2024 screening process.
3.C.1.B.  Students must possess an adjudicated secret clearance.
3.C.1.C.  Successful completion of an Intermediate Level School (ILS) via resident or distance education program.
3.C.1.D.  Battalion/Squadron level command experience is desired but not required.
3.C.2.  Interested officers should closely coordinate participation with their Commanding Officer or senior officer in charge due to the significant time commitment required to complete this program.
3.C.3.  Officers previously enrolled then disenrolled or dropped on request from this program are not eligible to reapply.
3.C.4.  Application submission deadline is 2359/7 March 2024.
3.D.  Submission Instructions
3.D.1.  Applications should be formatted on command letterhead as follows:
3.D.1.A.  Name, Rank, Department of Defense Identification/Military Occupational Specialty.
3.D.1.B.  Current military mailing address.
3.D.1.C.  Years commissioned service.
3.D.1.D.  Security clearance.
3.D.1.E.  ILS completed/date.
3.D.1.F.  Background information:  i.e., current billet, date current tour began, command time.
3.D.1.G.  Essay.  Two hundred fifty words (maximum).  The topic of the essay:  Why your successful completion in the USAWCDEP would bring value to the Marine Corps.
3.D.1.H.  Current Master Brief Sheet.
3.D.1.I.  Command endorsement.
3.D.1.J.  Military email address and phone number.
3.D.2.  To safeguard personally identifiable information, applications must be sent in Portable Document File format via the Department of Defense Secure Access File Exchange (DOD SAFE) website (https:(slash)(slash)safe.apps.mil/) to the email address wilfrid.kirkbride@usmcu.edu.  Ensure encryption block is checked and send separate encryption paraphrase email to wilfrid.kirkbride@usmcu.edu.  A confirmation email will be sent to the applicant when application is received and downloaded.
4.  Administration and Logistics
4.A.  Travel to and from both resident sessions.  Commands Outside Continental United States (CONUS) must fund student travel and per diem to a CONUS Point of Entry (POE).  CDET will fund per diem and travel for the student from/to the POE or CONUS command to Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.  Submit travel requests via Defense Travel System (DTS) to CDET cross organization in April of the AY required.  Rental cars will not be authorized.
4.B.  For Marine Corps Total Force System reporting, the formal school code for the USAWCDEP is R2Q.
4.C.  Additional course information is available at the website https:(slash)(slash)ssl.armywarcollege.edu/dde.
5.  Command and Signal.  Points of Contact.
5.A.  The CDET point of contact is Mr. Will Kirkbride, phone:  (703) 784-5971 or email:  wilfrid.kirkbride@usmcu.edu.
5.B.  For all funding/DTS inquiries to Ms. Kristina Creger at kristina.creger@usmc.mil or (703) 784-0692.
5.C.  For all questions on joint matters, contact the Headquarters, Marine Corps, Joint Officer Matters Office at (703) 784-9211/9212.
6.  This Marine Administrative Message is not applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve.
7.  Release authorized by Brigadier General Maura M. Hennigan, President, Marine Corps University.//