FY25 CONGRESSIONAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM FOR OFFICERS AND STAFF NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS

MARADMINS : 176/24

R 121500Z APR 24 MARADMIN 176/24 SUBJ/FY25 CONGRESSIONAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM FOR OFFICERS AND STAFF NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS// REF/A/MSGID: DOC/DOD/YMD: 20161012// REF/B/MSGID: DOC/MPO/YMD: 20210510// REF/C/MSGID: DOC/DOD/YMD: 20100908// REF/D/MSGID: DOC/MM/YMD: 20190530// NARR/REF A IS DOD DIRECTIVE 1322.6 FELLOWSHIP, SCHOLARSHIPS, TRAINING WITH INDUSTRY (TWI) AND GRANTS FOR DOD PERSONNEL. REF B IS MCO P.1300.8 W/CH1, MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY. REF C IS MCO 1040.31 ENLISTED RETENTION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. REF D IS MCO 1524.1, MARINE CORPS GRADUATE EDUCATION PROGRAM.// POC/JAIME L. GOSS/MAJ/MMOA-3/USMC/DSN 278-9285/TEL (703) 784-9285/EMAIL: SMBMMOAGRADEDU@USMC.MIL// POC/K. N. MCKAY/GYSGT/OLA/DSN 222-0206/TEL (703) 692-0206/EMAIL: KRISTEN.MCKAY@USMC.MIL// POC/J. D. HEFFLEY/MAJ/OLA/DSN 222-6050/TEL (703) 697-6050/EMAIL: JARROD.HEFFLEY@USMC.MIL// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. Purpose. This message announces the Fiscal Year 2025 Congressional Fellowship Program (CFP) Panel for Officers and Staff Noncommissioned Officers (SNCOs). Members of the Active Component (AC) and Active Reserve (AR) may apply if they meet the prescribed eligibility criteria. All members who complete the 12-month Capitol Hill Fellowship will incur a 36-month service obligation. This service obligation runs concurrently with any other service obligation, such as career designation, PCS orders, service schools, lateral move, etc. The purpose of this message is to announce major timeline milestones, eligibility criteria, and coordinating instructions. 1.a. Major timeline milestones (read in two columns): NLT Date Milestone 20 May 2024 Applications due 29 May 2024 CFP Panel convenes 30 June 2024 Interviews complete 01 October 2024 All CFP selects notified 16 June 2025 CFP Report Date 2. Background. CFP is a 42-month program that offers the opportunity to gain experience while working in the Legislative Branch of the United States government on the staff of a United States Senator or a United States Representative. Typical responsibilities include assisting in the drafting of legislation, floor debate preparation, planning, and analysis of public policy. This experience is then utilized in a follow-on billet known as a utilization tour typically in HQMC. 3. Program timeline (read in two columns) NLT Date Milestone 16 June 2025 CFP Report Date 31 December 2025 Complete professional development tour 01 January 2026 Begin 1 year Capitol Hill Fellowship (OLA) 01 January 2027 Begin 2 year utilization tour (OLA) 01 January 2029 Receive PCS/A Orders from PMOS monitor to complete remaining service obligation (MMOA/EA) 4. Eligibility. All applicants should possess exceptional military and personal appearance, strong moral character, a trajectory of high-performance in their PMOS, and the judgment necessary to operate independently in an unfamiliar and dynamic environment. Additionally, all applicants must possess exceptional reading, writing, and communication skills. Familiarity with current service-level and DOD specific policy concerns, national security affairs, government affairs, and international relations is preferred but not required. 4.a. Officers 4.a.1. Applicants must be scheduled to complete their prescribed tour control factor by May 2025. Questions concerning tour lengths should be directed to the appropriate Primary Military Occupational Specialty (PMOS) monitor. 4.a.2. AC Officers in the ranks of First Lieutenant through Major. 4.a.3. AR Officers in the ranks of Major or Major (Select). 4.a.4. Officers must be career designated. 4.b. Enlisted Marines 4.b.1. Applicants must be scheduled to complete their prescribed tour control factor by May 2025. Questions concerning tour lengths should be directed to the appropriate Primary Military Occupational Specialty (PMOS) monitor. 4.b.2. SNCOs in the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSgt) through Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt) from all occupational specialties in the AC. 4.b.3. Possession of an undergraduate degree (posted in MCTFS) is preferred, but not required. 5. Ineligibility 5.a. Officers 5.a.1. Officers with an approved separation or retirement date. 5.a.2. Restricted Officers. 5.a.3. Active component Majors in-zone or in the above-zone for lieutenant colonel on the FY26 Lieutenant Colonel Promotion Selection Board. 5.a.4. Officers who have not yet fulfilled a utilization tour for a previously selected graduate education program. 5.a.5. Officers with a training PMOS or departing PMOS training. 5.a.6. Officers with pending lateral move applications will be permitted to screen, but approval of lateral move may prohibit CFP selection. 5.b. Enlisted Marines 5.b.1. SNCOs with less than 10 years’ time-in-service. 5.b.2. Gunnery Sergeants who denote "F" in section 8c of their fitness reports. 5.b.3. First Sergeants and Sergeants Major. 5.b.4. SNCOs that have failed selection for promotion to the next higher grade. 5.b.5. Applicants who have been selected for a voluntary education program in the 2026 academic year. 5.b.6. SNCOs in the reserve component (to include Active Reserve). 6. Application process 6.a. For program information and application instructions, visit: https:(slash)(slash)www.hqmc.marines.mil/Agencies/Office-of-Legislative-Affairs/Congressional-Fellowship-Program/ 6.b. All application packages must contain command endorsements through the first general officer in the applicant’s chain of command. 6.c. All application packages must contain PMOS monitor acknowledgement. 6.c.1. Applicants must submit their CFP application with all signed endorsements, monitor acknowledgement, and privacy act release form NLT 3 May 2024 in one PDF document labeled "EDIPI_lastname_CFP" via email to: SMBMMOAGRADEDU@USMC.MIL. Applicants should direct program-specific questions to the OLA POCs in this MARADMIN. Applicants who fail to abide by the necessary guidance for application will be removed for consideration by the board. 6.d. MMOA and MMEA will screen all members applying to the CFP for TOS requirements, career progression factors, promotion eligibility, and Enlisted Career Force Controls (ECFC). 6.e. The CFP Panel will screen applications and select candidates for follow-on interviews and final selection. More details regarding the interview will be sent to applicants via separate correspondence. 7. This MARADMIN is applicable to the Total Force. 8. Release authorized by BGen Ryan S. Rideout, Director, Manpower Management Division.//