OPT OUT OF CONSIDERATION FOR THE REGULAR ACTIVE, UNRESTRICTED  RESERVE, AND ACTIVE RESERVE FY27 MAJOR, LIEUTENANT COLONEL, AND  COLONEL PROMOTION SELECTION BOARDS
Date Signed: 10/8/2024 | MARADMINS Number: 477/24
MARADMINS : 477/24

R 081517Z OCT 24
MARADMIN 477/24
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA//
SUBJ/OPT OUT OF CONSIDERATION FOR THE REGULAR ACTIVE, UNRESTRICTED 
RESERVE, AND ACTIVE RESERVE FY27 MAJOR, LIEUTENANT COLONEL, AND 
COLONEL PROMOTION SELECTION BOARDS//
REF/A/DOC/CONGRESS/8AUG2018//
REF/B/DOC/DOD/16DEC2020//
REF/C/DOC/SECNAV/28MAR2019//
REF/D/DOC/SECNAV MEMO/5JAN2022//
NARR/REF A IS TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE. REF B IS DOD 
INSTRUCTION 1320.14, COMMISSIONED OFFICER PROMOTION PROGRAM 
PROCEDURES. REF C IS SECNAVINST 1420.3, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS PROMOTION PROGRAM. REF D IS THE SECNAV MEMO 
WHICH DELEGATES OPT OUT AUTHORITY TO THE MARINE CORPS.//
POC/M. J. COOK/MAJ/MMPB-10/TEL: (703) 784-9704//
POC/C. M. MARTIN/CAPT/CMC MPP-30/TEL: (703) 784-9875//
POC/S. A. STEELE/MAJ/CMC RAP-2/TEL:(703) 784-9135//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  This MARADMIN solicits applications 
for and describes the process for opting out of consideration for 
promotion.  Additionally, it provides background information in 
advance of the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Regular, Unrestricted 
Reserve, and Active Reserve Major, Lieutenant Colonel, and 
Colonel Promotion Selection Boards (PSB). 
2.  The John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act FY19 
allows eligible officers to request to opt out of consideration 
for promotion in a given year without penalty. 
3.  Opt Out of Consideration for Promotion.  Sections 619 and 14301 
of reference (a) are the statutory authorities granting the 
Secretary of the Navy the discretion to authorize eligible officers 
to opt out of consideration for promotion by a PSB.  Reference (d) 
delegates authority to the Deputy Commandant for Manpower and 
Reserve Affairs (DC M&RA) to approve the request of an officer to 
opt out of consideration.  DC M&RA may only approve a request if all 
three of the following criteria are met: 
3.a.  The basis for the request is to allow an officer to complete 
a broadening assignment, advanced education, another assignment of 
significant value to the Marine Corps, or a career progression 
requirement delayed by the assignment or education. 
3.b.  DC M&RA determines if the opt out of consideration is in the 
best interest of the Marine Corps based on statutory guidelines, 
Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) strengths, and the needs of 
the Service.
3.c.  The officer has not previously been considered in-zone for 
promotion to the grade for which the officer requests the exclusion 
from consideration. 
4.  The following officer categories may be eligible to opt out. 
4.a.  Examples of broadening assignments include, but are not 
limited to: Utilization tours associated with the Marine Corps’ 
Graduate Education Program, Foreign Professional Military Education, 
Congressional Fellowship, Commandant’s National Fellows, Tours with 
Industry, Active Reserve Accession tours, and Return to Active Duty 
tours. 
4.b.  Examples of qualifying advanced education include, but are not 
limited to: Full-time resident graduate or doctoral education, 
Olmsted Scholar, and equivalent Service institutions and/or resident 
civilian education programs. 
4.c.  Examples of assignments of significant value include, but are 
not limited to: Foreign Area or Regional Area Affairs, and Personnel 
Exchange Program. 
5.  Eligible Officers 
5.a.  All regular active, unrestricted reserve, and active reserve 
officers, who are eligible to be considered as in-zone or above-zone 
and have not been previously considered for promotion to the grade 
in which they request to opt out of, who meet the following 
requirements: 
5.b.  Must be within height and weight standards.
5.c.  Must have no outstanding investigations, pending legal 
matters, or in-grade adverse material. 
6.  Officers who meet the requirements in paragraphs 4 and 5 may 
submit a request to opt out of consideration for promotion. 
6.a.  Officers may request to opt out of promotion consideration no 
more than one time per grade. 
6.b.  Requests shall include the officer's justification for opting 
out of consideration for promotion, current assignment, primary MOS, 
statement attesting to eligibility per paragraph 5, and endorsements 
from the chain of command. 
6.c.  The first O-6 in the applicant's current chain of command must 
endorse the request and provide a recommendation to DC M&RA. 
7.  Coordinating instructions 
7.a.  Regular Active Officers 
7.a.1  Requests must be submitted to Manpower Management Promotions 
Branch (MMPB-10) via the NAVMC 10274 Administrative Action (AA) Form 
no later than 15 January 2025. 
7.a.2. Submit endorsed AA Forms to MMPB-10 at: 
officerpromotions@usmc.mil or mailing address: 
Headquarters, United States Marine Corps (MMPB-10) 
Attn: Opt Out of Consideration for Promotion 
2008 Elliot Road 
Quantico, VA 22134-5103 
7.a.3.  Manpower Management Division and Manpower Plans and Policy 
Division will review all requests to make a determination on the 
eligibility of the applicant and provide an appropriate 
recommendation to DC M&RA for final determination.  In accordance 
with references (b) through (d), MMPB-10 will ensure approved 
officers are removed from the eligible population for consideration 
for promotion, appropriately update the history of lineal 
establishment database to memorialize that the officer opted out of 
consideration for promotion, and update post-board reports. 
7.b. Unrestricted Reserve and Active Reserve Officers 
7.b.1. Requests must be submitted to Reserve Affairs Personnel 
Policy, Plans, and Programming (RAP-2) via the NAVMC 10274 AA Form 
no later than 30 April 2025. 
7.b.2. Submit endorsed AA Forms to RAP-2 at: 
RAP@usmc.mil or mailing address: 
Headquarters, United States Marine Corps (RAP- 2) 
Attn:  RC Opt Out of Consideration for Promotion 
3280 Russell Road 
Quantico, VA 22134-5103 
7.b.3.  RAP-2 and Reserve Affairs Management (RAM-2) will review 
all requests and provide appropriate recommendation to DC M&RA for 
final determination. In accordance with references (b) through (d), 
RAP-2 will ensure approved officers are removed from the eligible 
population for consideration for promotion, appropriately update the 
history of lineal establishment database to memorialize that the 
officer opted out of consideration for promotion, and update 
post-board reports. 
8.  Recommendations will be based on the service of an officer in a 
broadening assignment, advanced education, assignment of significant 
value, and overall performance history. 
9.  MMPB-10 (active component) or RAP-2 (reserve component) will 
notify officers by letter of their approval or disapproval after DC 
M&RA has made final determination.  MMPB or RAP-2 will place a copy 
of the approval letter in the officer’s official military personnel 
file. 
10.  In-zone officers who are approved will be removed from the FY27 
eligible population to be considered with the in-zone population for 
the FY28 Major, Lieutenant Colonel, or Colonel Promotion Boards, 
without penalty. 
11.  Officers approved for opt out are not precluded from receiving 
permanent change of station orders. 
12.  Regular active officers may view the current zones chart 
projections at: 
https:(slash)(slash)www.manpower.usmc.mil/webcenter/?active_marine=
active-marines-home/manpower-plans-and-policy-mp/manpower-plans-
programs-and-budget-mpp/officer-plans-mpp-30. 
13.  Unrestricted reserve and active reserve officers may view the 
current zones chart projections at: 
https:(slash)(slash)www.manpower.usmc.afpims.mil/Plans-and-Policies/
Reserve-Affairs/Reserve-Affairs-Policy-Plans-Programming-Branch/
Reserve-Affairs-Plans/. 
14.  Officers considering opting out of consideration for promotion 
are advised to consult with their respective monitor, executive 
officer, or commanding officer for guidance on career progression 
and eligibility.
15.  This MARADMIN cancels after the results of the FY27 Marine 
Corps major through colonel selections are made public via ALNAV. 
16.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the Total Force. 
17.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General Michael J. 
Borgschulte, Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.//