R 191638Z NOV 24
MARADMIN 552/24
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA RA//
SUBJ/CONVENING OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 (FY25) RESERVE SENIOR STAFF 
COURSE SELECTION PANEL//
REF/A/DOC/CMC/YMD: 20190215//
REF/B/DOC/CMC/YMD: 20080125//
REF/C/MSG/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM/YMD: 252010Z AUG 20//
REF/D/MSG/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MMRP/YMD: 20230605//
NARR/REFERENCE (A) IS MCO 1900.16 CH 2, SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT 
MANUAL. REFERENCE (B) IS MCO 1553.4B, PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION 
(PME). REFERENCE (C) IS MARADMIN 491/20, REMOVAL OF PHOTOGRAPHS FROM 
CONSIDERATION BY PROMOTION BOARDS AND SELECTION PROCESSES PERTAINING 
TO ASSIGNMENT, TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND COMMAND. REFERENCE (D) IS MCO
1610.7B, PERFORMANCE EVALUATION SYSTEM (PES)//
POC/M. J. JONES/MAJ/RAM-5/TEL: 703-784-3676/EMAIL: 
MARSHALL.J.JONES@USMC.MIL//
POC/J. F. DEAN/MAJ/RAM-4/TEL: 703-784-0537/EMAIL: 
JEFFREY.F.DEAN@USMC.MIL//
POC/A. C. HERNANDEZ/SGT/RAM-5/TEL: 703-784-3676/EMAIL: 
ALEJANDRO.C.HERNANDE@USMC.MIL// 
POC/B. FORD/CIV/RAM-3/TEL: 703-432-9410/EMAIL: 
BRENNETT.FORD@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  This MARADMIN announces the FY25 Reserve Senior 
Staff Course (RSSC) selection panel convening from 14-16 January 2025
and solicits applications from those desiring attendance.  Reserve 
Affairs (RA) annually conducts the RSSC as Professional Military 
Education (PME) for senior Reserve Component (RC) officers and senior 
enlisted personnel.  The RSSC is a two-week resident course for RC 
personnel who serve in the Ready Reserve, to include members from the 
Selected Marine Corps Reserve, Individual Mobilization Augmentee, and 
the Individual Ready Reserve.  
2.  The RSSC will be conducted 2-13 June 2025 at Marine Corps Base 
Quantico.  All RC Officers (LtCol (sel) - Col) and enlisted 
(MSgt/1stSgt (sel) - SgtMaj/MGySgt) are eligible to apply.  To be 
eligible to attend the course, all applicants must have a mandatory 
removal date after 1 August 2027. 
3.  Marines who meet any of the following criteria are ineligible to 
apply: 
3.a  Marines (except Colonels) who are in zone or above zone on the 
next scheduled promotion board.
3.b  Marines who have previously completed RSSC.
3.c  Marines with an approved retirement, resignation, or who are 
pending conditional release.
3.d  Marines who have been approved for continuation beyond their 
mandatory removal/retirement date.
3.e  Marines within the Active Reserve program. 
4.  Application process
4.a.  The deadline for submitting the application and update material 
is 2359 EST on 18 December 2024.  Late submissions will not be 
accepted.  The web-based online RPME application at 
https://www2.manpower.usmc.mil/application_cac/ is the recommended 
method to apply and is where all applicants must go to submit their 
requests.   Applicants who do not have a common access card or 
encounter Manpower and Reserve Affairs (MRA) portal submittal 
complications can email their application to joinar@usmc.mil.  
4.b.  Applicants with a MRA portal account will proceed to the login 
process.  Upon login, the system will validate basic individual 
eligibility for application.  Applicants are advised to read the 
instructions in their entirety before completing the application.  
The web-based application allows for the attachment of documents.
4.c.  Applicants who do not have an MRA portal account will receive a
404 access error.  Within the error message are instructions on how 
to register for an MRA portal account, which is available to all 
applicants.  Any applicant who cannot access the online application 
should contact the RSSC POC listed in this MARADMIN.  
4.d.  Ensure all documents uploaded or emailed are in the appropriate 
document type.  All uploaded or emailed documents must be in portable 
document format (PDF).  The submitted name of the files must be in 
the following format:  EDIPI_FileDescription.pdf.
4.e.  The application will consist of a Marine's Letter to the 
President of the RSSC Panel and a Reserve Qualification Summary 
(RQS).  Incomplete applications will not be considered for panel
selection.
4.f.  Reserve Qualification Summary.  All applicants will submit a 
signed Reserve Qualification Summary (RQS).  The RQS NAVMC 10476, 
dated September 2016, is located on the portal application or online.  
4.g.  Letter to the Panel.  All applicants will submit a signed Naval 
Letter to the President of the RSSC panel (template located on the 
online application) describing why they should be selected to attend 
the course.  The "From" line will consist of rank, first name, last 
name, EDIPI/MOS, and Marine Corps component.  The "To" line will 
consist of "President, FY25 Reserve Senior Staff Course Selection 
Panel."  The "Subject" will consist of "LETTER TO PANEL PRESIDENT OF 
THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 RESERVE SENIOR STAFF COURSE SELECTION PANEL."  
4.h.  Once submitted, personnel will receive a confirmation email 
that their application has been received.  Hard-copy applications 
will not be accepted.  All material submitted to the panel will be 
destroyed upon completion of the panel.
4.i.  Photographs.  Per reference (c), Official Photographs are no 
longer permitted in board/panel packages.  No submitted documents 
will have a photo attached (i.e. Bio s, Resumes, etc).
4.j.  Fitness reports.  Fitness reports are due to CMC (MMPB-23) by
the timelines noted in reference (d).  Reports mailed directly to the 
president of the panel will not be added to a Marine's OMPF.  For 
fitness reports to become part of the OMPF, the reports must be 
submitted to CMC (MMPB-23).  The automated performance evaluation 
system (A-PES) is the primary means of submitting fitness reports. 
Commanders are ultimately responsible for the timely submission of 
fitness reports to (CMC) MMPB-23 and ensuring that all fitness report 
timelines are adhered to per reference (d).  Incomplete fitness 
reports will not be accepted.  
4.k.  OMPF Material.  Any document(s) a Marine believes should be 
part of his or her OMPF, other than Fitness Reports, must be 
populated within their OMPF before the panel convenes.  The preferred
and fastest way to update your OMPF is through the OMPF Records
Management Application (ORMA).  The ORMA empowers and allows 
individual Marines to take control of their OMPF.  To access ORMA, go
to the MRA website at www.manpower.marines.mil, under the "Manpower
Management" drop down menu select "Performance Branch", then select
"Records and Performance."  Scroll down to the bottom of the page and 
select "Records Management" then select "OMPF Records Management 
Application."  Follow all instructions to register, audit, and update
your OMPF within ORMA.  
5.  Administration
5.a.  Ensure e-mail addresses and telephone numbers are current and 
provided on the application.
5.b.  Notification of selection.  The panel will select a primary 
for each school seat available.  The panel will also select enough
alternates to meet quota requirements if selectees decline or
otherwise cannot accept.  Selection to complete an RPME opportunity
is considered a privilege that is highly advantageous to officer and
enlisted development.  Once the panel results are approved, primary
selectees will be announced via MARADMIN.  Applicants selected as
primaries and approved by CMC (RA) will receive correspondence from
RA with specific information regarding course selection to include
dates.  Alternates will be listed on the Reserve Officer PME website
located on the Manpower and Reserve Affairs webpage at
www.manpower.marines.mil.  Select "Manpower Management", drop down to
"Reserve Assignments", then select  "Reserve Personnel Management."
Under "Reserve Boards and Programs (RAM-3)" click the "Reserve Officer
PME/GEP/RSSC" drop down menu.  Alternates will be listed under the
RSSC section.  Additional allocations and unanticipated RSSC 
vacancies will be filled by alternates.
5.c.  Applicants selected by the panel, who subsequently decline the 
opportunity to attend, are required to submit their declination in
writing via their chain of command.  Alternates selected to fill
vacated course quotas are also required to formally decline.  
Detailed declination instructions will be provided within the RSSC
selection panel results MARADMIN.  Each Marine will only receive one
deferral for this course.
6.  Return to Active Duty (RAD) Program.  All board-selected reserve 
officers who apply for or transition to the Active Component will
forfeit the opportunity to attend any selected RPME school.
7.  To consult with a Career Counselor via the Career Management Team
(CMT), Reserve Affairs Division, please call commercial 
703-784-0583, DSN 278-0583, or email: smb_manpower_cac@usmc.mil.  The
CMT can be found on the Manpower and Reserve Affairs webpage at https:
(slash) (slash) www.manpower.marines.mil/Manpower-Management/
Reserve-Assignments/Career-Management-Team/.
8.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the Reserve Component. 
9.  Release authorized by Major General K. D. Pierson, Director, 
Reserve Affairs Division.//