R 281430Z JAN 25
MARADMIN 037/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//
SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2026 ACTIVE MARINE ATTACHÉ SELECTION BOARD: 
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL/DEFENSE ATTACHÉ RESULTS//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/MCO/YMD: 20090709//
REF/B/MSGID:DOC/MCO/YMD: 20210510//
REF/C/MSGID:DOC/MCO/YMD: 20190215//
REF/D/MSGID:DOC/MSG/YMD: 20250115//
NARR/REF A IS MCO 3821.2, THE DEFENSE ATTACHÉ SYSTEM.  REF B IS MCO
1300.8, W/ CH 1 MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY.  REF C IS 
MCO 1900.16 W/ CH 2, SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT MANUAL.  REF D IS 
MARADMIN 013/25.// 
POC/J. L. GOSS/MAJ/MMOA-3/TEL: 703-784-9284/
EMAIL: JAIME.GOSS@USMC.MIL//
POC/T. M. GILBERTSON/CIV/INTEL DIV, ATTACHÉ PROGRAM MANAGER/
TEL: 703-432-7842/ 
EMAIL: THOMAS.GILBERTSON1@USMC.MIL//
POC/C. S. SMITH/CIV/INTEL DIV, ATTACHÉ PROGRAM MANAGER/
TEL: 703-432-5992/ 
EMAIL: CAROLYN.SMITH@USMC.MIL//
POC/C. J. FORAN/MAJ/INTEL DIV, ATTACHÉ AFFAIRS/ TEL: 703-614-1668/
EMAIL: CAITLIN.FORAN@USMC.MIL
POC/S. A. WESTERFIELD/CIV/INTEL DIV/TEL: 703-693-5421/
EMAIL: SCOTT.WESTERFIELD@USMC.MIL//
POC/M. T. WELTZIEN/MAJ/DC I RLO/TEL: 703-630-1395/
EMAIL: MATTHEW.WELTZIEN@USMC.MIL//
POC/R. W. DAWSON/LTCOL/RESERVE DETACHMENT OIC/501-847-2186/
EMAIL:  RICHARD.DAWSON@DODIIS.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  On 26 August 2024, the Director for Manpower 
Management convened the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Marine Active and
Reserve Attaché (MARA) Selection Board to select Marines as primary 
candidates and identify alternates for duty with the Defense 
Attaché Service (DAS) to report in FY26.  The Secretary of Navy
has approved the list of Marines herein and nominated them to the 
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) for final approval by the 
Secretary of Defense.
2.  The board considered the packages of 46 qualified applicants and 
selected 13 officers as primary candidates.  Demonstrated 
performance, Marine Air Ground Task Force experience, and the 
potential to operate effectively in a foreign, independent duty 
environment were among the factors considered in the selection 
process.
3. This MARADMIN specifically releases the Senior Defense Official/
Defense Attaché (SDO/DATT) primary selected candidates.  Ref (d)
previously released all Non-SDO/DATT primary selected candidates. 
4.  Board results
4.a.  Primary selections.  Any changes from the originally 
advertised country list were based on requirements from DIA.  
4.a.1.  The board selected the following active duty officers for 
nomination to the DAS as SDO/DATTs with their slated assignments:
Name                       MOS     Country           
Johnson, Reese H.          0102    Dominican Republic
Pettibon, Jonathon E.      0202    Papua New Guinea
Zastoupil, Frank C.        7518    Ghana
5.  Coordinating instructions
5.a.  Primary selectees
5.a.1.  Active duty acceptance of selection.  Selectees shall accept 
or decline via email to their PMOS monitor no later than 31 January 
2025.  Selectees will copy their acceptance email to the HQMC Marine 
Attaché Program Office at mara_application@usmc.mil to communicate 
acceptance of assignment and receive further guidance. 
5.b.  Alternate selectees.  All alternates were identified in ref 
(d).  No action is required on the part of Marines on the alternate 
list.  In the event that a billet becomes vacant, Manpower 
Management will fleet-up an officer from the alternate list.  PMOS 
monitors will directly contact any alternate selected as a fleet-up.
5.c.  Declinations and deferrals  
5.c.1  Declinations.  Marines who decline assignment to a MARA 
billet must submit a declination in writing (AA form) via the first 
O6 in their chain of command addressed to HQMC via MMOA-3 NLT 31
January 2025.  Marines who decline will be ineligible for future 
MARA billets, unless otherwise approved by the Director, Manpower 
Management.
5.c.2.  Deferrals.  Marines selected for assignment to a MARA billet 
who are unable to execute orders due to extraordinary circumstances 
may request a deferral.  If approved, the Director, Manpower 
Management will defer the Marine to a future MARA selection panel.  
Primary selectees may submit a deferral request in writing (AA Form)
via the first general officer in their chain of command addressed to 
HQMC via MMOA-3 NLT 31 January 2025.
5.d.  Reporting and training
5.d.1.  Selected Marines can expect Permanent Change of Station 
orders for training in the National Capital Region.  Training start 
dates are dependent upon the assigned country and corresponding 
training requirements but can begin in Spring 2025.  Selected 
officers with competing service requirements which could potentially
delay their availability for training must notify their primary MOS 
monitor in their initial correspondence.
5.d.2.  A limited portion of training during the Joint Military 
Attaché School (JMAS) is available to the spouses of selected 
officers.  Although spouse attendance is not required, it is highly 
recommended and does not incur any additional cost to the service 
member.  Language training is available to the spouse for most 
billets at the request of the selected officer.  In addition to 
training, a security clearance will be submitted for the spouse.
5.d.3.  Spouses must be naturalized U.S. citizens prior to the 
service member attending JMAS.
5.d.4.  Service members must complete a Counter Intelligence 
Polygraph examination prior to departing their current command.  
This will be coordinated through the selectee's parent command.
6.  Release authorized by MajGen Ryan S. Rideout, Director, 
Manpower Management, Division.//