R 311813Z JAN 25
MARADMIN 048/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//
SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2027 (FY27) ACTIVE AND RESERVE MARINE ATTACHÉ 
(MARA) SELECTION BOARD ANNOUNCEMENT//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/MCO/YMD: 20090709//
REF/B/MSGID: DOC/MCO/YMD: 20210510//
REF/C/MSGID: DOC/MCO/YMD: 20150219//
NARR/REF A IS MCO 3821.2, USMC PARTICIPATION IN THE DEFENSE ATTACHÉ 
SERVICE. REF B IS MCO 1300.8 CH-1, PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY. REF
C IS MCO 1900.16 CH 2, SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT MANUAL 
(MARCORSEPMAN)//
POC/J. L. GOSS/MAJ/MMOA-3/TEL: 703-784-9284/
EMAIL: JAIME.GOSS@USMC.MIL//
POC/T. D. STOKES/GYSGT/MMEA-25/TEL: 703-432-9473/
EMAIL: TYLER.D.STOKES@USMC.MIL//
POC/S. A. WESTERFIELD/CIV/DCI IID/TEL: 703-693-5421/
EMAIL: SCOTT.WESTERFIELD@USMC.MIL//
POC/C. J. FORAN/MAJ/INTEL DIV, ATTACHÉ AFFAIRS/ TEL: 703-614-1668/
EMAIL: CAITLIN.FORAN@USMC.MIL/
POC/C. S. SMITH/CIV/MCIA, ATTACHÉ PROGRAM/TEL: 703-432-5992/
EMAIL: CAROLYN.SMITH@USMC.MIL//
POC/T. M. GILBERTSON/CIV/MCIA, ATTACHÉ PROGRAM/
TEL: 703-432-7842/ EMAIL: THOMAS.GILBERTSON1@USMC.MIL//
POC/R. W. DAWSON/LTCOL/RESERVE ATTACHÉ DETACHMENT/TEL: 501-847-2186/
EMAIL: RICHARD.DAWSON@DODIIS.MIL//
POC/M. T. WELTZIEN/MAJ/DCI RESERVE LIAISON/TEL: 703-692-1395/
EMAIL: MATTHEW.WELTZIEN@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  In accordance with the references, 
this message outlines the Active Duty and Reserve Marine Corps 
Attaché (MARA) program, the procedures for consideration for service
with the Defense Attaché Service (DAS), and solicits applications 
for the FY27 MARA program.  The board selects Marines based on 
Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) experience and performance, and
slates Marines based on their specific language, regional expertise,
and cultural skills.
1.a.  Major timeline milestones are below (read in three columns).
Date                        Milestone                           Note
Release of this message     Applications open
31 March 2025               Applications due
05 May 2025                 Board convenes
Sep - Dec 2025              Results released                     1
Note 1:  Following approval of primary selects by the Secretary of
the Navy (SECNAV), Manpower and Reserve Affairs (M&RA) releases the
results of the FY27 MARA Selection Board anytime from September to 
December 2025.  Results may be delayed due to SECNAV approval.
2.  MARAs fill influential, strategic-level positions within embassy
country teams.  Depending on the specific billet and country, they 
serve as the direct representative of the Secretary of Defense, the 
SECNAV, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, geographic 
combatant commanders, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps.  MARAs
may also serve as the Senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché 
(SDO/DATT) at particular embassies.  SDO/DATTs direct, control, 
operate, and administer the Defense Attaché Office to which 
assigned.  Attaché duties vary by country, but all personnel will 
advise the Chief of Mission on military matters.
2.a.  Reserve attaché program.  Reserve attachés’ primary purpose is
to augment the DAS utilizing drills and annual training periods, 
30-60 continuous days in the National Capital Region (NCR) or abroad
per year.  However, they may also have opportunities to support 
while on longer term Active-Duty Operational Support orders for 
periods of three months to two years based on operational MARA gaps.
Reserve attaché program selectees will be assigned to a geographic 
division and utilized based on DAS priorities, Marine availability,
suitability, and funding availability.
3.  Eligibility criteria.  Active Component (AC) and Reserve 
Component (RC) Marines who meet the following criteria are eligible 
to apply.
3.a.  Grade and career timing
3.a.1.  AC applicants must meet the grade criterion (or be selected 
for promotion to that grade) and possess the career timing to serve
a full tour of duty in the grade of the billet for which they are 
applying.  Lieutenant Colonel applicants must plan to opt-out of 
consideration for promotion if selected if they enter the in-zone 
population at any time during their anticipated tour of duty and
must agree to do so in their application if selected.  
3.a.2.  Enlisted Marines in grade of E-5 to E-8.  E-5s must have two
years TIG.
3.a.3.  RC applicants must belong to one of the following categories
of the ready reserve: Selected Marine Corps Reserve, Individual 
Mobilization Augmentee (IMA), Individual Ready Reserve, or AC with a
transfer date to the Ready Reserve before the end of FY25.
3.a.4.  AC Marines must be a FY26 mover based upon their current 
prescribed tour control factor (TCF).  If selected, Marines will 
depart their current duty station in FY26 to attend training prior 
to reporting to their assigned country in FY27.
3.a.5.  If an applicant does not meet their prescribed TCF 
requirements in paragraph 3.a.4, they must submit a exception to 
policy (ETP), endorsed by the first O-6 in the chain of command, via
NAVMC 10274 (AA-Form), with their application.  Transfer inside of 
the prescribed TCF will result in a gap for that command until the 
TCF has concluded.  If an officer is selected prior to his/her 
normal rotation date, Manpower Management Officer Assignments (MMOA)
will attempt to provide a backfill.  A commander's endorsement of 
the AA Form is considered acknowledgement of this situation.  MMOA
will adjudicate the ETP separately from the board process and must 
be approved by MMOA before a Marine will be considered for a MARA 
billet vacancy.  An officer with an approved ETP will be a FY26
mover regardless of selection to the MARA program.   
3.a.6.  AC applicants must include email correspondence from their 
PMOS monitor. RC applicants must include email correspondence from
RAM-1 confirming their eligibility for this program by using
SMB_RAM-1@USMC.MIL.  The board will not consider applications 
without PMOS monitor or RAM confirmation.  Service requirements and
other manpower considerations may preclude eligibility IAW ref (b).
3.a.7.  Per references (a) and (b), AC applicants must have 
completed a Single Scope Background Investigation or Top Secret (TS)
Security Investigation and have Sensitive Compartmented Information 
(SCI) eligibility to apply.  Application to the MARA program is not
sufficient justification for an investigation eligibility 
determination for AC applicants.  Officers and Marines selected by 
the board will be required to either have a current (within the last
five years) counterintelligence scope polygraph or obtain one prior 
to attending the Joint Military Attaché School (JMAS).  For 
questions regarding clearances, contact USMC HQMC Special Security 
Office at 703-693-6005 or hqmc_sso@usmc.mil.
3.a.8.  RC Marines without TS/SCI eligibility may apply, however, if
a reserve primary selectee does not have TS/SCI eligibility, the 
Marine will be submitted for and must obtain a TS/SCI clearance 
before transferring to the IMA and subsequently pass a 
counterintelligence-scope polygraph before starting the Reserve 
Support Course (RSC). 
3.a.9.  RC Marines must have had four satisfactory years of service
(50 points minimum each year) during the last five years.
4.  Ineligibility criteria
4.a.  Marines with an established separation or retirement date.
4.b.  AC Captains and Majors in the Above-Zone (AZ).  LtCols in the 
AZ will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
4.c.  Restricted officers.
4.d.  Marines with pending legal action.
4.e.  Marines affiliated with the Active Reserve Program.
4.f.  RC Marines above 5840 Active Duty Points on their Career 
Retirement Credit Report.  RC Marines with less than 5040 Career 
Retirement Credit Report points are preferred.
4.g.  AC officers and Marines in receipt of Permanent Change of 
Station or Permanent Change of Assignment orders.
4.h.  Officers and Marines selected for or currently attending 
programs that have a designated utilization assignment.  Examples 
include, Commandant’s Education Board, and School of Advanced 
Warfighting.
4.i.  AC aviators completing two or more consecutive years in Duties
Involving Flying - Denied status during FY26 will not normally be 
screened.  These officers may request consideration by contacting 
their PMOS monitor.  
4.j.  AC Marines without TS/SCI clearance eligibility.
5.  Additional considerations
5.a.  Language, regional expertise, and culture skills are highly 
desirable but are not prerequisites.
5.b.  Families are an important element of the MARA program.  
Attachés are encouraged to take their families to most assignments.
Applicants with dependents enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member
Program are eligible to apply but may not be able to participate 
pending availability of required care.
5.c.  Foreign-born Marines are not eligible for assignment to the 
country in which they were born.
5.d.  Spouses of AC applicants must be naturalized US citizens.  
Applicants will not be eligible for assignment to the country in 
which the spouse was born.  For RC applicants, spouses are not 
required to be naturalized US citizens for the applicant to serve in
the Reserve Attaché Program.
5.e.  Applicants will not be eligible for assignment to a country in
which immediate family members still maintain citizenship.  
Applicants should identify in their application letter whether any 
of their immediate family are not US citizens or dual citizens.  
Immediate family members include parents, stepparents, siblings, and
children.
5.f.  Dual Active-Duty applicants must have concurrence from both 
monitors and be willing to forego co-location if selected.  This 
should be annotated in the MARA application.  
6.  Training
6.a.  AC Training.  AC Marines selected for the program will attend
JMAS, conducted over approximately 13 weeks at the Defense 
Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Washington, DC.  Marines who 
successfully complete this training are then available for 
assignment abroad.  Language training is also required for most 
billets.  The length of language training will be based on the 
language and proficiency level required.  Training start dates are 
dependent upon the country to which selected, JMAS, and the language
training (up to 64 weeks in duration).  In some cases, this training
may start as early as Spring 2026.  Active Duty officers serving as 
MARAs are administratively controlled by the Marine Corps 
Intelligence Activity (MCIA) throughout training and while assigned 
to their respective countries.
6.b.  RC Training.  Reserve Attachés selected for the program must 
complete both the RSC and Geographic Division 
Training/Familiarization before serving overseas.  RSC is a resident
one-week introductory course taught by the JMAS annually, usually in
December, at DIA in Washington, DC.
7.  AC vacancies.  The FY27 MARA board will screen AC applicants for
the below assignments.  This list is subject to change up until the
conclusion of the board based on DIA requirements.  For the most 
current list, visit the website listed in paragraph 9.c.  All are 
36-month accompanied tours unless noted otherwise.
7.a.  Officers  (Read in four columns):
Country           Language     Rank      Notes
Bangladesh        English      Maj       24-month tour
Cameroon          French       LtCol     24-month tour
China             Mandarin     LtCol     
Indonesia         Indonesian   Maj       
Iraq              Arabic       Maj       12-month unaccompanied tour
Jordan            Arabic       Maj
Kenya             Swahili      Maj
Norway            Norwegian    Maj
Oman              Arabic       LtCol
Senegal           French       LtCol     24-month tour
Thailand          Thai         LtCol
Turkey            Turkish      Maj 
Ukraine           Russian      Maj       12-month unaccompanied tour
Vietnam           Vietnamese   Maj     
7.b.  Enlisted  (Read in four columns)
Country           Language     Rank      Notes
Egypt             Arabic       Sgt-MSgt  24-month tour
El Salvador       Spanish      Sgt-MSgt   
Oman              Arabic       Sgt-MSgt   
Tunisia           Arabic       Sgt-MSgt
Ukraine           Russian      Sgt-MSgt  12-month unaccompanied tour
8.  Reserve attaché program
8.a.  The FY27 board will screen two primary and two alternate 
reserve component O-3 to O-5 billets, and one primary and one 
alternate reserve component E-6 and E-7.
8.b.  Reserve IMA billets are three to five years in duration.
8.c.  Selectees will be transferred to the HQMC Intelligence 
Department’s IMA unit (RUC 88600) prior to the start of RSC once the
required clearance has been adjudicated.  RC selectees will attend 
RSC as soon as able, per paragraph 6.b.  Drill attendance sheets,
orders requests, and other administrative requirements associated 
with this duty will be processed by HQMC Deputy Commandant for 
Information.  Drills and Annual Training will likely occur in the 
NCR for the first year in support of this program’s substantial 
onboarding process.
8.d.  Reserve Marines selected as Alternates on the FY26 Marine 
Attaché Board are encouraged to reapply.
9.  Application process
9.a.  All applicants will follow guidelines posted to the 
Headquarters Marine Corps Intelligence Division MARA website listed
in paragraph 9c.  Applications must include a command endorsement 
from the first O-6 commander in the applicant’s chain of command.  
Applicants will list assignments in order of preference, although 
country selections will be based on the needs of the service.  
Prospective applicants, if selected, must be prepared to serve at 
any duty station listed in paragraph 7.  Any officer who declines a
MARA position will be ineligible for future MARA boards unless 
otherwise approved by Director, Manpower Management.   
9.b.  A full medical screening is not required for the application 
process, however, all applicants must provide a Certification of 
Suitability for Overseas Assignment for themselves and all family 
members.  It is imperative applicants disclose ongoing conditions to
best ensure the applicant and family members' needs can be met.  
Once selected, MARA candidates and their families must complete a 
full medical overseas screening within 90 days of acceptance.
9.c.  Application requirements, documents and templates are 
available at:  https:(slash)(slash)www.intelligence.marines.mil/
OCC-Field-Foreign-Language/Defense-Attache-Program/.
9.c.1.  Every document within the application must be a separate 
file in portable document format (.pdf) and saved with the naming
 convention EDIPI_LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME_MI_RANK_ACTIVE (or RESERVE)
_MOS_ENCLOSURENUMBER_DOCUMENTNAME (e.g. 1234567890_SMITH_JOHN_A_MAJ_
RESERVE_0302_ENCL1_O6_COMMAND_ENDORSMENT).
9.c.2.  OMPF update material.  Officers should submit OMPF update 
requests via OMPF-Records Management Application (O-RMA). If 
assistance is required, contact your unit S-1 or local IPAC. 
Officers are responsible for ensuring their OMPF and Master Brief
Sheet is accurate at all times.  Panel members will have access to
the OMPF during the panel.   
9.c.3.  The board will not consider incorrect or incomplete 
packages.
9.c.4.  Applications must arrive to HQMC Intelligence Division no 
later than 1630 Eastern Standard Time on 31 March 2025 to be 
considered by the board. 
9.c.5.  Applications will be submitted using DODSAFE 
(https:(slash)(slash)safe.apps.mil/) to: mara_application@usmc.mil.
Ensure encryption passphrases are emailed to 
mara_application@usmc.mil to prevent delayed processing.
9.c.6.  Enlisted Marines applying will also submit their application
via the Special Duty Assignment Miscellaneous Reenlistment Extension
Lateral Move (RELM) in the Total Force Retention System (TFRS) via 
the normal RELM routing chain to CMC (MMEA-25).  Unit Career 
Planners have access to the TFRS program.  Enlisted packages not 
routed through TFRS will not be boarded.
10.  Results.  M&RA will publish results following SECNAV approval 
of all primary selectees.  The results MARADMIN will contain 
information on the process for acceptance of the assignment and 
basic reporting information.
11.  This message is applicable to the Marine Corps Total Force.
12.  Release authorized by MajGen Ryan S. Rideout, Director, 
Manpower Management Division.//