R 062117Z FEB 25
MARADMIN 058/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//
SUBJ/FY26 HQMC SPECIAL DUTY ASSIGNMENT SCREENING TEAM (HSST)
PROCESS//
REF/A/MSGID: MCO/CMC/MM/11MAY21//
REF/B/MSGID: DOC/CMC/12APR24//
REF/C/MSGID: MCO/CMC/MPO/10MAY21//
REF/D/MSGID: MCO/CMC/MM/08SEP10//
REF/E/MSGID: MSG/CMC/MM/281530ZJUN24//
NARR/REF (A) IS MCO 1326.6 CH-1, SELECTING, SCREENING,
AND PREPARING ENLISTED MARINES FOR SCREENABLE BILLETS AND
INDEPENDENT DUTY ASSIGNMENTS (SCREENMAN). REF (B) IS MARINE CORPS
BULLETIN 1020 MARINE CORPS TATTOO POLICY. REF (C) IS MCO 1300.8,
MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENTS POLICY. REF (D) IS MCO 1040.31,
ENLISTED RETENTION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. REF (E) IS
MARADMIN 302/24, FY26 HQMC SPECIAL DUTY ASSIGNMENT CAMPAIGN.//
POC/D. R. MURRAY/LTCOL/MMEA-2/TEL: 703-784-9569/
EMAIL: DAVID.R.MURRAY1@USMC.MIL//
POC/D. S. TYKWINSKI/CAPT/MMEA-25/TEL: 703-784-9257/
EMAIL: DREW.TYKWINSKI@USMC.MIL//
POC/K. L. MCCOY/CAPT/MMEA-25/TEL: 703-895-3582/
EMAIL: KRISTINA.MCCOY@USMC.MIL//
POC/B. M. ELSEY/GYSGT/SDA RETENTION CHIEF/TEL: 703-432-9144/
EMAIL: BRANDON.ELSEY@USMC.MIL//
POC/A. C. MORALES/GYSGT/DRILL INSTRUCTOR MONITOR/TEL: 703-432-9475/
EMAIL: ADRIAN.C.NANEZ.MIL@USMC.MIL//
POC/R. NORIEGA/GYSGT/RECRUITING MONITOR/TEL: 703-432-9474/
EMAIL: ROLANDO.NORIEGA@USMC.MIL//
POC/J. A. RICHARDON/GYSGT/MSG MONITOR/TEL: 703-432-9476/
EMAIL: JACOB.A.RICHARDSON.MIL@USMC.MIL//
POC/T. D. STOKES/GYSGT/SOI MONITOR/TEL: 703-432-9473/
EMAIL: TYLER.D.STOKES@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. This message initiates the Fiscal Year 2026
(FY26) Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) Special Duty Assignment
(SDA) Screening Team (HSST) screening process. HQMC selects
and assigns the most qualified and capable Marines to duties as
a Recruiter, Drill Instructor, Combat Instructor, and Marine
Security Guard (MSG) Detachment Commander.
2. Eligible Marines. Manpower Management Enlisted Assignments
(MMEA) will release the list of Marines that meet the criteria
for assignment to SDA via the Total Force Retention System (TFRS) on
or about 1 March 2025. The identified Marines must be screened
by Commanding Officers, utilizing the instructions and checklists
available per reference (a).
2.a. Volunteer Consideration. Per reference (e), Marines with an
active and complete volunteer Reenlistment, Extension, and Lateral
Move (RELM) for an SDA (Recruiting, Drill Instructor, Combat
Instructor or MSG Detachment Commander) and a RELM “Submitted Date”
of 28 February 2025 or earlier will be considered a volunteer for
SDA. Marines with a request for a non-SDA screen-able duty (i.e.,
MSG WatchStander) that is still pending in TFRS after 1 March
2025 will not be considered SDA volunteers and may be required
to submit HSST screening materials if identified for HSST screening
and if disapproved for the initial request.
3. Submission Guidelines. Commands will submit completed SDA
packages on all identified Marines to MMEA electronically via a
TFRS SDA RELM request no later than 15 April 2025. Marines who do
not submit by this deadline will be assumed eligible and be directly
assigned to an SDA.
3.a. SDA RELMs that exceed 14 days in a Pending Additional
Information status may be pulled back to HQMC for processing.
3.b. Marines with an End of Current Contract (ECC) prior to 30
September 2026 will submit a completed SDA package to MMEA
electronically via TFRS RELM request as "SDA / Reenlistment / HSST"
RELM type. Each package will include, at a minimum the items listed
in paragraphs 3d-3k.
3.c. Marines with an ECC of 1 October 2026 and beyond will submit
completed SDA packages to MMEA electronically via TFRS RELM request
as "SDA w/ Extension / HSST" RELM type. Each package will include,
at a minimum the items listed in paragraphs 3d-3k.
3.d. The applicable Screening Checklists per paragraph (3k) and
Financial Worksheet, per reference (a) are available via TFRS.
3.e. Only close up photos of tattoos visible in PT gear must be
attached. Screening documents must include a detailed description,
size, location, meaning, and the date received for each tattoo.
3.f. Individual Medical Readiness (IMR) authorized, must
reflect "Fully Medically Ready".
3.f.1. IMR usage removes requirement for Medical Officer signature
on an SDA RELM unless deemed not qualified for SDA.
3.g. Records of disciplinary actions in Marine’s service record.
3.h. Chain of command RELM comments and recommendations. Commander
recommendations must address retention and the SDA request.
3.i. Security Clearance Eligibility Letter.
3.j. Fitness Report Inventory.
3.k. Checklists must be completed for Marines pertaining to the
Marine’s grade.
3.k.1. Corporals and Sergeants: Recruiting Duty and Drill
Instructor Duty checklists are required. Combat Instructor
checklists are required for infantry and female Marines only.
3.k.2. Staff Sergeants and Staff Sergeant selects: Recruiting Duty,
Drill Instructor, and MSG Detachment Commander checklists are
required. Combat Instructor checklists are required for infantry
and female Marines only.
3.k.3. Staff Sergeants and FY25 Staff Sergeant selects must submit
their Phase II screening form to the MSG Recruiting, Advertising,
and Screening Team (RAST) via the following email:
MCESG-RAST@groups.state.gov. An MSG RAST email confirming receipt
of the Phase II screener must be attached to the TFRS SDA RELM.
4. For Marines unqualified for SDA, Commanders will provide source
documentation of disqualifying criteria and/or estimated return date
to a qualified status to determine SDA class assignment and
retention accurately via a TFRS "SDA Only" request.
4.1. Examples include Medical Officer prognosis letters for
projected date of SDA assignability, legal documents that should
cause date conflicts with SDA class dates, page 11 entries for
assignment to Body Composition Program, or physical fitness test/
combat fitness test failures.
4.2. Unit Diary entries must be reflected in the Marine Corps Total
Force System for the disqualifying status to validate
disqualification.
5. Marines not directed for HSST screening but who want to
volunteer for SDA are encouraged to continue to submit applications
per paragraph 3.
6. HSST members will screen electronic packages and assign
qualified Marines to available SDA classes. During the screening,
HSST members make SDA class assignments on a “first-come,
first-serve” basis per each Marine’s qualifications, command
recommendations, and remaining SDA vacancies upon receipt of the SDA
package.
7. HSST assignments are announced via separate correspondence,
and a by-name list will be published via TFRS NLT August 2025.
7.a. Upon return of the approved RELM with a designated class
assignment to the unit, Marines will have no more than 15 days to
accept the obligated service. Those Marines that decline to gain
the obligated service necessary for their assignment to an SDA will
be issued a RE-3O reenlistment code per references (c) and (d).
8. Commanders must re-certify Marines between 60 and 45 days before
their SDA class report date to ensure they remain qualified.
Failure to properly re-screen Marines for SDA will result in a
determination of non-compliance.
9. Release authorized by MajGen Ryan S. Rideout, Director, Manpower
Management Division.//