061731Z MAR 25
MARADMIN 107/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//  
SUBJ/CHANGE 1 TO CY25 MCRC ENLISTED TO OFFICER SELECTION
BOARDS ANNOUNCEMENT//
REF/A/MSGID: MSG/MARADMIN 590/24: 20241206//
REF/B/MSGID: DOC/STATUTE: 20210101//
REF/C/MSGID: DOC/DODD/YMD: 20231205//
REF/D/MSGID: DOC/MM/YMD: 20151029//
REF/E/MSGID: DOC/MCRCO 1100.2A G-3/YMD: 20160111//
REF/F/MSGID: DOC/MM/YMD: 20190530//
REF/G/MSGID: DOC/STATUTE: 20200808//
NARR/REF A IS MARADMIN 590/24, CY 25 MCRC ENLISTED TO OFFICER 
SELECTION BOARDS ANNOUNCEMENT//.  REF B IS SECTION 2004 OF
TITLE 10, U.S. CODE, DETAIL AS STUDENTS AT LAW SCHOOLS;
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS; CERTAIN ENLISTED MEMBERS.//  
REF C IS DOD DIRECTIVE 1322.12, FUNDED LEGAL EDUCATION.//
REF D IS MCO 1040.43B, ENLISTED TO OFFICER COMMISSIONING PROGRAMS.//
REF E IS MCRCO 1100.2A, MARINE CORPS RECRUITING COMMAND OFFICER 
COMMISSIONING MANUAL. REF F IS MCO 1524.1,MARINE CORPS GRADUATE 
EDUCATION PROGRAM.//  REF G IS CHAPTER 33 OF TITLE 38, U.S. CODE, 
POST 9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.//
POC/C. A. LUCAS/CAPT/MCRC/USMC/TEL: 703-432-9262/ 
EMAIL: CHELSEA.LUCAS@MARINES.USMC.MIL//
POC/J. M. ORTIZ/MAJ/JAD/USMC/TEL: 703-614-2847/ 
EMAIL: JOSE.M.ORTIZ@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  This message announces the 
Academic Year (AY) 2026-2027 Enlisted to Judge Advocate (E to JA) 
program and interim guidance for E to JA execution as part of the
selection boards for the Enlisted to Officer program as
outlined in Reference (a).
2.  Background.
2.a.  The E to JA program was created to offer enlisted Marines
a funded opportunity to obtain a law degree and serve as a judge 
advocate in the Marine Corps. Marines selected for the program must 
complete a 10-week training course at Officer Candidate School (OCS)
and accept a permanent appointment as a second lieutenant in the 
Marine Corps Regular Component. After completion of OCS, selected
Marines will return to their parent commands. Upon admission to a 
qualifying law school, selected Marines will be issued Permanent
Change of Station (PCS) orders to a unit near their law school. 
Upon check-in to their law school unit they will commission as second
lieutenants.  Upon graduating law school and passing the bar exam, 
selected Marines will attend The Basic School (TBS) and then complete
the Basic Lawyer Course at Naval Justice School (NJS). Marines will
be certified as Judge Advocates and be awarded the Primary Military 
Occupational Specialty (PMOS) of 4402 upon completion of NJS.
2.b.  Interim Guidance for E to JA Program Execution.
2.b.1.  Reference (b) provides the legal authority to detail both 
officer and enlisted personnel of the Marine Corps as students at 
accredited law schools with a goal of accession into the regular 
Marine Corps as a Judge Advocate.  
2.b.2.  Reference (c) establishes the Funded Legal Education Program
and establishes policies, assigns responsibilities, and provides 
procedures for the organization, management, and implementation of
funded legal education and the detailing of commissioned officers and
enlisted members as law school students at government expense. 
2.b.3.  Marines interested in applying shall follow established
Enlisted to Officer application procedures contained in 
Reference (a). The additional law-specific requirements contained 
herein shall be included in their applications. 
2.b.3.a. Marines selected for the E to JA program who are not
accepted to law school will have the option to pursue an alternative 
commissioning program or maintain their enlisted status if desired. 
2.b.3.b.  Personnel administration and preparation for TBS will be
coordinated by Law Programs section, Marine Corps Recruiting Command
(MCRC) for enlisted members accepted to and executing the program.
2.b.3.c.  Marines accepted to the E to JA program will be placed on
Temporary Duty (TDY) on-the-job training with a Law Center or an
Office of the Staff Judge Advocate (OSJA) during their law school
summers and prior to reporting to TBS, as well as conduct other
officer development training.
2.b.3.d.  Accepted Marines will continue to receive full active duty
pay and benefits.
3.  Eligibility.
3.a.  General eligibility criteria. Refer to References (d) and (e)
and the MCRC website for program requirements, eligibility criteria,
and general qualifications. 
3.b.  Additional E to JA eligibility criteria.
3.b.1.  Marine must be in the grade of E-5 to E-7 when the Marine
begins law school.  This requirement is established by Reference (b)
and cannot be waived.
3.b.2.  Marine must have a minimum of four years but not more than
eight years total active-duty time when the Marine begins law school.
This requirement is established by Reference (b) and cannot be 
waived.
3.b.3  Marines must have at least twelve months remaining on their 
current enlistment or extension from the date of the selection board
convening.
3.b.4.  Marines must possess a baccalaureate degree from an
accredited institution, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better,
at the time of the application deadline.
3.b.5. Marines must be of good moral character with no record of 
disciplinary action.
3.b.6.  CG, MCRC will consider waivers on a case-by-case basis for
items 3.b.3 through 3.b.5.
4.  School criteria.
4.a.  The Marine Corps will only reimburse law education expenses for
the E to JA program at a level commensurate with Reference (f). As a
result, those accepted to the E to JA program will be personally
responsible for any educational expenses over that amount.
4.b.  The law school must be an American Bar Association (ABA)
accredited school.
4.c.  Tuition paid by the Department of Defense will be capped at the
same state levels identified in Reference (g).  Students may request
to attend a school whose tuition exceeds that cap, but they will
incur any additional financial responsibility over the capped tuition
rate.  MCRC, in conjunction with Judge Advocate Division (JAD), will
adjudicate such requests.
5.  Application process.
5.a.  The basic application requirements found in MARADMIN 590/24,
Reference (a), will be required for all E to JA applicants. 
The convening dates for the boards remain the same as those
outlined in Reference (a).
5.b.  In addition, Marines applying to the E to JA program must
include the following in their package:
5.b.1.  An official LSAT score obtained within the last four years
and with a score of 150 or higher.
5.b.1.a. Applicants without LSAT scores will not be considered by the
board.
5.b.2.  A list of the law schools accredited by the ABA which the
applicant plans to apply, has applied, and/or has been accepted to, 
in priority order.
5.b.3.  Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, 
along with credits, letter grades, and degree obtained.
5.b.4.  A statement of acceptance of the service obligation.  
5.b.4.a. Upon successful completion of the E to JA program and
awarding of the 4402 PMOS, Marines incur two years (24 months) 
obligated active service, post-NJS, for each year (12 months),
or any part thereof, spent in law school, up to 6 years (72 months).
6.  The POCs for this MARADMIN are Capt Chelsea Lucas and
Maj Jose Ortiz.  Please refer to the POC information at the beginning
of this MARADMIN.
7.  This MARADMIN is not applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve.
8.  Release authorized by Major General William J. Bowers,
Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruiting Command.//