R 012103Z MAY 25
MARADMIN 213/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//
SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2026 COMMAND SCREENING BOARDS ANNOUNCEMENT//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/CMC/YMD: 20170323//
REF/B/MSGID: DOC/CMC/YMD: 20210510//
REF/C/MSGID: DOC/CMC/YMD: 20190215//
REF/D/MSGID: MSG/CMC/YMD: 20200826//
NARR/REF A IS MCO 1300.64B, COMMAND SCREENING PROGRAM. REF B IS MCO
1300.8 CH-1, MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY. REF C IS MCO
1900.16 CH 2, SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT MANUAL. REF D IS MARADMIN
491/20, REMOVAL OF PHOTOGRAPHS FROM CONSIDERATION BY BOARDS AND
SELECTION PROCESSES.//
POC/T. J. KITASATO/MAJ/MMOA-3/(703) 784-9284/
EMAIL: TAYLOR.KITASATO@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. Purpose. This message announces the timeline
for the fiscal year 2026 Command Screening Boards (CSB), outlines
eligibility criteria, and provides information on board
communication and where to find a list of available colonel and
lieutenant colonel commands for assignment.
1.a. Major timeline milestones are (read in two columns):
Date Milestone
Release of this message CSB questionnaire open
31 May 2025 Completed questionnaire due
31 May 2025 Remove by request (RBR) due
08 July 2025 Lieutenant colonel CSB convenes
09 July 2025 Colonel CSB convenes
TBD August 2025 CSB results released
CSB results release + 30 days Declinations and deferrals due
1.b. The purpose of the Command Screening Program is to ensure that
Marines receive the best possible leadership and to provide eligible
officers with a fair and equitable opportunity to command.
1.c. The CSBs will select officers for designated command billets
projected to generally be available between 1 June 2026 and 31 May
2027.
1.d. In order to ensure focus on unit mission while allowing
officers appropriate time for transition and to reinvest the
valuable skills and experience from successful commanders, Manpower
Management Separation and Retirement Branch (MMSR) will not
normally endorse requests to retire within 24 months of completion
of a command tour.
2. Process. The boards will select those who are best and most
fully qualified for command from the eligible population. The
board will select a number of officers equal to the number of
commands available as primaries. Additionally, the boards will
select a sufficient number of officers as alternates to meet
command requirements when primaries decline or otherwise cannot
take command. The boards will propose a command slate for the
primary selectees and will forward the slate, along with the
alternate list, to the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) for
approval. When approved, board results listing the primary
selectees will be announced via Marine Administrative message
(MARADMIN).
3. Board composition. The CSBs will consist of officers whose
Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs) represent all elements of
the Marine Air-Ground Task Force and supporting establishment.
4. Eligibility. The eligibility rosters are posted
on the following website: https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Manpower-
Management/Officer-Assignments/#tab/top-level-schools-and-
programs. Please contact your Primary Military Occupational
Specialty (PMOS) monitors with questions about eligibility.
4.a. Eligibility criteria. All unrestricted colonels or colonels
(select) and lieutenant colonels or lieutenant colonels (select),
except as outlined in paragraph 4.b.
4.b. Ineligibility criteria
4.b.1. Officers with an established separation or retirement date.
4.b.2. Officers with a mandatory retirement date prior to
1 June 2029.
4.b.3. Lieutenant colonels in or above the promotion zone for the
calendar year 2025/fiscal year 2027 Promotion Selection Boards.
4.b.4. Officers who have previously held command in one of the
designated colonel or lieutenant colonel command screened billets
for a period of at least 12 months, are currently in command, or are
slated and awaiting command as a result of a previous command
screening board. This does not preclude colonels (select) currently
in a lieutenant colonel command from eligibility for a colonel
command.
4.b.5. Officers who have previously declined command.
4.b.6. Officers currently assigned to payback tours following
graduation from the School of Advanced Warfighting, School of
Advanced Military Studies, School of Advanced Air and Space
Studies, or the Maritime Advanced Warfighting School who will not
complete 12 months of assignment by 31 October 2025.
4.b.7. Officers in graduate education programs other than Doctor
of Philosophy (PHD). These officers will be eligible to screen for
command after their graduation from school.
4.b.8. Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Program (PHD-P). Officers
who entered the PHD-P program between FY16 and FY24 are eligible
for command screening provided they meet all other eligibility
criteria — this applies to all PHD-P officers that this board will
consider. Beginning only with the FY25 PHD-P selection cohort,
officers who enter the program will be ineligible for future
command screening.
4.b.9. Officers inbound to a joint duty assignment or currently
serving in a joint duty assignment who will not have not completed
12 months of the joint duty assignment by 31 July 2025.
4.b.10. Officers with the acquisition Primary Military Occupational
Specialty (8059/8061).
4.b.11. Limited duty officers.
4.b.12. Officers who have been relieved for cause from a designated
lieutenant colonel or colonel command screened billet.
4.b.13 Officers who will not complete their planned tour by 31
July 2025 for board selected assignments or programs that require
one or more years of training for assignment; this includes, but is
not limited to Marine Attaché, Personnel Exchange Program, or
Security Cooperation Organization.
4.b.14 Officers who are currently enrolled in Top Level School
programs that require utilization tours.
5. Board communication
5.a. CMC directs all eligible officers to communicate with the
board. The online questionnaire is the primary mechanism for board
correspondence. Officers may call attention to any matter they
deem important to selection or slating including command
preferences, location preferences, and family or personal
situations to inform the board's decision making. A common access
card certificate is required to access the questionnaire.
5.b. Command screening questionnaire (colonel and lieutenant
colonel): https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Manpower-Management/Offic
er-Assignments/#tab/top-level-schools-and-programs
5.c. Officers may submit any material not found in their Official
Military Personnel File (OMPF) via the questionnaire. Instructions
on how to upload material are provided on the final page of the
questionnaire. Officers who experience difficulty with the
questionnaire upload process should contact Manpower Management
Officer Assignments Branch, Plans, Programs, and Boards Section
(MMOA-3) by email at smb_mmoa_planso@usmc.mil or by phone at
(703) 784-9284 for assistance.
5.d. The deadline for submitting the online questionnaire is
2359 EST on 31 May 2025 in order to facilitate pre-board actions.
5.e. The questionnaire does not allow for an officer to edit their
responses after progressing to the next item or after submission.
Officers who desire to change their responses should submit a new
questionnaire, using the link above. MMOA will provide the board
with the results of the most recent submission.
5.f. All correspondence to the board must originate from or be
endorsed by the screening officer. Any correspondence submitted
after the convening of the board will be considered at the
discretion of the board president.
5.g. 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 is accurate at all
times. A members' OMPF, including their Master Brief Sheet, will
be accessible to the board.
5.h. Photographs are not used in the CSBs per reference (d).
5.i. Fitness reports. Completed fitness reports must be submitted
to Performance Evaluation Section (MMPB-2) for inclusion into the
OMPF. Incomplete fitness reports will not normally be accepted or
forwarded to the board.
5.j. Remove by request (RBR)
5.j.1. Officers who are eligible but do not desire to screen must
complete the online command screening questionnaire and attach an AA
form requesting RBR. The AA form must be endorsed by the first
Marine in the fitness report routing chain. The Senior Marine
Representative or administrative reviewer may be used if there is no
Marine in the chain. Officers without properly endorsed AA forms
for RBR will screen for command.
5.j.2. MMOA-3 must receive requests for RBR via the online
questionnaire no later than 2359 EST on 31 May 2025. Officers
requesting RBR must also email a copy to their PMOS monitor.
5.j.3. Officers who submit a RBR AA form but subsequently wish to
withdraw that request must do so via a second AA form. The AA form
must be signed by the Marine requesting to be screened and does not
require other endorsements. Submit these AA forms to PMOS monitor
and MMOA-3 at smb_mmoa_planso@usmc.mil.
6. Command availability.
6.a. Command availability will be posted on the command screening
questionnaire and on the MMOA-3 website: https://www.manpower.marin
es.mil/Manpower-Management/Officer-Assignments/#tab/top-level-school
s-and-programs
6.b. The list of commands screening will be updated periodically
prior to the board and is subject to change up until the conclusion
of the board.
7. Board results. Manpower Management will release the results
of the CSBs at the beginning of August 2025 via MARADMIN.
7.a. Alternates. Officers selected as alternates will be
prioritized by the board for assignment when command vacancies
occur. MMOA-3 will post an alphabetical list of alternates on
the MMOA-3 website following the release of the board results.
Alternates will be given formal offers of command when vacancies
occur.
7.b. Declinations. Officers who request to decline command must
submit a request for declination in writing (AA Form) via the first
general officer in their chain of command addressed to HQMC via
MMOA-3. The request for declination process is the same if an
alternate is offered command. The MARADMIN announcing results will
establish a timeline for acceptance or declination. Officers who
decline command are ineligible for future command, unless otherwise
approved by the Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.
7.c. Deferrals. Officers selected for command who are unable to
execute orders due to extraordinary circumstances may request a
deferral. If approved, the Director, Manpower Management will
defer the officer to a future command screening board. Primary
selectees may submit a deferral request in writing (AA Form) to
HQMC (MMOA-3) via the first general officer in their chain of
command.
8. Points of contact:
Colonel R. F. May
Ground Colonel Monitor
DSN: 278-9300, Comm: (703)784-9300
Email: robert.may@usmc.mil
Colonel M. A. Blejski
Aviation Colonel Monitor
DSN: 278-9300 Comm: (703) 784-9300
Email: michael.a.blejski@usmc.mil
Colonel M. D. Simon
Combat Arms Lieutenant Colonel Monitor
DSN: 278-9274, Comm: (703) 784-9274
Email: michael.d.simon@usmc.mil
Colonel A. C. Norwood
Combat Service Support Lieutenant Colonel Monitor
DSN: 278-9274, Comm: (703) 784-9274
Email: aaron.norwood@usmc.mil
Colonel J. J. Patterson II
Information Lieutenant Colonel Monitor
DSN: 278-9273 Comm: (703) 784-9273
Email: jeffrey.pattersonii@usmc.mil
Colonel J. W. Potter
Aviation Lieutenant Colonel Monitor
DSN: 278-9267 Comm: (703) 784-9267
Email: Jason.w.potter@usmc.mil
Major T. D. Milroy
Field Grade Center Desk
DSN: 278-9273 Comm: (703) 784-9273
Email: Thomas.milroy@usmc.mil
9. This message is only applicable to the active component.
10. Release authorized by MajGen Ryan S. Rideout, Director,
Manpower Management Division.//