R 061938Z JUN 25
MARADMIN 265/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//
SUBJ/FY26 CONGRESSIONAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM FOR OFFICERS AND STAFF
NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/DOD/YMD: 20161012//
REF/B/MSGID: DOC/MPO/YMD: 20210510//
REF/C/MSGID: DOC/DOD/YMD: 20100908//
REF/D/MSGID: DOC/MM/YMD: 20190530//
NARR/REF A IS DOD DIRECTIVE 1322.6 FELLOWSHIP, SCHOLARSHIPS,
TRAINING WITH INDUSTRY (TWI) AND GRANTS FOR DOD PERSONNEL. REF B IS
MCO P.1300.8 W/CH1, MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY. REF C
IS MCO 1040.31 ENLISTED RETENTION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
REF D IS MCO 1524.1, MARINE CORPS GRADUATE EDUCATION PROGRAM.//
POC/D.T. DUMANOVSKY/MAJ/MMOA-3/USMC/DSN 278-9285/TEL (703) 784-9285/
EMAIL: SMB_MMOA_GRAD_EDU@USMC.MIL//
POC/R.E. CUMMINGS/MAJ/OLA/TEL (703) 692-0198/
EMAIL: RACHEL.CUMMINGS@USMC.MIL//
POC/S.C. DECKER/GYSGT/OLA/TEL (703) 692-7692/
EMAIL: SEAN.C.DECKER.MIL@USMC.MIL//
POC/S. GRODEK/LTCOL/RAM-2/TEL (703) 784-0531/
EMAIL: STEPHEN.GRODEK@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. Purpose. This message announces the Fiscal Year
2026 Congressional Fellowship Program (CFP) Panel for officers and
staff noncommissioned officers (SNCOs). Members of the active
component (AC) and active reserve (AR) may apply if they meet the
eligibility criteria. All members who complete the
12-month Capitol Hill fellowship will incur a 36-month service
obligation. This service obligation runs concurrently with any
other service obligation, such as career designation, PCS orders,
service schools, lateral move, etc. The purpose of this message
is to announce major timeline milestones, eligibility criteria, and
coordinating instructions.
1.a. Changes. CFP will be a two-part panel process. On or about
16 July, the CFP panel will convene for round 1 and identify Marines
who are best and fully qualified to proceed to the interview round
conducted by the Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA). Upon
completion of interviews, a follow-on results MARADMIN will
be released. Marines not selected for CFP will be considered for
subsequent FY26 boards.
1.b. Application Timeline (read in two columns):
NLT Date Milestone
Release of this message Questionnaire opens
11 July 2025 Questionnaire closes/Applications due
16 July 2025 CFP Panel convenes for Round 1
31 July 2025 NLT CFP Panel Round 1 results released
01 August 2025 NLT Round 2 CFP Interviews begin
08 August 2025 NLT Interviews complete
31 August 2025 NLT CFP Panel Round 2 results released
15 June 2026 CFP report date
2. Background. CFP is a 42-month program that offers the
opportunity to gain experience working in the legislative
branch of the United States government on the staff of a United
States Senator or a United States Representative. Typical
responsibilities include assisting in the drafting of legislation,
floor debate preparation, planning, and analysis of public policy.
This experience is then incorporated in a follow-on utilization
tour. Utilization tours are typically billets in the Marine Corps
Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA).
3. Program Timeline (read in two columns)
NLT Date Milestone
15 June 2026 CFP report date
22 June 2026 Approximate start date for Master's
Program
classes
01 January 2027 Begin 1 year Capitol Hill Fellowship (OLA)
01 January 2028 Receive PCA Orders from Graduate Education
Office and begin 2-year utilization tour
(OLA)
01 January 2030 Receive PCS/A Orders from AC or AR Primary
Military Occupational Specialty (PMOS)
monitor to complete remaining service
obligation
4. Eligibility. All applicants should possess strong moral
character and the judgment necessary to operate independently in an
unfamiliar and dynamic environment. Applicants should demonstrate a
trajectory of high performance in their PMOS and present a
professional appearance. All applicants must possess exceptional
reading, writing, and communication skills. Familiarity with
current service-level and DOD specific policy concerns, national
security affairs, government affairs, and international relations is
preferred but not required.
4.a. Officers
4.a.1. Applicants must be scheduled to complete their prescribed
tour control factor by 30 September 2026. Questions concerning tour
lengths should be directed to the appropriate PMOS monitor.
4.a.2. AC officers in the ranks of First Lieutenant through Major
with a date of rank junior to 20240801.
4.a.3. Officers must be career designated.
4.b. Enlisted Marines
4.b.1. SNCOs must report with a minimum of 54 months of obligated
service. This accounts for the six-month development tour, 12
months Congressional Fellowship on Capitol Hill,
24-month utilization tour, and 12 months of additional
obligated service post-utilization tour.
4.b.2. Applicants must be scheduled to complete their prescribed
tour control factor by 30 September 2026. Questions concerning tour
lengths should be directed to the appropriate PMOS monitor.
4.b.3. AC SNCOs in the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSgt) through Master
Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt) from all occupational specialties.
4.b.4. AR SNCOs in the ranks of Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt) through
Master Sergeant (MSgt) from all occupational specialties.
4.b.5. Undergraduate degrees are preferred but not required.
Applicants should ensure transcripts and diplomas are uploaded to
their OMPF.
5. Ineligibility
5.a. Officers
5.a.1. Officers with an approved separation or retirement date.
5.a.2. Majors with a date of rank senior to 20240801.
5.a.3. Officers who have participated in a resident graduate
education program (i.e. Naval Postgraduate School, Air Force
Institute of Technology).
5.a.4. Officers in the above zone.
5.a.5. Officers with a training PMOS or departing PMOS training.
5.a.6. Officers with pending lateral move applications will be
permitted to screen, but approval of lateral move may prohibit CFP
selection.
5.a.7. Reserve Component officers; exception to policy requests
will not be considered.
5.a.8. Exception to policies for paragraphs 5.a.1. to 5.a.6
must be included in the CFP application via an administrative action
(AA) form endorsed by an O-6 in the chain of command.
5.b. Enlisted Marines
5.b.1. SNCOs with less than 10 years’ time-in-service.
5.b.2. GySgts who denote "F" in section 8c of their
fitness reports.
5.b.3. First Sergeants (1stSgt) and Sergeants Major (SgtMaj).
5.b.4. SNCOs that have twice failed selection for promotion to the
next higher grade.
5.b.5. Applicants who have participated in a resident graduate
education program (i.e. Naval Postgraduate School).
5.b.6. SNCOs in the SMCR, IMA, or IRR of the Reserve Component.
6. Application Process
6.a. Complete the "FY 26 Congressional Fellowship Panel"
questionnaire at: https:(slash)(slash)www2.manpower.usmc.mil/
application_cac/.
6.b. Applications must be submitted as a single PDF file titled
"EDIPI_CFP_Last Name".
6.c. File size should not exceed 800 KB. For program information
and application instructions, visit:
https:(slash)(slash)www.hqmc.marines.mil/Agencies/Office-of-
Legislative-Affairs/Congressional-Fellowship-Program/
6.d. All application packages must contain command endorsements
through the first general officer in the applicant’s chain
of command.
6.e. All application packages must contain PMOS monitor or Reserve
Affairs Monitor-2 (RAM) acknowledgement. An email is sufficient for
this requirement.
6.f. Applicants must submit their CFP application with all signed
endorsements, monitor acknowledgement, and privacy act release form
no later than 11 July 2025.
6.g. Applicants should direct program-specific questions to the OLA
POCs in this MARADMIN.
6.h. Applicants who fail to abide by application guidance will be
removed for consideration by the board.
6.i. MMOA, MMEA, and RAM-2 will screen all members applying to the
CFP for TOS requirements, career progression factors, promotion
eligibility, and Enlisted Career Force Controls (ECFC).
7. Coordinating Instructions
7.a. Personal responsibilities. Each officer and SNCO is
personally responsible for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of
their Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) and Master Brief Sheet
(MBS) before the date the selection board convenes. Performance
Evaluation System (PES) and fitness report (FITREP) policy and
correction-specific questions should be directed to MMPB-23.
7.b. All members selected for the CFP should expect 18 months of
non-observed FITREPs during their development tour and Capitol Hill
Fellowship.
7.c. As part of the CFP, officers are required to earn a Master's
in Public Policy (MPP). SNCOs will have the option to earn an MPP.
Members that enroll in the MPP program must complete their degree no
later than the end of the utilization tour. Selectees will receive
additional coordinating instructions regarding this requirement.
8. Marine Corps civilian employees interested in the CFP should
follow the instructions contained in the NAVADMIN call for
applications to the Navy Legislative Fellowship.
9. Points of Contact
9.a. OLA
Major Rachel Cummings
Email: rachel.cummings@usmc.mil
Comm: (703) 692-0198
9.b. MMOA-3 Graduate Education Manager
Major Delaney T. Dumanovsky
Email: SMB_MMOA_GRAD_EDU@USMC.MIL
Comm: (703) 784-9284
9.c. MMEA
GySgt Letty Jaime
Email: letty.jaime@usmc.mil
Comm: (703)-784-3358
9.d. RAM-2
Lieutenant Colonel Stephen D. Grodek
Email: stephen. grodek@usmc.mil
Comm: (703) 784-0531
10. This MARADMIN is applicable to the Total Force.
11. Release authorized by MajGen Ryan S. Rideout, Director,
Manpower Management Division. //