ACADEMIC YEAR 2026 CLASS DATES FOR THE ENLISTED COLLEGE DISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAM WEEKEND SEMINARS
Date Signed: 6/24/2025 | MARADMINS Number: 288/25
MARADMINS : 288/25

R 232005Z JUN 25
MARADMIN 288/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CG EDCOM QUANTICO VA//
SUBJ/ACADEMIC YEAR 2026 CLASS DATES FOR THE ENLISTED COLLEGE
DISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAM WEEKEND SEMINARS//
REF/A/MSG/CMC WASHINGTON DC/231503ZDEC24//
REF/B/MSG/CMC WASHINGTON DC/231749ZDEC24//
REF/C/MSG/CMC WASHINGTON DC/231830ZDEC24//
NARR/REF A, MARADMIN 627/24, ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE STAFF 
NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER LEADERSHIP SCHOOL. REF B, MARADMIN 631/24 
UPDATED ENLISTED PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION (EPME) REQUIREMENTS 
FOR ACTIVE DUTY AND ACTIVE RESERVE MARINES. REF C, MARADMIN 631/24, 
UPDATED ENLISTED PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION (EPME) REQUIREMENTS 
FOR SELECTED MARINE CORPS RESERVE (SMCR), INDIVIDUAL READY 
RESERVE (IRR), AND INDIVIDUAL MOBILIZATION AUGMENTEE (IMA) MARINES. 
POC/J.A. LANG/GYSGT/ENLISTED RESERVE LIAISON, MCU/LOC: QUANTICO/
TEL: (703) 784-4497/EMAIL: JOSEPH.LANG@USMCU.EDU//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  This message announces the Academic Year (AY) 
2026 class dates for the College of Distance Education and 
Training (CDET) Enlisted College (EC) weekend seminar programs: 
Sergeants School Seminar Program (SSSP) and Staff Noncommissioned 
Officer Leadership School Seminar Program (SLSSP).
2.  For purposes of promotion and assignment, completion of a seminar 
program is equivalent to completion of the associated school at a 
Staff Noncommissioned Officer (SNCO) Academy.
3.  Seminars are executed through the CDET regional campuses.  
Weekend seminars will be conducted concurrently across participating
regions for each cycle; however, specific weekend dates may vary by 
region.  Class locations for each region are published on the Marine 
Corps University (MCU) website located at https:(slash)(slash)
www.usmcu.edu/CDET/enlisted/cdet_enrollment#enlisted-college-dep. 
3.a.  AY 2026 Weekend Seminar Cycle Schedule (read in four columns):
        Registration      Seminar       First           Final
Cycle    Deadline          Start        Weekend         Weekend
Fall    4 Aug 2025      Aug 2025       Sep 2025        Dec 2025
Spring  6 Jan 2026      Jan 2026       Feb 2026        May 2026
4.  Coordinating instructions
4.a.  Course prerequisites include: nominees must meet the Marine 
Corps Body Composition Program standards, have completed the 
associated prerequisite Distance Education Program (DEP) on 
MarineNet (EPME5000AA Sergeants Course DEP for SSSP, EPME6000AA 
Career Course DEP for SLSSP), and be endorsed by their commanding 
officer.
4.b.  Course registration
4.b.1.  To apply for a funded seat, individual units or Marines will
forward their completed College of Enlisted Military Education 
Command Screening Checklist to the Enlisted Reserve Liaison 
Office (E-RLO) at mcu_cdet_rlo@usmcu.edu.
4.b.2.  The registration deadline is 14 days prior to the seminar 
convening month to allow for Marine Reserve Order Writing 
System (MROWS) and Defense Travel System (DTS) submissions.
4.c.  CDET and the EC recognize the value of attendance of the 
seminar programs by sister service members.  The different 
perspectives and experiences of these students are an invaluable 
addition to the education of the force.  To this end, a limited 
number of seats are typically available for sister service members 
within each region.  Nominees must be within their services 
height/weight standards and have completed the associated 
prerequisite DEP on MarineNet.  This is accomplished by creating 
a MarineNet account at https:(slash)(slash)www.marinenet.usmc.mil/
MarineNet/EditProfile.aspx.  Questions regarding availability, or 
assistance with the distance education requirement, should be 
directed to the E-RLO.
5.  Amplifying instructions
5.a.  Reserve component Marines who are approved for a funded seat 
will be funded by Marine Forces Reserve using the MROWS and their
DTS reserve account.
5.b.  All students require access to a personal computer with audio, 
video, and the internet while participating in a seminar program.
5.c.  Sergeants attending the SSSP will be required to read the 
book "You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For."  
Sergeants are required to purchase, or otherwise acquire through the 
base or local library, this book for the duration of the seminar.
5.d.  Staff Sergeants and Gunnery Sergeants scheduled to attend the
SLSSP will be required to read the book, "Black Hearts: One Platoon’s
Descent Into Madness in Iraq’s Triangle of Death." Students 
are required to purchase, or otherwise acquire through the base or 
local library, this book for the duration of the seminar.
5.e.  Weekend seminars are available to the total force. 
6.  Release authorized by Brigadier General M. W. Tracy, President, 
Marine Corps University.//