R 271741Z JUN 25
MARADMIN 305/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA RA//
SUBJ/CONVENING OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 (FY26) RESERVE SENIOR STAFF
COURSE ENLISTED SELECTION PANEL//
REF/A/DOC/CMC/YMD: 20190215//
REF/B/DOC/CMC/YMD: 20080125//
REF/C/MSG/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM/YMD: 252010Z AUG 20//
REF/D/DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MMRP/YMD: 20230605//
NARR/REFERENCE (A) IS MCO 1900.16 CH 2, SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT
MANUAL. REFERENCE (B) IS MCO 1553.4B, PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION
(PME). REFERENCE (C) IS MARADMIN 491/20, REMOVAL OF PHOTOGRAPHS FROM
CONSIDERATION BY PROMOTION BOARDS AND SELECTION PROCESSES PERTAINING
TO ASSIGNMENT, TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND COMMAND. REFERENCE (D) IS MCO
1610.7B, PERFORMANCE EVALUATION SYSTEM (PES)//
POC/M. J. JONES/MAJ/RAM-5/TEL: 703-784-3676/EMAIL:
MARSHALL.J.JONES@USMC.MIL//
POC/G. J. LOPEZ/CAPT/RAM-5/TEL: 703-784-0537/EMAIL:
GERARDO.J.LOPEZ@USMC.MIL//
POC/B. FORD/CIV/RAM-3/TEL: 703-432-9410/EMAIL:
BRENNETT.FORD@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. This MARADMIN announces the FY26 Reserve Senior
Staff Course (RSSC) enlisted selection panel convening from 22-24
September 2025 and solicits applications from those desiring
attendance. Reserve Affairs (RA) annually conducts the RSSC as
Professional Military Education (PME) for senior Reserve Component
(RC) officers and senior enlisted personnel. The RSSC is a two-week
resident course for RC personnel who serve in the Ready Reserve, to
include members from the Selected Marine Corps Reserve, Individual
Mobilization Augmentee, and the Individual Ready Reserve.
2. The RSSC will be conducted 1-12 June 2026 at Marine Corps Base
Quantico. All enlisted (MSgt/1stSgt (sel) – SgtMaj/MGySgt) are
eligible to apply.
To be eligible to attend the course, all applicants must have
a mandatory removal date after 1 August 2027.
3. Marines who meet any of the following criteria are ineligible to
apply:
3.a. Marines who are in-zone or above-zone on the next scheduled
promotion board.
3.b. Marines who have previously completed RSSC.
3.c. Marines with an approved retirement, resignation, or who are
pending conditional release.
3.d. Marines who have been approved for continuation beyond their
mandatory removal/retirement date.
3.e. Marines within the Active Reserve program.
4. Application process
4.a. The deadline for submitting the application and update material
is 2359 EST on 19 August 2025. Late submissions will not be
accepted. The web-based online RPME application at
https://www2.manpower.usmc.mil/application_cac/ is the recommended
method to apply and is where all applicants must go to submit their
requests. Applicants who do not have a common access card or
encounter Manpower and Reserve Affairs (MRA) portal submittal
complications can email their application to joinar@usmc.mil.
4.b. Applicants with a MRA portal account will proceed to the login
process. Upon login, the system will validate basic individual
eligibility for application. Applicants are advised to read the
instructions in their entirety before completing the application.
The web-based application allows for the attachment of documents.
4.c. Applicants who do not have an MRA portal account will receive a
404 access error. Within the error message are instructions on how
to register for an MRA portal account, which is available to all
applicants. Any applicant who cannot access the online application
should contact the RSSC POCs listed in this MARADMIN.
4.d. Ensure all documents uploaded or emailed are in the appropriate
document type. All uploaded or emailed documents must be in portable
document format (PDF). The submitted name of the files must be in
the following format: EDIPI_FileDescription.pdf.
4.e. The application will consist of a Marine’s Letter to the
President of the RSSC Panel and a Reserve Qualification Summary
(RQS). Incomplete applications will not be considered for panel
selection.
4.f. Reserve Qualification Summary. All applicants will submit a
signed Reserve Qualification Summary (RQS). The RQS NAVMC 10476,
dated September 2016, is located on the portal application or online.
4.g. Letter to the Panel. All applicants will submit a signed
Naval Letter to the President of the RSSC panel (template located on
the online application) describing why they should be selected to
attend the course. The “From” line will consist of rank, first
name, last name, EDIPI/MOS, and USMCR. The “To” line will consist of
“President, FY26 Reserve Senior Staff Course Enlisted Selection
Panel.”
The “Subject” will consist of “LETTER TO PANEL PRESIDENT OF THE
FISCAL YEAR 2026 RESERVE SENIOR STAFF COURSE ENLISTED SELECTION
PANEL.”
4.h. Once submitted, personnel will receive a confirmation email
that their application has been received. Hard-copy applications
will not be accepted. All material submitted to the panel will be
destroyed upon completion of the panel.
4.i. Photographs. Per reference (c), Official Photographs are no
longer permitted in board/panel packages. No submitted documents
will have a photo attached (i.e., Bio’s, Resumes, etc).
4.j. Fitness reports. Fitness reports are due to CMC (MMPB-23) by
the timelines noted in reference (d). Reports mailed directly to
the president of the panel will not be added to a Marine’s OMPF.
For fitness reports to become part of the OMPF, the reports must be
submitted to CMC (MMPB-23). The automated performance evaluation
system (A-PES) is the primary means of submitting fitness reports.
Commanders are ultimately responsible for the timely submission of
fitness reports to CMC (MMPB-23) and ensuring that all fitness
report timelines are adhered to per reference (d). Incomplete
fitness reports will not be accepted.
4.k. OMPF Material. Any document(s) a Marine believes should be
part of his or her OMPF, other than Fitness Reports, must be
populated within their OMPF before the panel convenes. The
preferred and fastest way to update your OMPF is through the OMPF
Records Management Application (ORMA). The ORMA empowers and allows
individual Marines to take control of their OMPF. To access ORMA,
go to the MRA website at www.manpower.marines.mil, under the
“Manpower Management” drop down menu select “Performance Branch”,
then select “Records and Performance.” Scroll down to the bottom of
the page and select “Records Management” then select “OMPF Records
Management Application.” Follow all instructions to register, audit,
and update your OMPF within ORMA.
5. Administration
5.a. Ensure e-mail addresses and telephone numbers are current and
provided on the application.
5.b. Notification of selection. The panel will select a primary for
each school seat available. There will be eight enlisted school
seats for the FY26 RSSC. The panel will also select enough
alternates to meet quota requirements if selectees decline or
otherwise cannot accept. Selection to complete an RPME opportunity
is considered a privilege that is highly advantageous to officer and
enlisted development. Once the panel results are approved, primary
selectees will be announced via MARADMIN. Applicants selected as
primaries and approved by CMC (RA) will receive correspondence from
RA with specific information regarding course selection to include
dates. Alternates will be listed on the Reserve Officer PME website
located on the Manpower and Reserve Affairs webpage at
www.manpower.marines.mil. Select “Manpower Management”, drop down to
“Reserve Affairs Division”, then select “Reserve Affairs Management
(RAM).” Under “Reserve Programs and Boards (RAM-3)” click the
“Reserve Officer PME/GEP” drop down menu. Alternates will be listed
under the AY2026-27 RPME section. Additional allocations and
unanticipated RSSC vacancies will be filled by alternates.
5.c. Applicants selected by the panel, who subsequently decline the
opportunity to attend, are required to submit their declination in
writing via their chain of command. Alternates selected to fill
vacated course quotas are also required to formally decline.
Detailed declination instructions will be provided within the RSSC
selection panel results MARADMIN. Each Marine may only receive one
deferral for this course.
6. To consult with a Career Counselor via the Career Management
Team (CMT), RA Division, please call commercial 703-784-0583,
DSN 278-0583, or email: smb_manpower_cac@usmc.mil. The CMT can be
found on the Manpower and Reserve Affairs webpage at
https://www.manmpower. marines.mil/Manpower-Management/Reserve-
Affairs-Division/Career-Management-Team-CMT/.
7. This MARADMIN is applicable to the Reserve Component.
8. Release authorized by Major General K. D. Pierson, Director,
Reserve Affairs Division.//