R 251805Z JUL 25
MARADMIN 350/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA RA//
SUBJ/ACADEMIC YEAR 2026 ACTIVE RESERVE MARINE CORPS GRADUATE
EDUCATION PROGRAM (GEP) SELECTION PANEL//
REF/A/DOC/CMC/YMD:20230602//
REF/B/DOC/CMC/YMD:20190215//
REF/C/MSG/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM/YMD: 281924Z JAN 19//
NARR/REFERENCE A IS MCO 1524.1 MARINE CORPS GRADUATE EDUCATION
PROGRAM (GEP). REFERENCE B IS MCO 1001.52K MANAGEMENT OF THE ACTIVE
RESERVE (AR) SUPPORT TO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE
(USMCR). REFERENCE C IS MARADMIN 491/20 REMOVAL OF PHOTOGRAPHS FROM
CONSIDERATION BY PROMOTION BOARDS AND SELECTION PROCESSES PERTAINING
TO ASSIGNMENT, TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND COMMAND.//
POC/T. A. DEMPSEY/LTCOL/RAP/TEL: 703-432-9205//
POC/J. F. DEAN/MAJ/RAM-3/TEL: 703-784-1275//
POC/B. FORD/CIV/RAM-3/TEL: 703-784-9218//
EMAIL: RCSB(AT)USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. This MARADMIN announces the Academic Year (AY)
2026 Active Reserve (AR) Graduate Education Program (GEP) Selection
Panel. The AR GEP exists to provide requisite graduate education
opportunities for AR officers to fill validated billet requirements.
The AR GEP Selection Panel will convene on 26 September 2025.
2. Reserve Affairs (RA) is soliciting applicants for one GEP
opportunity. The officer will receive a Master of Science in
Management degree from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in the
Manpower Systems Analysis (MSA), 847 curriculum. This degree will
be accompanied with the 8840 Additional Military Occupational
Specialty (AMOS).
2.a. Course Objective. Prepare military officers to serve as
manpower planners by conducting and participating in manpower
related studies to ensure that sound management techniques are used
at all levels of manpower systems.
2.b. Course Description. Prepare graduates to develop manpower
policy and implement manpower techniques; to conduct studies and
surveys; and to analyze objectives, policies, procedures,
organization, and administrative actions to assess the effect of
management policies.
2.c. This opportunity will require service in the AR Program,
Component B1. The officer selected will be assigned to a
three-year AR utilization tour within the Manpower Plans Section,
RA Division, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps
(HQMC) immediately upon graduation.
3. Eligibility Criteria:
3.a. Competitive Category. Selected Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR),
Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA), Individual Ready Reserve
(IRR) and AR officers are eligible to apply.
3.b. Rank. The upper threshold are Majors with no more than
one-year time-in-grade on 1 June 2025. The lower threshold are
Captains with a minimum of two-years time-in-grade on 1 June 2025.
3.c. Time-on-Station (TOS). AR applicants must have two-years TOS
prior to 1 June 2025. This does not apply to SMCR/IMA/IRR
applicants.
3.d. AR Career Designation. Current AR officers who are career
designated must have a Date Current Tour Began (DCTB) of NLT 30
September 2024. AR officers on their accession tour must have a
DCTB of NLT 30 September 2023.
3.e. SMCR/IMA/IRR applicants must meet officer accession
requirements in accordance with reference (b).
4. Ineligibility Criteria. Officers who have been passed for
promotion selection in their current grade in any competitive
category will not be considered.
5. The AR GEP application process is a two-step process and the
following guidelines apply to the AR GEP application:
5.a. Step 1: All applicants will be screened by NPS for the
MSA discipline. Applicants must complete the NPS online
application located at https:(slash)(slash)nps.edu. Official
transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be
submitted directly to NPS from the institutions attended. The
transcripts need to include all credits and letter grades. Mail
transcripts to Naval Postgraduate School Admissions Office, 1
University Circle, He-046, Monterey, CA 93943-5100. Electronic
transcripts may be submitted from the institution to NPS
using admissions@nps.edu as the recipient. Applicants are
responsible for ensuring their official transcripts arrive to NPS NLT
15 August 2025. Any questions regarding the NPS process may be
addressed via email at the admissions email listed above.
5.b. Step 2: Applicants must apply via the online RPME
application website at
at https:(slash)(slash) www2.manpower.usmc.mil/application_cac/edu
/index.jsp. Common Access Card (CAC) certification is not required to
access the site. Officers with an MRA portal account will proceed
to the login process. Upon login, the system will validate basic
individual eligibility for application. Officers are advised to
read the instructions in their entirety before completing the
application.
The web-based application allows for the attachment of documents
and offers GEP options via drop-down boxes.
5.b.1. Officers 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 officers. Any officer who cannot access the application should
contact the AR GEP POCs listed in this MARADMIN.
5.b.2. Applicants must also complete the AR GEP application.
The application format and privacy act statement may be found
in reference (a) and on the RAM-3 website at https:(slash)(slash)
www.manpower.marines.mil/Divisions/Manpower-Management/Reserve-
Affairs-Division/Reserve-Affairs-Management-RAM/. Letters of
recommendation may be included as enclosures.
5.b.3. Statement of Understanding (SOU). The SOU will contain the
following declaration: “If selected, I agree to serve on
active duty as part of the AR Program for at least four
years after completion of my training. I agree not to transfer from
the AR Program or request separation or retirement until
I have completed this commitment within the program.” The SOU must be
submitted as part of the AR GEP application.
5.b.4. Applicants must submit unofficial transcripts from all
colleges and universities attended on the web application. The
transcripts need to include all credits and letter grades.
5.b.5. The deadline for submitting all material is 27 August 2025,
2359 Eastern Standard Time (EST). Late submissions will not be
accepted. The web-based, online RPME application is the only method
to apply.
5.b.6. All uploaded documents must be in portable document format
(PDF). The submitted name of the files must be in the following
Format: EDIPI_FileDescription.PDF.
5.b.7. Photographs. Per reference (c), official photographs are no
longer permitted in selection process packages.
5.b.8. Upon release of the results MARADMIN, PCS orders will be
issued for the selected officers to attend the NPS curriculum
reporting for the summer semester in July 2026 and graduating in
Spring 2028. Officers must ensure a sincere, dedicated interest
in the GEP program and serving in the Active Reserve Program before
applying.
6. Administration
6.a. Ensure e-mail addresses and telephone numbers are current
and are provided on the application.
6.b. Notification of selection. The panel will select a primary
for each school seat. The panel will also select a sufficient number
of alternates to meet quota requirements if selectees decline or
otherwise cannot accept. Once the panel results are approved the
primary selectee will be announced via MARADMIN. Applicants
selected as primaries and approved by CMC (RA) will receive
correspondence from this HQ with specific information regarding
school selection to include dates. The results MARADMIN will provide
administrative guidance for orders processing and issuance.
Alternates will be listed on the RAM-3 website identified in
paragraph 5.b.2. Unanticipated GEP vacancies will be filled by
alternates.
7. Waivers to eligibility requirements set forth in this MARADMIN
will be considered at the discretion of the Director of Reserve
Affairs Division on a case-by-case basis.
8. This MARADMIN is applicable to the Reserve Component.
9. Release authorized by Major General Karl D. Pierson, Director,
Reserve Affairs Division.//