R 191917Z AUG 25
MARADMIN 388/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CG EDCOM PRES MCU QUANTICO VA//
SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2026 CLASS DATES FOR CORNERSTONE: THE COMMANDANT’S 
COMBINED COMMANDERSHIP COURSE// 
POC/DR. DAVID WALKER/LEJEUNE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE/MCU/TEL: COMM 
(703) 432-4684 /EMAIL: LLI_MLD@USMCU.EDU//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Situation.  President, Marine Corps University
(MCU), as executive agent for the Commandant of the Marine Corps, 
conducts commanders and Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL) 
programs along with a workshop for command team spouses.  A CSEL is 
defined as a Sergeant Major who works for an O5, or O6 board-
selected and slated commander.  Attendance is mandatory for 
commanders and CSELs either prior to or shortly after arriving at 
their new command. Attendance for spouses, while not required, is 
encouraged. 
2.  Mission.  MCU conducts Cornerstone at Marine Corps University 
campus onboard Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico, VA to prepare 
board-selected commanders, CSELs, and their respective spouses for 
the challenges of command.
3.  Execution
3.A.  Commander’s Intent
3.A.1.  Purpose.  To inform board-selected commanding officers, 
command-equivalents, CSELs, and their spouses, of the programs and 
practices that contribute to a successful command tour, as well as 
receive information briefs from senior Marine Corps leaders about 
the state of the Marine Corps and status of major policy 
initiatives.
3.A.2.  Method.  The program will address the demands and 
challenges of command, furnish opportunities to focus on 
communities of interest, provide time for mentoring and cross talk, 
and encourage the cohort to take advantage of networking events to 
establish supportive relationships that will be valuable during 
command.  The program will emphasize the art and science of command 
with leadership, critical thinking, and unit readiness providing 
the basic foundations for instruction.  The curriculum maximizes 
the use of small-group guided discussions with current and former 
commanders, CSELs, and their spouses to permit a frank exchange of 
observations, ideas, and methods.
3.A.3.  End State.  Command team members are aware of the tools, 
resources, best practices, and connections to further prepare them 
to meet the unique challenges of command. 
3.B. Concept of Operations.  Cornerstone is an eight training day 
program, involving combined education opportunities for 
board-selected commanding officers, command equivalents, and CSELs.  
The Spouses Workshop runs concurrently during the second week.  
Spouses receive combined education with their Marines and 
spouse-specific curriculum. 
3.B.1.  Course Dates:
3.B.1.A.  Cornerstone
3.B.1.A.1. O5-level Commanders and Sergeants Major:
Course          Report Date     Convene Date    Grad Date
2026001         14 Oct 25       15 Oct 25       24 Oct 25
2026002         17 Mar 26       18 Mar 26       27 Mar 26
3.B.1.A.2. O6-level Commanders and Sergeants Major:
Course          Report Date     Convene Date    Grad Date
2026001         19 Oct 25       20 Oct 25       24 Oct 25
2026002         22 Mar 26       23 Mar 26       27 Mar 26
3.B.1.B.   Spouses Workshop
Course          Report Date     Convene Date    Grad Date
2026001         19 Oct 25       20 Oct 25       24 Oct 25
2026002         22 Mar 26       23 Mar 26       27 Mar 26
3.C.  Coordinating Instructions
3.C.1.  Course Attendance.  The following service servicemembers 
are directed to attend Cornerstone: O5 and O6 board-selected 
commanders, including acquisition command equivalents; CSELs, and 
CSEL (selects) selected on the FY 2026 promotion board; as well as 
U.S. Navy equivalents identified by Manpower Management Division 
Officer Assignments.  Spouses of eligible attendees are authorized 
to attend the Spouses Workshop at government expense.  Attendance 
is required for commanders either prior to or shortly after 
arriving at their new command; attending before assuming command is 
strongly encouraged. For O5 level Sergeants Major, attendance is 
required within one year of their SgtMaj selection. For O6 level 
CSELs, attendance is required within one year of being assigned to 
an O6 level billet.  
3.C.2.  Registration instructions.  Attendees must register NLT 45 
days prior to their desired course report date.  Attendees will 
complete the registration form at 
https:(slash)(slash)forms.office.com(slash)r(slash)kvk7Pq493Q.  
Once complete, The Lejeune Leadership Institute (LLI) will register 
all attendees into the Marine Corps Training Information Management 
System (MCTIMS). LLI will send notifications to attendees once they 
have been registered along with follow-on instructions.
3.C.3.  Reporting Instructions
3.C.3.A. Cornerstone attendees will check in at the Gray Research 
Center (GRC), MCU between 0700-0800 on the course convening date 
and execute return travel NET 1630 on the course graduation date.
3.C.3.B. Spouses Workshop attendees will check in at the GRC 
between 0730-0800 on the course convening date with the Spouses 
Workshop coordinators.  Return travel NET 1630 on the course 
graduation date. Childcare is not provided.
4.  Administration and Logistics
4.A.  Orders.  All attendees shall travel on non-reporting orders. 
Orders are the responsibility of the attendee’s parent command. 
Defense Travel System (DTS) orders will suffice.  Government 
billeting is available on a limited basis.  Messing is available 
but is not directed as it is not conducive to the curriculum.
4.B.  Minimum clearance is SECRET.  Send clearance info via Defense 
Information System for Security (DISS) through your local security 
manager to Security Management Office (SMO) code: MS3302. POC: Ms. 
Lisa Nelson at email:lisa.nelson@usmcu.edu and phone: 703-432-5578. 
4.C.  Students are required to bring a Personal Electronic Device 
(PED), such as a laptop, tablet, etc.
4.D.  Funding and Travel
4.D.1.  Active Component.  TAD costs for active component attendees 
will be funded by their respective parent commands. Travel, per 
diem, lodging, meals, and incidental expenses are to be included in 
unit-funded DTS orders. Attendees are advised to coordinate with 
their command’s administration and budget personnel for proper 
funding and DTS authorization procedures.
4.D.2.  Spouses of Active Component.  Travel, meals, and incidental 
expenses for spouses of active-duty attendees are authorized and 
will be funded by MCU.  Lodging for spouses will not be funded, as 
lodging for the active-duty service member will be unit-funded. 
Local travel will not be funded.  Active-duty Marines must create 
an invitational travel authorization for their spouse under the 
service member’s DTS profile to properly process travel.  
Directions on how to properly create and submit spouse 
authorizations and vouchers will be provided via separate 
correspondence.  All active component spouses attending 
Cornerstone, except active-duty military spouses, must sign and 
return a DD Form 2793 (Volunteer Agreement for Appropriated Fund 
Activities form) NLT 45 days prior to travel to be considered 
registered. The DD Form 2793 will be provided via separate email 
correspondence after attendees register.
4.D.3.  Billeting. Government lodging is available aboard Marine 
Corps Base Quantico and is recommended for attendees. Options 
include Liversedge Hall and Inns of the Corps Quantico. Both 
facilities can be reached at (703) 630-4444. Attendees should check 
availability at these locations prior to securing commercial 
lodging. Lodging arrangements should be made in accordance with 
parent command policies and funding guidance.
4.E.  Reserve Component
4.E.1.  Marine Corps Forces Reserve (MARFORRES) G-3/5 Formal 
Schools will fund all Reserve Marines designated to attend the 
Cornerstone Course.  Funding requests are submitted as follows: 
4.E.1.A. For Selected Marine Corps Reserve and Individual 
Mobilization Augmentee Marine attendees, provide a copy of the MCU 
notification of registration letter or email to the parent 
organizations administration section for action.  Unit 
administrators will use the Marine Reserve Order Writing System to 
generate orders as appropriate.  Funding information is as follows: 
Order Type: Schools.  Sub Type: PME.  If required, select “Other” 
from the drop-down menu, and enter FY 2025 Cornerstone: 
Commandant’s Combined Commandership Course.  Program Identifiers 
(PID): Career Development Training (CDT) Command.  Force Funding 
Source: For the funding source section, select PID, CDT, Budget 
Execution Activity, Budget Execution Sub-Activity G-3/MR.
4.E.1.B. For Active Reserve Marine attendees, provide a copy of the 
MCU notification of registration letter or email to the parent 
organization’s administration section for action.  Unit 
administrators will ensure the cross organizational worksheet for 
DTS LOA is submitted to the MARFORRES G-3 Training organizational 
mailbox at MFR_G-3/5_FORMAL_SCHOOLS@usmc.mil.
4.E.1.C. Spouses of Selected Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR) and Active 
Reserve Marine attendees.
4.E.1.C.1.  MARFORRES G-3/5 Formal Schools will fund all spouses of 
SMCR Marine attendees.
4.E.1.C.2.  Unit administrators will generate the invitational 
travel authorization in DTS/DTSR utilizing MARFORRES G-3 Training 
Line of Accounting per approved cross organizational worksheet.
4.E.2.  Any travel or DTS related questions for Reserve or Active 
Reserve component attendees or spouses of a reserve or Active 
Reserve component attendee, direct all inquiries to 
MFR_G-3/5_FORMAL_SCHOOLS@usmc.mil or call (504) 697-7302. 
5.  Command and Signal.  Questions or concerns about this Marine 
Administrative Message can be directed to the MCU point of contact.  
Questions regarding E-9 attendance should be directed to the 8999 
Programs Lead, Marine Corps Senior Enlisted Academy, Sergeant Major 
Jacqueline Townsel, at Jacqueline.Townsel@usmcu.edu or (703) 
432-3224.
6.  Release authorized by Brigadier General M. W. Tracy, 
Commanding General, Education Command and President, Marine Corps 
University. //