R 111231Z JUN 26
MARADMIN 273/26
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//
SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2027 COMMANDANT'S CAREER-LEVEL EDUCATION BOARD
(CCLEB) ANNOUNCEMENT//
REF/A/MCO/CMC/20190530//
REF/B/MCO/CMC/20080125//
REF/C/MCO/CMC/20250311//
REF/D/MCO/CMC/20210510//
REF/E/MCO/CMC/20190215//
REF/F/MSG/EDCOM/20260406//
REF/G/MSG/CMC/261400ZFEB2026//
REF/H/MSG/CMC/241230ZMAR2026//
NARR/REF A IS MCO 1524.1, MARINE CORPS GRADUATE EDUCATION PROGRAM.
REF B IS MCO 1553.4B PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION (PME). REF C
IS MCO 1540.33, THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS PROGRAM (IAP). REF D IS
MCO 1300.8 W/CH-2, MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY. REF E
IS MCO 1900.16 CH 2, MARINE CORPS SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT MANUAL
(MARCORSEPMAN). REF F IS MARADMIN 158/26, OFFICER PROFESSIONAL
MILITARY EDUCATION BLENDED SEMINAR PROGRAM FY26-27 SEAT QUOTA
ASSIGNMENTS. REF G IS MARADMIN 127/26 CHANGE 1 TO REQUIREMENT
UPDATE ON OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHS FOR NON-PROMOTION SELECTION BOARDS.
REF H IS MARADMIN 066/26 CHANGE 1 TO THE ADVANCE NOTIFICATION
OF CHANGES TO THE MARINE CORPS PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST AND BODY
COMPOSITION EVALUATION PROCESS.//
POC/DELANEY T. DUMANOVSKY/MAJ/MMOA-3/USMC/DSN 278-9285/
TEL (703)784-9285/EMAIL: SMB_MMOA_GRAD_EDU@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. Purpose. This message announces the Fiscal
Year 2027 Commandant's Career-Level Education Board (CCLEB)
convening on 04 August 2026 as part of the Commandant’s Education
Board (CEB). The purpose of this message is to announce the
available programs, eligibility criteria, and timelines for the
CCLEB execution.
1.a. Changes. In accordance with reference (g), effective 1
April 2026, Headquarters Marine Corps sponsored non-promotion boards
will have access to official military personnel file (OMPF)
photographs during the conduct of non-promotion selection boards.
1.b. A photograph is considered current if the photograph is taken
365 days prior to a selection board’s convene date. It remains the
Marine’s responsibility to ensure a current photograph is in their
Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) no later than 10 business
days prior to the board’s convene date for which they are eligible.
1.c. Reference (h) modifies the Height and Weight requirement to
a Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) requirement. At present, there is no
method for the Digital Boardroom to pull current WHtR information
aside from an officer's official photograph or fitness reports.
Accordingly, Marines will not be viewed negatively solely because a
current WHtR measurement is not available to the board. However,
previous Height and Weight measurements contained within a Marine's
record will be considered, as well as any fitness reports that were
processed with a WHtR directed comment.
1.d. Major milestone timeline (read in two columns):
Date Milestone
Release of this message Eligibility roster published
Release of this message CEB questionnaire opens
20 July All ETPs due
20 July CEB questionnaire closes
20 July Applications/board correspondence due
20 July Remove by Requests (RBR) due
24 July Non-compliance list published
31 July Final eligibility list published
04 August CEB convenes
2. Background. The CCLEB, as part of the CEB, is the premier
Professional Military Education (PME) opportunity provided to
company grade officers. The board will convene for approximately
four weeks to select the best and most fully qualified officers for
resident PME programs, graduate education programs, and special duty
assignments.
3. Eligibility criteria
3.a. All company grade officers who will complete their current
tour control factor (TCF) by 30 September 2027. Officers whose TCF
is complete by 31 December 2027 may screen with PMOS monitor
approval.
3.a.1. Direct questions regarding tour lengths and dates of
departure to the appropriate PMOS monitor.
3.a.2. All company grade officers interested in attending the Naval
Postgraduate School that do not meet the eligibility criteria
outlined in 3.a. should reach out to their PMOS monitor and the
MMOA-3 Graduate Education Manager.
3.b. Ineligibility criteria
3.b.1. Officers with a training primary military occupational
specialty (PMOS) or departing PMOS training.
3.b.2. Captains in-zone or above zone for major on the CY26/FY28
Major Promotion Selection Board.
3.b.3. Officers currently enrolled in or have completed an
education program slated by a previous CCLEB.
3.b.4. Officers who have not yet fulfilled an obligated utilization
tour for a previously attended program.
3.b.5. Officers enrolled in or who have completed the Expeditionary
Warfare School Blended Seminar Program (EWSBSP) will not be eligible
for resident PME programs, but will be eligible for Graduate
Education programs (e.g. NPS, FAO, Olmsted, etc).
3.b.6. Officers with an approved lateral move in CY26 are
ineligible for FY27 CCLEB selection and attendance due to PMOS
training and assignment.
3.b.7. Officers with an approved separation or retirement date.
3.b.8. Restricted officers.
4. CCLEB Available Programs
4.a. CCLEB Resident PME
4.a.1. Expeditionary Warfare School (EWS).
4.a.2. PMOS-specific Captains Career Courses.
4.a.3. Officers interested in a specific PMOS Captains Career
Course will find the available schools listed on the questionnaire
and should rank it according to their preferences.
4.b. Graduate Education Programs
4.b.1. Naval Postgraduate School (NPS)
a. NPS Curricula: 3006, 8824, 8825, 8826, 8834, 8840, 8844,
8846, 8848, 8850, 8852, 8862, 8866, 8870.
b. Marines holding a PMOS of 4402 are not eligible to apply
to NPS curricula.
c. 8844 is limited to 3404 PMOS. Exceptions made by request
to MMOA-3 for other MOSs.
d. 1706s eligible to screen will only be considered for the
8866 curriculum.
e. 8870 is limited to 0370 PMOS.
f. NPS Curricula information can be found at https://nps.
edu/web/usmc/students/prospective
4.b.2. Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT)
a. AFIT Curricula: 8820, 8831.
b. 8820 is restricted to 75XX PMOS.
c. AFIT Curricula information on the Aeronautical
Engineering Program (8820) can be found at https://www.
afit.edu/EN/programs.cfm?a=view&D=1.
d. AFIT Curricula information on the Engineering
Management Program (8831) can be found at https://www.
afit.edu/EN/programs.cfm?a=view&D=44.
4.b.3. Civilian Institutions
a. Curricula: 8802, 8878.
b. Education (8802) applicants shall compose a letter to
the board, submitted through the questionnaire, stating
previous education and training experience, the desired
focus of education study and three prospective
universities.
c. 8802 selected officers will earn a Master's degree
from a civilian university in 24 months, followed by a
utilization tour at Marine Corps Education Command.
d. History (8878) applicants shall compose a letter to the
board, submitted through the questionnaire, with the
preferred area of historical study and three prospective
universities.
e. 8878 selected officers will earn a master's degree
from a civilian university in 24 months, followed by a
utilization tour as a History Instructor at the US Naval
Academy.
f. Tuition. Marine Corps University will provide funding
for 8802 and 8878 Officers up to 19,500 dollars per year
for public or private institutions for up to two years.
Any tuition cost exceeding these amounts will be paid by
the officer. There is no cap amount at San Diego State
University (SDSU).
4.b.4. SDSU (4505)
a. Limited to 4502s.
b. Selected 4502s will earn a master's degree in Mass
Communication from SDSU.
c. Interested officers are required to have a minimum
undergraduate GPA of 2.9.
d. Applications to SDSU are submitted after the board
selection.
4.b.5. Advanced Civilian Schools Program (ACSP)
a. ACSP provides officers the ability to devote a year as a
resident student to complete a master's degree of their
choice while maintaining career progression.
Participants are highly encouraged to pursue areas of
study and research topics of interest to the Marine
Corps.
b. Limited to no longer than 12 months and qualifies as
partially funded education per reference (a).
c. Selected officers will receive their regular pay and
allowances, but application fees, tuition, and
matriculation fees, cost of textbooks and materials, and
all similar fees and expenses will be borne by the
officer.
d. No utilization tour is required. The officer's follow-
on assignment will be based on the needs of the Marine
Corps and the participant's career progression.
e. Interested officers are required to have current GRE
scores.
4.b.6. Foreign Area Officer Program (FAO)
a. Officers interested in the FAO program must have less than
11 years of commissioned service by June 2027.
b. Interested officers must submit proof of current Defense
Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) score, and must submit a
letter to the board including: Defense Language
Proficiency Test score if applicable and a statement
highlighting interest in the FAO program, to include
international experience, foreign language exposure,
desire to serve as a FAO, and clarification on region
preference via the questionnaire as a file titled
“edipi_FAO_lastname”.
c. Program phases for selected Marines will be determined
based upon credentials and or skills Marines already
possess.
d. See reference (c) for more information.
4.b.7. Olmsted Scholar Program (OSP)
a. OSP is a strategic leader development program for top
performing officers of the U.S. Armed Forces. The
program provides outstanding Marine Corps officers an
unsurpassed opportunity to achieve fluency in a foreign
language, pursue graduate study in that language at an
overseas university, and acquire an in-depth
understanding of foreign cultures, thereby further
equipping them to serve in positions of great
responsibility as senior leaders in the Marine Corps.
b. Limited to officers with no more than 13 years and
6 months of total Federal service as of 1 April 2027
(time at service academies does not count).
c. Limited to the following PMOSs, as determined by the
Foundation: 02xx, 03xx, 0402, 0602, 0802, 1302, 17xx,
1803, 3002, 4502, 5803, 60xx, 66xx, 7204, 7209, 7315,
7318 and 75xx.
d. Applicants must have completed a Defense Language
Aptitude Battery (DLAB) test with a minimum score of 95
in order to be eligible to apply.
e. The selection process involves two steps: (Phase 1) The
board “nominates” up to eight applicants for further
consideration; (Phase 2) the Olmsted Foundation
evaluates those nominated, conducts interviews in
January 2027 and makes selections in March 2027.
f. Nominees not selected in the second phase will be slated
to other PME or graduate education opportunities.
g. For more information on the Olmsted Foundation:
https://olmstedfoundation.org.
h. Officers interested should submit an initial application
to the board questionnaire, using the naming protocol:
“edipi_OSP_lastname”.
i. Phase 2 requirements are timely and applicants are
recommended to start the process immediately. Further
application instructions can be found at the link in
https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Divisions/Manpower-
Management/Officer-Assignments/Plans-and-Programs-MMOA-3
/#tab/graduate-education-boards.
4.b.8. Junior Officer Strategic Intelligence Program (JOSIP).
Junior Officer Cryptologic Career Program (JOCCP). Junior Officer
Geographic Geospatial Intelligence Program (JOGP).
a. JOSIP and JOGP are limited to 02XX PMOS.
b. JOCCP is available to 02XX PMOS and 1702 PMOS.
c. Interested officers should submit completed applications
to the questionnaire, naming the file such as
“edipi_JOSIP_lastname” by the questionnaire deadline.
d. Officers can apply to one or all the programs as eligible.
4.b.9. The Judge Advocate Generals Legal Center and School
(TJAGLCS)
a. TJAGLCS program is restricted to 4402 PMOS Captains and
Majors. It is a graduate-level program located at the
University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia where
a Master of Laws (LLM) in multiple disciplines can be
obtained.
4.c. Program and further curricula information can be found at
https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Divisions/Manpower-Management/
Officer-Assignments/Plans-and-Programs-MMOA-3/#tab/graduate-
education-boards
5. General instructions for the eligible population
5.a. The list of eligible officers screening for CCLEB is posted on
the USMC Manpower, MMOA-3 Plans and Programs webpage: https://www.
manpower.marines.mil/Divisions/Manpower-Management/Officer-
Assignments/Plans-and-Programs-MMOA-3/#tab/graduate-education-boards
5.a.1. Questions regarding eligibility should be directed to the
appropriate PMOS monitor.
5.b. All eligible officers are required to complete the FY27
Commandant’s Education Board Questionnaire no later than 2359 EST on
20 July 2026. The questionnaire is located at:
https://www2.manpower.usmc.mil/application_cac/
5.c. Note 1, Note 2 and No Note
5.c.1. Note 1. Within the eligibility list, officers with
sufficient career timing to participate in programs ranging up to
five years (i.e., NPS, AFIT) have a Note 1 next to their name.
Officers with a Note 1 beside their name are required to apply and
submit undergraduate transcripts to NPS no later than 2359 EST on 20
July 2026. NPS Admissions website is located at:
https://nps.edu/web/admissions/apply.
a. After submitting the NPS application, applicants must
order official transcripts from all attended undergraduate and
graduate institutions for delivery from the institution(s) directly
to NPS Admissions. Transcripts must come directly from the
institution or their designated transcript exchange service. NPS
does not accept transcripts submitted by the applicant.
b. Officers that have previously applied to NPS must submit
an additional application but are not required to resubmit
transcripts. Officers can submit up to three applications for those
curricula listed in paragraph 4.b.1.
c. NPS will notify MMOA-3 of an officer’s acceptance to NPS
with the curricula for which the individual may or may not qualify.
NPS does not provide an acceptance letter or status of acceptance to
individual officers.
d. Officers with a Note 1 beside their name who are
interested in AFIT should apply and submit undergraduate transcripts
to AFIT no later than 2359 EST on 20 July 2026.
e. The AFIT admissions website is located at: https://
www.afit.edu/ADMISSIONS/AFITApplicationProcess/
f. All officers must verify that a copy of their
undergraduate transcripts is in their OMPF. Officers must upload
all higher learning institutional transcripts to their OMPF.
Officers should submit OMPF update requests via OMPF-Records
Management Application (O-RMA). If assistance is required, contact
your unit S-1 or local IPAC. Officers are responsible for ensuring
their OMPF is accurate at all times.
5.c.2. Note 2. Officers with sufficient career timing to
participate in programs ranging up to three years have a Note 2
beside their name.
5.c.3. No Note. Officers without a note beside their name only
possess the career timing to attend a one-year program. Officers
without a note beside their name who believe they have the career
timing to screen for a Note 1 or 2 program should contact their
PMOS monitor.
5.c.4. Officers outside the FY27 screening window who are
interested in CCLEB, must submit an Administrative Action Form
(NAVMC 10274) endorsed by the first O-6, or equivalent, in the
Marine’s chain of command NLT 20 July 2026 via the online
questionnaire.
5.c.5. Marines wanting to change their Note 1, 2 or No Note status
must reach out to their PMOS monitor.
5.c.6. All members requesting an ETP should also fill out the
questionnaire NLT 20 July 2026 regardless of ETP status.
5.d. Removal by Requests
5.d.1. Officers who are listed on the eligibility roster, but do
not want to screen must submit an Administrative Action Form
(NAVMC 10274) positively or negatively endorsed by the first O-6, or
equivalent, in the Marine’s chain of command NLT 20 July 2026 via
the online questionnaire.
5.d.2. All requests must be labeled "edipi_RBR_lastname” via the
online questionnaire and members requesting an RBR should also fill
out the questionnaire NLT 20 July 2026 regardless of pending RBR.
6. Coordinating Instructions
6.a. Graduate education programs are not a service equivalent for
PME. Marines participating in a graduate education program are
required to complete a PME program commensurate with their grade on
their own initiative to be considered PME complete for their grade.
6.b. Marines shall complete grade specific PME during their
respective graduate education programs.
6.c. Obligation
6.c.1. All service PME schools are one academic year in length and
incur a 24-month service obligation.
6.c.2. Graduate education programs vary from one to two years
followed by a three-year utilization tour, unless otherwise noted,
and an additional year of service obligation for a total of four
years. Utilization tours will be assigned within this four-year
service obligation.
6.c.3. For additional information on program lengths and
descriptions, see reference (a) or contact the program officer in
paragraph 7 below.
6.d. Questionnaire
6.d.1. Eligible officers must submit program preferences,
applications (expect for NPS and AFIT), letters to the board, RBRs
etc. via the questionnaire. The questionnaire is the only method
for MMOA-3 to receive board correspondence. Once responses are
submitted via the questionnaire, MMOA-3 will receive an automatic
notification of completion.
6.d.2. Do not submit more than seven documents.
6.d.3. Each document must not exceed eight MB and must be in .pdf
format.
6.d.4. File naming convention is very important for board
correspondence collection/consolidation. Name the file
appropriately according to the program you are applying for i.e.
“edipi_OSP_lastname” or “edipi_FAO_lastname”.
Condense all documents for a specific program application into one
scanned PDF. If due to size constraints the application must be
split up, label as such “edipi_JOSIP_lastname (1),
edipi_JOSIP_lastname (2)”. If submitting a supplemental board
correspondence label as such: “edipi_LOR_lastname” and remove by
request "edipi_RBR_lastname".
6.d.5. Direct questionnaire functionality and accessibility
questions and issues to MMOA-3 at SMB_MMOA_GRAD_EDU@USMC.MIL.
6.e. Board Correspondence. All correspondence to the board must
originate from the officer being screened. All submissions (letters
of recommendation, clarifying statements of service, etc.) must be
uploaded into the questionnaire no later than 2359 EST on 20 July
2026.
6.f. Non-Compliance. Officers are considered non-compliant with
the above instructions:
6.f.1. If they have a Note 1 next to their name on the eligibility
roster and fail to apply and submit transcripts to NPS.
6.f.2. If they have a Note 1 or 2 next to their name and do not
complete the questionnaire and upload a legible copy of their
transcripts to OMPF.
6.f.3. Officers who fail to complete the questionnaire, fail to
apply to NPS, or fail to submit transcripts will still screen and
may be slated to a program at the board's discretion.
6.f.4. A list of non-compliant officers will be provided to
commands on or about 24 July 2026 for those officers who have not
yet applied to NPS.
6.g. Subsequent MARADMINS will announce FY27 CCLEB results and FY27
Graduate Education Program Results. The results MARADMINS will
serve as notification of orders for all primary selectees.
7. Program Points of Contact
7.a. Career-Level Schools (CLS)
Contact your PMOS monitor.
7.b. Naval Postgraduate School
Admissions Office
Comm: (831) 521-2190
Email: admissions@nps.edu
7.c. Olmsted Scholar Program
Maj Taylor Wulff-Morrison
DSN: 378-4837, Comm: (703) 784-1209
Email: Fellows_FPME_Olmsted@USMCU.edu
7.d. International Affairs Program (IAP)
LtCol Brett McCormick
DSN: 222-0322, Comm: (703) 614-0322
Email: brett.mccormick@usmc.mil
7.e. Master’s of Education
LtCol Alex P. McGraw (TECOM)
Comm: (703) 432-2068
Email: alex.mcgraw@usmc.mil
7.f. Master’s of History
Maj Bradley S. Worthan
Comm: (410) 293-6293
Email: worthan@usna.edu
7.g. Engineering Management - 8831 (AFIT)
Maj Jason McDonald
Comm: (571) 256-2789
Email: jason.mcdonald1@usmc.mil
7.h. Law Programs
Maj Matthew W. Schoneweis
Comm: (703) 693-9059
Email: matthew.schoneweis@usmc.mil
7.i. San Diego State University (SDSU)
Maj Sarah Rhodes
Comm: (703) 693-4906
Email: sarah.rhodes@usmc.mil
7.j. JOSIP/JOCCP/JOGP
Capt Nathan Scott
DSN: 278-9277, Comm: (703) 784-9277
Email: nathan.r.scott@usmc.mil
7.k. Graduate Education Manager
Maj Delaney Dumanovsky
Comm: 703-784-9285
Email: SMB_MMOA_GRAD_EDU@USMC.MIL
8. This MARADMIN is not applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve.
9. Release authorized by MajGen Fridrik Fridriksson, Director,
Manpower Management Division.//