R 241334Z JUN 26
MARADMIN 288/26
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC T&E//
SUBJ/CREATION OF AND SOLICITATION FOR QUALIFIED MARINES FOR LATERAL
MOVE INTO THE CAREER DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY TECHNICAL PRIMARY MILITARY
OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY 8899//
REF/A/NAVMC 1200.1M/2 MAR 26//
REF/B/NAVMC 3500.132/9 JUN 23//
REF/C/MCO 1524.2/19 MAY 21//
REF/D/PHDP-T DEM DECISION PAPER/6 SEP 22//
NARR/REFERENCE A IS THE FY 27 MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES
(MOS) MANUAL.  REFERENCE B IS THE MOS MANUAL PROGRAM GUIDANCE.
REFERENCE C IS THE MARINE CORPS DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAM (PHDP)
MARINE CORPS ORDER.  REFERENCE D IS THE PHDP TECHNICAL TRACK
(PHDP-T) DYNAMIC EMPLOYMENT MODEL (DEM) DECISION PAPER APPROVED BY
DC CD&I.//
POC 1/EZRA AKIN/LTCOL/OAD, CD&I/EMAIL:  EZRA.AKIN@USMC.MIL//
POC 2/JAY COUTU/CIV/TSD, TECOM/EMAIL:  JAY.COUTU@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  This MARADMIN announces the creation,
requirements, and solicitation for qualified Marines to lateral move
(LatMov) into Primary Military Occupational Specialty (PMOS) 8899
Career Doctor of Philosophy, Technical and to add PMOS 8899 via
out-of-cycle change to reference (a), Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 MOS
Manual.
2.  Background.  In accordance with reference (b) and to fully
instantiate the utilization strategy captured in reference (d),
Deputy Commandant (DC) for Combat Development and Integration (CD&I)
submitted a proposed out-of-cycle change to reference (a).  This
change was thoroughly reviewed by the personnel, organization, and
training (POT) pillars of the doctrine, organization, training,
materiel, leadership, personnel, facilities, and cost working group.
After review, the POT pillar leads unanimously recommended that DC
Training and Education (T&E) create MOS 8899, effective 1 Oct
2026.  The changes communicated in this MARADMIN have been submitted
and accepted for an out-of-cycle inclusion in the FY 2027 MOS
Manual.
3.  MOS Title.  MOS 8899, Career Doctor of Philosophy, Technical
(PHDP-T) (I) (LtCol to Col) PMOS, DC CD&I.
3.a. Summary. Marine Corps Career Technical PhD Officers are both
Marine Officers with associated occupational skills and operational
experience as well as researchers with the associated knowledge in
their discipline and dissertation-specific expertise.  They have
further proven their ability to apply their doctoral expertise to
the Service’s hardest challenges during their initial dynamic
employment utilization tour as Technical PhD Officers per reference
(d).
3.b.  Prerequisites.
3.b.1.  Career Technical PhD Officers (Tech PhDs) must possess FMOS
8890 and have served a minimum of three years of the six-year
minimum utilization in the role of an 8890.  Selection to the Marine
Corps Doctor of Philosophy Program, Technical is governed by
reference (c), with subsequent assignment of the 8890 FMOS being
governed by reference (a).
3.b.2.  Unrestricted active-duty officers: lieutenant colonels and
colonels with sufficient time remaining before service limitations
to serve three additional years of utilization beyond the six years
required by the 8890 FMOS and reference (c).  Exceptions to this
requirement must be endorsed by DC CD&I and approved by DC M&RA.
3.b.3.  Security requirement: Top Secret security clearance
eligibility and eligible for access to SCI.
3.b.4.  Must pass an interview with the Career Doctor of Philosophy
Technical Selection Board consisting of CD&I’s Deputy Commandant
(DC), Assistant Deputy Commandant (ADC), Operations Analysis
Directorate’s (OAD) Director, and representatives from the Force
Design Research Group (FDRG) or their delegates.  This selection
board will primarily consider the following factors:
3.b.4.a.  Marine Officer’s performance during their 8890 utilization
tour leveraging their doctoral expertise against the Marine Corps’
hardest challenges.
3.b.4.b.  Alignment of the Tech PhD’s doctoral degree field and
research specialization to the most critical needs facing the Marine
Corps.
3.c.  Requirements.  Awarding the 8899 PMOS requires meeting the
prerequisites listed in paragraph 3.b. to be met and to receive a
favorable endorsement from the selection board detailed in paragraph
3.b.4. that recommends approval of a LatMov. M&RA (MMOA-3)
will award the 8899 PMOS upon LatMov approval.
3.d.  Duties.
3.d.1.  Plans and leads original technical research programs to
inform Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) senior leader
decision-making.
3.d.2.  Collaborates with external science and technology research
organizations such as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
(DARPA), Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Strategic Capabilities
Office (SCO), the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the Navy Warfare
Centers, and the Service Research Laboratories (NRL, AFRL, ARL).
This includes representing the USMC (service and operating forces)
in strategic-technological forums, at the joint and national levels.
3.d.3.  Advises DC, CD&I and HQMC senior leaders and supports senior
leader congressional testimonies on science, technology, and
technical issues as resident subject matter expertise aligns.
3.d.4.  Represents the Marine Corps at the Office of the Secretary
of War (OSW) Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) program
reviews and other relevant forums.
3.d.5.  Sustains and expands technical expertise and professional
reputation and credibility as a PhD via collaborative research,
peer-reviewed publication, and conference attendance.
3.d.6.  Supports the continuous development of the broader Marine
Corps technical community in their respective area of expertise,
including through service as liaison to the Naval Postgraduate
School to mentor resident master’s degree and PhD students.  This
includes mentoring more junior 8890 Tech PhDs.
3.d.7.  Supports problem framing to understand existing and
anticipate future technology needs in accordance with guidance.
3.d.8.  Provides unique technical expertise which they employ
individually or collectively as appropriate to provide the Service
with rigorous research and analysis capabilities for a wide range of
technical domains.
3.e.  Related Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Title and
Code.  None.
3.f.  Related Military Skill.  Doctor of Philosophy, Technical, 8890
(FMOS).
4.  Marines requesting a LatMov.
4.a.  Must obligate to an additional 36 months of service which will
be run after completion of the 72-month service obligation incurred
from the 8890 FMOS once approved for lateral move into PMOS 8899.
4.b.  Must be worldwide deployable upon approval.
4.c.  Must pass the LatMov interview process as captured in
paragraph 3.b.4. of this message.
5.  Implementation guidance for LatMov selections.  The initial
LatMov Cohort to PMOS 8899 will be conducted in two phases.
Phase I of the LatMov to PMOS 8899 will focus on currently serving
8890 PhDP-Ts. Phase II will facilitate LatMov requests for future
cohorts.
5.a.  The interview process captured in paragraph 3.b.4. will only
occur if there is sufficient space available within the 8899
structure for the addition of at least one 8890 Tech PhD applying
for the 8899 PMOS.
5.b.  Phase I.  Phase I submission for FY27 LatMov will begin upon
release of this message and remain open for 60 days.  Interviews per
paragraph 3.b.4. will take place after that initial submission
window and additional details will be available via separate
correspondence.
5.c.  Phase II.  Phase II submissions for LatMov into PMOS 8899 will
occur upon criteria in paragraph 5.a. being met and at least one
year after the last LatMov submission window.  This window will be
communicated via separate correspondence to all eligible 8890
PhDP-Ts.
6.  This message has been coordinated with DC, Manpower and Reserve
Affairs; DC, Combat Development and Integration; and DC, Training
and Education.
7.  This MARADMIN is not applicable to the Reserve Component.
8.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General Benjamin T. Watson,
Deputy Commandant for Training and Education / Commanding General,
Training and Education Command.//