R 101320Z AUG 26
MARADMIN 360/26
MSGID/GENADMIN/CG EDCOM PRES MCU QUANTICO VA//
SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2027 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
2027001 19 Jan 27 20 Jan 27 29 Jan 27
2027002 20 Apr 27 21 Apr 27 30 Apr 27
3.B.1.A.2. O6-level Commanders and Sergeants Major:
Course Report Date Convene Date Grad Date
2027001 24 Jan 27 25 Jan 27 29 Jan 27
2027002 25 Apr 27 26 Apr 27 30 Apr 27
3.B.1.B. Spouses Workshop
Course Report Date Convene Date Grad Date
2027001 24 Jan 27 25 Jan 27 29 Jan 27
2027002 25 Apr 27 26 Apr 27 30 Apr 27
3.C. Coordinating Instructions
3.C.1. Course Attendance. The following servicemembers
are directed to attend Cornerstone: O5 and O6 board-selected
commanders, including acquisition commanders; CSELs, and
CSEL (selects) selected on the FY 2027 promotion board; as well as
U.S. Navy equivalents identified by Manpower Management Officer
Assignments Branch. 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.1.A. Recruiting Station Commanding Officers may attend
Cornerstone prior to assuming command if approved by their parent
command. Attendance following assumption of command is not
authorized.
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://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/rMzjqmHLaU.
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. 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.
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: Mr.
Chip Spicer at email:carlton.spicer@usmcu.edu and phone:
703-784-0252.
4.C. Students are required to bring a Personal Electronic Device
(PED), such as a laptop, tablet, etc.
4.D. Billeting and messing. Government lodging aboard Marine Corps
Base Quantico is recommended when available. Options include
Liversedge Hall and Inns of the Corps Quantico. Both facilities can
be reached at (703) 630-4444. Attendees should check government
lodging availability before securing commercial lodging. Lodging
arrangements will be made in accordance with parent command
policies and funding guidance. Government billeting is available on
a limited basis. Messing is available aboard Marine Corps Base
Quantico; however, directed messing is not required due to the
course schedule and curriculum.
4.E. Active Component Funding and Travel
4.E.1. 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.
4.E.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.F. Reserve Component Funding and Travel
4.F.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.F.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 and will attach registration letter.
Funding and order information is as follows:
Order type: Schools
Sub-type: (K3) PME
School/Training Selected: Other. FY 2027 Cornerstone: Commandant’s
Combined Commandership Course.
Command: Force
PID code: CDT.
The G3/MR BEA/BESA sub allocation is compulsory for all CDT MROWS
orders.
4.F.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.F.1.C. Spouses of Selected Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR) and Active
Reserve Marine attendees.
4.F.1.C.1. MARFORRES G-3/5 Formal Schools will fund all spouses of
SMCR Marine attendees.
4.F.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.F.2. Any travel or DTS related questions for Reserve or Active
Reserve component attendees or spouses of a reserve or Active
Reserve component attendee, should be directed to
MFR_G-3/5_FORMAL_SCHOOLS@usmc.mil or call (504) 697-7323.
5. Command and Signal. Questions or concerns about this Marine
Administrative Message can be directed to the MCU point of contact.
Specific 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. //