R 191725Z OCT 15
MARADMIN 517/15
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC I//
SUBJ/FY18 MARINE ATTACHÉ ADVERTISEMENT//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/DIAI/YMD: 20110525/NOTAL//
REF/B/MSGID:DOC/SECNAVINST/YMD: 20131029//
REF/C/MSGID: DOC/MCO/YMD: 20090709//
REF/D/MSGID:DOC/MCO/YMD: 19941004//
NARR/REF A IS DEFENSE ATTACHÉ SYSTEM OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT, REF B IS SECNAVINST 1300.16 DEFENSE ATTACHÉ SYSTEM (DAS), REF C IS MCO 3821.2, THE DEFENSE ATTACHÉ SYSTEM (DAS), REF D IS MCO P1300.8R W/CH 1-8, THE MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY.//
POC/ F. K. CHAWK III/LTCOL/UNIT: HQMC IOE/-/TEL:703-614-4022/TEL:DSN 224-4022/EMAIL: FRANK.CHAWK(AT)USMC.MIL//
POC/ D. R. VASSAR/CAPT/UNIT: HQMC IOE/-/TEL:571-256-9326/TEL:DSN 224-2082/EMAIL: DANIEL.VASSAR(AT)USMC.MIL//
POC/C. PAES/MAJ/UNIT: HQMC IOP-R /-/TEL:703-614-7631/TEL:DSN 224-7631/ EMAIL:CHRISTOPHER.PAES(AT)USMC.MIL//
POC/J. R. GORDON/SSGT/UNIT: HQMC IOP-R/-/TEL:703-614-3657/TEL:DSN 224-3657/ EMAIL:JEFF.GORDON(AT)USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. PURPOSE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MARADMIN IS TO ADVERTISE THE ACTIVE DUTY COMPONENT MARINE CORPS ATTACHÉ (MARA) PROGRAM. ATTACHÉS ARE VOLUNTEERS COMPETITIVELY SELECTED FOR THIS PRESTIGIOUS ASSIGNMENT THROUGH A BOARD PROCESS. THIS PROCESS ENSURES THE BEST AND MOST FULLY QUALIFIED MAGTF OFFICERS ARE ASSIGNED TO REPRESENT BOTH THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES IN OUR EMBASSIES WORLDWIDE.
2. MARAS FILL INFLUENTIAL STRATEGIC-LEVEL POSITIONS WITHIN THE COUNTRY TEAM OF THEIR RESPECTIVE EMBASSIES. DEPENDING ON THE SPECIFIC BILLET AND COUNTRY, ATTACHÉS SERVE AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, GEOGRAPHIC COMBATANT COMMANDERS, AND THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS. MARINE OFFICERS SERVING AS ATTACHÉS MAY ALSO SERVE AS THE SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL/DEFENSE ATTACHÉ (SDO/DATT). THE MARA FILLING THE SDO/DATT BILLET DIRECTS, CONTROLS, OPERATES, AND ADMINISTERS THE DEFENSE ATTACHÉ OFFICE (DAO) TO WHICH ASSIGNED.
3. ATTACHÉ DUTIES MAY VARY BY COUNTRY, BUT ALL PROVIDE THE CHIEF OF MISSION INFORMATION FOR CONSIDERATION ON POLITICAL-MILITARY SITUATIONS AND ISSUES, SUPPORT U.S. MILITARY THEATER SECURITY COOPERATION AND/OR SECURITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, AND ADMINISTER SECURITY ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES PER APPROPRIATE DIRECTIVES IN THE ABSENCE OF A U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITY ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATION IN THE HOST COUNTRY.
4. THE MARADMIN SOLICITING APPLICATIONS FOR THE MARA PROGRAM WILL BE PUBLISHED IN EARLY 2016 AND WILL IDENTIFY SPECIFIC BILLETS THAT WILL BE SCREENED BY THE MARA SELECTION BOARD. THE MARA SELECTION BOARD WILL CONVENE IN AUGUST OF 2016 AT HEADQUARTERS, U.S. MARINE CORPS. IN SELECTING THE MOST QUALIFIED MAGTF OFFICERS TO FILL EACH BILLET, THE BOARD WILL CAREFULLY CONSIDER EACH APPLICANT'S DEMONSTRATED PERFORMANCE AND CAREER PROGRESSION. NO ADDITIONAL SERVICE OBLIGATION IS INCURRED FOLLOWING A MARA TOUR.
5. THE FOLLOWING PREREQUISITES AND REQUIREMENTS APPLY:
    A. THE MARA PROGRAM IS OPEN TO OFFICERS OF ANY MOS.
    B. APPLICANTS MUST BELONG TO THE MARINE CORPS ACTIVE COMPONENT TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR ACTIVE DUTY BILLETS.
    C. APPLICANTS MUST HAVE COMPLETED MINIMUM TIME ON STATION REQUIREMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH REF B PRIOR TO EXECUTING ORDERS.
    D. MAJORS WITH AT LEAST 2 YEARS TIME IN GRADE MAY APPLY FOR BILLETS CODED FOR THE NEXT HIGHER RANK. CAPTAINS THAT HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR MAJOR MAY APPLY FOR O4/MAJOR BILLETS.
    E. FOREIGN AREA OFFICER OR REGIONAL AFFAIRS OFFICER (FAO / RAO) EXPERIENCE AND LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY ARE HIGHLY DESIRABLE, BUT ARE NOT PREREQUISITES. ALL APPLICANTS NOT ALREADY PROFICIENT IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE SHOULD TAKE THE DEFENSE LANGUAGE APTITUDE BATTERY (DLAB) TO TEST THEIR INDIVIDUAL ABILITY TO LEARN A LANGUAGE. MARAS MAY APPLY FOR DESIGNATION AS FAO OR RAO UPON COMPLETION OF THEIR TOURS TO IDENTIFY AND TRACK LANGUAGE, REGIONAL, AND CULTURE EXPERTISE. FAO / RAO POCS ARE LTCOL JUDE SHELL, JUDE.SHELL(AT)USMC.MIL, MS. BRITTANY PATTERSON, BRITTANY.PATTERSON.CTR(AT)USMC.MIL, OR MR. CLAY FISHER, CLAYTON.FISHER(AT)USMC.MIL OR BY PHONE 703-692-4365.
    F. APPLICANTS MUST HAVE COMPLETED A SINGLE SCOPE BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION (SSBI) AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR A TOP SECRET CLEARANCE WITH ACCESS TO SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION (TS/SCI) TO EXECUTE ATTACHÉ RESPONSIBILITIES. APPLICATION TO THE MARA PROGRAM IS NOT SUFFICIENT JUSTIFICATION FOR TS-SCI ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION. OFFICERS SELECTED BY THE BOARD WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A COUNTERINTELLIGENCE SCOPE POLYGRAPH PRIOR TO ATTENDING THE JOINT MILITARY ATTACHÉ SCHOOL (JMAS).
    G. FAMILIES ARE AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THE MARA PROGRAM. ATTACHÉS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE THEIR FAMILIES TO MOST ASSIGNMENTS. THE ATTACHÉ, SPOUSE, AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WORK AS A TEAM, PARTICIPATING IN A VARIETY OF SOCIAL AND DIPLOMATIC FUNCTIONS. ATTACHÉ FAMILIES CAN DERIVE GREAT EXPERIENCES AND BENEFITS THROUGH EXPOSURE TO DIFFERENT CULTURES SUCH AS LEARNING A SECOND LANGUAGE AND MAKING FRIENDS WHO LAST A LIFETIME. APPLICANTS WITH DEPENDENTS ENROLLED IN THE EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY, BUT COULD BE RESTRICTED TO COUNTRIES THAT CAN MEET THE FAMILY’S MEDICAL NEEDS.
6. TRAINING IS CONDUCTED OVER APPROXIMATELY 20 WEEKS AT THE JOINT MILITARY ATTACHÉ SCHOOL AT THE DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, WASHINGTON, DC. OFFICERS WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THIS TRAINING ARE THEN AVAILABLE FOR ASSIGNMENT ABROAD. LANGUAGE TRAINING IS REQUIRED FOR MOST BILLETS. THE LENGTH OF LANGUAGE TRAINING WILL BE BASED ON THE LANGUAGE AND PROFICIENCY LEVEL REQUIRED AND RANGES FROM SIX MONTHS TO MORE THAN A YEAR, DEPENDING ON THE LANGUAGE. TRAINING START DATES ARE DEPENDENT UPON THE COUNTRY TO WHICH SELECTED. ACTIVE DUTY OFFICERS PARTICIPATING IN THE MARA PROGRAM WILL BE ADCON TO MCIA IN QUANTICO, VA WHILE IN TRAINING AND ON STATION.
7. FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE AND/OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE USE THE LINK BELOW TO THE HQMC INTELLIGENCE DEPARTMENT MARA WEBSITE: HTTP:(BACKSLASH)(BACKSLASH)WWW.HQMC.MARINES.MIL/INTELLIGENCE/INTELOPSPERS/DEFENSEATTACHEPROGRAM.ASPX OR USE THE CONTACT INFORMATION ON THE FIRST PAGE OF THIS MESSAGE.
8. THIS MESSAGE WAS DEVELOPED IN COORDINATION WITH MANPOWER MANAGEMENT DIVISION, OFFICER ASSIGNMENTS BRANCH, PLANS AND PROGRAMS SECTION (MMOA-3).
9. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY BGEN MICHAEL S. GROEN, DIRECTOR, INTELLIGENCE DEPARTMENT.//