R 061938Z JUN 25 MARADMIN 265/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM// SUBJ/FY26 CONGRESSIONAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM FOR OFFICERS AND STAFF NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS// REF/A/MSGID: DOC/DOD/YMD: 20161012// REF/B/MSGID: DOC/MPO/YMD: 20210510// REF/C/MSGID: DOC/DOD/YMD: 20100908// REF/D/MSGID: DOC/MM/YMD: 20190530// NARR/REF A IS DOD DIRECTIVE 1322.6 FELLOWSHIP, SCHOLARSHIPS, TRAINING WITH INDUSTRY (TWI) AND GRANTS FOR DOD PERSONNEL.  REF B IS MCO P.1300.8 W/CH1, MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY.  REF C IS MCO 1040.31 ENLISTED RETENTION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. REF D IS MCO 1524.1, MARINE CORPS GRADUATE EDUCATION PROGRAM.// POC/D.T. DUMANOVSKY/MAJ/MMOA-3/USMC/DSN 278-9285/TEL (703) 784-9285/ EMAIL:  [email protected]// POC/R.E. CUMMINGS/MAJ/OLA/TEL (703) 692-0198/ EMAIL:  [email protected]// POC/S.C. DECKER/GYSGT/OLA/TEL (703) 692-7692/ EMAIL:  [email protected]// POC/S. GRODEK/LTCOL/RAM-2/TEL (703) 784-0531/ EMAIL:  [email protected]// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  This message announces the Fiscal Year 2026 Congressional Fellowship Program (CFP) Panel for officers and staff noncommissioned officers (SNCOs).  Members of the active component (AC) and active reserve (AR) may apply if they meet the eligibility criteria.  All members who complete the 12-month Capitol Hill fellowship will incur a 36-month service obligation.  This service obligation runs concurrently with any other service obligation, such as career designation, PCS orders, service schools, lateral move, etc.  The purpose of this message is to announce major timeline milestones, eligibility criteria, and coordinating instructions. 1.a.  Changes.  CFP will be a two-part panel process.  On or about 16 July, the CFP panel will convene for round 1 and identify Marines who are best and fully qualified to proceed to the interview round conducted by the Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA).  Upon completion of interviews, a follow-on results MARADMIN will be released.  Marines not selected for CFP will be considered for subsequent FY26 boards. 1.b.  Application Timeline (read in two columns): NLT Date                  Milestone Release of this message   Questionnaire opens 11 July 2025              Questionnaire closes/Applications due 16 July 2025              CFP Panel convenes for Round 1 31 July 2025              NLT CFP Panel Round 1 results released 01 August 2025            NLT Round 2 CFP Interviews begin  08 August 2025            NLT Interviews complete 31 August 2025            NLT CFP Panel Round 2 results released 15 June 2026              CFP report date 2.  Background.  CFP is a 42-month program that offers the opportunity to gain experience working in the legislative  branch of the United States government on the staff of a United  States Senator or a United States Representative.  Typical  responsibilities include assisting in the drafting of legislation, floor debate preparation, planning, and analysis of public policy. This experience is then incorporated in a follow-on utilization  tour.  Utilization tours are typically billets in the Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA).  3.  Program Timeline (read in two columns) NLT Date                  Milestone 15 June 2026              CFP report date 22 June 2026              Approximate start date for Master's                            Program                           classes 01 January 2027           Begin 1 year Capitol Hill Fellowship (OLA) 01 January 2028           Receive PCA Orders from Graduate Education                           Office and begin 2-year utilization tour                           (OLA) 01 January 2030           Receive PCS/A Orders from AC or AR Primary                           Military Occupational Specialty (PMOS)                            monitor to complete remaining service                           obligation  4.  Eligibility.  All applicants should possess strong moral  character and the judgment necessary to operate independently in an unfamiliar and dynamic environment.  Applicants should demonstrate a trajectory of high performance in their PMOS and present a professional appearance.  All applicants must possess exceptional reading, writing, and communication skills.  Familiarity with current service-level and DOD specific policy concerns, national security affairs, government affairs, and international relations is preferred but not required. 4.a.  Officers 4.a.1.  Applicants must be scheduled to complete their prescribed tour control factor by 30 September 2026.  Questions concerning tour lengths should be directed to the appropriate PMOS monitor. 4.a.2.  AC officers in the ranks of First Lieutenant through Major  with a date of rank junior to 20240801.  4.a.3.  Officers must be career designated. 4.b.  Enlisted Marines 4.b.1.  SNCOs must report with a minimum of 54 months of obligated service.  This accounts for the six-month development tour, 12  months Congressional Fellowship on Capitol Hill,  24-month utilization tour, and 12 months of additional  obligated service post-utilization tour. 4.b.2.  Applicants must be scheduled to complete their prescribed tour control factor by 30 September 2026.  Questions concerning tour lengths should be directed to the appropriate PMOS monitor. 4.b.3.  AC SNCOs in the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSgt) through Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt) from all occupational specialties. 4.b.4. AR SNCOs in the ranks of Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt) through Master Sergeant (MSgt) from all occupational specialties. 4.b.5. Undergraduate degrees are preferred but not required.   Applicants should ensure transcripts and diplomas are uploaded to their OMPF. 5.  Ineligibility 5.a.  Officers 5.a.1.  Officers with an approved separation or retirement date. 5.a.2.  Majors with a date of rank senior to 20240801. 5.a.3.  Officers who have participated in a resident graduate education program (i.e. Naval Postgraduate School, Air Force Institute of Technology). 5.a.4.  Officers in the above zone. 5.a.5.  Officers with a training PMOS or departing PMOS training. 5.a.6.  Officers with pending lateral move applications will be permitted to screen, but approval of lateral move may prohibit CFP selection. 5.a.7.  Reserve Component officers; exception to policy requests will not be considered. 5.a.8.  Exception to policies for paragraphs 5.a.1. to 5.a.6 must be included in the CFP application via an administrative action (AA) form endorsed by an O-6 in the chain of command. 5.b.  Enlisted Marines 5.b.1.  SNCOs with less than 10 years’ time-in-service. 5.b.2.  GySgts who denote "F" in section 8c of their fitness reports. 5.b.3.  First Sergeants (1stSgt) and Sergeants Major (SgtMaj). 5.b.4.  SNCOs that have twice failed selection for promotion to the next higher grade. 5.b.5.  Applicants who have participated in a resident graduate education program (i.e. Naval Postgraduate School). 5.b.6.  SNCOs in the SMCR, IMA, or IRR of the Reserve Component. 6.  Application Process 6.a.  Complete the "FY 26 Congressional Fellowship Panel" questionnaire at:  https:(slash)(slash)www2.manpower.usmc.mil/ application_cac/. 6.b.  Applications must be submitted as a single PDF file titled "EDIPI_CFP_Last Name". 6.c.  File size should not exceed 800 KB.  For program information and application instructions, visit: https:(slash)(slash)www.hqmc.marines.mil/Agencies/Office-of- Legislative-Affairs/Congressional-Fellowship-Program/ 6.d.  All application packages must contain command endorsements through the first general officer in the applicant’s chain of command. 6.e.  All application packages must contain PMOS monitor or Reserve Affairs Monitor-2 (RAM) acknowledgement.  An email is sufficient for this requirement. 6.f.  Applicants must submit their CFP application with all signed endorsements, monitor acknowledgement, and privacy act release form no later than 11 July 2025. 6.g.  Applicants should direct program-specific questions to the OLA POCs in this MARADMIN. 6.h.  Applicants who fail to abide by application guidance will be removed for consideration by the board. 6.i.  MMOA, MMEA, and RAM-2 will screen all members applying to the CFP for TOS requirements, career progression factors, promotion eligibility, and Enlisted Career Force Controls (ECFC). 7.  Coordinating Instructions 7.a.  Personal responsibilities.  Each officer and SNCO is personally responsible for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of their Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) and Master Brief Sheet (MBS) before the date the selection board convenes. Performance Evaluation System (PES) and fitness report (FITREP) policy and correction-specific questions should be directed to MMPB-23. 7.b.  All members selected for the CFP should expect 18 months of non-observed FITREPs during their development tour and Capitol Hill Fellowship. 7.c.  As part of the CFP, officers are required to earn a Master's in Public Policy (MPP). SNCOs will have the option to earn an MPP. Members that enroll in the MPP program must complete their degree no later than the end of the utilization tour. Selectees will receive additional coordinating instructions regarding this requirement. 8.  Marine Corps civilian employees interested in the CFP should follow the instructions contained in the NAVADMIN call for applications to the Navy Legislative Fellowship. 9.  Points of Contact 9.a.  OLA       Major Rachel Cummings       Email:  [email protected]       Comm: (703) 692-0198 9.b.  MMOA-3 Graduate Education Manager       Major Delaney T. Dumanovsky       Email:  [email protected]       Comm: (703) 784-9284 9.c.  MMEA       GySgt Letty Jaime       Email:  [email protected]        Comm: (703)-784-3358 9.d.  RAM-2       Lieutenant Colonel Stephen D. Grodek       Email:  stephen. [email protected]       Comm: (703) 784-0531 10.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the Total Force. 11.  Release authorized by MajGen Ryan S. Rideout, Director,  Manpower Management Division. //