R 081642Z JUN 26 MARADMIN 268/26 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM// SUBJ/FY27 CONGRESSIONAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM FOR OFFICERS AND STAFF NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS// REF/A/DOC/DOD/20161012// REF/B/MCO/CMC/20210510// REF/C/MCO/CMC/20100908// REF/D/MCO/CMC/20210510// REF/E/MSG/CMC/261400ZFEB2026// REF/F/MSG/CMC/241230ZMAR2026// 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/CH2, 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.  REF E IS MARADMIN 127/26 CHANGE 1 TO REQUIREMENT UPDATE ON OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHS FOR NON-PROMOTION SELECTION BOARDS.  REF F 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/D.T. DUMANOVSKY/MAJ/MMOA-3/USMC/DSN 278-9285/TEL (703) 784-9284/ EMAIL:  [email protected]// POC/R.E. CUMMINGS/LTCOL/OLA/TEL (703) 692-0198/ EMAIL:  [email protected]// POC/J.A. BARNARD/MSGT/OLA/TEL (703) 614-8454/ 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 2027 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 that will begin once the fellowship is complete.  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 14 July 2026, 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 final results MARADMIN will be released.  Marines not selected for CFP will be considered for subsequent FY27 boards. 1.b.  In accordance with reference (e), 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.c.  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.d.  Reference (f) 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.e.  Marines who desire to have their current WHtR made available to the board may update their official photograph in their OMPF accordance with reference (e). 2.  Application Timeline (read in two columns): NLT Date                  Milestone Release of this message   Questionnaire opens 09 July 2026              Questionnaire closes/Applications due 14 July 2026              CFP Panel convenes for Round 1 01 August  2026           On or about CFP Panel Round 1 results                           released 06 August 2026            On or about Round 2 CFP Interviews                           complete 31 August 2026            NLT CFP Panel Round 2 results released 14 June 2027              CFP report date 3.  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).  4.  Program Timeline (read in two columns) NLT Date                  Milestone 14 June 2027              CFP report date 21 June 2027              Approximate start date for Master's Program                           classes 31 December 2027          Complete professional development tour 01 January 2028           Begin 1 year Capital Hill Fellowship (OLA) 01 January 2029           Receive PCA Orders from Graduate Education                           Office and begin 2 year utilization tour                           (OLA) 01 January 2031           Receive PCS/A Orders from AC or AR Primary                           Military Occupational Specialty (PMOS)                           monitor to complete remaining service                           obligation 5.  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 DOW specific policy concerns, national security affairs, government affairs, and international relations is preferred but not required. 5.a.  Officers 5.a.1.  Applicants must be scheduled to complete their prescribed tour control factor by 30 September 2027.  Questions concerning tour lengths should be directed to the appropriate PMOS monitor. 5.a.2.  AC officers must be career designated and in the ranks of First Lieutenant through Major with a date of rank junior to 20250701. 5.a.3.  AR officers in the ranks of Major or Major (select) with a date of rank junior to 20230601. 5.b.  Enlisted Marines 5.b.1.  SNCOs must report with a minimum of 54 months of obligated service.  This accounts for the six month development tour, 12 month Congressional Fellowship on Capitol Hill, 24 month utilization tour, and 12 months of additional obligated service post-utilization tour. 5.b.2.  Applicants must be have least 24 months time on station by the CFP check-in date 14 June 2027 to apply.  Questions concerning eligibility should be directed to the appropriate PMOS monitor. 5.b.3.  AC SNCOs in the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSgt) through Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt) from all occupational specialties. 5.b.4.  AR SNCOs in the ranks of Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt) through Master Sergeant (MSgt) from all occupational specialties.  RAM-2 will determine eligibility for AR enlisted Marines eligibility based on MOS health. 5.b.5.  Undergraduate degrees are preferred but not required. Applicants should ensure transcripts and diplomas are uploaded to their OMPF. 5.b.6.  AC Enlisted Marines interested in this assignment must submit completed application packages electronically via Special Duty Assignment (SDA) request in the Total Force Retention System (TFRS).  Packages will be routed to CMC (MMEA-25) through the normal Re-enlistment Extension Lateral Move (RELM) routing chain.  Unit Career Counselors have access to submit and track these request in TFRS. 6.  Ineligibility 6.a.  Officers 6.a.1.  Officers with an approved separation or retirement date. 6.a.2.  Majors with a date of rank senior to 20250701. 6.a.3.  Officers who have participated in a resident graduate education program (i.e. Naval Postgraduate School, Air Force Institute of Technology). 6.a.4.  Officers in the above zone. 6.a.5.  Officers with a training PMOS or departing PMOS training. 6.a.6.  Officers with pending lateral move applications will be permitted to screen, but approval of lateral move may prohibit CFP selection. 6.a.7.  Career designated AR officers who have a Date Current Tour Began (DCTB) on or after 1 October 2025. 6.a.8.  AR officers on their accession tour who have a DCTB on or after 1 October 2024. 6.a.9.  Officers in the SMCR, IMA, or IRR of the Reserve Component. 6.b.  Enlisted Marines 6.b.1.  SNCOs with less than 10 years’ time-in-service. 6.b.2.  GySgts who denote "F" in section 8c of their fitness reports. 6.b.3.  First Sergeants (1stSgt) and Sergeants Major (SgtMaj). 6.b.4.  SNCOs that have twice failed selection for promotion to the next higher grade. 6.b.5.  Applicants who have participated in a resident graduate education program (i.e. Naval Postgraduate School). 6.b.6.  SNCOs in the SMCR, IMA, or IRR of the Reserve Component. 7.  Application Process 7.a.  Complete the "FY27 Congressional Fellowship Panel" questionnaire at:  https://www2.manpower.usmc.mil/BoardsAndSurveys/ boardAdmin/5668/details 7.b.  Applications must be submitted as a single PDF file titled "EDIPI_CFP_Last Name". 7.c.  File size should not exceed 800 KB.  For program information and application instructions, visit: https://www.hqmc.marines.mil/Agencies/Office-of-Legislative-Affairs/ Congressional-Fellowship-Program/ 7.d.  All application packages must contain command endorsements through the first general officer in the applicant’s chain of command. 7.e.  All application packages must contain PMOS monitor or Reserve Affairs Monitor-2 (RAM) acknowledgement.  An email is sufficient for this requirement. 7.f.  Applicants must submit their CFP application with all signed endorsements, monitor acknowledgement, and privacy act release form no later than 09 July 2026. 7.g.  Applicants should direct program-specific questions to the OLA POCs in this MARADMIN. 7.h.  Applicants who fail to abide by application guidance will be removed for consideration by the board. 7.i.  MMOA, MMEA, and RAM-2 will screen all members applying to the CFP for time on station requirements, career progression factors, promotion eligibility, and Enlisted Career Force Controls (ECFC). 8.  Coordinating Instructions 8.a.  Personal responsibilities.  Each officer and SNCO is personally responsible for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of their 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. 8.b.  As part of the CFP, officers are required to earn a Master's in Public Policy (MPP).  SNCOs are required to complete a graduate certificate in the area of legislative studies or public policy no later than the end of the utilization tour.  SNCOs are eligible to earn the Master's in Public Policy pending funding availability. 8.c.  CFP selects must maintain a full-time student status with George Mason University during their development tour.  Selects are strongly encouraged to complete all degree requirements prior to the completion of their one-year legislative fellowship on Capitol Hill, and are required to complete all degree requirements prior to completion of their two-year utilization tour.  If the CFP select anticipates not completing program requirements, they must notify MMOA-3 immediately. 8.d.  Selectees will receive additional coordinating instructions regarding this requirement. 9.  Marine Corps civilian employees interested in the CFP should follow the instructions contained in the NAVADMIN call for applications to the Navy Legislative Fellowship. 10.  Points of Contact 10.a.  OLA        Lieutenant Colonel Rachel Cummings        Email:  [email protected]        Comm:  (703) 692-0198        Master Sergeant J. A. Barnard        Email: [email protected]        Comm:  (703) 614-8454 10.b.  MMOA-3 Graduate Education Manager        Major Delaney T. Dumanovsky        Email:  [email protected]        Comm:   (703) 784-9284 10.c.  MMEA        Gunnery Sergeant Letty Jaime        Email:  [email protected]        Comm:   (703) 784-3358 10.d.  RAM-2        Lieutenant Colonel Stephen D. Grodek        Email:  [email protected]        Comm:   (703) 784-0531 11.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the Total Force. 12.  Release authorized by MajGen Fridrik Fridriksson, Director, Manpower Management Division.//