R 041317Z SEP 25 MARADMIN 417/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM// SUBJ/FY26 CONGRESSIONAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM FOR OFFICERS AND STAFF NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS SELECTION PANEL RESULTS// REF/A/MSGID: MSG/CMC: 20250609// REF/B/MSGID: MSG/CMC: 20250805// REF/C/MSGID: MSG/CMC: 20161012// REF/D/MSGID: MSG/CMC: 20210510// REF/E/MSGID: MSG/CMC: 20100908// REF/F/MSGID: MSG/CMC: 20190530// NARR/REF A IS MARADMIN 265/25, FY26 CONGRESSIONAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM FOR OFFICERS AND STAFF NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS.  REF B IS MARADMIN 362/25 FY26 CONGRESSIONAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM FOR OFFICERS AND STAFF NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS SELECTION PANEL RESULTS.  REF C IS DOD (TWI) DIRECTIVE 1322.6 FELLOWSHIP, SCHOLARSHIPS, TRAINING WITH INDUSTRY AND GRANTS FOR DOD PERSONNEL.  REF D IS MCO P.1300.8 W/CH1, MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY.  REF E IS MCO 1040.31 ENLISTED RETENTION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.  REF F IS MCO 1524.1, MARINE CORPS GRADUATE EDUCATION PROGRAM.// POC/S. D. GRODEK/LTCOL/RAM-3/TEL (703) 784-0531/ EMAIL:  [email protected]// POC/D. T. DUMANOVSKY/MAJ/USMC/MMOA-3/ EMAIL:  [email protected]// POC/R. CUMMINGS/MAJ/OLA/TEL (703) 692-0198/ EMAIL:  [email protected]// POC/S. DECKER/GYSGT/OLA/TEL (703) 692-7692/ EMAIL:  [email protected]// POC/L. JAIME/GYSGT/MMEA/TEL (703) 784-3358/ EMAIL:  [email protected]// POC/B. S. WILKINS/GYSGT/MMEA-25/TEL (703) 432-9473/ EMAIL:  [email protected]// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  The Fiscal Year 2026 Congressional Fellowship Program (CFP) selects Marines to obtain first-hand, senior-level experience with the workings of the U.S. Congress to acquire additional skills, relationships, and knowledge that enables the Marine Corps to sustain and improve its efforts to inform and educate the legislative branch.  The FY26 CFP Panel is conducted in three parts: screening, interviews, and final selection.  The screening panel concluded on 17 July 2025.  The interview panel by the Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA) concluded on 14 August 2025. The FY26 CFP Panel selected 13 active-duty officers and two enlisted Marines as primaries as well as three active-duty officers, one active-duty enlisted Marine and one enlisted active reservist as alternates. 1.a.  Major milestone timeline (read in two columns): NLT Date                Milestone 15 June 2026            CFP no later than Report Date 31 December 2026        Complete professional development tour 01 January 2027         Begin 1 year Capitol Hill Fellowship 01 January 2028         Begin 2 year utilization tour 01 January 2030         Receive PCS/A Orders from PMOS monitor                         to complete remaining service obligation                         (MMOA/EA) 2.  Panel Results  2.a.  The panel selected the following active duty members as primary selects for CFP (read in four columns): Name                      Rank      PMOS      MCC Bong, Sharon C.           Maj       3002      1Y9 Elkhader, Omar A.         Capt      0602      1PB Huerta, Christopher R.    Capt      3002      1Y3 Kaiser, Jessica L.        Capt      0202      124 Parker, Phillip           Capt      4502      TNL Shelton, Zachary D.       Capt      0402      1DX Stewart, Julia R.         Capt      4402      U44 Whitley, Scott L.         Capt      0802      1NG Zepeda, Roman I.          Capt      0202      114 Arndorfer, John           1stLt     0302      V17 Barge, Samuel H.          1stLt     4502      139 Bobrowski, Sarah A.       1stLt     4502      124 Boyle, Elissa M.          1stLt     0402      1UR Richie, Leroy N.          MGySgt    1371      SWB Duncan, Demetrius M.      GySgt     0369      KA9 2.b.  The panel selected the following active duty members as alternate selects for CFP (read in four columns): Name                      Rank      PMOS      MCC Huxtable, Kenneth C.      Maj       0202      J64 Adams, Cade A.            1stLt     0302      V36 Walker, Dominic A.        1stLt     0202      145 SotoBarcenas, Alvaro A.   MSgt      3152      023 2.c.  The panel selected the following enlisted active reservist as an alternate select for CFP (read in four columns): Name                      Rank      PMOS      MCC Banks JR., Allen J.       MSgt      3047      1FZ 3.  Coordinating Instructions 3.a.  Primary selectees 3.a.1.  Acceptance of selection.  This message serves as notification of orders for Marines listed in paragraph 2.a. Selected Marines are directed to contact MMOA-3 via email at [email protected] NLT 10 days from the release of this MARADMIN.   3.a.2.  Primary selects, unable to participate in the program beginning in FY26 due to extraordinary circumstances, may request a deferral.  Primary selects requesting a deferral must do so via administrative action form, endorsed by the first O-6 commanding officer in their chain of command, forwarded to HQMC (MMOA-3) NLT 10 days from the release of this MARADMIN. 4.  Officer selects 4.a.  Acknowledging selection and assignment to CFP also acknowledges that the officer select agrees not to tender resignation or request retirement while enrolled in the program. Officer selects further agree to remain on active duty after completion of degree requirements or upon separation from the program.  Service obligations incurred for this program are in accordance with references (c) and (f). 4.b.  Upon successful completion of their development tour, officer selects will serve a one year Capitol Hill Fellowship at the Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA) followed by a two year utilization tour. 4.c.  PCS/PCA orders to the Congressional Fellowship Program (MCC K20) will be coordinated via separate correspondence by the Officer Assignments Branch (MMOA). 4.d.  Officer selects are directed to report no earlier than 16 May 2026 and NLT 15 June 2026 to the CY26 Congressional Fellowship Program (MCC K20), Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. for duty in billet MOS/ description 8018/Congressional Fellow. 4.e.  Alternates will be contacted in the event that a primary select cannot attend. 5.  Enlisted selects 5.a.  Acknowledging selection and assignment to CFP also acknowledges that the enlisted select agrees not to tender resignation or request retirement while enrolled in the program. 5.b.  PCS/PCA orders to the Congressional Fellowship Program (MCC K20) will be coordinated via separate correspondence by Enlistment Assignments Branch (MMEA). 5.c.  Enlisted selects are directed to report no earlier than 16 May 2026 and NLT 15 June 2026 to the CY26 Congressional Fellowship Program (MCC K20), Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. for duty in billet MOS/ description 8018/Congressional Fellow. 5.d.  Upon successful completion of their development tour, enlisted selects will serve a one year Capitol Hill Fellowship at the Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA) followed by a two year utilization tour. 5.e.  Enlisted selects must gain additional obligated service in order to report with a minimum of 54 months beginning 1 July 2026. 5.f.  Enlisted selects must submit a Reenlistment Extension Lateral Move (RELM) in the Total Force Retention System (TFRS) NLT 30 day from the release of this message in order to gain the required obligated service.  Unit Career Counselors have access to  the TFRS program.  If selectees have already submitted a RELM prior to this MARADMIN, a new RELM is not required. 5.f.1.  Requests for voluntary separation while on the program will not receive favorable consideration. 5.g.  Alternates will be contacted in the event that a primary select cannot attend. 6.  Incurred Obligation 6.a.  Participation in the CFP incurs two concurrent obligations: one for the legislative fellowship per reference (b), and one for the graduate degree program per reference (f).  Per reference (c), Marines incur a 36-month obligation for their 12-month legislative fellowship.  Per reference (f), Marines completing the graduate degree program as part of the CFP will incur a separate service obligation based on the length of their graduate degree program. 6.a.1.  If Marines incur a service obligation from both the graduate education and the legislative fellowship during the CFP, they will overlap with any previous obligations.  When obligations overlap, the one with the latest end date will be the primary obligation. 6.a.2.  If the graduate degree program is completed in less than one calendar year, obligated service will be 36 months upon successful degree completion. 6.a.3.  If the graduate degree program takes longer than one calendar year to complete, obligated service will be 48 months upon successful degree completion. 6.a.4.  Most fellows typically take 18 months to complete their degree.  This means fellows completing the degree program as part of the CFP can expect to have a four-year service obligation from the time they complete the degree program.  This obligation would run concurrently with the three-year obligation incurred for the fellowship itself per reference (c). 7.  Studies and tuition 7.a.  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 select anticipates not completing program requirements, they must notify MMOA-3 immediately. 7.b.  Tuition.  In general, George Mason University coordinates directly with Education Command (EDCOM) for tuition and billing for the Master’s in Public Policy program associated with the CFP. However, if selects receive any tuition bills from the university, they must contact the Education Command (EDCOM) Office at [email protected] to obtain a third-party billing letter after they receive the tuition bill from the university.  When contacting the office, the email must contain the Marine's name, DOD identification number (EDIPI), and this message showing selection. Additionally, the email must contain the school's name, physical address, phone number, and email address for the schools' third-party billing office.  EDCOM will provide a third-party billing letter with instructions for tuition payments to the student and the school's third-party billing office.  If students receive tuition bills directly from the university, it is the student's responsibility to ensure the school receives the letter and that the tuition is paid. 8.  Program points of contact: 8.a.  Reserve Affairs Management - 2 (RAM)          Lieutenant Colonel Stephen D. Grodek          Email:  [email protected] 8.b.  Congressional Fellowship Program          Major Rachel E. Cummings          Email:  [email protected]          Gunnery Sergeant Sean Decker          Email:  [email protected] 8.c.  Graduate Education Manager (MMOA-3)          Major Delaney T. Dumanovsky          Email:  [email protected]          MMOA-3 OMB:  [email protected] 8.d.  Enlisted Education Programs Monitor (MMEA-25)          Gunnery Sergeant Letty Jaime          Email:  [email protected] 8.e.  Third-party Billing, EDCOM          Email:  [email protected] 9.  Release authorized by BGen Fridrik Fridriksson, Director, Manpower Management Division.//