R 062117Z FEB 25 MARADMIN 058/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM// SUBJ/FY26 HQMC SPECIAL DUTY ASSIGNMENT SCREENING TEAM (HSST) PROCESS// REF/A/MSGID: MCO/CMC/MM/11MAY21// REF/B/MSGID: DOC/CMC/12APR24// REF/C/MSGID: MCO/CMC/MPO/10MAY21// REF/D/MSGID: MCO/CMC/MM/08SEP10// REF/E/MSGID: MSG/CMC/MM/281530ZJUN24// NARR/REF (A) IS MCO 1326.6 CH-1, SELECTING, SCREENING, AND PREPARING ENLISTED MARINES FOR SCREENABLE BILLETS AND INDEPENDENT DUTY ASSIGNMENTS (SCREENMAN).  REF (B) IS MARINE CORPS BULLETIN 1020 MARINE CORPS TATTOO POLICY. REF (C) IS MCO 1300.8, MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENTS POLICY. REF (D) IS MCO 1040.31, ENLISTED RETENTION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.  REF (E) IS MARADMIN 302/24, FY26 HQMC SPECIAL DUTY ASSIGNMENT CAMPAIGN.// POC/D. R. MURRAY/LTCOL/MMEA-2/TEL: 703-784-9569/ EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/D. S. TYKWINSKI/CAPT/MMEA-25/TEL: 703-784-9257/ EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/K. L. MCCOY/CAPT/MMEA-25/TEL: 703-895-3582/ EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/B. M. ELSEY/GYSGT/SDA RETENTION CHIEF/TEL: 703-432-9144/ EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/A. C. MORALES/GYSGT/DRILL INSTRUCTOR MONITOR/TEL: 703-432-9475/ EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/R. NORIEGA/GYSGT/RECRUITING MONITOR/TEL: 703-432-9474/ EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/J. A. RICHARDON/GYSGT/MSG MONITOR/TEL: 703-432-9476/ EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/T. D. STOKES/GYSGT/SOI MONITOR/TEL: 703-432-9473/ EMAIL: [email protected]// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  This message initiates the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) Special Duty Assignment (SDA) Screening Team (HSST) screening process.  HQMC selects and assigns the most qualified and capable Marines to duties as a Recruiter, Drill Instructor, Combat Instructor, and Marine  Security Guard (MSG) Detachment Commander. 2.  Eligible Marines.  Manpower Management Enlisted Assignments (MMEA) will release the list of Marines that meet the criteria for assignment to SDA via the Total Force Retention System (TFRS) on or about 1 March 2025.  The identified Marines must be screened by Commanding Officers, utilizing the instructions and checklists available per reference (a). 2.a.  Volunteer Consideration.  Per reference (e), Marines with an active and complete volunteer Reenlistment, Extension, and Lateral Move (RELM) for an SDA (Recruiting, Drill Instructor, Combat Instructor or MSG Detachment Commander) and a RELM “Submitted Date” of 28 February 2025 or earlier will be considered a volunteer for SDA.  Marines with a request for a non-SDA screen-able duty (i.e., MSG WatchStander) that is still pending in TFRS after 1 March 2025 will not be considered SDA volunteers and may be required to submit HSST screening materials if identified for HSST screening and if disapproved for the initial request. 3.  Submission Guidelines.  Commands will submit completed SDA packages on all identified Marines to MMEA electronically via a TFRS SDA RELM request no later than 15 April 2025.  Marines who do not submit by this deadline will be assumed eligible and be directly assigned to an SDA. 3.a. SDA RELMs that exceed 14 days in a Pending Additional Information status may be pulled back to HQMC for processing. 3.b.  Marines with an End of Current Contract (ECC) prior to 30 September 2026 will submit a completed SDA package to MMEA electronically via TFRS RELM request as "SDA / Reenlistment / HSST" RELM type.  Each package will include, at a minimum the items listed in paragraphs 3d-3k. 3.c.  Marines with an ECC of 1 October 2026 and beyond will submit completed SDA packages to MMEA electronically via TFRS RELM request as "SDA w/ Extension / HSST" RELM type.  Each package will include, at a minimum the items listed in paragraphs 3d-3k. 3.d.  The applicable Screening Checklists per paragraph (3k) and Financial Worksheet, per reference (a) are available via TFRS. 3.e.  Only close up photos of tattoos visible in PT gear must be attached.  Screening documents must include a detailed description, size, location, meaning, and the date received for each tattoo. 3.f.  Individual Medical Readiness (IMR) authorized, must reflect "Fully Medically Ready". 3.f.1.  IMR usage removes requirement for Medical Officer signature on an SDA RELM unless deemed not qualified for SDA. 3.g.  Records of disciplinary actions in Marine’s service record. 3.h.  Chain of command RELM comments and recommendations.  Commander recommendations must address retention and the SDA request. 3.i.  Security Clearance Eligibility Letter. 3.j.  Fitness Report Inventory. 3.k.  Checklists must be completed for Marines pertaining to the Marine’s grade. 3.k.1.  Corporals and Sergeants: Recruiting Duty and Drill Instructor Duty checklists are required.  Combat Instructor checklists are required for infantry and female Marines only. 3.k.2.  Staff Sergeants and Staff Sergeant selects: Recruiting Duty, Drill Instructor, and MSG Detachment Commander checklists are required.  Combat Instructor checklists are required for infantry and female Marines only. 3.k.3.  Staff Sergeants and FY25 Staff Sergeant selects must submit their Phase II screening form to the MSG Recruiting, Advertising, and Screening Team (RAST) via the following email: [email protected].  An MSG RAST email confirming receipt of the Phase II screener must be attached to the TFRS SDA RELM. 4.  For Marines unqualified for SDA, Commanders will provide source documentation of disqualifying criteria and/or estimated return date to a qualified status to determine SDA class assignment and retention accurately via a TFRS "SDA Only" request. 4.1.  Examples include Medical Officer prognosis letters for projected date of SDA assignability, legal documents that should cause date conflicts with SDA class dates, page 11 entries for assignment to Body Composition Program, or physical fitness test/ combat fitness test failures. 4.2.  Unit Diary entries must be reflected in the Marine Corps Total Force System for the disqualifying status to validate disqualification. 5.  Marines not directed for HSST screening but who want to volunteer for SDA are encouraged to continue to submit applications per paragraph 3. 6.  HSST members will screen electronic packages and assign qualified Marines to available SDA classes.  During the screening, HSST members make SDA class assignments on a “first-come, first-serve” basis per each Marine’s qualifications, command recommendations, and remaining SDA vacancies upon receipt of the SDA package. 7.  HSST assignments are announced via separate correspondence, and a by-name list will be published via TFRS NLT August 2025. 7.a.  Upon return of the approved RELM with a designated class assignment to the unit, Marines will have no more than 15 days to accept the obligated service.  Those Marines that decline to gain the obligated service necessary for their assignment to an SDA will be issued a RE-3O reenlistment code per references (c) and (d). 8.  Commanders must re-certify Marines between 60 and 45 days before their SDA class report date to ensure they remain qualified. Failure to properly re-screen Marines for SDA will result in a determination of non-compliance. 9.  Release authorized by MajGen Ryan S. Rideout, Director, Manpower Management Division.//