R 281430Z JAN 25 MARADMIN 037/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM// SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2026 ACTIVE MARINE ATTACHÉ SELECTION BOARD:  SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL/DEFENSE ATTACHÉ RESULTS// REF/A/MSGID:DOC/MCO/YMD: 20090709// REF/B/MSGID:DOC/MCO/YMD: 20210510// REF/C/MSGID:DOC/MCO/YMD: 20190215// REF/D/MSGID:DOC/MSG/YMD: 20250115// NARR/REF A IS MCO 3821.2, THE DEFENSE ATTACHÉ SYSTEM.  REF B IS MCO 1300.8, W/ CH 1 MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY.  REF C IS  MCO 1900.16 W/ CH 2, SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT MANUAL.  REF D IS  MARADMIN 013/25.//  POC/J. L. GOSS/MAJ/MMOA-3/TEL: 703-784-9284/ EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/T. M. GILBERTSON/CIV/INTEL DIV, ATTACHÉ PROGRAM MANAGER/ TEL: 703-432-7842/  EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/C. S. SMITH/CIV/INTEL DIV, ATTACHÉ PROGRAM MANAGER/ TEL: 703-432-5992/  EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/C. J. FORAN/MAJ/INTEL DIV, ATTACHÉ AFFAIRS/ TEL: 703-614-1668/ EMAIL: [email protected] POC/S. A. WESTERFIELD/CIV/INTEL DIV/TEL: 703-693-5421/ EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/M. T. WELTZIEN/MAJ/DC I RLO/TEL: 703-630-1395/ EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/R. W. DAWSON/LTCOL/RESERVE DETACHMENT OIC/501-847-2186/ EMAIL:  [email protected]// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  On 26 August 2024, the Director for Manpower  Management convened the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Marine Active and Reserve Attaché (MARA) Selection Board to select Marines as primary  candidates and identify alternates for duty with the Defense  Attaché Service (DAS) to report in FY26.  The Secretary of Navy has approved the list of Marines herein and nominated them to the  Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) for final approval by the  Secretary of Defense. 2.  The board considered the packages of 46 qualified applicants and  selected 13 officers as primary candidates.  Demonstrated  performance, Marine Air Ground Task Force experience, and the  potential to operate effectively in a foreign, independent duty  environment were among the factors considered in the selection  process. 3. This MARADMIN specifically releases the Senior Defense Official/ Defense Attaché (SDO/DATT) primary selected candidates.  Ref (d) previously released all Non-SDO/DATT primary selected candidates.  4.  Board results 4.a.  Primary selections.  Any changes from the originally  advertised country list were based on requirements from DIA.   4.a.1.  The board selected the following active duty officers for  nomination to the DAS as SDO/DATTs with their slated assignments: Name                       MOS     Country            Johnson, Reese H.          0102    Dominican Republic Pettibon, Jonathon E.      0202    Papua New Guinea Zastoupil, Frank C.        7518    Ghana 5.  Coordinating instructions 5.a.  Primary selectees 5.a.1.  Active duty acceptance of selection.  Selectees shall accept  or decline via email to their PMOS monitor no later than 31 January  2025.  Selectees will copy their acceptance email to the HQMC Marine  Attaché Program Office at [email protected] to communicate  acceptance of assignment and receive further guidance.  5.b.  Alternate selectees.  All alternates were identified in ref  (d).  No action is required on the part of Marines on the alternate  list.  In the event that a billet becomes vacant, Manpower  Management will fleet-up an officer from the alternate list.  PMOS  monitors will directly contact any alternate selected as a fleet-up. 5.c.  Declinations and deferrals   5.c.1  Declinations.  Marines who decline assignment to a MARA  billet must submit a declination in writing (AA form) via the first  O6 in their chain of command addressed to HQMC via MMOA-3 NLT 31 January 2025.  Marines who decline will be ineligible for future  MARA billets, unless otherwise approved by the Director, Manpower  Management. 5.c.2.  Deferrals.  Marines selected for assignment to a MARA billet  who are unable to execute orders due to extraordinary circumstances  may request a deferral.  If approved, the Director, Manpower  Management will defer the Marine to a future MARA selection panel.   Primary selectees may submit a deferral request in writing (AA Form) via the first general officer in their chain of command addressed to  HQMC via MMOA-3 NLT 31 January 2025. 5.d.  Reporting and training 5.d.1.  Selected Marines can expect Permanent Change of Station  orders for training in the National Capital Region.  Training start  dates are dependent upon the assigned country and corresponding  training requirements but can begin in Spring 2025.  Selected  officers with competing service requirements which could potentially delay their availability for training must notify their primary MOS  monitor in their initial correspondence. 5.d.2.  A limited portion of training during the Joint Military  Attaché School (JMAS) is available to the spouses of selected  officers.  Although spouse attendance is not required, it is highly  recommended and does not incur any additional cost to the service  member.  Language training is available to the spouse for most  billets at the request of the selected officer.  In addition to  training, a security clearance will be submitted for the spouse. 5.d.3.  Spouses must be naturalized U.S. citizens prior to the  service member attending JMAS. 5.d.4.  Service members must complete a Counter Intelligence  Polygraph examination prior to departing their current command.   This will be coordinated through the selectee's parent command. 6.  Release authorized by MajGen Ryan S. Rideout, Director,  Manpower Management, Division.//