R 151932Z JAN 25 MARADMIN 013/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM// SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2026 ACTIVE MARINE ATTACHÉ SELECTION BOARD: OFFICER SELECTION RESULTS (NON-SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL/DEFENSE ATTACHÉS)// REF/A/MSGID:DOC/MCO/YMD: 20090709// REF/B/MSGID:DOC/MCO/YMD: 20210510// REF/C/MSGID:DOC/MCO/YMD: 20190215// 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.// 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 the Navy has approved the list of Marines herein and nominated them to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) for final approval. 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 MARA primary select candidates. The Senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché (SDO/DATT) primary select candidates for Dominican Republic, Ghana, and and Papua New Guinea will be released at a later date upon Secretary of Defense approval. This MARADMIN includes all alternate candidates eligible for both MARA and SDO/DATT positions. 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 with the DAS as MARAs with their slated assignments: Name MOS Country Arroyo, Christopher A. 0202 Singapore Burdick, Jesse A. 0202 Taiwan Fisher, Jeremy A. 0302 Israel Furman, Jason H. 0202 Liberia Giles, Jennifer F. 4502 Australia Kepfer, Matthew S. 0202 Italy Pierce, Andrew D. 0202 Iraq Sakovich, Meredith L. 0202 Mexico Spanu, Daniel 0602 Georgia Traynor, Christopher J. 1302 Spain 4.b. Alternate selections 4.b.1. The board selected the following active duty officers as alternates. The candidates selected as alternates may be called upon to fill either SDO/DATT or solely MARA positions, as needed. Name MOS Bong, Sharon C. 3002 Carnice, Hans C. 0202 Featherstone, Jacob C. 0202 Phippen II, Joseph F. 0302 Riverahernandez, Jose A. 0202 Sklar, Erik M. 0202 Smith, Shawn M. 0202 5. Coordinating instructions 5.a. Primary selectees 5.a.1. Active duty acceptance of selection. Selectees shall accept or decline via email to their primary military occupational specialty (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. No action is required on the part of Marines on the alternate list in paragraph 4.b. 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 attending JMAS. This will be coordinated through the selectee's parent command. 6. Release authorized by MajGen Ryan S. Rideout, Director, Manpower Management Division.//