061731Z MAR 25 MARADMIN 107/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//   SUBJ/CHANGE 1 TO CY25 MCRC ENLISTED TO OFFICER SELECTION BOARDS ANNOUNCEMENT// REF/A/MSGID: MSG/MARADMIN 590/24: 20241206// REF/B/MSGID: DOC/STATUTE: 20210101// REF/C/MSGID: DOC/DODD/YMD: 20231205// REF/D/MSGID: DOC/MM/YMD: 20151029// REF/E/MSGID: DOC/MCRCO 1100.2A G-3/YMD: 20160111// REF/F/MSGID: DOC/MM/YMD: 20190530// REF/G/MSGID: DOC/STATUTE: 20200808// NARR/REF A IS MARADMIN 590/24, CY 25 MCRC ENLISTED TO OFFICER  SELECTION BOARDS ANNOUNCEMENT//.  REF B IS SECTION 2004 OF TITLE 10, U.S. CODE, DETAIL AS STUDENTS AT LAW SCHOOLS; COMMISSIONED OFFICERS; CERTAIN ENLISTED MEMBERS.//   REF C IS DOD DIRECTIVE 1322.12, FUNDED LEGAL EDUCATION.// REF D IS MCO 1040.43B, ENLISTED TO OFFICER COMMISSIONING PROGRAMS.// REF E IS MCRCO 1100.2A, MARINE CORPS RECRUITING COMMAND OFFICER  COMMISSIONING MANUAL. REF F IS MCO 1524.1,MARINE CORPS GRADUATE  EDUCATION PROGRAM.//  REF G IS CHAPTER 33 OF TITLE 38, U.S. CODE,  POST 9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.// POC/C. A. LUCAS/CAPT/MCRC/USMC/TEL: 703-432-9262/  EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/J. M. ORTIZ/MAJ/JAD/USMC/TEL: 703-614-2847/  EMAIL: [email protected]// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  This message announces the  Academic Year (AY) 2026-2027 Enlisted to Judge Advocate (E to JA)  program and interim guidance for E to JA execution as part of the selection boards for the Enlisted to Officer program as outlined in Reference (a). 2.  Background. 2.a.  The E to JA program was created to offer enlisted Marines a funded opportunity to obtain a law degree and serve as a judge  advocate in the Marine Corps. Marines selected for the program must  complete a 10-week training course at Officer Candidate School (OCS) and accept a permanent appointment as a second lieutenant in the  Marine Corps Regular Component. After completion of OCS, selected Marines will return to their parent commands. Upon admission to a  qualifying law school, selected Marines will be issued Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders to a unit near their law school.  Upon check-in to their law school unit they will commission as second lieutenants.  Upon graduating law school and passing the bar exam,  selected Marines will attend The Basic School (TBS) and then complete the Basic Lawyer Course at Naval Justice School (NJS). Marines will be certified as Judge Advocates and be awarded the Primary Military  Occupational Specialty (PMOS) of 4402 upon completion of NJS. 2.b.  Interim Guidance for E to JA Program Execution. 2.b.1.  Reference (b) provides the legal authority to detail both  officer and enlisted personnel of the Marine Corps as students at  accredited law schools with a goal of accession into the regular  Marine Corps as a Judge Advocate.   2.b.2.  Reference (c) establishes the Funded Legal Education Program and establishes policies, assigns responsibilities, and provides  procedures for the organization, management, and implementation of funded legal education and the detailing of commissioned officers and enlisted members as law school students at government expense.  2.b.3.  Marines interested in applying shall follow established Enlisted to Officer application procedures contained in  Reference (a). The additional law-specific requirements contained  herein shall be included in their applications.  2.b.3.a. Marines selected for the E to JA program who are not accepted to law school will have the option to pursue an alternative  commissioning program or maintain their enlisted status if desired.  2.b.3.b.  Personnel administration and preparation for TBS will be coordinated by Law Programs section, Marine Corps Recruiting Command (MCRC) for enlisted members accepted to and executing the program. 2.b.3.c.  Marines accepted to the E to JA program will be placed on Temporary Duty (TDY) on-the-job training with a Law Center or an Office of the Staff Judge Advocate (OSJA) during their law school summers and prior to reporting to TBS, as well as conduct other officer development training. 2.b.3.d.  Accepted Marines will continue to receive full active duty pay and benefits. 3.  Eligibility. 3.a.  General eligibility criteria. Refer to References (d) and (e) and the MCRC website for program requirements, eligibility criteria, and general qualifications.  3.b.  Additional E to JA eligibility criteria. 3.b.1.  Marine must be in the grade of E-5 to E-7 when the Marine begins law school.  This requirement is established by Reference (b) and cannot be waived. 3.b.2.  Marine must have a minimum of four years but not more than eight years total active-duty time when the Marine begins law school. This requirement is established by Reference (b) and cannot be  waived. 3.b.3  Marines must have at least twelve months remaining on their  current enlistment or extension from the date of the selection board convening. 3.b.4.  Marines must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, at the time of the application deadline. 3.b.5. Marines must be of good moral character with no record of  disciplinary action. 3.b.6.  CG, MCRC will consider waivers on a case-by-case basis for items 3.b.3 through 3.b.5. 4.  School criteria. 4.a.  The Marine Corps will only reimburse law education expenses for the E to JA program at a level commensurate with Reference (f). As a result, those accepted to the E to JA program will be personally responsible for any educational expenses over that amount. 4.b.  The law school must be an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited school. 4.c.  Tuition paid by the Department of Defense will be capped at the same state levels identified in Reference (g).  Students may request to attend a school whose tuition exceeds that cap, but they will incur any additional financial responsibility over the capped tuition rate.  MCRC, in conjunction with Judge Advocate Division (JAD), will adjudicate such requests. 5.  Application process. 5.a.  The basic application requirements found in MARADMIN 590/24, Reference (a), will be required for all E to JA applicants.  The convening dates for the boards remain the same as those outlined in Reference (a). 5.b.  In addition, Marines applying to the E to JA program must include the following in their package: 5.b.1.  An official LSAT score obtained within the last four years and with a score of 150 or higher. 5.b.1.a. Applicants without LSAT scores will not be considered by the board. 5.b.2.  A list of the law schools accredited by the ABA which the applicant plans to apply, has applied, and/or has been accepted to,  in priority order. 5.b.3.  Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended,  along with credits, letter grades, and degree obtained. 5.b.4.  A statement of acceptance of the service obligation.   5.b.4.a. Upon successful completion of the E to JA program and awarding of the 4402 PMOS, Marines incur two years (24 months)  obligated active service, post-NJS, for each year (12 months), or any part thereof, spent in law school, up to 6 years (72 months). 6.  The POCs for this MARADMIN are Capt Chelsea Lucas and Maj Jose Ortiz.  Please refer to the POC information at the beginning of this MARADMIN. 7.  This MARADMIN is not applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve. 8.  Release authorized by Major General William J. Bowers, Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruiting Command.//