R 012103Z MAY 25 MARADMIN 213/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM// SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2026 COMMAND SCREENING BOARDS ANNOUNCEMENT// REF/A/MSGID:  DOC/CMC/YMD:  20170323// REF/B/MSGID:  DOC/CMC/YMD:  20210510// REF/C/MSGID:  DOC/CMC/YMD:  20190215// REF/D/MSGID:  MSG/CMC/YMD:  20200826// NARR/REF A IS MCO 1300.64B, COMMAND SCREENING PROGRAM.  REF B IS MCO 1300.8 CH-1, MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY.  REF C IS MCO 1900.16 CH 2, SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT MANUAL.  REF D IS MARADMIN  491/20, REMOVAL OF PHOTOGRAPHS FROM CONSIDERATION BY BOARDS AND  SELECTION PROCESSES.// POC/T. J. KITASATO/MAJ/MMOA-3/(703) 784-9284/ EMAIL:  [email protected]// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  This message announces the timeline  for the fiscal year 2026 Command Screening Boards (CSB), outlines  eligibility criteria, and provides information on board  communication and where to find a list of available colonel and  lieutenant colonel commands for assignment. 1.a.  Major timeline milestones are (read in two columns): Date                                Milestone                            Release of this message             CSB questionnaire open  31 May 2025                         Completed questionnaire due  31 May 2025                         Remove by request (RBR) due  08 July 2025                        Lieutenant colonel CSB convenes  09 July 2025                        Colonel CSB convenes TBD August 2025                     CSB results released  CSB results release + 30 days       Declinations and deferrals due  1.b.  The purpose of the Command Screening Program is to ensure that Marines receive the best possible leadership and to provide eligible officers with a fair and equitable opportunity to command. 1.c.  The CSBs will select officers for designated command billets projected to generally be available between 1 June 2026 and 31 May  2027. 1.d.  In order to ensure focus on unit mission while allowing  officers appropriate time for transition and to reinvest the  valuable skills and experience from successful commanders, Manpower  Management Separation and Retirement Branch (MMSR) will not  normally endorse requests to retire within 24 months of completion  of a command tour. 2.  Process.  The boards will select those who are best and most  fully qualified for command from the eligible population.  The  board will select a number of officers equal to the number of  commands available as primaries.  Additionally, the boards will  select a sufficient number of officers as alternates to meet  command requirements when primaries decline or otherwise cannot  take command.  The boards will propose a command slate for the primary selectees and will forward the slate, along with the  alternate list, to the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) for  approval.  When approved, board results listing the primary  selectees will be announced via Marine Administrative message  (MARADMIN). 3.  Board composition.  The CSBs will consist of officers whose Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs) represent all elements of  the Marine Air-Ground Task Force and supporting establishment. 4.  Eligibility.  The eligibility rosters are posted on the following website: https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Manpower- Management/Officer-Assignments/#tab/top-level-schools-and- programs.  Please contact your Primary Military Occupational  Specialty (PMOS) monitors with questions about eligibility. 4.a.  Eligibility criteria.  All unrestricted colonels or colonels (select) and lieutenant colonels or lieutenant colonels (select),  except as outlined in paragraph 4.b. 4.b.  Ineligibility criteria 4.b.1.  Officers with an established separation or retirement date. 4.b.2.  Officers with a mandatory retirement date prior to  1 June 2029. 4.b.3.  Lieutenant colonels in or above the promotion zone for the calendar year 2025/fiscal year 2027 Promotion Selection Boards. 4.b.4.  Officers who have previously held command in one of the designated colonel or lieutenant colonel command screened billets  for a period of at least 12 months, are currently in command, or are slated and awaiting command as a result of a previous command screening board.  This does not preclude colonels (select) currently in a lieutenant colonel command from eligibility for a colonel command. 4.b.5.  Officers who have previously declined command. 4.b.6.  Officers currently assigned to payback tours following  graduation from the School of Advanced Warfighting, School of  Advanced Military Studies, School of Advanced Air and Space  Studies, or the Maritime Advanced Warfighting School who will not  complete 12 months of assignment by 31 October 2025. 4.b.7.  Officers in graduate education programs other than Doctor  of Philosophy (PHD).  These officers will be eligible to screen for  command after their graduation from school.   4.b.8. Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Program (PHD-P).  Officers  who entered the PHD-P program between FY16 and FY24 are eligible  for command screening provided they meet all other eligibility  criteria — this applies to all PHD-P officers that this board will  consider.  Beginning only with the FY25 PHD-P selection cohort,  officers who enter the program will be ineligible for future  command screening.   4.b.9.  Officers inbound to a joint duty assignment or currently serving in a joint duty assignment who will not have not completed  12 months of the joint duty assignment by 31 July 2025. 4.b.10.  Officers with the acquisition Primary Military Occupational Specialty (8059/8061). 4.b.11.  Limited duty officers. 4.b.12.  Officers who have been relieved for cause from a designated lieutenant colonel or colonel command screened billet. 4.b.13  Officers who will not complete their planned tour by 31  July 2025 for board selected assignments or programs that require  one or more years of training for assignment; this includes, but is  not limited to Marine Attaché, Personnel Exchange Program, or  Security Cooperation Organization. 4.b.14  Officers who are currently enrolled in Top Level School  programs that require utilization tours.  5.  Board communication 5.a.  CMC directs all eligible officers to communicate with the board.  The online questionnaire is the primary mechanism for board correspondence.  Officers may call attention to any matter they  deem important to selection or slating including command  preferences, location preferences, and family or personal  situations to inform the board's decision making.  A common access  card certificate is required to access the questionnaire. 5.b.  Command screening questionnaire (colonel and lieutenant  colonel): https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Manpower-Management/Offic er-Assignments/#tab/top-level-schools-and-programs 5.c.  Officers may submit any material not found in their Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) via the questionnaire.  Instructions on how to upload material are provided on the final page of the questionnaire.  Officers who experience difficulty with the  questionnaire upload process should contact Manpower Management  Officer Assignments Branch, Plans, Programs, and Boards Section  (MMOA-3) by email at [email protected] or by phone at (703) 784-9284 for assistance. 5.d.  The deadline for submitting the online questionnaire is 2359 EST on 31 May 2025 in order to facilitate pre-board actions. 5.e.  The questionnaire does not allow for an officer to edit their responses after progressing to the next item or after submission. Officers who desire to change their responses should submit a new questionnaire, using the link above.  MMOA will provide the board with the results of the most recent submission. 5.f.  All correspondence to the board must originate from or be  endorsed by the screening officer.  Any correspondence submitted  after the convening of the board will be considered at the  discretion of the board president. 5.g.  OMPF update material.  Officers should submit OMPF update  requests via OMPF-Records Management Application (O-RMA). If  assistance is required, contact your unit S-1 or local IPAC.  Officers are responsible for ensuring their OMPF is accurate at all times.  A members' OMPF, including their Master Brief Sheet, will  be accessible to the board. 5.h.  Photographs are not used in the CSBs per reference (d). 5.i.  Fitness reports.  Completed fitness reports must be submitted  to Performance Evaluation Section (MMPB-2) for inclusion into the OMPF.  Incomplete fitness reports will not normally be accepted or forwarded to the board. 5.j.  Remove by request (RBR) 5.j.1.  Officers who are eligible but do not desire to screen must complete the online command screening questionnaire and attach an AA form requesting RBR.  The AA form must be endorsed by the first Marine in the fitness report routing chain.  The Senior Marine Representative or administrative reviewer may be used if there is no Marine in the chain.  Officers without properly endorsed AA forms for RBR will screen for command. 5.j.2.  MMOA-3 must receive requests for RBR via the online questionnaire no later than 2359 EST on 31 May 2025.  Officers requesting RBR must also email a copy to their PMOS monitor. 5.j.3.  Officers who submit a RBR AA form but subsequently wish to withdraw that request must do so via a second AA form.  The AA form must be signed by the Marine requesting to be screened and does not require other endorsements.  Submit these AA forms to PMOS monitor and MMOA-3 at [email protected].   6.  Command availability. 6.a.  Command availability will be posted on the command screening questionnaire and on the MMOA-3 website:  https://www.manpower.marin es.mil/Manpower-Management/Officer-Assignments/#tab/top-level-school s-and-programs 6.b.  The list of commands screening will be updated periodically prior to the board and is subject to change up until the conclusion  of the board. 7.  Board results.  Manpower Management will release the results of the CSBs at the beginning of August 2025 via MARADMIN. 7.a.  Alternates.  Officers selected as alternates will be  prioritized by the board for assignment when command vacancies  occur.  MMOA-3 will post an alphabetical list of alternates on  the MMOA-3 website following the release of the board results.   Alternates will be given formal offers of command when vacancies  occur. 7.b.  Declinations.  Officers who request to decline command must  submit a request for declination in writing (AA Form) via the first  general officer in their chain of command addressed to HQMC via  MMOA-3.  The request for declination process is the same if an  alternate is offered command.  The MARADMIN announcing results will  establish a timeline for acceptance or declination.  Officers who  decline command are ineligible for future command, unless otherwise  approved by the Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.  7.c.   Deferrals.  Officers selected for command who are unable to  execute orders due to extraordinary circumstances may request a  deferral.  If approved, the Director, Manpower Management will  defer the officer to a future command screening board.  Primary  selectees may submit a deferral request in writing (AA Form) to  HQMC (MMOA-3) via the first general officer in their chain of  command. 8.  Points of contact: Colonel R. F. May   Ground Colonel Monitor   DSN:  278-9300, Comm:  (703)784-9300   Email:  [email protected] Colonel M. A. Blejski   Aviation Colonel Monitor   DSN:  278-9300 Comm:  (703) 784-9300   Email:  [email protected] Colonel M. D. Simon   Combat Arms Lieutenant Colonel Monitor   DSN:  278-9274, Comm:  (703) 784-9274   Email:  [email protected] Colonel A. C. Norwood   Combat Service Support Lieutenant Colonel Monitor   DSN:  278-9274, Comm:  (703) 784-9274   Email:  [email protected] Colonel J. J. Patterson II   Information Lieutenant Colonel Monitor   DSN:  278-9273 Comm:  (703) 784-9273   Email:  [email protected] Colonel J. W. Potter   Aviation Lieutenant Colonel Monitor   DSN:  278-9267 Comm:  (703) 784-9267   Email:  [email protected] Major T. D. Milroy   Field Grade Center Desk   DSN:  278-9273 Comm:  (703) 784-9273   Email:  [email protected] 9.  This message is only applicable to the active component. 10.  Release authorized by MajGen Ryan S. Rideout, Director,  Manpower Management Division.//