R 061310Z JUN 25 MARADMIN 262/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM// SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2026 COMMANDANT'S PROFESSIONAL INTERMEDIATE-LEVEL EDUCATION BOARD (CPIB) ANNOUNCEMENT// REF/A/MSGID:  DOC/MM/YMD:  20190530// REF/B/MSGID:  MSG/MCCDC/YMD:  20080125// REF/C/MSGID:  DOC/PPO/YMD:  20130327// REF/D/MSGID:  DOC/MPP-56/YMD:  20210510// REF/E/MSGID:  DOC/MMSR/YMD:  20190215// REF/F/MSGID:  MSG/EDCOM/YMD:  20230401// NARR/REF A IS MCO 1524.1, MARINE CORPS GRADUATE EDUCATION PROGRAM. REF B IS MCO 1553.4B PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION (PME).  REF C IS MCO 1520.11F, THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS PROGRAM (IAP).  REF D IS MCO 1300.8 W/CH 2, MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY.  REF E IS MCO 1900.16 CH 2, MARINE CORPS SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT MANUAL (MARCORSEPMAN).  REF F IS MARADMIN 176/25, OFFICER PROFESSIONAL  MILITARY EDUCATION BLENDED SEMINAR PROGRAM FY25-26 SEAT QUOTA ASSIGNMENTS. POC/DELANEY T. DUMANOVSKY/MAJ/MMOA-3/USMC/DSN 278-9285/ TEL (703) 784-9285/EMAIL:  [email protected]// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  This message announces the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Commandant's Professional Intermediate-Level Education Board (CPIB) convening on 05 August 2025 as part of the Commandant's Education Board (CEB).  The purpose of this message is to announce the available programs, eligibility criteria, and timelines for the CPIB execution. Major milestone timeline (read in two columns): NLT Date                  Milestone Release of this message   Eligibility roster published Release of this message   CEB questionnaire opens 16 July                   All Exceptions to Policy (ETP) due 16 July                   CEB questionnaire closes 16 July                   Applications/board correspondence due 16 July                   Remove by Requests (RBR) due 23 July                   Non-compliance list published 01 August                 Final eligibility list published 05 August                 CEB convenes 2.  Background.  The CPIB, as part of the CEB, is the premier Professional Military Education (PME) opportunity provided to majors, majors (select), and those in-zone for major.  The board will convene for approximately four weeks to select the best and most fully qualified officers for resident PME programs, graduate education programs, and special duty assignments. 3.  Eligibility criteria 3.a.  All majors and majors (select) who will complete their current tour control factor (TCF) by 30 September 2026.  Officers whose TCF is complete by 31 December 2026 may be considered with PMOS monitor approval. 3.a.1.  Direct questions regarding tour lengths and dates of departure to the appropriate PMOS monitor. 3.a.2.  Captains in-zone on the CY25/FY27 Major Promotion Selection Board who have completed their minimum time-on-station requirement. 3.a.3.  Captains who are in-zone for major who have not completed the minimum time-on-station requirement and wish to be considered should submit an ETP request. 3.b.  Ineligibility criteria 3.b.1.  Officers with a training PMOS or departing PMOS training. 3.b.2.  Captains in the above-zone for promotion to major. 3.b.3.  Officers currently enrolled in or who have completed an education program slated by a previous CEB. 3.b.4.  Officers who have not yet fulfilled an obligated utilization tour for a previously attended program by 30 September 2026. 3.b.5.  Officers enrolled in or who have completed the Command and Staff Blended Seminar Program (CSCBSP) or have completed Intermediate Level School (ILS) (i.e. SAW, SAMS, MAWS, SAASS). Officers in this category who are interested in CPIB programs, other than resident PME schools, (e.g. NPS, RAO, Olmsted, etc.), can submit an ETP request. 3.b.6.  Officers with an approved lateral move in CY25 are ineligible for FY26 CPIB selection and attendance due to PMOS training and assignment. 3.b.7.  Officers with an approved separation or retirement date. 3.b.8.  Restricted officers. 4.  CPIB Available Programs 4.a.  CPIB Resident PME ILS 4.a.1.  Marine Corps Command and Staff College (MCCSC). 4.a.2.  Army Command and General Staff College (ACGSC). 4.a.3.  College of Naval Command and Staff (CNCS). 4.a.4.  Air Command and Staff College (ACSC). 4.a.5.  Space Force Command and Staff College (USSFCSC). 4.a.6.  Foreign PME (FPME).  FPME no longer grants Joint PME (JPME) I credit. 4.b.  Commandant of the Marine Corps Fellowships (subject to change) 4.b.1.  Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). 4.b.2.  The Fletcher School, Tufts University. 4.b.3.  Logistics Fellows, Penn State. 4.b.4.  Federal Express. 4.b.5.  US Agency for International Development. 4.b.6.  Morgan Stanley. 4.b.7.  Dominion Energy. 4.b.8.  National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 4.b.9.  U.S. Attorney's Eastern District of Virginia (4402s only). 4.b.10. Office of the Federal Defender (4402s only). 4.b.11. International Security Center. 4.b.12. Watson Institute. 4.b.13. Asia Pacific Center. 4.c.  Graduate Education Programs 4.c.1.  Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). 4.c.1.a.  NPS Curricula: 3006, 8824, 8825, 8826, 8834, 8840, 8844, 8846, 8848, 8850, 8852, 8862, 8866, 8870. 4.c.1.b.  Marines holding a PMOS of 4402 are not eligible to apply to NPS curricula. 4.c.1.c.  8844 is limited to 3404 PMOS. Exceptions made by request to MMOA-3 for other MOSs. 4.c.1.d.  8870 is limited to 0370 PMOS. 4.c.1.e.  NPS Curricula information can be found at https:(slash) (slash)nps.edu/documents/156841831/156919127/NPS+Marine+Graduate+ Programs+%28Menu%29.pdf/06ec4ce3-ce3c-c4f1-d4c3-28ad424661dd?t= 1747160030257/. 4.c.2.  Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). 4.c.2.a.  AFIT Curricula: 8820, 8831. 4.c.2.b.  8820 is restricted to 75XX PMOS.   4.c.2.c.  AFIT Curricula information can be found at https:(slash) (slash)www.afit.edu/EN/. 4.c.3.  Civilian Institutions. 4.c.3.a.  Curricula: 8802, 8878, 4505.  4.c.3.b.  Education (8802) applicants shall compose a letter to the board, submitted through the questionnaire, stating previous education and training experience, the desired focus of education study and three prospective universities. 4.c.3.c.  8802 selected officers will earn a Master's degree from a civilian university in 24 months, followed by a utilization tour within Marine Corps Training and Education Command. 4.c.3.d.  History (8878) applicants shall compose a letter to the board, submitted through the questionnaire, with the preferred area of historical study and three prospective universities. 4.c.3.e.  8878 selected officers will earn a master's degree from a civilian university in 24 months, followed by a utilization tour as a History Instructor at the US Naval Academy. 4.c.3.f.  4505 selected officers will earn a master's degree from San Diego State University (SDSU).  Applications to SDSU are submitted after board selection. 4.c.3.g.  Tuition.  Marine Corps University will provide funding for 8802 and 8878 officers up to $19,500 per year for public or private institutions for up to two years. Any tuition cost exceeding these amounts will be paid by the officer.  There is no cap amount at SDSU. 4.c.4.  The Judge Advocate Generals Legal Center and School (TJAGLCS). 4.c.4.a.  TJAGLCS program is restricted to 4402 PMOS.  It is a graduate-level program located at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia where a Master of Laws (LLM) in multiple disciplines can be obtained. 4.c.5.  Advanced Civilian Schools Program (ACSP). 4.c.5.a.  ACSP provides officers the ability to devote a year as a resident student to complete a master's degree of their choice while maintaining career progression. Participants are highly encouraged to pursue areas of study and research topics of interest to the Marine Corps. 4.c.5.b.  Limited to no longer than 12 months and qualifies as partially funded education per reference (a). 4.c.5.c.  Selected officers will receive their regular pay and allowances, but application fees, tuition, and matriculation fees, cost of textbooks and materials, and all similar fees and expenses will be borne by the officer.  4.c.5.d.  No utilization tour is required. The officer's follow-on assignment will be based on the needs of the Marine Corps and the participant's career progression. 4.c.5.e.  Interested officers are required to have current GRE scores unless proof is provided the GRE is waived. 4.c.6.  Regional Affairs Officer Program (RAO). 4.c.6.a.  Officers interested in the RAO program must be a major or major select having between 9 and 15 years of commissioned service by June 2026. 4.c.6.b.  Interested officers must submit a statement highlighting interest in the RAO program, to include planning experience with partner nations, regional exposure, desire to serve as a RAO, and clarification on regional preferences. 4.c.6.c.  Additional information about the RAO Program can be found in reference (c). 4.c.6.d.  Upload a letter via the questionnaire as a file titled “edipi_RAO_lastname”. 4.c.7.  Olmsted Scholar Program (OSP). 4.c.7.a.  Limited to officers with no more than 13 years and 6 months of total Federal service as of 1 April 2026.  Time at service academies does not count.  4.c.7.b.  Limited to the following PMOSs, as determined by the Foundation: 02xx, 03xx, 0402, 0602, 0802, 1302, 17xx, 1803, 3002, 4502, 5803, 60xx, 66xx, 7204, 7208, 7210, 7315, 75xx. 4.c.7.c.  The selection process involves two steps:  (Phase 1) The board nominates up to 8 applicants for further consideration; (Phase 2) the Olmsted Foundation evaluates those nominated, conducts interviews in January 2026 and makes selections in March 2026. 4.c.7.d.  Nominees not selected by the Olmsted Foundation in the second phase will be slated to other PME or graduate education opportunities. 4.c.7.e.  For more information on the Olmsted Foundation: https:(slash)(slash)olmstedfoundation.org/what-we-do/career-fields- eligible-to-apply/. 4.c.7.f.  Interested officers should submit an initial application  to the board questionnaire using the naming protocol:  “edipi_OSP_lastname”.   4.c.7.g.  Phase 2 requirements are timely and applicants are recommended to start the process immediately.  Further application instructions can be found at https:(slash)(slash)manpower.usmc. afpims.mil/Manpower-Management/Officer-Assignments/Plans-and- Programs-MMOA-3/#tab/graduate-education-boards/. 4.c.8.  Foreign PME (countries subject to change). 4.c.8.a.  Foreign PME countries available: Argentina, Canada, Columbia, France, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, United Kingdom, Fort Benning Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC).  4.c.8.b.  Marines may be assigned to any country listed regardless of their preference provided in the questionnaire. 4.c.8.c.  Marines must obtain and submit a DLAB score (regardless of which country they are interested in).  Interested officers must submit a letter to the board with source documentation of DLAB test score results and an explanation of the desire to attend FPME along with any other qualifications. 4.c.8.d.  FPME completion grants service PME; however, JPME Phase I is no longer credited for completion of FPME.  Both service PME and JPME Phase I are required to be considered PME complete for grade.  Marines considering FPME who have not completed ILS already should plan accordingly in order to be PME complete in time for  their respective promotion board.  4.d.  Program and further curricula information can be found at https:(slash)(slash)manpower.usmc.afpims.mil/Manpower-Management/ Officer-Assignments/Plans-and-Programs-MMOA-3/#tab/graduate- education-boards/. 5.  General instructions for the eligible population   5.a.  The list of eligible officers being considered for CPIB is posted on the USMC Manpower, MMOA-3 Plans and Programs webpage: https:(slash)(slash)manpower.usmc.afpims.mil/Manpower-Management/ Officer-Assignments/Plans-and-Programs-MMOA-3/#tab/graduate- education-boards/.  Questions regarding eligibility should be directed to the appropriate PMOS monitor. 5.b.  All eligible officers are required to complete the FY26  CEB Questionnaire no later than 2359 EST on  16 July 2025.  The questionnaire is located at: https:(slash)(slash) www2.manpower.usmc.mil/application_cac/ 5.c.  Note 1, Note 2 and No Note  5.c.1.  Note 1.  Within the eligibility list, officers with  sufficient career timing to participate in programs ranging up to five years (i.e., NPS, AFIT) have a note 1 next to their name.  Officers with a note 1 beside their name are required to apply and submit undergraduate transcripts to NPS no later than 2359 EST on 16 July 2025.  NPS Admissions website is located at:  https:(slash) (slash)nps.edu/web/admissions/apply/. 5.c.1.a.  After submitting the NPS application, applicants must order official transcripts from all attended undergraduate and graduate institutions for delivery from the institution(s) directly to NPS Admissions.  Transcripts must come directly from the institution or their designated transcript exchange service.  NPS does not accept transcripts submitted by the applicant. 5.c.1.b.  Officers that have previously applied to NPS must submit an additional application but are not required to resubmit  transcripts.  Officers can submit up to three applications for those curricula listed in paragraph 4.b.1. 5.c.1.c.  NPS will notify MMOA-3 of an officer’s acceptance to NPS with the curricula for which the individual may or may not qualify. NPS does not provide an acceptance letter or status of acceptance to individual officers. 5.c.1.d.  Officers with a note 1 beside their name who are interested in AFIT should apply and submit undergraduate transcripts to AFIT no later than 2359 EST on 16 July 2025. 5.c.1.e.  The AFIT admissions website is located at: https:(slash) (slash)www.afit.edu/ADMISSIONS/AFITApplicationProcess/. 5.c.1.f.  All officers must verify that a copy of their undergraduate transcripts is in their OMPF.  Officers must upload all higher learning institutional transcripts to their OMPF.  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. 5.c.2.  Note 2.  Officers with sufficient career timing to participate in programs ranging up to three years have a note 2 beside their name. 5.c.3.  No Note.  Officers without a note beside their name only possess the career timing to attend a one-year program.  Officers without a note beside their name who believe they have the career timing to be considered for a note 1 or 2 program should contact their PMOS monitor. 5.c.4.  Officers outside the FY26 consideration window or CSCBSP enrolled/or completed officers who are interested in CPIB programs, must submit an Administrative Action (AA) Form endorsed by the first O-6 in the Marine’s chain of command NLT 16 July 2025 via the online questionnaire. 5.c.5.  Marines wanting to change their Note 1, 2 or No Note status must reach out to their PMOS monitor. 5.c.6.  All members requesting an ETP should also fill out the questionnaire NLT 16 July 2025 regardless of ETP status. 5.d.  Removal by Requests (RBR) 5.d.1. Officers who are listed on the eligibility roster, but do not want to be considered must submit an AA Form positively or  negatively endorsed by the first O-6 in the Marine’s chain of  command NLT 16 July 2025 via the online questionnaire. 5.d.2. All requests must be labeled "edipi_RBR_lastname” via the online questionnaire and members requesting an RBR should also fill out the questionnaire NLT 16 July 2025 regardless of pending RBR.  6.  Coordinating Instructions   6.a.  Graduate education programs are not a service equivalent for PME.  Marines participating in a graduate education program are required to complete a PME program commensurate with their grade on their own initiative to be considered PME complete for their grade. 6.b.  FPME completion grants service PME; however, JPME Phase I is no longer credited for completion of FPME.  Both service PME and JPME Phase 1 are required to be considered PME complete for grade. Marines considering FPME who have not completed ILS already should plan accordingly in order to be PME complete in time for their respective promotion board. 6.c.  Obligation 6.c.1.  All service PME schools are 12 months or less in length and incur a 24-month service obligation. 6.c.2.  Graduate programs vary from one to two years followed by a three-year utilization tour, unless otherwise noted, and an additional year of service obligation for a total of four years. 6.c.3.  For additional information on program lengths and descriptions, see reference (a) or contact the program officer in paragraph 7 below. 6.d.  Questionnaire 6.d.1.  Eligible officers must submit program preferences, applications (expect for NPS and AFIT), letters to the board, RBRs etc.  via the questionnaire.  The questionnaire is the only method for MMOA-3 to receive board correspondence.  Once responses are submitted via the questionnaire, MMOA-3 will receive an automatic notification of completion.   6.d.2.  Do not submit more than 7 documents.   6.d.3.  Each document must not exceed 800 KB and must be in .pdf format. 6.d.4.  File naming convention is very important for board correspondence collection/consolidation.  Name the file appropriately according to the program you are applying for i.e. “edipi_OSP_lastname” or “edipi_FAO_lastname”.  Condense all documents for a specific program application into one scanned PDF. If due to size constraints the application must be split up, label as such  “edipi_JOSIP_lastname (1), edipi_JOSIP_lastname (2)”. If submitting a supplemental board correspondence label as such: “edipi_LOR_lastname” and remove by request "edipi_RBR_lastname". 6.d.5.  Direct questionnaire functionality and accessibility questions and issues to MMOA-3 at [email protected]. 6.e.  Board Correspondence.  All correspondence to the board must originate from the officer being considered.  All submissions (letters of recommendation, clarifying statements of service, etc.) must be uploaded into the questionnaire no later than 2359 EST on 16 July 2025. 6.f.  Non-Compliance.  Officers are considered non-compliant with the above instructions: 6.f.1.  They have a Note 1 next to their name on the eligibility roster and fail to apply and submit transcripts to NPS. 6.f.2.  They have a Note 1 or 2 next to their name and do not complete the questionnaire and upload a legible copy of their transcripts to OMPF. 6.f.3.  Officers who fail to complete the questionnaire, fail to apply to NPS, or fail to submit transcripts will still be considered and may be slated to a program at the board's discretion. 6.f.4.  A list of non-compliant officers will be provided to commands on 23 July 2025 for those officers who have not yet applied to NPS. 6.g.  Subsequent MARADMINs will announce FY26 CPIB results and FY26 Graduate Education Program Results.  The results MARADMINS will  serve as notification of orders for all primary selectees.   7.  Program Points of Contact 7.a.  Intermediate Level Schools           Contact your PMOS monitor. 7.b.  Foreign PME, CMC Fellowships, Olmsted Scholar Program           LtCol James Pineiro           DSN:  378-0696, Comm:  (703) 432-0696           Email:  [email protected] 7.c.  Naval Postgraduate School           Admissions Office           Comm:  (831) 521-2190           Email:  [email protected] 7.d.  Master's of Education           LtCol Alex P. McGraw (TECOM)           Comm:  (703) 432-2068           Email:  [email protected] 7.e.  Master's of History          Maj Marc St. Pierre (USNA)            Comm:  (410) 293-6260          Email:  [email protected] 7.f.  Engineering Management - 8831 (AFIT)          LtCol Tyson Metlen          Comm:  (571) 256-2789          Email:   [email protected]  7.g.  Law Programs           Maj Giovanna M. Parham           Comm:  (703) 693-9059           Email:  [email protected] 7.h.  San Diego State University (SDSU)            Maj Bryan McDonnell           Comm:  (703) 693-4906           Email:  [email protected] 7.i.  International Affairs Program (IAP)          LtCol Brett McCormick           DSN:  222-0322, Comm:  (703) 614-0322          Email:  [email protected] 7.j.  Graduate Education Manager          Maj Delaney Dumanovsky          Comm: 703-784-9285          Email: [email protected] 8.  This MARADMIN is not applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve. 9.  Release authorized by MajGen Ryan S. Rideout, Director,  Manpower Management Division.//