R 101915Z JUN 25 MARADMIN 269/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/CG EDCOM QUANTICO VA// SUBJ/ACADEMIC YEAR 2026-2027 ADVANCED INTERMEDIATE LEVEL SCHOOL  APPLICATION MESSAGE//  POC/MS. MELISSA CALLOWAY/PROGRAM MANAGER/SAW/MCU/TEL:(703) 784-6800/ DSN 278-6800 EMAIL:  [email protected]// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Situation.  Advanced Intermediate Level Schools  (A-ILS) produce officers qualified to fill high-impact service and  joint planning billets.  These programs enhance an officer's ability  to derive critical insights from large quantities of information, make timely and effective decisions, communicate succinctly  verbally, visually, and in writing; and collaborate to design  cogent orders and plans.  The curricula of each A-ILS program:   School of Advanced Warfighting (SAW),School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), School of Advanced Air and Space Studies  (SAASS), and the Maritime Advanced Warfighting School (MAWS)  feature rigorous case studies, exercises,  staff rides, and a consideration of future war.  Marine graduates earn the free Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 0505 Operational  Planner and an accredited master's degree.  A-ILS graduates also  have a strong record of selection for promotion and command based on their well-developed capability as leaders who reason critically,  solve complex problems, and apply operational art. SAW has  accelerated its application and selection process for AY26-27 to  align with the Commandant’s Professional Intermediate-Level Education Board (CPIB) timeline. 2.  Mission.  From August through September 2025, A-ILS selection  boards will convene to select the best qualified applicants for  Academic Year 2026-2027 (AY 26-27) in order to ensure the Marine  Corps is supported with highly capable and effective operational  planners. 3.  Execution. 3.A.  Commanders Intent.  SAMS, SAASS, MAWS, and SAW offer  exceptional opportunities for officers to enhance their problem  solving and leadership skills through advanced intermediate level  education programs.  The Marine Corps seeks to maximize the number of high-caliber officers applying for and being selected into these  programs.  Each school has overlapping selection timelines and unique submission requirements that interested officers must meet.  The end  state is an A-ILS AY 26-27 student body composed of officers who  demonstrate the character, competence, and creativity to excel as  planners, staff officers, and future commanders. 3.B.  Concept of Operations.  This concept of operations is separated  into four parts to represent the different A-ILS application and  selection processes.  Marine officers interested in pursuing a path  to the Operational Planner MOS are highly encouraged to apply to  multiple schools.  Because each program has its own requirements,  applicants should check the respective websites and contact  representatives at each school. Applicants are also encouraged to  begin preparations early to better meet the application requirements.   Reserve Component Marine Officers are eligible only for SAW. 3.B.1.  SAW 3.B.1.A.  Officers meeting the admissions criteria will, in  accordance with this Marine Administrative Message (MARADMIN), accomplish the following: (1) submit a non-binding email stating  intent to apply, (2) submit all application materials, and (3) if  invited, participate in a SAW selection panel interview.  Selected  applicants and alternates will be screened for eligibility, notified by MARADMIN or service communication channels, and issued orders to attend SAW. 3.B.1.B.  General Eligibility Guidelines 3.B.1.B.1.  Unrestricted officers from all MOS fields who are majors, major-selects at the time of application, and those in zone for the  Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Lieutenant Colonel Promotion Selection Board.   3.B.1.B.2.  Security Clearance:  U.S. Marine Corps officers are  required to have, or have initiated, a Top Secret-Sensitive  Compartmented Information (TS-SCI) clearance before AY 26-27 school  year begins.  All other United States (U.S.) officers are required to have a SECRET clearance that will not expire during the AY, and must be TS-SCI eligible. 3.B.1.B.3.  Selected Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR), Individual  Mobilization Augmentee (IMA), Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), and  Active Reserve (AR), are eligible to apply.   3.B.1.B.4.  Applicants from all U.S. Department of Defense service  branches and the U.S. Coast Guard must be Intermediate Level School (ILS) or Intermediate Developmental Education (IDE) complete or  currently enrolled in good standing; and projected to complete  resident/non-resident ILS/IDE requirements no later than (NLT) June  2026.  Failure to complete ILS (resident or non-resident) will  terminate eligibility. 3.B.1.B.5.  International officers from non-English speaking  countries must have graduate-level capability to comprehend, read,  speak and write English (Test of English as a Foreign Language  (TOEFL):  83 on the internet based test or 560 on the paper based  test).  The TOEFL score must be included on the application under the civilian education section. 3.B.1.B.6.  International officers must hold a qualifying  undergraduate degree (U.S. regionally or nationally accredited  bachelor’s degree or equivalent).  U.S. Officers with international  degrees should contact Marine Corps University (MCU) Registrar office  for special instructions.  Registrar point of contact (POC) is  [email protected], (703) 432-5503, and DSN 278-5503. 3.B.1.C.  The following are not eligible for consideration. 3.B.1.C.1.  Marine Officers who have not satisfied time on station  requirements and are not eligible to execute Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders during the summer of 2026.  Marine Officers who  are not summer of 2026 movers should contact their primary MOS  monitor (MMOA or RAM-2) to determine eligibility for PCS orders and  submit an Administrative Action (AA) form to request a tour length  waiver. Officers should not delay completion or submission of their  application while awaiting AA decision. 3.B.1.C.2.  Officers who have not fulfilled an obligated payback tour for a previously attended program. 3.B.1.C.3.  Captains who are in zone for the FY 2027 Promotion  Selection Board for Major. 3.B.1.C.4.  Officers may not be a Lieutenant Colonel at the time of  application.  If an officer is in zone for Lieutenant Colonel on the  (FY) 2027 Lieutenant Colonel Promotion Selection Board and they fail  promotion selection, their eligibility to attend A-ILE will be  terminated. 3.B.1.C.5.  Joint Service Reserve and National Guard officers are not eligible to apply. 3.B.1.C.6.  Officers selected to assume command of a recruiting  station during FY 2026 are not eligible to apply. 3.B.1.D.  Application Timeline 3.B.1.D.1.  NLT 31 July 2025, applicants will send their “intent to  apply” via email to the SAW organizational mailbox,  [email protected] and the SAW Program Manager, melissa. [email protected].  Applicants will carbon copy the 0505 monitor  and their PMOS monitor.  The subject line should read, “LAST NAME,  F. M. - INTENT TO APPLY”. 3.B.1.D.2.  In the body of the email, provide first name, middle  initial, last name, rank, branch of service, military email, personal email, and personal and work contact phone numbers.  Applicants will be sent a reply email with a link to application instructions, forms,  and the essay prompt.  This information must be completed NLT 11  August 2025.  If the reply email is not received within 48 hours,  contact the SAW POC via phone or email. 3.B.1.D.3.  For SAW, competitive applicants will be contacted to  schedule an individual panel interview between 1 August 2025 and  30 September 2025.  In-person interviews for out-of-area applicants are not required.  Applicants outside the National Capital Region  who cannot make an in-person interview will be scheduled to conduct a video teleconference (VTC) or phone interview.  Out-of-area applicants who choose to execute a face-to-face interview in Quantico ,VA will be responsible for travel, lodging, and incidental costs. Contact information for each A-ILE program is provided below so  that all interested officers have access. 3.B.1.D.4.  Interview dates for SAW selection:  1 August 2025 to 30  September 2025. 3.B.1.D.5.  Interview location:  Warner Center, Bldg. 2044, Suite  2122, South Street, Quantico, VA, 22134.  SAW will not conduct  on-site interviews at the United States Army Command and General  Staff College, Naval War College, or Air Command and Staff College.   Joint service SAW applicants from these sites will conduct VTC or  phone interviews.  Marine POCs at the above locations, listed in  paragraph five, will assist in the scheduling of VTC interviews. 3.B.1.D.6.  In early October 2025, SAW will ensure selected students  for all A-ILE programs are approved for attendance by their  respective service or nation.  Nominated international officers are  invited through the International Military Training office,  which in turn coordinates with the officers military assignment  staff.  Once approved, selection results will be announced via  separate MARADMIN with a goal for release of the selection message in late October 2025.   3.B.1.D.7.  Questions regarding the application process or website  problems should be directed to SAW POC, Ms. Melissa Calloway. 3.B.2.  SAMS 3.B.2.A.  The Advanced Military Studies Program (AMSP) is a one year  graduate-level education program of SAMS.  The vision for AMSP is to  develop effective planners who help senior leaders understand the  operational environment and then visualize and describe viable  solutions to operational problems.  Graduates of the AMSP are  critical and creative thinkers grounded in operational theory, doctrine, and history; can identify problems and propose viable  solutions; can clearly communicate to various audiences orally,  graphically, and in writing; are good leaders and great teammates  who collaborate effectively to get the job done; have the courage to lead from above, beside, and below; are physically and mentally  tough; and are humble professionals who are more than they seem. 3.B.2.B.  The AMSP is for majors and junior lieutenant colonels who  have completed their Intermediate Level Education requirement or  equivalent, with the majority coming to AMSP from Command and General  Staff College.  Reserve Component Marine Officers are not eligible  for SAMS.  3.B.2.C.  If interested in applying to the United States Army AMSP,  contact Mr. Jeremy Cole, (comm) (913) 758-3300/DSN 585 or  [email protected]. 3.B.3.  SAASS 3.B.3.A.  The SAASS mission is “To educate strategists for the Air  Force, Space Force, and nation.” It is a 49-week program designed for  majors and junior lieutenant colonels across all services,  international officers, and DAF civilians. The cornerstone of the  curriculum is the Socratic seminar, and syllabi cover theories of  strategy, airpower history, international politics, coercion,  irregular warfare, and cyber, space, and technology domains.  Coursework is book-based, and students author course papers and an academic thesis on an issue of military strategy. SAASS graduates  are equipped to think critically, analyze, synthesize, develop  military strategy, and to communicate ideas verbally and in  written form. Graduates receive a Master of Philosophy in  Military Strategy.  For a select cadre of top graduates, SAASS also offers a Doctorate of Philosophy in Military Strategy.   3.B.3.B.  SAASS is tailored for majors and junior Lieutenant Colonels that have completed resident Intermediate Level Education.   Reserve Component Marine Officers are not eligible for SAASS.   3.B.3.C.  If interested in applying to SAASS, information can be  found at https:(SLASH)(SLASH)www.airuniversity.af.edu/SAASS/ and  inquiries can be submitted to the SAASS organizational email address  at [email protected].  3.B.4.  MAWS 3.B.4.A.  MAWS is the U.S. Navy's resident A-ILE program, completed  in conjunction with the College of Naval Command and Staff  curriculum.  This course develops strategic and operational leaders  with the skills required to plan, execute, and assess combined,  joint, and naval operations. 3.B.4.B.  U. S. Marine Officers are selected to MAWS by interviewing  with the SAW faculty and staff.  They are not required to apply  directly to MAWS.  This coordination with the MAWS staff allows for  maximum flexibility to seat students in either A-ILS program.  U.S.  Marine Officers interested in attending MAWS should apply to SAW  directly, and are encouraged to list Naval Command & Staff College high on their preference choices for the CPIB questionnaire.   Reserve Component Marine Officers are not eligible for MAWS. 3.B.4.C.  For those interested in the U.S. Navy MAWS, information  can be found at https:(SLASH)(SLASH)usnwc.edu/college-of-naval- command-and-staff/Additional-Academic-Opportunities/Maritime-Advanced -Warfighting-School.html and specific inquiries can be submitted to  the MAWS organizational email address at: [email protected]. 4.  Administration and logistics 4.A.  Active Component Marine A-ILS graduates normally serve 36  months in a utilization tour as 0505 Operational planners.   Lieutenant Colonels and Lieutenant Colonel-selects with the 0505 MOS  will be  eligible to screen for command after the first 12 months of  their 36-month utilization tour. 4.B.  SMCR, IMA, and IRR applicants must submit a signed Separate  Written Agreement to Train (SWAT) at the time of application to  acknowledge and accept the post-graduation utilization tour orders.  4.C.  SMCR, IMA, and IRR SAW graduates will be required to conduct a  minimum 12-month utilization tour immediately following SAW as  determined by Reserve Affairs Personnel Management (RAM).  Utilization tours may be voluntarily extended to 24-months depending  on funding availability.   4.D.  AR Officers must communicate their intent to apply to RAM-2.   4.E.  AR SAW graduates will be assigned a 36-month utilization tour  upon graduation as an Operational Planner at MARFORRES or within the  National Capital Region as determined by RAM. 5.  Command and Signal 5.A.  POC at SAW: 5.A.1.  SAW Deputy Director (through late July 2025):  Lieutenant  Colonel Jonathan Secor, USMC, comm (703) 784-6890/DSN 278-6890 or  [email protected]. 5.A.2.  SAW Deputy Director (starting in late July 2025):  Lieutenant  Colonel Joshua Cavan, USMC, comm (703) 784-6890/DSN 278-6890 or   [email protected]. 5.A.3.  SAW Program Manager:  Ms. Melissa Calloway, comm (703)  784-6800/DSN 278-6800 or melissa.[email protected]. 6.  Release authorized by Brigadier General M. W. Tracy, Commanding  General, Education Command.//