R 271428Z JUN 25 MARADMIN 301/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM// SUBJ/ACADEMIC YEAR 2026-2027 TOP LEVEL SCHOOL SELECTION BOARD ANNOUNCEMENT// REF/A/MSGID: MCO/MM/YMD:  20190530// REF/B/MSGID: MCO/CMC/YMD: 20250307// REF/C/MSGID: MCO/CMC/YMD: 20080125// REF/D/MSGID: MSG/CMC/YMD: 20081211// REF/E/MSGID: DOC/CMC/YMD: 20200825// NARR/REF A IS MCO 1524.1, MARINE CORPS GRADUATE EDUCATION PROGRAM.   REF B IS MCO 1300.8 CH-2, MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY.  REF C IS MCO 1553.4B, PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION.  REF D IS  MARADMIN 703/08, OFFICER PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION SUMMARY.   REF E IS MARADMIN 491/20, REMOVAL OF PHOTOGRAPHS FROM CONSIDERATION  BY BOARDS AND SELECTION PROCESSES PERTAINING TO ASSIGNMENT,  TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND COMMAND.// POC/T. J. KITASATO/MAJ/MMOA-3/(703) 784-9983/ EMAIL: [email protected]// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  This message announces Top Level  School (TLS) programs and fellowship assignments available during  Academic Year (AY) 2026-2027, the eligible officer population for  screening, and the timeline for execution of the TLS selection board. 1.a.  Major timeline milestones are: Date                        Milestone                           Release of this message     TLS questionnaire opens                 18 July 2025                Completed questionnaires due    18 July 2025                Remove by requests (RBR) due   5  August 2025              TLS Board convenes           2. Background  2.a.  Top Level School.  TLS is the premier Professional Military  Education (PME) opportunity provided to lieutenant colonels.  The  purpose of the TLS Selection Board is to select best and fully  qualified lieutenant colonels and lieutenant colonels (select) for resident education programs and special duty assignments  available to Marine Corps officers.  Reference (a), the Graduate  Education Program order, establishes the policies and procedures  governing TLS. 3.  Eligibility 3.a.  Eligibility criteria 3.a.1.  Lieutenant colonels and lieutenant colonels (select) who  will have 24 months’ time-on-station (TOS) by 31 July 2026 or who  have completed 24 months in an S-JDA billet or are otherwise  scheduled to complete their prescribed tour control factor (TCF) in  Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26).  3.a.2.  Lieutenant colonels currently in command of an organization  identified in the Command Screening Program who are scheduled to  complete their command tour in FY26. 3.a.3.  Those officers currently in command and on the CY25/FY27  O-6 Promotion Screening Board that were not previously eligible to  screen for TLS, may elect to screen on the AY26-27 TLS board by  contacting their monitor regardless of their selection status. 3.a.4.  The eligibility roster is posted on the following website: https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Divisions/Manpower-Management/Offic er-Assignments/Plans-and-Programs-MMOA-3/#tab/top-level-schools-and- programs 3.b.  Ineligibility criteria 3.b.1.  Lieutenant colonels in the above zone for promotion. 3.b.2.  Majors selected to lieutenant colonel on the CY25/FY27  Lieutenant Colonel Promotion Selection Board. 3.b.3.  Officers with a mandatory retirement date prior to 31  December 2028. 3.b.4.  Limited duty officers. 3.b.5.  Officers attending or selected to attend Intermediate Level  School (ILS) or Advanced ILS schools which require a follow on  utilization tour who will not complete one year of their utilization tour by 31 July 2026.   3.b.6.  Officers with an approved voluntary separation or retirement date. 3.c.  Contact Primary Military occupational Specialty (PMOS)  monitors with questions regarding eligibility. 4.  Education program allocations 4.a.  Department of Defense (DoD) schools.  The AY26-27 TLS Board  will select officers to attend the DoD schools listed below.   Schools, quotas, and convening dates are subject to change.   Officers who complete one of the following DoD schools will obtain  joint PME (JPME) phase II credit.  (Read in five columns)    Course Title/School         Quota     Convenes  Graduates       Note Air War College (AWC)    (Montgomery, AL)            7         Jun 26    Jun 27          4 Army War College (USAWC) (Carlisle, PA)              15        Jul 26    Jun 27          1 College of Naval Warfare (CNW) (Newport, RI)               15        Jul 26    Jun 27 College of Information and Cyberspace (CIC) (Washington, DC)            3         Jul 26    Jun 27          5 College of International Security Affairs (CISA) (Washington, DC)            1         Jul 26    Jun 27 Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy (Washington, DC)            12        Jul 26    Jun 27          2 Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS) (Norfolk, VA)               3         Jul 26    Jun 27          3 Marine Corps War College (MCWAR) (Quantico, VA)              10        Jul 26    Jun 27 National War College (NWC) (Washington, DC)            14        Jul 26    Jun 27  Space Force Resident- Johns Hopkins University (Washington, DC)            1         Jul 26    Jun 27 Note 1:  Two USAWC quotas are for the blended education program. Selectees for the blended program will conduct distance education from their current home station, with periods of travel to the  USAWC campus in Carlisle, PA.  Eligible officers should indicate  their interest in the blended program in the comments section of the questionnaire. Note 2:  The board will identify two students with an acquisition  background (PMOS 8059/8061) to participate in the acquisition  curriculum.  The board will prioritize the slating of officers who  possess a Combat Service Support PMOS (0102/0402/1302/3002/3404/ 5803). Note 3:  Graduates of this program will complete a mandatory  utilization assignment to designated billets on the joint duty assignment list. Note 4:  The board will prioritize the slating of officers who  possess an aviation PMOS (6002/6602/72XX/73XX/75XX). Note 5:  The board will prioritize the slating of officers who  possess an information PMOS (02XX/06XX/17XX). 4.b.  The TLS Selection Board will select officers for assignment to the foreign senior service colleges and fellowships listed below.   Officers interested in a foreign, non-English speaking service  school must take the Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) and  have the score included in their record or have an established  Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) score on record for the  target language.  Officers completing a foreign PME assignment or a  fellowship will receive TLS PME credit only.  4.b.1.  Foreign Professional Military Education (FPME).  Language  training for FPME courses may result in selected officers attending the course in another academic year.  See notes below for details.   Additional FPME information is located on the following website:  https:(slash)(slash)www.usmcu.edu/Academic-Programs/CMC-Fellows- Strategists-Foreign-PME-Olmsted-Scholars/Foreign-Professional- Military-Education/.  (Read in five columns) Course Title/School              Quota   Convenes  Graduates    Note Argentine National Defense School Senior Course                                  1       Jan 26    Dec 26       6 Inter-American Defense College (Ft McNair, Washington, DC)      1       Jul 26    Jun 27       6 Japanese National Institute for Defense Studies                                  1       Jul 26   Jul 27        6 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Defense College         Senior Course (Rome, Italy)             1st session          1       Sep 26    Feb 27       7             2nd session          1       Feb 27    Jul 27       7 Note 6:  Language training required at DLI-Washington approx. Jan -  Jun 2026. Note 7:  No language training required. 4.b.2.  CMC Fellowships.   Additional details regarding CMC  Fellowships are located at the following website: https:(slash) (slash)www.usmcu.edu/Academic-Programs/CMC-Fellows- Strategists-Foreign-PME-Olmsted-Scholars/Commandant-of-the-Marine- Corps-Fellowships/.  (Read in five columns) Course Title/School             Quota   Convenes  Graduates    Note Advanced Strategic Leadership Studies Program (Fort Leavenworth, KS)          1       Jun 26    Jun 27     8,10,13 Department of Homeland Security (Washington, DC)                1       Jul 26    Jun 27 Department of State (DOS) (Washington, DC)                1       Jul 26    Jun 27 Hoover Institution at Stanford University (Stanford, CA)                  1       Jul 26    Jun 27 International Security Studies Program at Yale University (New Haven, CT)                 1       Jul 26    Jun 27 JFK School of Government at Harvard University (Cambridge, MA)                 1       Jul 26    Jun 27 Lincoln Laboratory at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)                 1       Jul 26    Jun 27  Logistics Fellowship at Pennsylvania State University (State College, PA)             1       Jul 26    Jun 27       9, 10 School of Advanced International Studies  (Washington, DC)                1       Jul 26    Jun 27       10 SECDEF Strategic Thinkers Program at Johns Hopkins University (Washington, DC)                3       Jul 27    Jun 27       11  Security Studies Program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)                 1       Jul 6     Jun 27 Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership at U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis, MD)                 1       Jul 26    Jun 27       12,13 Note 8:  Graduates will complete a mandatory one-year follow-on  assignment at Fort Leavenworth as a seminar leader. Note 9:  Only open to PMOS 0402 and 3002. Note 10:  Master’s program. Note 11:  Two quotas are allocated for PMOS 8059/8061 and one quota is  allocated for any PMOS. Note 12:  Graduates of this program will complete a mandatory two year utilization tour as USNA Marine Detachment Chief of Staff  or Battalion Officer. Note 13:  Officers may only apply to these programs if they are  junior to or in zone on the CY28/FY30 O6 Promotion Screening Board. Anyone selected for ASLSP and Stockdale Fellowships will be required to remain an O5 for their utilization tour.    5.  Board communication 5.a.  Questionnaire.  The online questionnaire is the primary  mechanism for board communication.  Officers may call attention to  any matter they deem important to selection or slating including  program preferences and family or personal situations that the board should consider in its decision making.  A common access card  certificate is required to access the questionnaire.  Officers  should list their preferences in order of personal desire, but may  be selected for any program with which eligibility is met. 5.a.1.  Top Level School questionnaire:  https://www2.manpower.usmc.mil/application_cac/edu/ViewBoardServlet .action?boardID=5046 5.a.2  The deadline for submitting the online questionnaire is 2359 eastern standard time (EST) on 18 July 2025.  Any  correspondence received after the convening of the board will be  considered at the discretion of the board president.  All  correspondence to the board must originate from or be endorsed by  the officer being considered.   5.b.  Officers may submit correspondence after 18 July 2025 such as  letters to the board and any material not found in their Official  Military Personnel File (OMPF) via email to the MMOA-3  organizational email at [email protected].  Correspondence  will not be accepted after 25 July 2025. 5.c.  OMPF update material.  Officers should submit OMPF update  requests via Official-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.d.  The board does not consider photographs per reference (e). 5.e.  Fitness reports.  Completed fitness reports must be submitted  to the Performance Evaluation Section (MMRP-30) for inclusion into  the OMPF.  Incomplete fitness reports will not normally be accepted  or forwarded to the board. 5.f.  Remove by request (RBR) 5.f.1.  Officers who are eligible but do not desire to be  considered must complete the online TLS Selection Board  questionnaire and indicate that they do not desire to screen for  TLS.  These officers must then confirm their RBR by sending a  signed NAVMC 10274 Administrative Action (AA) Form to their PMOS  monitor and the MMOA-3 organizational email at  [email protected].  The AA form must be signed by the  officer requesting removal, but does not require any additional  endorsement.  The board will consider all officers who do not  submit a signed AA form.   5.f.2.  Complete questionnaire indicating desire to RBR and submit a signed RBR AA form to MMOA-3 NLT 2359 EST on 18 July 2025. 6.  Board results.  Manpower Management plans to release the  results of the TLS board within 90 days of the board convening. 6.a.  Alternates.  The board will identify officers as alternates for assignment when TLS program vacancies occur.  MMOA-3 will  post an alphabetical list of alternates on the MMOA-3 website  following the release of the board results. 6.b.  Declinations 6.b.1.  If an officer believes that they will likely decline TLS selection, then they should request RBR rather than wait to decline  until results are released.  Declinations should be a tool of last  resort for officers who were unable to anticipate circumstances that would lead to them being unable to attend a TLS program. 6.b.2.  Officers slated to a TLS program who decline must do so via  AA form, endorsed by the first general officer in their chain of command, forwarded to Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) (MMOA-3). Officers who decline will receive a letter in their OMPF  documenting the declination.  Unless otherwise approved by  Director, Manpower Management due to extraordinary circumstances,  officers who decline selection to a TLS program will not be  considered for any other TLS program during the slating year and  are ineligible for screening on future TLS boards.  MMOA will place  letters of declination in the officer's OMPF.  The results MARADMIN  will establish a deadline for declination requests. 6.b.3.  Alternates identified to fill vacated TLS program quotas  are also required to formally decline if they choose not to accept  the offer. 6.c.  Deferrals 6.c.1.  Officers selected for TLS who are unable to execute orders  due to extraordinary life or personal circumstances may request a  deferral. 6.c.2.  Officers requesting deferral must do so via AA form,  endorsed by the first general officer in their chain of command,  forwarded to HQMC (MMOA-3).  The results MARADMIN will establish a  deadline for deferral requests. 6.c.3.  If approved, the Director, Manpower Management will defer  officers to the following year's TLS selection board. 7.  Points of contact. Col E. J. Smith Branch Head, MMOA    Comm:  (703) 784-9300   Email: [email protected] Col M. D. Simon , Ground Col Monitor   Comm:  (703)784-9300   Email: [email protected] Col R. B. Tompkins, Aviation Col Monitor   Comm:  (703) 784-9300   Email:  [email protected] Lieutenant Colonel E. C. Buxton   Aviation Lieutenant Colonel Monitor   Comm:  (703) 784-9267   Email:  [email protected] Lieutenant Colonel E. F. Bradley   Combat Arms Lieutenant Colonel Monitor   Comm:  (703) 784-9274   Email:  [email protected] Lieutenant Colonel N. V. Bastian   Combat Service Support Lieutenant Colonel Monitor   Comm:  (703) 784-9274   Email:  [email protected] Lieutenant Colonel D. C. Burton   Information Lieutenant Colonel Monitor   Comm:  (703) 784-9274   Email:  [email protected] Mr. J. A. Bilyew, CMC Fellowships/Foreign PME, MCU   Comm:  (703) 432-0696   Email: [email protected]  8.  This message is not applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve. 9.  Release authorized by MajGen Ryan S. Rideout, Director,  Manpower Management, Manpower and Reserve Affairs.//