R 251805Z JUL 25 MARADMIN 350/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA RA// SUBJ/ACADEMIC YEAR 2026 ACTIVE RESERVE MARINE CORPS GRADUATE  EDUCATION PROGRAM (GEP) SELECTION PANEL// REF/A/DOC/CMC/YMD:20230602// REF/B/DOC/CMC/YMD:20190215// REF/C/MSG/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM/YMD: 281924Z JAN 19// NARR/REFERENCE A IS MCO 1524.1 MARINE CORPS GRADUATE EDUCATION  PROGRAM (GEP).  REFERENCE B IS MCO 1001.52K MANAGEMENT OF THE ACTIVE RESERVE (AR) SUPPORT TO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE (USMCR).  REFERENCE C IS MARADMIN 491/20 REMOVAL OF PHOTOGRAPHS FROM CONSIDERATION BY PROMOTION BOARDS AND SELECTION PROCESSES PERTAINING TO ASSIGNMENT, TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND COMMAND.// POC/T. A. DEMPSEY/LTCOL/RAP/TEL: 703-432-9205// POC/J. F. DEAN/MAJ/RAM-3/TEL: 703-784-1275// POC/B. FORD/CIV/RAM-3/TEL: 703-784-9218// EMAIL: [email protected]// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  This MARADMIN announces the Academic Year (AY) 2026 Active Reserve (AR) Graduate Education Program (GEP) Selection Panel.  The AR GEP exists to provide requisite graduate education  opportunities for AR officers to fill validated billet requirements.   The AR GEP Selection Panel will convene on 26 September 2025. 2.  Reserve Affairs (RA) is soliciting applicants for one GEP opportunity.  The officer will receive a Master of Science in Management degree from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in the Manpower Systems Analysis (MSA), 847 curriculum.  This degree will be accompanied with the 8840 Additional Military Occupational  Specialty (AMOS). 2.a.  Course Objective.  Prepare military officers to serve as manpower planners by conducting and participating in manpower related studies to ensure that sound management techniques are used at all levels of manpower systems. 2.b.  Course Description.  Prepare graduates to develop manpower policy and implement manpower techniques; to conduct studies and surveys; and to analyze objectives, policies, procedures,  organization, and administrative actions to assess the effect of  management policies. 2.c.  This opportunity will require service in the AR Program,  Component B1.  The officer selected will be assigned to a  three-year AR utilization tour within the Manpower Plans Section, RA Division, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) immediately upon graduation. 3.  Eligibility Criteria: 3.a.  Competitive Category.  Selected Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR), Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA), Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) and AR officers are eligible to apply. 3.b.  Rank.  The upper threshold are Majors with no more than one-year time-in-grade on 1 June 2025.  The lower threshold are Captains with a minimum of two-years time-in-grade on 1 June 2025. 3.c.  Time-on-Station (TOS).  AR applicants must have two-years TOS prior to 1 June 2025.  This does not apply to SMCR/IMA/IRR  applicants.  3.d.  AR Career Designation.  Current AR officers who are career designated must have a Date Current Tour Began (DCTB) of NLT 30 September 2024.  AR officers on their accession tour must have a DCTB of NLT 30 September 2023. 3.e.  SMCR/IMA/IRR applicants must meet officer accession requirements in accordance with reference (b).  4.  Ineligibility Criteria.  Officers who have been passed for promotion selection in their current grade in any competitive category will not be considered. 5.  The AR GEP application process is a two-step process and the  following guidelines apply to the AR GEP application: 5.a.  Step 1:  All applicants will be screened by NPS for the  MSA discipline.  Applicants must complete the NPS online application located at https:(slash)(slash)nps.edu.  Official  transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be  submitted directly to NPS from the institutions attended.  The  transcripts need to include all credits and letter grades.  Mail  transcripts to Naval Postgraduate School Admissions Office, 1  University Circle, He-046, Monterey, CA 93943-5100.  Electronic transcripts may be submitted from the institution to NPS  using [email protected] as the recipient.  Applicants are  responsible for ensuring their official transcripts arrive to NPS NLT 15 August 2025.  Any questions regarding the NPS process may be  addressed via email at the admissions email listed above.   5.b.  Step 2:  Applicants must apply via the online RPME  application website at  at https:(slash)(slash) www2.manpower.usmc.mil/application_cac/edu /index.jsp. Common Access Card (CAC) certification is not required to access the site.  Officers with an MRA portal account will proceed to the login process.  Upon login, the system will validate basic individual eligibility for application.  Officers are advised to read the instructions in their entirety before completing the application.  The web-based application allows for the attachment of documents  and offers GEP options via drop-down boxes. 5.b.1.  Officers who do not have an MRA portal account will receive a 404 access error.  Within the error message are instructions on  how to register for an MRA portal account, which is available to  all officers.  Any officer who cannot access the application should  contact the AR GEP POCs listed in this MARADMIN. 5.b.2.  Applicants must also complete the AR GEP application.  The application format and privacy act statement may be found  in reference (a) and on the RAM-3 website at https:(slash)(slash) www.manpower.marines.mil/Divisions/Manpower-Management/Reserve- Affairs-Division/Reserve-Affairs-Management-RAM/. Letters of recommendation may be included as enclosures.   5.b.3.  Statement of Understanding (SOU).  The SOU will contain the following declaration: “If selected, I agree to serve on  active duty as part of the AR Program for at least four years after completion of my training.  I agree not to transfer from the AR Program or request separation or retirement until  I have completed this commitment within the program.” The SOU must be submitted as part of the AR GEP application.  5.b.4.  Applicants must submit unofficial transcripts from all  colleges and universities attended on the web application.  The  transcripts need to include all credits and letter grades. 5.b.5.  The deadline for submitting all material is 27 August 2025, 2359 Eastern Standard Time (EST).  Late submissions will not be accepted.  The web-based, online RPME application is the only method to apply.   5.b.6.  All uploaded documents must be in portable document format  (PDF).  The submitted name of the files must be in the following Format: EDIPI_FileDescription.PDF. 5.b.7.  Photographs.  Per reference (c), official photographs are no longer permitted in selection process packages.  5.b.8.  Upon release of the results MARADMIN, PCS orders will be  issued for the selected officers to attend the NPS curriculum  reporting for the summer semester in July 2026 and graduating in  Spring 2028.  Officers must ensure a sincere, dedicated interest  in the GEP program and serving in the Active Reserve Program before applying. 6.  Administration 6.a.  Ensure e-mail addresses and telephone numbers are current  and are provided on the application.   6.b.  Notification of selection.  The panel will select a primary for each school seat.  The panel will also select a sufficient number of alternates to meet quota requirements if selectees decline or  otherwise cannot accept.  Once the panel results are approved the primary selectee will be announced via MARADMIN.  Applicants selected as primaries and approved by CMC (RA) will receive correspondence from this HQ with specific information regarding school selection to include dates.  The results MARADMIN will provide administrative guidance for orders processing and issuance. Alternates will be listed on the RAM-3 website identified in  paragraph 5.b.2.  Unanticipated GEP vacancies will be filled by  alternates. 7.  Waivers to eligibility requirements set forth in this MARADMIN will be considered at the discretion of the Director of Reserve  Affairs Division on a case-by-case basis.    8.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the Reserve Component. 9.  Release authorized by Major General Karl D. Pierson, Director, Reserve Affairs Division.//