R 191917Z AUG 25 MARADMIN 388/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/CG EDCOM PRES MCU QUANTICO VA// SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2026 CLASS DATES FOR CORNERSTONE: THE COMMANDANT’S  COMBINED COMMANDERSHIP COURSE//  POC/DR. DAVID WALKER/LEJEUNE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE/MCU/TEL: COMM  (703) 432-4684 /EMAIL: [email protected]// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Situation.  President, Marine Corps University (MCU), as executive agent for the Commandant of the Marine Corps,  conducts commanders and Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL)  programs along with a workshop for command team spouses.  A CSEL is  defined as a Sergeant Major who works for an O5, or O6 board- selected and slated commander.  Attendance is mandatory for  commanders and CSELs either prior to or shortly after arriving at  their new command. Attendance for spouses, while not required, is  encouraged.  2.  Mission.  MCU conducts Cornerstone at Marine Corps University  campus onboard Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico, VA to prepare  board-selected commanders, CSELs, and their respective spouses for  the challenges of command. 3.  Execution 3.A.  Commander’s Intent 3.A.1.  Purpose.  To inform board-selected commanding officers,  command-equivalents, CSELs, and their spouses, of the programs and  practices that contribute to a successful command tour, as well as  receive information briefs from senior Marine Corps leaders about  the state of the Marine Corps and status of major policy  initiatives. 3.A.2.  Method.  The program will address the demands and  challenges of command, furnish opportunities to focus on  communities of interest, provide time for mentoring and cross talk,  and encourage the cohort to take advantage of networking events to  establish supportive relationships that will be valuable during  command.  The program will emphasize the art and science of command  with leadership, critical thinking, and unit readiness providing  the basic foundations for instruction.  The curriculum maximizes  the use of small-group guided discussions with current and former  commanders, CSELs, and their spouses to permit a frank exchange of  observations, ideas, and methods. 3.A.3.  End State.  Command team members are aware of the tools,  resources, best practices, and connections to further prepare them  to meet the unique challenges of command.  3.B. Concept of Operations.  Cornerstone is an eight training day  program, involving combined education opportunities for  board-selected commanding officers, command equivalents, and CSELs.   The Spouses Workshop runs concurrently during the second week.   Spouses receive combined education with their Marines and  spouse-specific curriculum.  3.B.1.  Course Dates: 3.B.1.A.  Cornerstone 3.B.1.A.1. O5-level Commanders and Sergeants Major: Course          Report Date     Convene Date    Grad Date 2026001         14 Oct 25       15 Oct 25       24 Oct 25 2026002         17 Mar 26       18 Mar 26       27 Mar 26 3.B.1.A.2. O6-level Commanders and Sergeants Major: Course          Report Date     Convene Date    Grad Date 2026001         19 Oct 25       20 Oct 25       24 Oct 25 2026002         22 Mar 26       23 Mar 26       27 Mar 26 3.B.1.B.   Spouses Workshop Course          Report Date     Convene Date    Grad Date 2026001         19 Oct 25       20 Oct 25       24 Oct 25 2026002         22 Mar 26       23 Mar 26       27 Mar 26 3.C.  Coordinating Instructions 3.C.1.  Course Attendance.  The following service servicemembers  are directed to attend Cornerstone: O5 and O6 board-selected  commanders, including acquisition command equivalents; CSELs, and  CSEL (selects) selected on the FY 2026 promotion board; as well as  U.S. Navy equivalents identified by Manpower Management Division  Officer Assignments.  Spouses of eligible attendees are authorized  to attend the Spouses Workshop at government expense.  Attendance  is required for commanders either prior to or shortly after  arriving at their new command; attending before assuming command is  strongly encouraged. For O5 level Sergeants Major, attendance is  required within one year of their SgtMaj selection. For O6 level  CSELs, attendance is required within one year of being assigned to  an O6 level billet.   3.C.2.  Registration instructions.  Attendees must register NLT 45  days prior to their desired course report date.  Attendees will  complete the registration form at  https:(slash)(slash)forms.office.com(slash)r(slash)kvk7Pq493Q.   Once complete, The Lejeune Leadership Institute (LLI) will register  all attendees into the Marine Corps Training Information Management  System (MCTIMS). LLI will send notifications to attendees once they  have been registered along with follow-on instructions. 3.C.3.  Reporting Instructions 3.C.3.A. Cornerstone attendees will check in at the Gray Research  Center (GRC), MCU between 0700-0800 on the course convening date  and execute return travel NET 1630 on the course graduation date. 3.C.3.B. Spouses Workshop attendees will check in at the GRC  between 0730-0800 on the course convening date with the Spouses  Workshop coordinators.  Return travel NET 1630 on the course  graduation date. Childcare is not provided. 4.  Administration and Logistics 4.A.  Orders.  All attendees shall travel on non-reporting orders.  Orders are the responsibility of the attendee’s parent command.  Defense Travel System (DTS) orders will suffice.  Government  billeting is available on a limited basis.  Messing is available  but is not directed as it is not conducive to the curriculum. 4.B.  Minimum clearance is SECRET.  Send clearance info via Defense  Information System for Security (DISS) through your local security  manager to Security Management Office (SMO) code: MS3302. POC: Ms.  Lisa Nelson at email:[email protected] and phone: 703-432-5578.  4.C.  Students are required to bring a Personal Electronic Device  (PED), such as a laptop, tablet, etc. 4.D.  Funding and Travel 4.D.1.  Active Component.  TAD costs for active component attendees  will be funded by their respective parent commands. Travel, per  diem, lodging, meals, and incidental expenses are to be included in  unit-funded DTS orders. Attendees are advised to coordinate with  their command’s administration and budget personnel for proper  funding and DTS authorization procedures. 4.D.2.  Spouses of Active Component.  Travel, meals, and incidental  expenses for spouses of active-duty attendees are authorized and  will be funded by MCU.  Lodging for spouses will not be funded, as  lodging for the active-duty service member will be unit-funded.  Local travel will not be funded.  Active-duty Marines must create  an invitational travel authorization for their spouse under the  service member’s DTS profile to properly process travel.   Directions on how to properly create and submit spouse  authorizations and vouchers will be provided via separate  correspondence.  All active component spouses attending  Cornerstone, except active-duty military spouses, must sign and  return a DD Form 2793 (Volunteer Agreement for Appropriated Fund  Activities form) NLT 45 days prior to travel to be considered  registered. The DD Form 2793 will be provided via separate email  correspondence after attendees register. 4.D.3.  Billeting. Government lodging is available aboard Marine  Corps Base Quantico and is recommended for attendees. Options  include Liversedge Hall and Inns of the Corps Quantico. Both  facilities can be reached at (703) 630-4444. Attendees should check  availability at these locations prior to securing commercial  lodging. Lodging arrangements should be made in accordance with  parent command policies and funding guidance. 4.E.  Reserve Component 4.E.1.  Marine Corps Forces Reserve (MARFORRES) G-3/5 Formal  Schools will fund all Reserve Marines designated to attend the  Cornerstone Course.  Funding requests are submitted as follows:  4.E.1.A. For Selected Marine Corps Reserve and Individual  Mobilization Augmentee Marine attendees, provide a copy of the MCU  notification of registration letter or email to the parent  organizations administration section for action.  Unit  administrators will use the Marine Reserve Order Writing System to  generate orders as appropriate.  Funding information is as follows:  Order Type: Schools.  Sub Type: PME.  If required, select “Other”  from the drop-down menu, and enter FY 2025 Cornerstone:  Commandant’s Combined Commandership Course.  Program Identifiers  (PID): Career Development Training (CDT) Command.  Force Funding  Source: For the funding source section, select PID, CDT, Budget  Execution Activity, Budget Execution Sub-Activity G-3/MR. 4.E.1.B. For Active Reserve Marine attendees, provide a copy of the  MCU notification of registration letter or email to the parent  organization’s administration section for action.  Unit  administrators will ensure the cross organizational worksheet for  DTS LOA is submitted to the MARFORRES G-3 Training organizational  mailbox at MFR_G-3/[email protected]. 4.E.1.C. Spouses of Selected Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR) and Active  Reserve Marine attendees. 4.E.1.C.1.  MARFORRES G-3/5 Formal Schools will fund all spouses of  SMCR Marine attendees. 4.E.1.C.2.  Unit administrators will generate the invitational  travel authorization in DTS/DTSR utilizing MARFORRES G-3 Training  Line of Accounting per approved cross organizational worksheet. 4.E.2.  Any travel or DTS related questions for Reserve or Active  Reserve component attendees or spouses of a reserve or Active  Reserve component attendee, direct all inquiries to  MFR_G-3/[email protected] or call (504) 697-7302.  5.  Command and Signal.  Questions or concerns about this Marine  Administrative Message can be directed to the MCU point of contact.   Questions regarding E-9 attendance should be directed to the 8999  Programs Lead, Marine Corps Senior Enlisted Academy, Sergeant Major  Jacqueline Townsel, at [email protected] or (703)  432-3224. 6.  Release authorized by Brigadier General M. W. Tracy,  Commanding General, Education Command and President, Marine Corps  University. //