R 301255Z APR 26 MARADMIN 203/26 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM// SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2027 COMMAND SCREENING BOARDS ANNOUNCEMENT// REF/A/MSGID:  MCO/CMC/20170323// REF/B/MSGID:  MCO/CMC/20210510// REF/C/MSGID:  MCO/CMC/20190215// REF/D/MSGID:  MSG/CMC/32017ZDEC25// REF/E/MSGID:  MSG/CMC/261400ZFEB2026// REF/F/MSGID:  MSG/CMC/241230ZMAR2026// NARR/REF A IS MCO 1300.64B, COMMAND SCREENING PROGRAM.  REF B IS MCO 1300.8 CH-1, MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY.  REF C IS MCO 1900.16 CH 2, SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT MANUAL.  REF D IS MARADMIN  582/25 REQUIREMENT UPDATE ON OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHS FOR NON-PROMOTION SELECTION BOARDS.  REF E IS MARADMIN 066/26 CHANGE 1 TO THE ADVANCE NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES TO THE MARINE CORPS PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST  AND BODY COMPOSITION EVALUATION PROCESS.  REF F IS MARADMIN 127/26 CHANGE 1 TO REQUIREMENT UPDATE ON OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHS FOR  NON-PROMOTION SELECTION BOARDS// POC/T. J. KITASATO/MAJ/MMOA-3/(703) 784-9284/ EMAIL:  [email protected]// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  This message announces the timeline for the fiscal year 2027 Command Screening Boards (CSB), outlines eligibility criteria, and provides information on board  communication and where to find a list of available colonel and  lieutenant colonel commands for assignment. 1.a.  Major timeline milestones are (read in two columns): Date                                Milestone                            Release of this message             CSB questionnaire open  30 May 2026                         Completed questionnaire due  30 May 2026                         Remove by request (RBR) due  07 July 2026                        Lieutenant colonel CSB convenes 08 July 2026                        Colonel CSB convenes TBD August 2026                     CSB results released   1.b.  The purpose of the Command Screening Program is to ensure that Marines receive the best possible leadership and to provide eligible officers with a fair and equitable opportunity to command. 1.c.  The CSBs will select officers for designated command billets projected to generally be available between 1 June 2027 and 31 May  2028. 1.d.  In order to ensure focus on unit mission while allowing  officers appropriate time for transition and to reinvest the  valuable skills and experience from successful commanders, Manpower Management Separation and Retirement Branch (MMSR) will not  normally endorse requests to retire within 24 months of completion  of a command tour. 2.  Process.  The boards will select those who are best and most  fully qualified for command from the eligible population.  The  board will select a number of officers equal to the number of  commands available as primaries.  Additionally, the boards will  select a sufficient number of officers as alternates to meet  command requirements when primaries decline or otherwise cannot  take command.  The boards will propose a command slate for the primary selectees and will forward the slate, along with the  alternate list, to the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) for  approval.  When approved, board results listing the primary  selectees will be announced via Marine Administrative message  (MARADMIN). 3.  Board composition.  The CSBs will consist of officers whose Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs) represent all elements of  the Marine Air-Ground Task Force and supporting establishment. 4.  Eligibility.  The eligibility rosters are posted on the following website under MMOA-3 Top Level Schools and  Programs Tab in the Command Screening Program sub-folder:  https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Manpower-Management/Officer- Assignments/#tab/top-level-schools-and-programs.  Please contact your Primary Military Occupational Specialty (PMOS) monitors with questions about eligibility. 4.a.  Eligibility criteria.  All unrestricted colonels or colonels (select) and lieutenant colonels or lieutenant colonels (select), except as outlined in paragraph 4.b. 4.b.  Ineligibility criteria 4.b.1.  Officers with an established separation or retirement date. 4.b.2.  Officers with a mandatory retirement date prior to  1 June 2030. 4.b.3.  Lieutenant colonels in or above the promotion zone for the calendar year 2026/fiscal year 2028 Promotion Selection Boards. 4.b.4.  Officers who have previously held command in one of the designated colonel or lieutenant colonel command screened billets  for a period of at least 12 months, are currently in command, or are slated and awaiting command as a result of a previous command screening board.  This does not preclude colonels (select) currently in a lieutenant colonel command from eligibility for a colonel command. 4.b.5.  Officers who have previously declined command. 4.b.6.  Officers currently assigned to payback tours following  graduation from the School of Advanced Warfighting, School of  Advanced Military Studies, School of Advanced Air and Space  Studies, or the Maritime Advanced Warfighting School who will not  complete 12 months of assignment by 31 October 2026. 4.b.7.  Officers currently attending graduate education programs. These officers will be eligible to screen for command after  graduation from school.   4.b.8.  Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Program-Strategist  (PHD-S).  Officers enrolled in PHD-S programs who will not be All But Dissertation (ABD) complete by 31 Jun 2027. 4.b.9.  Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Program-Technical  (PHD-T).  Officers who entered the PHD-T program between FY16 and FY24 are eligible for command screening provided they meet all  other eligibility criteria — this applies to all PHD-T officers  that this board will consider.  Beginning only with the FY25 PHD-T selection cohort, officers who enter the program will be ineligible for future command screening.   4.b.10.  Officers inbound to a joint duty assignment or currently serving in a joint duty assignment who will not have completed  12 months of the joint duty assignment by 30 July 2026. 4.b.11.  Officers with the acquisition Primary Military Occupational Specialty (8059/8061). 4.b.12.  Limited duty officers. 4.b.13.  Officers who have been relieved for cause from a designated lieutenant colonel or colonel command screened billet. 4.b.14.  Officers who will not complete their planned tour by 31  July 2026 for board selected assignments or programs that require  one or more years of training for assignment; this includes, but is not limited to Marine Attaché, Personnel Exchange Program, or  Security Cooperation Organization. 4.b.15.  Officers who are currently enrolled in Top Level School  programs that require utilization tours.  5.  Board communication. 5.a.  CMC directs all eligible officers to communicate with the board.  The online questionnaire is the primary mechanism for board correspondence.  Officers may call attention to any matter they  deem important to selection or slating including command  preferences, location preferences, and family or personal  situations to inform the board's decision making.  A common access card certificate is not required to access the questionnaire. 5.b.  Command screening questionnaire (colonel and lieutenant  colonel) can be found on the MMOA-3 website under Top Level Schools and Programs Tab in the Command Screening Program sub-folder: https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Manpower-Management/Officer-Assignm ents/#tab/top-level-schools-and-programs 5.c.  Officers may submit any material not found in their Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) via the questionnaire.  Instructions on how to upload material are provided on the final page of the questionnaire.  Files submitted that do not comply with the  instructions will not be presented to the board.  Officers who  experience difficulty with the questionnaire upload process  should contact Manpower Management Officer Assignments Branch,  Plans, Programs, and Boards Section (MMOA-3) by phone at (703)  784-9284 for assistance.  Documents will not be accepted via email. 5.d.  The deadline for submitting the online questionnaire is 2359 EST on 30 May 2026 in order to facilitate pre-board actions. 5.e.  The questionnaire does not allow for an officer to edit their responses after progressing to the next item or after submission. Officers who desire to change their responses should submit a new questionnaire, using the link above.  Officers will be given the  opportunity to download a summary of their responses once they have  finalized their submission.  MMOA will not provide a copy of another questionnaire submission.  MMOA will provide the board with the  results of the most recent submission. 5.f.  All correspondence to the board must originate from or be  endorsed by the screening officer.  Any correspondence submitted  after the convening of the board will be considered at the  discretion of the board president. 5.g.  OMPF update material.  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.  A members' OMPF, including their Master Brief Sheet, will  be accessible to the board. 5.h.  Photographs are used in the CSBs per references (d), (e), and (f). 5.i.  Fitness reports.  Completed fitness reports must be submitted to Performance Evaluation Section (MMPB-2) for inclusion into the OMPF.  Incomplete fitness reports will not normally be accepted or forwarded to the board. 5.j.  Body Composition.  Reference (e) modifies the Height and  Weight requirement to a Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) requirement. At present, there is no method for the Digital Boardroom to pull current WHtR information aside from an officer's official  photograph or fitness reports.  Accordingly, an officer will not  be viewed negatively solely because a current WHtR measurement is not available to the board.  However, previous Height and Weight  measurements contained within an officer's record will be  considered, as well as any fitness reports that were processed with a WHtR directed comment.  Officers who desire to have their current WHtR made available to the board may update their official  photograph in their OMPF accordance with reference (f). 5.k.  Remove by request (RBR) 5.k.1.  Officers who are eligible but do not desire to screen must complete the online command screening questionnaire and attach an AA form requesting RBR.  The AA form must be endorsed by the first Marine in the fitness report routing chain.  The Senior Marine Representative or administrative reviewer may be used if there is no Marine in the chain.  Officers without properly endorsed AA forms for RBR will screen for command. 5.k.2.  MMOA-3 must receive requests for RBR via the online questionnaire no later than 2359 EST on 30 May 2026.  Officers requesting RBR must also email a copy to their PMOS monitor. 5.k.3.  Officers who submit a RBR AA form but subsequently wish to withdraw that request must do so via a second AA form.  The AA form must be signed by the Marine requesting to be screened and does not require other endorsements.  Submit these AA forms to PMOS monitor and MMOA-3 at [email protected].   6.  Command availability. 6.a.  Command availability will be posted on the command screening questionnaire and on the MMOA-3 website under MMOA-3 Top Level  Schools and Programs Tab in the Command Screening Program  sub-folder:  https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Divisions/Manpower-Man agement/Officer-Assignments/Plans-and-Programs-MMOA-3/#tab/top-level -schools-and-programs 6.b.  The list of commands screening will be updated periodically prior to the board and is subject to change up until the conclusion of the board. 7.  Board results.  Manpower Management will release the results of the CSBs at the beginning of August 2026 via MARADMIN. 7.a.  Alternates.  Officers selected as alternates will be  prioritized by the board for assignment when command vacancies  occur.  MMOA-3 will post an alphabetical list of alternates on  the MMOA-3 website following the release of the board results.   Alternates will be given formal offers of command when vacancies  occur. 7.b.  Declinations.  Officers who request to decline command must  submit a request for declination in writing (AA Form) via the first general officer in their chain of command addressed to HQMC via  MMOA-3.  The request for declination process is the same if an  alternate is offered command.  The MARADMIN announcing results will establish a timeline for acceptance or declination.  Officers who  decline command are ineligible for future command, unless otherwise approved by the Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. 7.c.   Deferrals.  Officers selected for command who are unable to execute orders due to extraordinary circumstances may request a deferral.  If approved, the Director, Manpower Management will  defer the officer to a future command screening board.  Primary  selectees may submit a deferral request in writing (AA Form) to  HQMC (MMOA-3) via the first general officer in their chain of  command. 8.  Points of contact: Col E. J. Smith   Branch Head, MMOA   Comm:  (703) 784-9300   Email:  [email protected] Col E. F. Bradley   Combat Arms Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel Monitor   Comm:  (703) 784-9274   Email:  [email protected] Col R. B. Tompkins   Aviation Colonel Monitor   Comm:  (703) 784-9300   Email:  [email protected] LtCol E. C. Buxton   Aviation Lieutenant Colonel Monitor   Comm:  (703) 784-9267   Email:  [email protected] Col N. V. Bastian   Combat Service Support Lieutenant Colonel Monitor   Comm:  (703) 784-9274   Email:  [email protected] LtCol D. C. Burton   Information Lieutenant Colonel Monitor   Comm:  (703) 784-9274   Email:  [email protected] Major D. B. Heaton    Field Grade Center Desk    Comm:  703-784-9272    Email:  [email protected] 9.  This message is only applicable to the active component. 10.  Release authorized by MajGen Fridrik Fridriksson, Director, Manpower Management Division.//