R 151945Z MAY 26 MARADMIN 229/26 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA RA// SUBJ/CONVENING OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2027-28 RESERVE OFFICER PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION BOARD// REF/A/MSG/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM/YMD:112035Z DEC 08// REF/B/DOC/CMC/YMD:20080125// REF/C/DOC/CMC/YMD:20250528// REF/D/DOC/CMC/YMD:20250307// REF/E/MSG/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA RA/YMD:141336Z JAN 21// REF/F/MSG/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA RA/YMD:032017Z DEC 25// REF/G/DODI/SECWAR/YMD:20080429// REF/H/DODI/SECWAR/YMD:20171128// NARR/REFERENCE A IS MARADMIN 703/08, OFFICER PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION (PME) SUMMARY.  REFERENCE B IS MCO 1553.4B, PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION (PME).  REFERENCE C IS MCO 1900.16 CH 3, SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT MANUAL.  REFERENCE D IS MCO 1001R.1L CH 2, MARINE CORPS RESERVE ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT MANUAL (MCRAMM). REFERENCE E IS MARADMIN 022/21, POLICY FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TOURS BY RESERVE AFFAIRS DIVISION.  REFERENCE F IS MARADMIN 582/25, REQUIREMENT UPDATE ON OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHS FOR NON-PROMOTION SELECTION BOARDS.  REFERENCE G IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION 1322.10, POLICY ON GRADUATE EDUCATION FOR MILITARY OFFICERS. REFERENCE H IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION 1332.43, VOLUNTARY SEPARATION PAY (VSP) PROGRAM FOR SERVICE MEMBERS.// POC/DAVID B. KRAFT/MAJ/RAM-3/TEL:703-784-1275/EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/GREGORY BOGACZYK/MSGT/RAM-3/TEL:703-784-1231/EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/GEORGE A. TISNADO/MSGT/RAM-3/TEL:703-784-1231/EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/BRENNETT FORD/CIV/RAM-3/TEL:703-784-9218/EMAIL: [email protected]// DSN: 703-278-9218/EMAIL:[email protected]// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  This MARADMIN announces the Academic Year (AY) 2027-28 Reserve Officer Professional Military Education (RPME) board, which convenes on 14 September 2026.  The board selects Reserve  Component (RC) officers for designated RPME opportunities to prepare them for future assignments with increased responsibility.  The RC competitive categories are the Selected Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR), Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA), Individual Ready Reserve  (IRR), and Active Reserve (AR).  PME requirement criteria and  equivalencies by grade are in accordance with reference (a).  Major timelines and milestones are (read in two columns): Date                                Milestone Release of this message             RPME questionnaire opens 28 August 2026                      RPME questionnaire closes 28 August 2026                      Update material deadline 14 September 2026                   RPME Board convenes TBD October 2026                    RPME results released TBD November 2026                   Declinations and deferrals due 2.  Reserve Affairs Division (RA) is soliciting applicants for the following RPME opportunities, IAW reference (b).  Approximate  convening and graduation dates are listed for both resident and  non-resident programs.  Exact dates will be provided once received  from each school.   For all programs, officers must ensure they are available to attend if selected.  Details below read as follows:  (a-g) course title, (1) location, (2) eligible grade, (3) convene -  graduate dates, (4) joint PME certification level, (5) course type,  and (6) eligible competitive category. 2.a.  Resident Full-Length Schools (FLS) are approximately 10-months in duration, with most courses reporting in July 2027.  Officers who complete resident FLS may be offered a 12-month Professional Development Tour (PDT) per reference (e) and forthcoming details in the RPME results MARADMIN.   2.a.1.  Senior Level College (SLC):             (a)  Marine Corps War College (MCWAR)                   (1)  Quantico, VA                   (2)  LtCol/LtCol (sel)                   (3)  Jul 27 - Jun 28                   (4)  JPME-II certification                   (5)  Resident                   (6)  SMCR/IMA/IRR/AR             (b)  College of Naval Warfare (CNW)                   (1)  Newport, RI                   (2)  LtCol/LtCol (sel)                   (3)  Jul 27 - Jun 28                   (4)  JPME-II certification                   (5)  Resident                   (6)  SMCR/IMA/IRR/AR             (c)  U.S. Army War College (USAWC)                   (1)  Carlisle Barracks, PA                   (2)  LtCol/LtCol (sel)                   (3)  Jul 27 - Jun 28                   (4)  JPME-II certification                   (5)  Resident                   (6)  SMCR/IMA/IRR/AR             (d)  Air War College (AWC)                   (1)  Maxwell AFB, AL                   (2)  LtCol/LtCol (sel)                   (3)  Jul 27 - Jun 28                   (4)  JPME-II certification                   (5)  Resident                   (6)  SMCR/IMA/IRR/AR             (e)  National War College (NWC)                   (1)  Fort McNair, Washington, DC                   (2)  LtCol/LtCol (sel)                   (3)  Jul 27 - Jun 28                   (4)  JPME-II certification                   (5)  Resident                   (6)  SMCR/IMA/IRR/AR             (f)  Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy (ESNSRS)                   (1)  Fort McNair, Washington, DC                   (2)  LtCol/LtCol (sel)                   (3)  Jul 27 - Jun 28                   (4)  JPME-II certification                   (5)  Resident                   (6)  SMCR/IMA/IRR/AR             (g)  College of Information and Cyberspace (CIC)                   (1)  Fort McNair, Washington, DC                   (2)  LtCol/LtCol (sel)                   (3)  Jul 27 - Jun 28                   (4)  JPME-II certification                   (5)  Resident                   (6)  SMCR/IMA/IRR/AR 2.a.2.  Intermediate Level College (ILC):             (a)  Marine Corps Command and Staff College (MCCSC)                   (1)  Quantico, VA                   (2)  Maj/Maj (sel)                   (3)  Jul 27 - Jun 28                   (4)  JPME-I certification                   (5)  Resident                   (6)  SMCR/IMA/IRR/AR             (b)  College of Naval Command and Staff (CNCS)                   (1)  Newport, RI                   (2)  Maj/Maj (sel)                   (3)  Jul 27 - Jun 28                   (4)  JPME-I certification                   (5)  Resident                   (6)  SMCR/IMA/IRR/AR             (c)  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC)                   (1)  Fort Leavenworth, KS                   (2)  Maj/Maj (sel)                   (3)  Jul 27 - Jun 28                   (4)  JPME-I certification                   (5)  Resident                   (6)  SMCR/IMA/IRR/AR             (d)  Air Command and Staff College (ACAS)                   (1)  Maxwell AFB, AL                   (2)  Maj/Maj (sel)                   (3)  Jul 27 - Jun 28                   (4)  JPME-I certification                   (5)  Resident                   (6)  SMCR/IMA/IRR/AR 2.a.3.  Career Level School (CLS):             (a)  Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare School (MCEWS)                   (1)  Quantico, VA                   (2)  Capt/Capt (sel)                   (3)  Jul 27 - Jun 28                   (4)  None                   (5)  Resident                   (6)  SMCR/IMA/IRR/AR 2.b.  Distance Education Programs (DEP) vary in duration and have  specific residency requirements embedded within each course catalog. 2.b.1.  Top-Level School Equivalency:              (a)  USAWCDEP                   (1)  Carlisle Barracks, PA                   (2)  LtCol (sel) - Col                   (3)  Jun 27 - Jun 29                   (4)  JPME-I certification                   (5)  Two-year program:  51-weeks of correspondence, 1-week resident, 50-weeks of correspondence, and 2-weeks resident/ graduation.                   (6)  SMCR/IMA/IRR/AR             (b)  Joint and Combined Warfighting School - Hybrid  (JCWS-H)                   (1)  Norfolk, VA                   (2)  LtCol (sel) - Col                   (3)  Jul 27 - Jun 28                   (4)  JPME-II certification                   (5)  40-week program:  21-weeks of correspondence, 1-week resident, 16-weeks of correspondence, and 2-weeks resident/ graduation.                   (6)  SMCR/IMA/IRR/AR 2.c.  Staff Training Course (STC) 2.c.1.  Resident STC:             (a)  Reserve Senior Staff Course (RSSC)                   (1)  Quantico, VA                   (2)  LtCol (sel) - Col                   (3)  Jun 27                   (4)  None                   (5)  Two-week resident course for senior officers that provides a strategic level view of current Service and  Department of War issues, policies, and programs.                    (6)  SMCR/IMA/IRR 3.  Service Obligation and Statement of Understanding (SOU).   Service obligations vary depending on competitive category and RPME opportunity.  All RC officers will be required to sign a SOU when  accepting their offer to attend RPME.  3.a. SMCR/IMA/IRR Obligation.  Selectees within the SMCR/IMA/IRR,  including officers on AR Limited Tour (Component B4), who accept resident PME will incur a service obligation as per references (c) and (d).  The 24-month obligation detailed in the SOU will be  reported administratively by establishing or extending an officer's  Mandatory Drill Participation Stop Date (MDPSD).   3.b. AR Obligation 3.b.1.  AR CLS Obligation.  Selectees who accept resident CLS will  incur a service obligation in accordance with references (c) and (d). The 24-month obligation detailed in the SOU will be reported  administratively by establishing or extending an officer s MDPSD  relative to their projected graduation date. 3.b.2.  AR ILC and SLC Obligation.  In addition to references (c)  and (d), AR officer obligations are subject to reference (g) when  completing RPME programs that result in graduate education degrees  (ILC and SLC).  Following completion of ILC and SLC, AR officers  incur a 24-month obligation within the AR Program (Component B1). This obligation will be detailed in the SOU and reported  administratively by establishing an incurred obligation service code "CD" for service PME relative to their projected graduation date.   This obligation shall not be waived, including requests to Return to Active Duty (RAD).  4.  Ineligibility Criteria   4.a.  Officers currently in command who are unable to complete the  24-month obligation in their command billet prior to a given  resident PME course convene date. 4.b.  Officers who are forecasted as being in-zone or above-zone on the next scheduled promotion board (except Colonels).  4.c.  Officers who have already completed a grade-equivalent  resident funded FLS to which they are now applying. 4.d.  Officers who have been previously selected for DEP are not  eligible to apply to another DEP. 4.e.  Officers with an approved retirement or resignation, who are pending conditional release, or who have applied for transition to  the Active Component via the RAD program. 4.f.  Officers approved for continuation beyond their mandatory  removal/retirement date. 4.g.  AR Specific Ineligibility Criteria 4.g.1.  Career designated AR officers who have a Date Current Tour  Began (DCTB) on or after 1 October 2025. 4.g.2.  AR officers on their accession tour who have a DCTB on or  after 1 October 2024. 5.  Application Process 5.a.  Officers with a Manpower and Reserve Affairs (MRA) Manpower  Information Portal (MIP) account will be allowed to proceed through the login process. 5.a.1.  Webportal Survey Application.  Applicants are required to  apply via the online RPME application website at "https://www2. manpower.usmc.mil/application_cac/".  Common Access Card (CAC)  certification is not required to access this website. 5.a.2.  Officers who do not have an MRA MIP account will receive a "404 access error" when attempting to access the website.  The error  message contains instructions on how to register for an MRA portal  account.  Officers may register for MRA MIP access via the website  at "https://www2.manpower.usmc.mil/apps-home/".  Any officer who  cannot access the application process should contact the POC listed  in this MARADMIN. 5.a.3.  The webportal survey application will consist of the  following items:  (1) contact information, (2) career counseling  confirmation, (3) PDT declaration, (4) the ability to apply to three PME opportunities in priority order, (5) acknowledgement of  obligation and SOU requirement, and (6) the option to upload  material.  Applying to more than one opportunity is highly  encouraged.   5.b.  Upload Material Contents.  Applicants are responsible for  ensuring their application and any uploaded material are complete  and accurate. 5.c. Application Process.  The application template is available on the RAM-3 website. 5.c.1.  Application Requirements.  All applications will include a  letter to the board with a signed Reserve Qualification Summary  (RQS - NAVMC 10476) as an enclosure.  The RQS template can be found  on the M&RA RAM-3 webpage at "https://www.manpower.marines.mil/ Divisions/Reserve-Affairs-Division/Reserve-Affairs-Management-RAM/ Reserve-Affairs-Management-Embeds/" under the "Reserve Programs and  Boards (RAM-3)" section, "Support Documentation" dropdown menu.   Applicants may also provide relevant update material as an additional enclosure.   5.c.2.  Upload Material Submission Format.  All material must be  uploaded in one digital file and formatted in portable document  format (PDF).  The submitted name of the digital file must be in the following format:  EDIPI_RPME_LNAME (e.g., 1234567890_RPME_SMITH).   Files not submitted in this format are not compatible with Digital  Boardroom (DBR) and will be deleted.  5.d.  Application Deadline.  The deadline for submitting applications and all upload material is 2359 Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on 28  August 2026.  Late submissions will not be accepted.  The web-based,  online application is the only method to apply. 6.  OMPF Material.  Officers are responsible for ensuring their OMPF  is accurate and updated.  All OMPF material will be updated through  the OMPF Records Management Application (ORMA) located on the  Manpower MMPB-2 page by accessing "https://www4.manpower.usmc.mil/ orma/#/" under "My OMPF", then select the "OMPF Update Requests" tab. 6.a.  Photographs.  Photographs are used in the RPME board per  reference (f).     7. Administration 7.a.  Applicants must ensure their application e-mail addresses and telephone numbers are current and functional.  These will serve as  the primary means of contact throughout the board process. 7.b.  Notification of selection.  The board may select a primary for each school seat and a sufficient number of alternates.  The results MARADMIN will announce the primary selectees.  Alternate selectees  will be listed on the RAM-3 website.  Additional and unanticipated vacancies will be filled by alternates. 7.c.  Primary selectees who subsequently decline or request  deferment to the opportunity selected must submit their declination  or deferment to the Director, RA via an AA form (NAVMC 10274)  endorsed by the first General Officer in their chain of command. 7.d.  Per reference (d), officers selected for PME are not authorized to extend orders for the purpose of executing leave. 7.e.  Per reference (h), officers who participated in the Voluntary  Separation Pay (VSP) program may face recoupment if they voluntarily  return to active duty for more than 180 days. 8.  Applicants are highly encouraged to consult with a Career  Counselor via the Career Management Team (CMT), Reserve Affairs  Division.  To request counseling services, please send an e-mail to  "[email protected]" or call 703-784-0557.  Additional information can be found by accessing the CMT website at "https://www.manpower. marines.mil/Divisions/Reserve-Affairs-Division/Career-Management- Team-CMT/" then select "Contact Us". 9.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the Reserve Component. 10.  Release authorized by Major General John F. Kelliher III,  Director, Reserve Affairs Division.//