R 141400Z MAY 26 MARADMIN 222/26 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA// SUBJ/FORTHCOMING CHANGES TO TIME IN SERVICE REQUIREMENT FOR PROMOTION  TO SERGEANT AND CHANGES TO THE STAFF SERGEANT PROMOTION PROCESS// REF/A/MSGID:MSG/CMC/R301800ZOCT19// REF/B/MSGID:MSG/CMC/R280800ZAPR23// REF/C/MSGID:MSG/CMC/R231749ZDEC24// NARR/REF A IS MARADMIN 612/19, ANNOUNCEMENT OF AUTHORITY FOR EARLY  REENLISTMENT, DELEGATION OF REENLISTMENT APPROVAL AUTHORITY, AND  CHANGES TO PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS POLICY.  REF B IS MARADMIN 225/23,  ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SMALL-UNIT LEADER INITIATIVE. REF C IS UPDATED  ENLISTED PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION (EPME) REQUIREMENTS FOR  ACTIVE DUTY AND ACTIVE RESERVE MARINES//  POC/STALKER/MSGT/MPP-20/TEL: 703-784-9362//EMAIL:  [email protected]//  POC/GRIFFIN/MAJ/MMPB-11/TEL: 703-784-3440//EMAIL:  [email protected]// POC/CAMPBELL/MAJ/MMEA-2/TEL: 703-784-9423//EMAIL:  [email protected]// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. Purpose. This MARADMIN announces three promotion  policy changes for the Sergeant and Staff Sergeant populations.  1.a. Sergeant Time in Service (TIS). The TIS requirement for  promotion to Sergeant changes from 48 months to 30 months.  1.b. Sequenced Professional Military Education (PME). The completion  window for Sergeant PME required for promotion to Staff Sergeant,  decreases from 365 days to 270 days from the release of the promotion  board results. Marines must complete both a qualifying resident and  non-resident course per reference (c) within this period.  1.c. Staff Sergeant Alternate List. Effective Fiscal Year 2027  (FY27), the Staff Sergeant Promotion Board Alternate Selection List  is discontinued and replaced by an adjusted annual promotion  allocation model. 2. Background.  2.a. Sergeant TIS. In FY20, reference (a) increased the TIS  requirement for promotion to Sergeant from 24 to 48 months.   This change favored longevity over performance rather than  competition among high-performing Corporals. Changing the TIS  requirement to 30 months strengthens competition and ensures Marines  are promoted based on merit and performance. 2.b. Sequenced PME. Current policy allows Sergeants to be selected  for promotion to Staff Sergeant if they complete the EPME 5000- Sergeants School Distance Education Program.  The Service requires selectees to complete Sergeant School or  Sergeants School Seminar within 365 days of selection. The policy  update announced herein reduces the PME completion window to 270  days after the release of board results which allows the service to  plan next year’s promotion allocations.  2.c. Staff Sergeant Alternate List. Alternate selections to Staff  Sergeant are used to mitigate promotion shortfalls when primary  selectees do not promote. Replacing the Staff Sergeant Alternate List  with a predictive allocation model streamlines the promotion process  and enhances the Marine Corps’ ability to produce the required number  of Staff Sergeants.  3. Implementation. 3.a. Effective 1 October 2026, the following changes will be  implemented: 3.a.1. The TIS requirement for promotion to Sergeant will be 30  months. 3.a.2. The Small-Unit Leader Initiative (SULI) established by  reference (b) is cancelled. 3.a.3. All other eligibility requirements for promotion to Sergeant  remain unchanged. Commander discretion and all other existing  policies remain unchanged. 3.b. Upon release of the FY26 Staff Sergeant Promotion Selection  Board, those selected via Sequenced PME to Staff Sergeant will have  270 days to complete Sergeant PME or the selection will be revoked. 3.c. The FY27 Staff Sergeant Promotion Selection Board will not  select alternates. Promotion allocations will be adjusted based on  the population shortfall forecasts. 4. Application.  4.a. The 30-month TIS for promotion to Sergeant applies to the total  force.  4.b. The 270 days to complete Sequenced PME after selection to Staff  Sergeant and the elimination of alternate selects applies only to  the Active Component and Active Reserve.  5. Release authorized by LtGen William J. Bowers, Deputy Commandant  for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.//