FISCAL YEAR 2026 GROUND AND INTELLIGENCE PERSONNEL EXCHANGE PROGRAM SELECTION PANEL ANNOUNCEMENT

MARADMINS : 179/24

R 151015Z APR 24
MARADMIN 179/24
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//
SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2026 GROUND AND INTELLIGENCE PERSONNEL EXCHANGE PROGRAM SELECTION PANEL ANNOUNCEMENT//
REF/A/MSGID/DOC/CMC/YMD:20130327//
REF/B/MSGID/DOC/CMC/YMD:20210511//
REF/C/MSGID/DOC/CMC/YMD:20210510//
NARR/REF A IS MARINE CORPS ORDER 1520.11F, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS PROGRAM (IAP). REF B IS MARINE CORPS ORDER 1326.6 CH-1, SELECTING, SCREENING, AND PREPARING ENLISTED MARINES FOR SCREENABLE BILLETS AND INDEPENDENT DUTY ASSIGNMENTS. REF C IS MARINE CORPS ORDER 1300.8 CH-1, PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY.//
POC/M. D. SCOTTO/MAJ/MMOA-3/COMM: 703-784-9284/EMAIL: [email protected]//
POC/T. D. STOKES/GYSGT/MMEA-25/COMM: 703-784-9472/EMAIL: [email protected]//
POC/C. D. DELLOW/LTCOL/PPO PL/DSN: 312-224-4365/COMM: 703-692-4365/EMAIL: [email protected]//
POC/A. ALMEIDA/CTR/PPO PL/DSN: 312-224-4260/COMM:703-692-2460/EMAIL: [email protected]//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. Purpose. This MARADMIN solicits applications to fill fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Ground and Intelligence Personnel Exchange Program (PEP) billet vacancies. The billets listed in this annoucement are all non-english speaking billets with a report date in 2026 which will require language training during 2025. Next year's MARADMIN will list english-speaking billets with a report date in 2026, and non-english speaking billets with a report date in 2027 which will require language training beginning in 2026.
1.a. PEP Background. The International Affairs Program (IAP) seeks qualified Marines to represent the Marine Corps by serving in PEP billets embedded in the armed forces of allies and partners. The Marine Corps PEP conducts extended military-to-military engagement with allies and partners to exchange and standardize operational doctrine and enhance interoperability between coalition partners. Selected Marines will complete a two to three-year tour with designated allies and partners.
1.b. Major timeline milestones (read in two columns):
Date Milestone
09 Aug 2024 Applications due
26 Aug 2024 Panel convenes
01 Oct 2024 Release of results
2. Eligibility
2.a. Eligibility criteria. If interested applicants do not satisfy eligibility criteria, they may contact PMOS monitor to discuss waiver requirements.
2.a.1. Applicants must be on active duty.
2.a.2. Applicants must meet the grade criterion (or be selected for promotion to that grade) of the duty for which they are applying. Applicants applying for positions whose requirements do not match their current grade or who will be in zone for the next rank during their estimated tour may request a waiver to this requirement via their PMOS monitor which will be approved or denied by Manpower Management Officer Assignments Branch (MMOA) or Manpower Management Enlisted Assignments Branch (MMEA).
2.a.3. Applicants must meet minimum time-on-station requirements per ref (c) and be eligible for permanent change of station (PCS) orders before 1 July 2025 based on current prescribed tour length, to allow for language training prior to reporting to their PEP billet.
2.a.4. Applicants who already meet language training requirements for certain billets may be eligible to apply if they are scheduled to move later than 1 July 2025. These applicants must confirm with their PMOS monitor in which FY they are eligible for PCS orders which may constrain which billets they may apply to. Those who meet language requirements will not attend language training and will PCS directly to their PEP billet on the report date listed in paragraph (4).
2.a.5. Applicants may request a waiver to time-on-station requirements if scheduled to complete prescribed tour length in 2026 or later. Applicants who meet language requirements for a billet per paragraph (2.a.4) do not require a waiver if scheduled to move in 2026. To request a waiver, applicants must submit an administrative action (AA) form to MMOA or MMEA. Requests must be endorsed by the first O-6 or equivalent in the applicant's chain of command and acknowledge a potential gap in staffing until the end of the applicant's original tour control factor should the requesting Marine be selected for PEP assignment and a replacement is not supportable. MMOA and MMEA will adjudicate the waiver request separately from the panel process. Waivers must be approved by MMOA or MMEA before a Marine will be considered for a PEP billet vacancy.
2.a.6. Applicants must have sufficient obligated service remaining to fulfill a two-year follow-on assignment per ref (c) upon completion of their PEP tour. Officers selected for the PEP program will incur a 24 month service obligation upon completion of the program.
2.b. Ineligibility criteria
2.b.1. Captains and majors in the above-zone (AZ) for promotion to the next grade and not selected for continuation are ineligible to apply. Lieutenant colonels in the AZ for promotion to colonel may apply on a case-by-case basis.
2.b.2. Officers with an established separation or retirement date.
2.b.3. Applicants selected for or currently attending programs that have a designated utilization assignment are ineligible.
2.b.4. Study track Foreign Area Officers (FAO), Regional Affairs Officers (RAO), and Foreign Area Staff Non-Commisioned Officers (FAS) who have not completed a utilization tour are ineligible to apply.
2.b.5. Officers in an 0505 utilization tour are ineligible unless they have completed 24 months of their tour at the date the selection panel convenes. Applications submitted prior to completion of 24 months must include command and PMOS monitor endorsements.
2.b.6. Officers on a graduate education program utilization tour may not apply without concurrence from the Graduate Education Manager (MMOA-3) and PMOS monitor.
3. The FY26 selection panel will screen Marines for assignment to the below PEP positions. This list is subject to change before the selection panel based on IAP requirements. For the most current list, visit the website listed in paragaph (5.c.1.).
3.a. FY26 PEP billet vacancies:
GRD BMOS Billet Country Date MCC
O4 0302 MCFPEP COLOMBIA EXCHANGE Colombia Aug 26 KBL
O4 0302 MCFPEP FRANCE EXCHANGE France Aug 26 TZ2
O3 0302 MCFPEP NETHERLANDS EXCHANGE Netherlands Nov 25 KDE
E7 0326 MCFPEP NETHERLANDS EXCHANGE Netherlands Aug 26 KDE
3.b. Intelligence Billets. Deputy Commandant for Information (DCI) is the sponsor for all Intelligence billets and will screen respective packages for eligibility prior to the convening of the selection panel. No intelligence billets are currently available on this year's panel, though this list is subject to change. For the most current list, visit the website listed in paragaph (5.c.1.).
4. Foreign language proficiency requirements.
4.a. Billets at the following locations require foreign language training or existing proficiency:
Language Country Duration Training Location
Dutch Netherlands 36 weeks Washington, DC
French France 36 weeks Monterey, CA
Spanish Colombia 36 weeks Monterey, CA
4.b. The foreign language requirement is a minimum Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) score of (2-2) in the target language, with Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) score of at least 1 (plus).
4.c. Applicants requiring foreign language training must have a minimum Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) score of 95 for category I languages: Dutch, French, and Spanish.
4.d. Applicants requiring foreign language training must take into consideration Defense Language Institute (DLI) course length to ensure minimum time-on-station requirements will be met before applying. Contact IAP POCs with questions.
5. Applications. This section provides an overview of the application process and requirements.
5.a. Families and overseas screening. Families are an important element of PEP assignments. Applicants and family members must complete an overseas suitability screening and be found eligible for an overseas tour prior to submitting an application.
5.b. Applicants with dependents enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program are eligible to apply, but may not be able to participate pending availability of required care.
5.c. Application timeline and method
5.c.1. Interested applicants must submit their application to the IAP Office. Applications must arrive to the IAP Office no later than 2359 Eastern Standard Time on 09 Aug 2024 to be considered by the selection panel. Applicants can find templates and additional information on the IAP website at: http:(slash)(slash)www.ppo.marines.mil/Units/Strategy-and-Plans-Division/International-Affairs-Branch/International-Affairs-Program/Resources/
5.c.2. Officer applicants must submit applications in portable document format (PDF) to [email protected] and to POCs listed in paragraph (9) with the following naming convention: EDIPI_LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME_MI_RANK (e.g. 1234567890_SMITH_JOHN_A_CAPT) Each file cannot be larger than 800 MB.
5.c.3. Enlisted applicants must submit applications electronically using the Special Duty Assignment/Miscellaneous Reenlistment Extension Lateral Move (RELM) in the Total Force Retention System (TFRS) via the normal RELM routing chain to Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) Manpower Management Enlisted Assignments (MMEA). Unit Career Planners have access to the TFRS system. Additionally, enlisted applicants must submit entire package in PDF format to [email protected] and to POCs listed in paragraph (9) with the following naming convention EDIPI_LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME_MI_RANK (e.g. 1234567890_SMITH_JOHN_A_GYSGT). Each file cannot be larger than 800 MB.
5.d. The application must include the following:
5.d.1. Application letter for the PEP positions listed above. An application template is located at the website listed in paragraph 5.c.1. This application will include billet preferences, previous foreign security force advisor tours, security cooperation experience, pertinent regional, academic, personal, or professional experience, or skill capability that may be relevant for consideration by the selection panel, and DLAB and DLPT scores as required.
5.d.2. Command endorsements through first O-6 level commander.
5.d.3. At least one letter of recommendation. Any letters of recommendation shall include an assessment of the applicant's potential to serve as a representative of the Marine Corps on independent duty as an embedded member in the armed forces of allies and partners in overseas locations.
5.d.4. Correspondence from PMOS monitor confirming eligibility. PMOS monitor approval must include the specific billets the applicant is eligible for based on language training requirements. Example: a Marine who already meets Spanish language proficiency requirements outlined above may apply for the Colombia billet if he or she is an FY26 mover, but may not apply for any of the other billets unless they submit a waiver to move in FY25 for language training.
5.d.5. Certificate of suitability for overseas assignment. The NAVMED 1300/1 in its entirety is not required.
5.d.6. Enlisted applicants must include completed independent duty screening and financial worksheets for OCONUS tours per ref (b).
5.e. The panel will not consider incorrect or incomplete packages.
6. Those selected by the panel can expect PCS orders to coincide with required language training dates or assumption of PEP tour indicated above. Each tour will be a maximum of three years. For countries that require language training, the language training is part of the three year PEP tour.
7. PEP Marines may be eligible to receive the FAO, RAO, or FAS additional MOS (AMOS) for their respective regions. Upon meeting the criteria for experience track AMOS designation, PEP Marines must notify the IAP Office to request designation of appropriate AMOS. The assignment of this AMOS will make PEP Marines eligible for further service utilization of their experience,and language, regional expertise, and cultural (LREC) capability gained through their PEP assignments with allies and partners.
8. Interested Marines may visit the website in paragraph 6.c.1. or contact Mr. Fisher for detailed billet descriptions and information for ground PEP billets and Maj Illies for intelligence PEP billets. Paragraph 10 lists contact information for both.
9. Points of Contact:
LtCol C. D. Dellow, PPO PLU-8
DSN: 312-224-4365/COMM: 703-692-4365
EMAIL: [email protected]
Mr. C. J. Fisher, PPO PLU-8
DSN: 312-224-0322/COMM: 703-614-0322
EMAIL: [email protected]
MSgt J. Riveromontes, PPO PLU-8
DSN: 312-224-4366/COMM: 703-692-4366
EMAIL: [email protected]
Ms. A. Almeida, PPO PLU-8
DSN: 312-224-4260/COMM: 703-692-4260/
EMAIL: [email protected]
Maj J. D. Illies, DC I ISS
DSN: 312-224-5421/703-692-4260/
EMAIL: [email protected]
IAP Orgnaizational Mailbox
EMAIL: [email protected]
Maj M. D. Scotto, MMOA-3
COMM: 703-784-9284
EMAIL: [email protected]
GySgt T. D. Stokes, MMEA-25
COMM: 703-784-9472
EMAIL: [email protected]
10. Release authorized by BGen Ryan S. Rideout, Director, Manpower Management Division.//