OPT OUT OF CONSIDERATION FOR THE UNRESTRICTED REGULAR, UNRESTRICTED RESERVE, AND ACTIVE RESERVE FY28 MAJOR, LIEUTENANT COLONEL, AND COLONEL PROMOTION SELECTION BOARDS

R 121502Z NOV 25
MARADMIN 538/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA//
SUBJ/OPT OUT OF CONSIDERATION FOR THE UNRESTRICTED REGULAR,
UNRESTRICTED RESERVE, AND ACTIVE RESERVE FY28 MAJOR,
LIEUTENANT COLONEL, AND COLONEL PROMOTION SELECTION BOARDS//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/CONGRESS/8AUG2018//
REF/B/DOC/DOD/16DEC2020//
REF/C/DOC/SECNAV/28MAR2019//
REF/D/DOC/SECNAV MEMO/5JAN2022//
NARR/REF (A) IS TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE. REF (B) IS DOD
INSTRUCTION 1320.14, COMMISSIONED OFFICER PROMOTION PROGRAM
PROCEDURES. REF (C) IS SECNAVINST 1420.3, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS PROMOTION PROGRAM. REF (D) IS THE SECNAV MEMO
WHICH DELEGATES OPT OUT AUTHORITY TO THE MARINE CORPS.//
POC/C. M. MARTIN/CAPT/MPP-30/TEL: (703) 784-9875//
POC/M. J. COOK/MAJ/MMPB-10/TEL: (703) 784-0007//
POC/S. A. STEELE/MAJ/RAP-2/TEL: (703) 784-9135//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. Purpose. This MARADMIN solicits applications
for and describes the process for opting out of consideration for
promotion. Additionally, it provides background information in
advance of the Fiscal Year 2028 (FY28) Unrestricted Regular,
Unrestricted Reserve, and Active Reserve Major, Lieutenant Colonel,
and Colonel Promotion Selection Boards (PSB).
2. The John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act FY19
allows eligible officers to request to opt out of consideration for
promotion in a given year without penalty.
3. Opt Out of Consideration for Promotion. Sections 619 and 14301
of reference (a) are the statutory authorities granting the
Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) the discretion to authorize eligible
officers to opt out of consideration for promotion by a PSB.
Reference (d) delegates authority to the Deputy Commandant for
Manpower and Reserve Affairs (DC M&RA) to approve the request of an
officer to opt out of consideration. DC M&RA may only approve a
request if all three of the following criteria are met:
3.a. The basis for the request is to allow an officer to complete
a broadening assignment, advanced education, another assignment of
significant value to the Marine Corps, or a career progression
requirement delayed by the assignment or education.
3.b. DC M&RA determines the opt out of consideration is in the
best interest of the Marine Corps based on statutory guidelines,
MOS strengths, and the needs of the Service.
3.c. The officer has not previously been considered in-zone for
promotion to the grade for which the officer requests the exclusion
from consideration.
4. The following categories may be eligible to opt out.
4.a. Broadening assignments include, but are not limited to:
Utilization tours associated with the Marine Corps' Graduate
Education Program, Foreign Professional Military Education,
Congressional Fellowship, Commandant's National Fellows, Tours with
Industry, Personnel Exchange Program, Special Duty Assignments,
Foreign Area Officers, Regional Area Officers, Individual Augmentee
Assignments, Active Reserve Accession Tours, and Return to Active
Duty Tours.
4.b. Qualifying advanced education include but are not limited to:
Full-time resident graduate or doctoral education, Olmsted Scholar,
and equivalent Service institutions and/or resident civilian
education programs.
4.c. Assignments of significant value include but are not limited
to: Foreign Area or Regional Area Affairs, and Personnel Exchange
Program.
5. Eligible Officers
5.a. All unrestricted regular and reserve officers, to include
active reserve, who are eligible to be considered as in-zone or
above-zone, not previously considered for promotion to Major,
Lieutenant Colonel, or Colonel in FY28, who meet the following
requirements:
5.b. Must be within height and weight standards.
5.c. Must have no outstanding investigations, pending legal
matters, or in-grade adverse material.
6. Officers who meet the requirements in paragraphs 4 and 5 may
submit a request to opt out of consideration for promotion.
6.a. Officers may request to opt out of promotion consideration
twice per grade.
6.b. Requests shall include the officer's justification for opting
out of consideration for promotion, current assignment, primary
military occupational specialty, statement attesting to eligibility
per paragraph 5, and endorsements from the chain of command.
6.c The application must be endorsed by, at a minimum, a Marine O-6
serving as an RS, RO, OIC, or in the Marine's chain of command at
the time of submission.
7. Coordinating instructions
7.a. Unrestricted Regular Officers
7.a.1 Requests must be submitted to Manpower Plans Programs and
Budget Branch (MPP-30) via the NAVMC 10274 Administrative Action
(AA) Form no later than 15 January 2026.
7.a.2. Submit endorsed AA Forms to MPP-30 at:
[email protected] or mailing address:
Headquarters Marine Corps,
Manpower Plans & Policy Division,
Manpower, Plans, Programs & Budget Branch (MPP)
Attn: Opt Out of Consideration for Promotion
3280 Russell Rd
Quantico, VA 22134-5103
7.a.3. Manpower Plans and Policy Division and Manpower Management
Division and will review all requests, determine applicant
eligibility, and provide a recommendation to DC M&RA for final
determination. In accordance with references (b) through (d),
MMPB-10 will ensure approved officers are removed from the eligible
population for consideration for promotion, appropriately update
the history of lineal establishment database to memorialize that
the officer opted out of consideration for promotion, and update
the post-board reports.
7.b. Unrestricted Reserve and Active Reserve Officers
7.b.1. Requests must be submitted to Reserve Affairs Personnel
Policy, Plans, and Programming Branch (RAP-2) via the NAVMC 10274
AA Form no later than 30 April 2026.
7.b.2. Submit endorsed AA Forms to RAP-2 at:
[email protected] or mailing address:
Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps (RAP- 2)
Attn: RC Opt Out of Consideration for Promotion
3280 Russell Road Quantico, VA 22134-5103
7.b.3. RAP-2 and Reserve Affairs Management (RAM-2) will review
all requests and provide a recommendation to DC M&RA for final
determination. In accordance with references (b) through (d),
RAP-2 will ensure approved officers are removed from the eligible
population for consideration for promotion, appropriately update
the history of lineal establishment database to memorialize that
the officer opted out of consideration for promotion, and update
the post-board reports.
8. Recommendations will be based on the service of an officer in a
broadening assignment, advanced education, assignment of significant
value, and overall performance history.
9. MMPB-10 (active component) or RAP-2 (reserve component) will
notify officers by letter of their approval or disapproval after
DC M&RA has made final determination. MMPB-10 or RAP-2 will place
a copy of the approval letter in the officer's official military
personnel file.
10. In-zone officers who are approved will be removed from the
FY28 eligible population to be considered with the in-zone
population for the FY29 Major, Lieutenant Colonel, or Colonel
Promotion Boards, without penalty.
10.a. Officers who return to Active Duty are normally considered
ineligible for promotion until they have completed one full year of
Active Duty service following their return. Officers who wish to
be considered by a PSB in their first year back on Active Duty must
contact MMPB-10 prior to the convening of the board.
11. Officers approved for opt out are not precluded from receiving
PCS orders.
12. Unrestricted regular officers may view the current zones chart
projections at: https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Divisions/Plans-and
-Policies/Manpower-Plans-and-Policy/Plans-Programs-and-Budget-MPP/
13. Unrestricted reserve and active reserve officers may view the
current zones chart projections at: https://www.manpower.marines.mil
/Divisions/Plans-and-Policies/Reserve-Affairs-Policy-Plans-
Programming-Branch/Reserve-Affairs-Plans/
14. Officers considering opting out of consideration for promotion
are advised to consult with their respective monitor, executive
officer, or commanding officer for guidance on career progression
and eligibility.
15. This MARADMIN cancels after the results of the FY28 Marine
Corps Major through Colonel selections are made public via ALNAV.
16. This MARADMIN is applicable to the Total Force.
17. Release authorized by Lieutenant General William J. Bowers,
Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.//