FORTHCOMING CHANGES TO TIME IN SERVICE REQUIREMENT FOR PROMOTION TO SERGEANT AND CHANGES TO THE STAFF SERGEANT PROMOTION PROCESS

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.//