FISCAL YEAR 2027 (FY27) AND FISCAL YEAR 2028 (FY28) UNITED STATES MILITARY GROUP (USMILGP) / SECURITY COOPERATION ORGANIZATION (SCO) SELECTION BOARD ANNOUNCEMENT

R 061947Z APR 26
MARADMIN 161/26
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC MM MRA WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2027 (FY27) AND FISCAL YEAR 2028 (FY28) UNITED
STATES MILITARY GROUP (USMILGP) / SECURITY COOPERATION
ORGANIZATION (SCO) SELECTION BOARD ANNOUNCEMENT//
REF/A/MSGID: MCO/CMC/20250311//
REF/B/MSGID: MCO/CMC/20251015//
REF/C/MSGID: MCO/CMC/20210510//
REF/D/MSGID: DOC/CJCSI/20240719//
REF/E/MSGID: DOC/DODI/20180403//
REF/F/MSGID: DOC/DOW/20250630//
NARR/REF A IS MARINE CORPS ORDER 1540.33, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
PROGRAM. REF B IS MARINE CORPS ORDER 5710.6E, MARINE CORPS SECURITY
COOPERATION. REF C IS MARINE CORPS ORDER 1300.8 CH-1, PERSONNEL
ASSIGNMENT POLICY. REF D IS CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
INSTRUCTION 1330.05, JOINT OFFICER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM PROCEDURES.
REF E IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) INSTRUCTION 1300.19, DOD JOINT
OFFICER MANAGEMENT (JOM) PROGRAM. REF F IS SECRETARY OF WAR
MEMORANDUM RENAMING SECURITY COOPERATION ORGANIZATIONS//
POC/JOSEPH SCHULZE/MAJ/MMOA-3/COMM: 703-784-9284/
EMAIL: [email protected] //
POC/STEVEN M. SCHER/MAJ/MMOA-3/COMM: 703-784-9211/
EMAIL: [email protected] //
POC/BRETT M. MCCORMICK/LTCOL/PPO PL/DSN: 312-224-4365/
COMM: 703-692-4365/
EMAIL: BRETT.MCCORMICK(AT)USMC.MIL//
POC/CLAY J.FISHER/CIV/PPO PL/DSN: 312-224-0322/COMM: 703-614-0322/
EMAIL: CLAYTON.FISHER(AT)USMC.MIL//
POC/NANCY A. WRIGHT/CTR/PPO PL/DSN: 312-224-2168/
COMM:703-692-2168/EMAIL: IAPMARINE(AT)USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. This message solicits applications to fill FY27
and FY28 USMILGP/SCO billet vacancies. All applicants must be
prepared to move in the early summer of FY27, if selected. The
International Affairs Program (IAP) seeks qualified officers to
serve in Joint USMILGP/SCO billets within respective Combatant
Commands (CCMD). The board will select officers based on their
specific political-military and security cooperation experience and
performance as Marine Air Ground Task Force officers. Per ref (b),
USMILGP/SCOs serve in influential strategic-level positions where
they are the foremost points of contact between the Department of
War and the host nation Ministry of Defense, other government
agencies, small businesses, and academia. USMILGPs/SCOs are located
in or associated with U.S. diplomatic facilities worldwide and are
responsible for overseeing and implementing in-country security
cooperation events, to include security assistance programs, and
for facilitating cooperation in research, development, and
acquisition with allied and partner nations.
1.a. Major timeline milestones are (read in two columns):
Date Milestone
26 June 2026 Applications due
31 August 2026 Board convenes
2. Eligibility
2.a. Eligibility requirements
2.a.1. Applicants must be on active duty.
2.a.2. Must receive monitor concurrence.
2.a.3. Time on station requirements.
2.a.4. Applicants must meet minimum prescribed tour control factor
(TCF) and be eligible for permanent change of station (PCS) orders
in FY27. All FY28 USMILGP/SCO billets require language training in
FY27 unless a selectee already possess the required language skills.
Those selected for FY27 USMILGP/SCO billets will move in FY27 and
not attend language training.
2.a.4.a. If an applicant does not meet their prescribed TCF
requirements in paragraph 2.a.4, they must submit an exception to
policy (ETP), endorsed by the first O-6 in the chain of command, via
NAVMC 10274 (AA-Form), with their application. Transfer inside of
the prescribed TCF will result in a gap for that command until the
TCF has concluded. If an officer is selected prior to his/her
normal rotation date, Manpower Management Officer Assignments (MMOA)
will attempt to provide a backfill. A commander's endorsement of
the AA Form is considered acknowledgement of this situation. MMOA
will adjudicate the ETP separately from the board process and must
be approved by MMOA before a Marine will be considered for a
USMILGP/SCO billet vacancy. An officer with an approved ETP will
be a FY27 mover regardless of selection to the USMILGP/SCO program.
2.a.5. Applicants must meet the grade criterion (or be selected
for promotion to that grade) of the associated duty for which they
are applying and must possess the career timing to serve a full
tour of duty in the grade of the billet for which they are applying.
Lieutenant colonel applicants must plan to opt-out of consideration
for promotion if selected or if they enter the in-zone population
at any time during their anticipated tour of duty and must agree to
do so in their application if selected. Officers serving in a
Standard Joint Duty Assignment (S-JDA) will be eligible for full
joint duty credit after 24 months of service.
2.a.6. Applicants must already have a completed Tier Five (T-5)
investigation and have Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)
eligibility. Application to serve as a USMILGP/SCO is not
sufficient justification for an investigation eligibility
determination. T-5 investigation requests will not be submitted as
part of the USMILGP/SCO application.
2.a.7. Study Track Foreign Area Officers (FAO) and Regional Affairs
Officers (RAO) are eligible to apply. If selected to a position
within their regional designation, this tour will count as their
utilization assignment.
2.b. Ineligibility criteria
2.b.1. Officers with an established separation or retirement date.
2.b.2. Officers in the above zone. Lieutenant colonels in the
above-zone may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
2.b.3. Applicants selected for or currently attending programs that
have a designated utilization assignment are ineligible.
2.b.4. Those officers currently serving in a S-JDA who will not
have completed a full tour (24 months) prior to July 2027.
3. The FY27 and FY28 USMILGP/SCO selection board will screen for
the following USMILGP/SCO positions. This list is subject to
change up until the conclusion of the board based on IAP and CCMD
requirements. For the most current list, visit the website listed
in paragraph 5.c.1.
3.a. FY27 USMILGP/SCO Billet vacancies (read in eight columns)
Grd BMOS Country Language RptDate MCC JDAL Note
O5 8243 Thailand Thai May 27 NAM 00007233 1,2,3

3.a.1. FY28 USMILGP/SCO Billet vacancies (read in eight columns)
Grd BMOS Country Language RptDate MCC JDAL Note
O5 8242 Norway Norwegian Jun 28 NAB 00009921 1,2,4,5
O5 8241 Columbia Spanish Jun 28 N04 00006147 1,2,4

Note 1: TS/SCI security clearance is a mandatory requirement.
Note 2: Joint tour length for this position is 36 months.
Note 3: Language proficiency is not required, but highly desirable.
Note 4: Language proficiency at the 2/2/2 level is a mandatory
requirement.
Note 5: Logistics background preferred.
4. The language requirement is based on Defense Language
Proficiency Test (DLPT) and Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) scores,
as required. If the selected candidate does not meet DLPT and OPI
requirements, language training will take place at the Defense
Language Institute (DLI).
4.a. Applicants requiring foreign language training must have a
minimum Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) score for the
respective language as follows:
4.a.1. 95 for category I languages: Norwegian and Spanish.
4.b. Applicants requiring language training must take into
consideration DLI course length to ensure minimum time on station
requirements will be met before applying. Language training occurs
at either Monterey, CA or in Washington D.C.
DLI course length and locations are listed as follows:
4.b.1.
Language Country Duration Training Location
Norwegian Norway 36 Weeks Washington, DC
Spanish Colombia 36 Weeks Monterey, CA
5. Application process. This section provides an overview of the
application process and requirements.
5.a. Families and overseas screening. Families are an important
element of USMILGP/SCO assignments. 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. A full medical screening is not required for the
application process, however, all applicants must provide a
certification of suitability for overseas assignment, found on the
website in para 5.c.1. for themselves and all family members. It
is imperative applicants disclose ongoing conditions to ensure the
applicant and family members' needs can be met. Once selected,
USMILGP/SCO candidates and their families must complete a full
medical overseas screening within 90 days of acceptance.
5.b. Security cooperation experience and language proficiency are
highly desirable but are not prerequisites to submit an application.
5.c. Application timeline and method
5.c.1. Interested officers must submit their application to the IAP
Office. Applications must arrive to the IAP Office no later than
2359 Eastern Standard Time on 26 June 2026 to be considered by the
board. 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. Applications must be submitted in a single portable document
format (PDF) titled: "1234567890_LAST_FIRST_MI_RANK_SCO".
Applications must be submitted through the IAP website under the
IAP Submissions and Registration section, using the link
referencing USMILGP/SCO Submissions.
5.c.3. OMPF update material. Officers should submit OMPF update
requests via OMPF-Records Management Application (O-RMA). If
assistance is required, contact your unit S-1 or local IPAC.
Officers are responsible for ensuring their OMPF and Master Brief
Sheet is accurate at all times. Board members will have access to
the OMPF during the board.
5.d. Application procedures. The application must include the
following:
5.d.1. Completed application form for the USMILGP/SCO positions
listed under paragraphs 3.a. The application template is located
at the website listed in paragraph 5.c.1. This application will
include all billet preferences, previous political-military,
security cooperation, DLAB scores, and DLPT scores.
5.d.2. Command endorsements through the first O-6. Command
endorsement shall annotate that if selected, the parent unit shall
support selectee's time away from the unit to attend training in a
temporary additional duty status in the national capital region for
eight weeks prior to arriving to USMILGP/SCO assignment. Upon
selection, funding and USMILGP/SCO training course dates will be
provided and coordinated by PLU POCs above.
5.d.3. At least one letter of recommendation. Any letters of
recommendation shall include an assessment of the applicant's
potential to serve in joint billets as part of the CCMD staff and
U.S. embassy country team.
5.d.4. Correspondence from PMOS monitor confirming eligibility.
5.d.5. Certification of security clearance from security officer.
5.d.6. Certification of suitability for overseas assignment.
5.e. The board will not consider incorrect or incomplete packages.
6. Officers selected to serve as USMILGP/SCOs may be eligible to
receive the FAO or RAO additional MOS (AMOS) for their respective
regions.
Upon meeting the criteria for experience track AMOS designation,
officers will notify the IAP Office to apply for the respective MOS
upon completion of the USMILGP/SCO assignment.
Assignment of this AMOS makes Marines eligible for further service
utilization in 82XX billets.
7. Completion of a tour of duty in a Joint Duty Assignment List
(JDAL) position that meets all statutory requirements will result in
joint credit. Those positions not considered an S-JDA with an
assigned JDAL will require an experience-based joint credit
submission via separate correspondence within the corresponding
calendar year. A separate message will address the Experience-based
Joint Duty Assignment requirements.
8. When applying for USMILGP/SCO you will be able to submit
country preference but should understand that the board may slate an
individual for any country being screened, and those countries being
screened may change through the duration of the board. Officers
who decline selection will have a declination letter uploaded to
their OMPF and are ineligible for future USMILGP/SCO boards, unless
otherwise approved by the Director, Manpower Management due to
extraordinary circumstances.
9. Deconfliction with Active Component O-5 and O-6 Command
Screening Boards (CSB) and Top Level School (TLS) Board. If a
Marine is selected for the FY27 CSB or AY27-28 TLS board, the CSB
or TLS selection will take priority and the Marine will no longer
be eligible for consideration to the FY27 and FY28 USMILGP/SCO
Board or like assignment. Marines considering applying to this or
similar programs are recommended to contact their PMOS monitor
with further questions.
10. This message is only applicable to the active component.
11. Release authorized by BGen Fridrik Fridriksson, Director,
Manpower Management Division.//