CONVENING OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 (FY27) RESERVE SENIOR STAFF COURSE ENLISTED SELECTION PANEL

R 061900Z AUG 26
MARADMIN 355/26
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA RA//
SUBJ/CONVENING OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 (FY27) RESERVE SENIOR STAFF
COURSE ENLISTED SELECTION PANEL//
REF/A/DOC/CMC/YMD: 20190215//
REF/B/DOC/CMC/YMD: 20080125//
REF/C/MSG/CMC/YMD: 20230605//
REF/D/MSC/CMC/YMD: 20251204//
NARR/REFERENCE (A) IS MCO 1900.16 CH 2, SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT
MANUAL. REFERENCE (B) IS MCO 1553.4B, PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION
(PME). REFERENCE (C) IS MCO 1610.7B, PERFORMANCE EVALUATION SYSTEM
(PES). REFERENCE (D) IS MARADMIN 582/25, REQUIREMENT UPDATE ON
OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHS FOR NON-PROMOTION SELECTION BOARDS//
POC/M. J. JONES/LTCOL/RAM/TEL: 703-784-3676/EMAIL:
[email protected]//
POC/K. A. BOATENG/GYSGT/RAM/TEL: 703-784-9011/EMAIL:
[email protected]//
POC/D. B. KRAFT/MAJ/RAM-3/TEL: 703-784-1275/EMAIL:
[email protected]//
POC/G. A. TISNADO/MSGT/RAM-3/TEL: 703-432-9767/EMAIL:
[email protected]//
POC/B. FORD/CIV/RAM-3/TEL: 703-432-9410/EMAIL:
[email protected]//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. This MARADMIN announces the FY27 Reserve Senior
Staff Course (RSSC) Enlisted Selection Panel convening from 21-23
September 2026 and solicits applications from those desiring
attendance. Reserve Affairs (RA) annually conducts the RSSC as
Professional Military Education (PME) for senior Reserve Component
(RC) officers and senior enlisted personnel. The RSSC is a two-week
resident course for RC personnel who serve in the Ready Reserve, to
include members from the Selected Marine Corps Reserve, Individual
Mobilization Augmentee, and the Individual Ready Reserve.
2. The RSSC will be conducted 2-15 June 2027 at Marine Corps Base
Quantico. MSgt/1stSgt (sel) - SgtMaj/MGySgt (sel) are eligible to
apply. To be eligible to attend the course, all applicants must have
a mandatory removal date after 1 August 2028.
3. Marines who meet any of the following criteria are ineligible to
apply:
3.a. Marines who are above-zone on the next scheduled promotion
board.
3.b. Marines who have previously completed RSSC.
3.c. Marines with an approved retirement, resignation, or who are
pending conditional release.
3.d. Marines who have been approved for continuation beyond their
mandatory removal/retirement date.
3.e. Marines within the Active Reserve Program.
4. Application process
4.a. The deadline for submitting the application and updating
material is 2359 EDT on 4 September 2026. Late submissions will not
be accepted. The web-based online Reserve Professional Military
Education (RPME) application at
https:// www2.manpower.usmc.mil/application_cac/ is the recommended
method to apply. If an applicant does not have a common access card
or cannot access the Manpower and Reserve Affairs (MRA) portal, they
can email their application to the POCs listed in this MARADMIN.
4.b. Applicants with an MRA portal account will proceed to the login
process. Upon login, the system will validate basic individual
eligibility for application. Applicants are advised to read the
instructions in their entirety before completing the application.
The web-based application allows for the attachment of documents.
4.c. Applicants who do not have an MRA portal account will receive a
404 access error. Within the error message are instructions on how
to register for an MRA portal account, which is available to all
applicants. Any applicant who cannot access the online application
should contact the POCs listed in this MARADMIN.
4.d. Ensure all documents uploaded or emailed are in the appropriate
document type. All uploaded or emailed documents must be in portable
document format (PDF). The submitted name of the files must be in
the following format: EDIPI_LNAME_RSSC.pdf.
4.e. The application will consist of a Marine's Letter to the
President of the FY27 RSSC Panel and a Reserve Qualification Summary
(RQS). Incomplete applications will not be considered for panel
selection.
4.f. Reserve Qualification Summary. All applicants will submit a
signed Reserve Qualification Summary (RQS). The RQS NAVMC 10476,
dated September 2016. The RQS template can be found on the M&RA
RAM-3 webpage at
https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Divisions/Reserve-Affairs-Division/
Reserve-Affairs-Management-RAM/Reserve-Affairs-Management-Embeds/"
under the "Reserve Programs and Boards (RAM-3)" section, "Support
Documentation" dropdown menu.
4.g. Letter to the Panel. All applicants will submit a signed Naval
Letter to the President of the RSSC panel. The letter template can
be found on the M&RA RAM-3 webpage at
"https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Divisions/Reserve-Affairs-Division/
Reserve-Affairs-Management-RAM/Reserve-Affairs-Management-Embeds/"
under the "Reserve Programs and Boards (RAM-3)" section, "Support
Documentation" dropdown menu. The letter should describe why the
applicant desires to attend the course, as well as any unique
qualifications or perspectives they possess that will enrich fellow
attendees if selected. The "From" line will consist of rank, first
name, last name, EDIPI/MOS, and USMCR. The "To" line will consist of
"President, FY27 Reserve Senior Staff Course Enlisted Selection
Panel." The "Subject" will consist of "LETTER TO PANEL PRESIDENT OF
THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 RESERVE SENIOR STAFF COURSE ENLISTED SELECTION
PANEL."
4.h. Once submitted, personnel will receive a confirmation email
that their application has been received. Hard-copy applications
will not be accepted. All material submitted to the panel will be
destroyed upon completion of the panel.
4.i. Photographs. Photographs are used in the RSSC selection panel
per, reference (d).
4.j. Fitness reports. Fitness reports are due to CMC (MMPB-23) by
the timelines noted in reference (c). Reports mailed directly to the
president of the panel will not be added to a Marine's Official
Military Personnel File (OMPF). For fitness reports to become part
of the OMPF, the reports must be submitted to CMC (MMPB-23). The
automated performance evaluation system (A-PES) is the primary means
of submitting fitness reports. Commanders are ultimately responsible
for the timely submission of fitness reports to CMC (MMPB-23) and
ensuring that all fitness report timelines are adhered to, per
reference (c). Incomplete fitness reports will not be accepted.
4.k. OMPF Material. Any document(s) a Marine believes should be
part of his or her OMPF, other than fitness reports, must be
populated within their OMPF before the panel convenes. The preferred
and fastest way to update your OMPF is through the OMPF Records
Management Application (ORMA). The ORMA empowers and allows
individual Marines to take control of their OMPF. To access ORMA, go
to the MRA website at www.manpower.marines.mil, under the "Divisions"
drop down menu select "Manpower Management", next select "Performance
Branch", then select "Records and Performance." Scroll down to the
bottom of the page and select "Records Management" then select "OMPF
Records Management Application" on the left side of the webpage.
Follow all instructions to register, audit, and update your OMPF
within ORMA.
5. Administration.
5.a. Ensure e-mail addresses and telephone numbers are current and
provided on the application.
5.b. Notification of selection. The panel will select a primary for
each school seat available. There will be eight enlisted school
seats for the FY27 RSSC. The panel will also select enough
alternates to meet quota requirements if selectees decline or
otherwise cannot accept. Selection to complete an RPME opportunity
is considered a privilege that is highly advantageous to senior
enlisted development. The results MARADMIN will announce the primary
selectees. Alternate selectees will be listed on the RAM-3 website.
Additional and unanticipated vacancies will be filled by alternates.
5.c. Applicants selected by the panel, who subsequently decline the
opportunity to attend, are required to submit their declination in
writing via their chain of command. Alternates selected to fill
vacated course quotas are also required to formally decline.
Detailed declination instructions will be provided within the RSSC
selection panel results MARADMIN. Any requests for deferral of this
course will be adjudicated based on the needs of the service. Each
Marine may only receive one deferral for this course.
6. To consult with a Career Counselor via the Career Management Team
(CMT), RA Division, please call commercial 703-784-0583, DSN
278-0583, or email: [email protected]. The CMT can be found on the
Manpower and Reserve Affairs webpage at https://www.manpower.marines
.mil/Divisions/Reserve-Affairs-Division/Career-Management-Team-CMT/.
7. This MARADMIN is applicable to the Reserve Component.
8. Release authorized by Brigadier General Guillermo Rosales Jr.,
Director, Reserve Affairs Division.//