FISCAL YEAR 2027 (FY27) MARINE HELICOPTER SQUADRON ONE ROTARY WING AND TILTROTOR PILOT SELECTION PANEL

R 221403Z JAN 26
MARADMIN 020/26
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//
SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2027 (FY27) MARINE HELICOPTER SQUADRON ONE ROTARY
WING AND TILTROTOR PILOT SELECTION PANEL//
REF/A/MSGID: MCO/MM/20160117//
REF/B/MSGID: MCO/MPO/20250307//
REF/C/MSGID: MCO/C461//20191226//
NARR/REF A IS MCO 1326.7F, SELECTION AND SCREENING CRITERIA FOR
MARINES DESIRING ASSIGNMENT TO MARINE HELICOPTER SQUADRON ONE
(HMX-1). REF B IS MCO 1300.8 CH.2, MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL
ASSIGNMENT POLICY. REF C IS MCO 3500.109A, MARINE CORPS AVIATION
WEAPONS AND TACTICS TRAINING PROGRAM//
POC/ J. SYLVESTER/LTCOL/UNIT: HMX-1 MANPOWER OFFICER/
TEL: 202-814-7175/EMAIL: [email protected]//
1. Purpose. The FY27 HMX-1 Rotary Wing and Tiltrotor Pilot
Selection Panel will be convened on or about 15 May 2026. This message
announces the eligibility criteria for interested applicants, the
process for application, and establishes the timeline for
application and execution of the panel.
2. Major Timeline Milestones (read in two columns):
Milestone Date
HMX-1 Pilot Application Window Opens MARADMIN Release
HMX-1 Recruiting Roadshow January - April 2026
HMX-1 Pilot Application Deadline 15 April 2026
FY27 HMX-1 Pilot Selection Panel Convenes 15 May 2026
3. Background.
3.a. HMX-1 is responsible for the White House Military Office for
worldwide helicopter transportation of the President of the United
States. Based at Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico, Virginia, the
HMX-1 "Nighthawks" fly a fleet of VH-3D, VH-60N, VH-92A, and MV-22B
aircraft. Additional HMX-1 missions include helicopter
transportation of the Vice President of the United States, visiting
Heads of State, and other White House or Headquarters Marine Corps
directed missions inside the National Capital Region.
3.b. This selection panel ensures the most qualified pilots are
selected to represent the Marine Corps and the United States of
America. HMX-1 solicits applications on an annual basis. All
Marines assigned to HMX-1 must meet specific and stringent criteria
mandated by the White House Military Office as outlined in reference
(a).
4. Application and Selection Overview.
4.a. HMX-1 seeks applicants with the experience, maturity,
judgment, flight leadership ability, and tactical acumen that
matches the gravity of the missions they are being selected to
perform. There is no minimum flight hour requirement for pilot
applicants. Qualifications and designations such as Night Systems
Instructor and Division Leader will be used as a benchmark for pilot
selection. Qualifications, designations and fleet experience, both
inside and outside of the cockpit, will be used as a basis for
panel selections. Refer to paragraph 7 for details regarding
application completion.
4.b. Selected Tiltrotor applicants shall execute a prescribed tour
length of 36 months at HMX-1.
4.c. Selected Rotary Wing applicants shall execute a prescribed
tour length of 48 months at HMX-1.
4.d. Any requests to modify prescribed tour length will be
initiated by CMC (MMOA) in accordance with reference (b).
4.e. The panel will make selections of both Rotary Wing and
Tiltrotor pilots to meet the unit's operational requirements while
considering community health and individual career timing.
5. Eligibility Criteria.
5.a. Active-duty Captains, Majors, and Lieutenant Colonels
assigned either a Rotary Wing or Tiltrotor military occupational
specialty (MOS) is eligible to apply.
5.b. Applicants must be scheduled to meet time-on-station (TOS)
requirements per reference (b) no later than 30 September 2027, or
be otherwise eligible for orders during FY27. The panel will
consider applicants who have waivers approved by Manpower
Management Officer Assignment Branch (MMOA). TOS waivers should be
submitted through HQMC (MMOA) to the applicant's monitor NLT the
application deadline using a NAVMC 10274. Waiver requests must be
endorsed by the applicant's chain of command and appropriate
approval authority per reference (b). Transfer inside of the normal
24-months permanent change of station time-on-station obligation
will result in a gap for that command until the 24-month period has
concluded. If an officer is selected prior to his/her normal
rotation date, MMOA branch will attempt to provide a backfill. A
commander's endorsement of the TOS waiver is considered
acknowledgement of the potential gap.
5.c. Weapons and Tactics Instructors (WTIs) applying to HMX-1
must be scheduled to have served a minimum of 18 months with their
unit following graduation from WTI course by 30 September 2026. This
requirement does not preclude WTIs from applying to HMX-1, and MMOA
can adjust orders on a case-by-case basis to ensure this
prerequisite is satisfied. Route waiver requests to HQMC (MMOA) NLT
than the application deadline using a NAVMC 10274. Waiver requests
must be endorsed by the applicant's chain of command and appropriate
approval authority per reference (b).
5.d. Applicants must be able to obtain a Top Secret/Sensitive
Compartmented Information/Yankee White security clearance.
Applicants shall complete and pass the HMX-1 security pre-screen
process prior to the convening of the selection panel.
5.e. All applicants must indicate on the "HMX-1 Pilot Volunteer
Form" if they currently have, or plan to receive, any visible
tattoos outside the Dress Blue Delta Uniform.
6. Ineligibility Criteria.
6.a. Reserve component commissioned officers.
6.b. Captains in the above zone for promotion on the convening
date of the HMX-1 selection board.
6.c. Officers serving in a Joint Billet that have not met their
minimum time on station requirements prior to 30 September 2027.
6.d. Officers pending any medical or legal action that would
preclude a successful tour of duty.
6.e. Officers with adverse FITREP material.
6.f. Officers who do not meet the time on station requirements
described in paragraph 5.b. or WTI payback tours described in
paragraph 5.c. and lack a positively endorsed NAVMC 10274.
7. Application Process.
7.a. HMX-1 communication. Applicants shall email their intent
to apply for this panel, including name, rank, MOS, personal/work
email address, and personal/work phone number to the HMX-1 Pilot
Recruiting and Selection Officer, Major Zachary Behler, email:
[email protected].
7.b. Monitor. Applicants shall email their respective monitor for
concurrence and to determine if they meet the eligibility
requirements.
7.c. Application requirements. The application process requires the
submission of two separate PDF packages, the Presidential Support
Program (PSP) Security Pre-Screen and the HMX-1 Pilot Application.
7.c.1. PSP Security Pre-Screen
7.c.1.a. Applicants shall digitally complete the entire "HMX-1
Pre-Screen and Contact Information" application available at:
https(slash)(slash)www.hmx-1.marines.mil/Recruiting/
under the "Officer Recruiting" tab.
7.c.1.b. Send the completed form to the HMX-1 Pilot Recruiting and
Selection Officer, Major Zachary Behler, with the nomenclature:
"EDIPI_Prescreen_LastName_FirstName."
7.c.1.c. Applicants are encouraged to submit a completed "HMX-1
Pre-Screen and Contact Information" PDF as early as possible in the
application process to determine if the applicant meets the security
eligibility requirements to apply to HMX-1. This should be done well
in advance of the full pilot application package detailed below.
7.c.2. HMX-1 Pilot Application
7.c.2.a. 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
Sheets are accurate at all times. Panel members will have access to
the OMPF during the panel.
7.c.2.b. Applicants shall digitally complete the entire "HMX-1
Pilot Volunteer Form" available at: https(slash)(slash)www.hmx-1.
marines.mil/Recruiting/ under the "Officer Recruiting" tab.
7.c.2.c. Applicants shall disclose if they are subject to a Field
Flight Performance Board and the results of the board on the "HMX-1
Pilot Volunteer Form."
7.c.2.d. Command Endorsement Letter. Packages must be endorsed at
the squadron level. The Command Endorsement Letter is addressed to
the HMX-1 Pilot Selection Panel and must specifically address the
flying ability and aviation leadership qualities of the applicant.
Applicants currently assigned to non-flying billets shall obtain an
endorsement from the Commanding Officer of their most recent flying
assignment.
7.c.2.e. Applicants shall submit digital copies of the following
documents in a single PDF document, with the nomenclature,
"EDIPI_MOS_LastName_FirstName" in the following order, to the HMX-1
Pilot Recruiting and Selection Officer, Major Zachary Behler:
7.c.2.e.1. HMX-1 Pilot Volunteer Form.
7.c.2.e.2. Copy of e-mail correspondence from PMOS monitor
confirming applicant's eligibility to apply.
7.c.2.e.3. Command endorsement letter.
7.c.2.e.4. Letters of recommendation (optional, maximum of three).
7.c.2.e.5. As required, legible copies of Field Flight Performance
Board material.
7.c.2.e.6. As required, copy of endorsed tour curtailment NAVMC
10274 or WTI payback curtailment NAVMC 10274 as noted in
paragraph 5.b. and 5.c.
7.d. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered without
prior approval from the HMX-1 Manpower Officer.
8. For additional information regarding assignment to HMX-1 contact
the HMX-1 Pilot Recruiting and Selection Officer or the HMX-1
Manpower Officer via the points of contact listed in this MARADMIN.
9. Other available billets. Marines from any other officer and
enlisted MOS are screened and selected for assignment to HMX-1 on a
continual basis. Marines should contact their monitors or the
points of contact listed in this MARADMIN for information.
10. Points of Contact:
10.a. Lieutenant Colonel Jason Sylvester, HMX-1 Manpower Officer
Comm: (202) 814-9361, DSN: 278-4815
Email: [email protected]
10.b. Major Zachary Behler, HMX-1 Pilot Recruiting and Selection
Officer
Comm: (202) 814-7257, DSN: 278-4929
Email: [email protected]
10.c. Lieutenant Colonel Eben Buxton, Aviation Lieutenant Colonels
Monitor
Comm: (703) 784-9267, DSN: 278-9267
Email: [email protected]
10.d. Major Brandon Thompson, Rotary Wing Majors Monitor
Comm: (703) 784-9267, DSN: 278-9267
Email: [email protected]
10.e. Major Alexander Lee, Rotary Wing Company Grade Monitor
Comm: (703) 784-9267, DSN: 278-9267
Email: [email protected]
11. This MARADMIN is not applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve.
12. Release authorized by BGen Fridrik Fridriksson, Director,
Manpower Management Division.//