Fiscal Year 2026 Active Marine Attaché Selection Board: Senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché Results
This MARADMIN announces the results of the Fiscal Year 2026 Marine Attaché Selection Board for Senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché (SDO/DATT) positions. Three active duty officers have been selected for nomination to the Defense Attaché Service for assignments to the Dominican Republic, Papua New Guinea, and Ghana, with orders expected to begin training in Spring 2025.
Issued: January 28, 2025
1. On 26 August 2024, the Director for Manpower Management convened the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Marine Active and Reserve Attaché (MARA) Selection Board to select Marines as primary candidates and identify alternates for duty with the Defense Attaché Service (DAS) to report in FY26. The Secretary of Navy has approved the list of Marines herein and nominated them to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) for final approval by the Secretary of Defense. 2. The board considered the packages of 46 qualified applicants and selected 13 officers as primary candidates. Demonstrated performance, Marine Air Ground Task Force experience, and the potential to operate effectively in a foreign, independent duty environment were among the factors considered in the selection process. 3. This MARADMIN specifically releases the Senior Defense Official/ Defense Attaché (SDO/DATT) primary selected candidates. Ref (d) previously released all Non-SDO/DATT primary selected candidates. 4. Board results 4.a. Primary selections. Any changes from the originally advertised country list were based on requirements from DIA. 4.a.1. The board selected the following active duty officers for nomination to the DAS as SDO/DATTs with their slated assignments: Name MOS Country Johnson, Reese H. 0102 Dominican Republic Pettibon, Jonathon E. 0202 Papua New Guinea Zastoupil, Frank C. 7518 Ghana 5. Coordinating instructions 5.a. Primary selectees 5.a.1. Active duty acceptance of selection. Selectees shall accept or decline via email to their PMOS monitor no later than 31 January 2025. Selectees will copy their acceptance email to the HQMC Marine Attaché Program Office at mara_application@usmc.mil to communicate acceptance of assignment and receive further guidance. 5.b. Alternate selectees. All alternates were identified in ref (d). No action is required on the part of Marines on the alternate list. In the event that a billet becomes vacant, Manpower Management will fleet-up an officer from the alternate list. PMOS monitors will directly contact any alternate selected as a fleet-up. 5.c. Declinations and deferrals 5.c.1 Declinations. Marines who decline assignment to a MARA billet must submit a declination in writing (AA form) via the first O6 in their chain of command addressed to HQMC via MMOA-3 NLT 31 January 2025. Marines who decline will be ineligible for future MARA billets, unless otherwise approved by the Director, Manpower Management. 5.c.2. Deferrals. Marines selected for assignment to a MARA billet who are unable to execute orders due to extraordinary circumstances may request a deferral. If approved, the Director, Manpower Management will defer the Marine to a future MARA selection panel. Primary selectees may submit a deferral request in writing (AA Form) via the first general officer in their chain of command addressed to HQMC via MMOA-3 NLT 31 January 2025. 5.d. Reporting and training 5.d.1. Selected Marines can expect Permanent Change of Station orders for training in the National Capital Region. Training start dates are dependent upon the assigned country and corresponding training requirements but can begin in Spring 2025. Selected officers with competing service requirements which could potentially delay their availability for training must notify their primary MOS monitor in their initial correspondence. 5.d.2. A limited portion of training during the Joint Military Attaché School (JMAS) is available to the spouses of selected officers. Although spouse attendance is not required, it is highly recommended and does not incur any additional cost to the service member. Language training is available to the spouse for most billets at the request of the selected officer. In addition to training, a security clearance will be submitted for the spouse. 5.d.3. Spouses must be naturalized U.S. citizens prior to the service member attending JMAS. 5.d.4. Service members must complete a Counter Intelligence Polygraph examination prior to departing their current command. This will be coordinated through the selectee's parent command. 6. Release authorized by MajGen Ryan S. Rideout, Director, Manpower Management, Division.