Policy on Slate Modifications Due to FY08 Col Selection Results and FY07 Top Level School (TLS) Selection Results

1. IMPACT OF REFS A AND B ON OFFICERS HOLDING A BILLET 
COVERED BY REF C REQUIRES ADJUSTMENTS TO THE COMMAND SLATE. 
REF C ESTABLISHES A SUCCESSFUL COMMAND TOUR AS LASTING A MINIMUM OF
12 MONTHS. 
2. PURPOSE. TO CLARIFY POLICY REGARDING ASSIGNMENTS FOR COMMANDING 
OFFICERS SELECTED FOR PROMOTION AND/OR TLS ASSIGNMENTS AND THOSE 
COLONEL SELECTS SLATED TO COMMAND. 
3. FOR STAFFING AND ACCOUNTABILITY PURPOSES, OFFICERS SELECTED FOR 
PROMOTION ARE COUNTED AMONG THE INVENTORY OF THEIR SELECTED GRADE AND 
ARE NORMALLY REASSIGNED TO A VALID STAFFING REQUIREMENT FOR THAT GRADE. 
4. FOR OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO LTCOL COMMAND BILLETS WHO ARE ALSO SELECTED 
FOR PROMOTION TO COLONEL: 
A. CMC (MM) INTENT IS TO KEEP THESE OFFICERS IN COMMAND BILLETS UNTIL 
THEY REACH THE MINIMUM 12-MONTH COMMAND TOUR LENGTH, AT WHICH TIME THEY WILL 
BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR REASSIGNMENT. 
B. OFFICERS MAY REMAIN IN COMMAND LONGER THAN 12 MONTHS TO COMPLETE 
CURRENTLY SCHEDULED DEPLOYMENTS IF REQUESTED BY THE OFFICER AND ENDORSED 
BY THE FIRST GENERAL OFFICER IN THE OFFICER'S CHAIN OF COMMAND. 
C. OFFICERS SLATED TO LTCOL COMMANDS AND SELECTED FOR COLONEL MAY SERVE 
12 MONTHS IN COMMAND OR THEY MAY DECLINE COMMAND WITHOUT PREJUDICE. 
5. FOR OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO LTCOL COMMAND BILLETS WHO ARE ALSO SELECTED 
FOR PROMOTION TO COLONEL BY THE FY 08 SELECTION BOARD AND SELECTED TO TLS: 
A. COLONELS (SEL) MAY REQUEST TO DEFER TLS TO COMPLETE A MINIMUM 12 MONTHS 
IN COMMAND. DEFERRAL OF TLS MAY NOT EXCEED ONE YEAR UNDER ANY 
CIRCUMSTANCES. REQUESTS MUST BE ENDORSED BY THE FIRST GENERAL OFFICER IN 
THE OFFICER'S CHAIN OF COMMAND. 
B. CMC (MM) MAY ASSIGN SUCH OFFICERS FOR OFF-CYCLE SCHOOL STARTS, RATHER 
THAN DEFERRING THE OFFICER UNTIL THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR (COMMENCING AUG 08). 
C. COLONELS (SEL) WHO ARE SELECTED TO AND ACCEPT COLONEL LEVEL COMMAND 
WILL FOREGO THEIR OPTION TO ATTEND TLS. 
6. FOR COMMANDING OFFICERS SELECTED FOR TLS, NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SELECTION TO 
COLONEL: 
A. COMMANDERS WHO WISH TO REQUEST DEFERRAL TO TLS DUE TO OPERATIONAL 
CONSIDERATIONS MAY DO SO. REQUESTS MUST BE ENDORSED BY THE FIRST GENERAL 
OFFICER IN THE OFFICER'S CHAIN OF COMMAND. 
7. OFFICERS DEFERRED FOR TLS MAY BE RESLATED TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS TO 
ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS OF THE MARINE CORPS. INDIVIDUALS SHOULD SUBMIT ALL 
REQUESTS VIA AA FORM, WITH ENDORSEMENT AS NOTED ABOVE. 
8. OFFICERS NOT SERVING IN COMMAND BILLETS AND SELECTED FOR TLS WILL NOT 
BE DEFERRED. 
9. COMMANDING GENERALS ARE ENCOURAGED TO IDENTIFY DEPLOYMENT CONCERNS TO 
CMC (MM) (CODE MMOA-3). THE CONTENTS OF THIS MESSAGE WILL BE INCORPORATED 
IN FUTURE VERSIONS OF REF C (CURRENTLY IN DRAFT). 
10. POINT OF CONTACT AT THIS HEADQUARTERS IS LTCOL EMILY J. 
ELDER, EMILY.ELDER@USMC.MIL, DSN 278-9285.