Fiscal Year 2024 Marine Corps Talent Acquisition Pilot

1.  This MARADMIN announces the initiation of the 
Marine Corps Talent Acquisition Pilot (MCTAP) Program to provide
select opportunities for candidates to enlist in the Marine Corps 
to serve within specific Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) at
a rank commensurate with their experience, up to Gunnery Sergeant 
(E7). 
2.  Purpose. The Marine Corps Talent Acquisition Pilot (MCTAP) 
Program is designed to address the Corps' need for a rapid process
to identify, train, and employ personnel who possess essential
skills and relevant experience to meet warfighting requirements
at the point and time of need.
3.  Background. Talent Management requires that we recruit, retain,
and align the best talent with the needs of the service - to meet
Marine Corps warfighting requirements in the Active or Reserve
Component. Lateral Entry grants constructive service credit for
private sector training or experience.
4.  Eligibility
4.a. Marine Corps prior service.
4.b. Prior service other service. 
4.c. Non-prior service.
5.  Scope. The initial focus is on MOSs with shortfalls that are 
difficult to recruit, retain, and sustain, and where there are 
other means of obtaining the credentials and experience outside of 
the service. Current identified requirements are Cyber and Signals 
Intelligence. This Pilot Program will also assess the feasibility of 
expansion into other occupational specialties and ranks.
5.a. Active and Reserve Component. Primary Military Occupational 
Specialty (PMOS) 1721 Cyberspace Warfare Operator. 
5.b. Active Component. PMOS 2629 Signals Intelligence Collection 
Manager.
6.  Procedures. MCTAP will follow a four-phase approach: Identify, 
recruit, earn, and serve. These phases will serve as a roadmap for 
the Pilot Program, guiding its efforts to identify the Marine 
Corps' requirements, recruit highly skilled individuals with desired 
qualifications, provide them with training to earn the title of 
Marine, and ultimately enable them to serve in roles that align 
with the Marine Corps' warfighting requirements.
7.  Phase 1 / Identify. Manpower & Reserve Affairs (M&RA), 
Occupational Field (OccFLD) managers, and OccFLD specialists  
validated the following requirements for this Pilot Program and 
communicated them to the Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruiting 
Command (MCRC).
8.  PMOS 1721 Cyberspace Warfare Operator PMOS in both active and 
reserve component. 
8.a.  Description. The Cyberspace Warfare Operator is familiar with 
all aspects of cyberspace maneuver operations. They employ offensive 
and defensive cyber tools, tactics, techniques, and procedures. They 
integrate effects into warfighting functions to achieve tactical, 
operational, and strategic objectives. The Cyber Warfare Operator  
provides the means to emulate tactics, techniques, and procedures 
used by known adversaries to identify unmitigated vulnerabilities 
through simulated exploitation or attacks on department of defense 
information systems. They are familiar with digital network concepts 
and analytical techniques that support tactical cyber operations. 
Utilizing these skills to enumerate friendly environments, these 
operators search for and respond to targeted adversary presence 
within friendly terrain. 
8.b.  Duties. Exploitation Analysts are the primary technical 
planners for offensive cyberspace operations. The exploitation 
analyst must be an expert with adversary systems, networks, 
technologies, tools, techniques, and procedures. The duties for this 
position encompass generating intelligence, converting intelligence 
to operational planning, developing significant target awareness, 
and balancing levels of risk against operational goals. Duties 
increase with experience to encompass the management of target 
packages and developing new techniques and procedures for offensive 
cyber operations.
8.c.  Qualifications / Education / Experience  
8.c.(1)  Prior Service USMC. Former MOS of 2611, 1711, or 1721 
Marine. Minimum: Completed the Joint Cyberspace Analyst Course. 
Preferred: Completed the United States Cyber Command (USCC)/National 
Security Agency (NSA) exploitation analyst work role certification.
8.c.(2) Prior Service-Other Service. Former Army 17 series MOS; 
Former Air Force 1B series MOS; Former Navy Cryptologic Technician 
Networks (CTN) / Cyber Warfare Technician series MOS. 
Preferred: Completed the USCC/NSA Exploitation Analyst work role 
certification. 
8.c.(3)  Non-Prior Service. Degree in computer science, information 
systems, engineering, or other related discipline. Knowledge/
experience with NSA's post-apprentice Cryptologic Cyber Network 
Operator training standards. 
8.c.(4)  Desired: Cyberspace Operations Planners' Course, 1713 
additional MOS. 
8.c.(5)  Applicants who have prior service in the USMC or other 
services but gained experience and education upon being discharged 
from service and meet criteria as described under non-prior service 
criteria can apply.
9.  PMOS 2629 Signals Intelligence Collection Manager in active 
component. 
9.a.  Description. This PMOS requires Signals Intelligence 
(SIGINT), Electromagnetic Warfare (EW), and support to Cyberspace 
Operations (CO) training focused on collection management, 
operational planning and coordination, analysis, reporting, 
exploitation, and dissemination in support of the seven warfighting 
functions. Duties encompass the supervision of tasking, collection, 
processing, exploitation, and dissemination of products related to 
the three disciplines of SIGINT. Communications Intelligence 
Electronic Intelligence and Foreign Instrumentation Signals 
Intelligence. EW duties encompass the planning, coordination, and
execution of full spectrum Marine Air Ground Task Force EW 
operations, including Electromagnetic Warfare Support, 
Electromagnetic Protect, and Electromagnetic Attack. Provides 
intelligence support to full spectrum CO defined as Offensive 
Cyberspace Operations, Defensive Cyberspace Operations, and 
Department of Defense Information Network Operations. Technicians 
develop and maintain records on technical aspects of target 
emitters, develop and maintain communications order of battle files, 
situation maps, and other related SIGINT/EW/CO files. Technicians 
prepare and issue reports to include intelligence reports, technical 
reports, and summaries. Technicians are required to perform 
SIGINT/EW/CO briefings.
9.b.  Duties. Responsible for performing intelligence collections 
management functions. Provide technical and analytical advice to 
headquarters staff sections, subordinate commands, and units in 
matters relating to intelligence collection. Responsible for issues
pertaining to all-source intelligence collection and production 
requirements and management. Serve as intelligence requirements 
management projections officer for routing, special access program, 
and compartmented projects, operations, or exercises. Plan and 
execute collection management within priorities established through 
the collection management process while using appropriate collection 
strategies. Develop collection strategies and address challenges 
related to gathering information from relevant sources and 
shortfalls in collection tasking. Provide centralized 
administration, governance, and coordination of collection 
management requirements in support of cyberspace operations.
9.c.  Qualifications / Education / Experience
9.c.(1)  Prior Service USMC. Former MOS of 2621, 2631, 2641, 2651, 
entry level training
9.c.(2)  Prior Service - Other Service. Former Army 35 series MOS; 
Former Air Force 1N series MOS; Former Navy Cryptologic Technician 
(CT) series MOS.
9.c.(3)  Non-Prior Service. Degree in computer science, information 
systems, engineering, or other related discipline. Knowledge/
experience with the SIGINT/EW/CO collection and ground processing 
architecture and associated systems. The ideal candidate would be 
SIGINT/EW/CO systems subject matter expert. They should be familiar 
with the end-to-end system, including tasking, collection 
management, collection operations, processing and dissemination 
components, and processes.
9.c.(4)  Applicants who have prior service in the USMC or other 
services but gained experience and education upon being discharged 
from service and meet criteria as described under non-prior service 
criteria can apply.
10.  Phase 2 / Recruit. MCRC serves as the primary recruiter for 
prior service applicants. Due to the specific focus and niche 
capabilities of MCTAP, a representative from the community of 
interest is responsible for primary recruitment of non-prior service 
applicants and referring prior service applicants to MCRC.
10.a.  Interview. Once applicants are identified, they will 
interview with an Acquisition Panel (AP), composed of the OccFLD 
specialists, MCRC, and Fleet Marine Force (as required). This 
panel verifies applicant qualifications, as detailed in the
requirement notification. Applicants should be prepared to provide 
the following prior to the interview:
(1) Resume
(2) Certifications (civilian and military)
(3) Transcripts (as related to position)
(4) Letters of recommendation (as directed)
(5) Practical application examination (as directed at the interview)
10.b. Following the interview, the AP will submit their 
recommendations to MCRC for follow on screening per reference (f). 
The AP should at a minimum:
(1) Validate credentials per reference (h)
(2) Recommended MOS training (if required)
(3) Recommended professional military education (if required)
(4) Recommended rank up to Gunnery Sergeant (E7) commensurate with 
qualifications and experience
10.c. Once qualified for enlistment, MCRC shall submit a complete 
package to the DC, M&RA for approval. A completed package will 
include: 
(1) AP recommendation letter
(2) Waiver coversheet
(3) Waiver documents (if required)
(4) Resume
(5) Transcripts
(6) Certificates
(7) Letters of recommendation (as directed)
(8) Practical examination results (as directed)
10.d.  Determination. If the DC, M&RA approves, MCRC will receive 
the final approval letter, to include the contract 
proposal, and shall process the applicant in accordance with 
reference (f).
10.e.  Acceptance. MCRC will communicate the DC, M&RA's 
determination to the applicant for the applicant's acceptance.
11.  Phase 3 / Earn. It is a steadfast commitment of the Marine 
Corps that all new Marines will undergo appropriate entry-level 
training to earn the title Marine as follows:
11.a.  Prior Service USMC. Applicants who have successfully 
completed Marine Corps recruit training are not required to 
attend Marine Corps recruit training again, as they have already 
earned the title of Marine.
11.b.  Prior Service Other Service. Applicants must complete Marine 
Corps recruit training. 
11.c.  Non-Prior Service. Applicants must complete Marine Corps 
recruit training.
12.  Phase 4 / Serve. Applicants will serve in the predetermined 
billet and location based on identified requirements. Applicants are 
not eligible for permanent change of station or reassignment during 
their first enlistment. Applicants who submit, are approved, and 
accept reenlistment may be subject to follow on assignments in a 
different geographical location from their initial duty station.     
13.  Coordinating Instructions 
13.a.  Term of Enlistment. The specific length of the contract will 
be determined based on the requirement filled, 
communicated to the AP, and confirmed with the applicant during 
their interview.
13.b.  MOS Training. If MOS training is necessary, the AP will 
provide appropriate recommendations. For example, depending on the 
experience of the applicant, MOS training may be customized to 
provide appropriate overview and orientation to the service.  
Additionally, applicants may be asked to complete testable sections 
of basic or advanced MOS schools as part of their training 
requirements.
13.c.  Grade. The AP shall recommend an initial rank for the 
applicant up to Gunnery Sergeant (E7). Upon receiving approval from 
DC, M&RA, the pay for the contracted rank will commence from the 
basic training phase. Recruits will start receiving their 
contracted pay as soon as they begin their basic training. Rank 
will be worn upon completion of any required MOS training.
13.d.  Promotion. Due to the specialized focus and unique 
competencies of MCTAP, Marines participating in the initial pilot 
program will have promotion opportunities to the ranks of 
Master Sergeant and Master Gunnery Sergeant. The option to submit 
for promotion to ranks of First Sergeant or Sergeant Major will not 
be available to these Marines. For Marines entering service through 
MCTAP, their initial promotion opportunity will be based on 
non-competitive consideration with the exception that professional
military education is required. 
13.e.  Specialized Recruiting. For the Pilot Program, a 
representative from the community of interest will serve as subject 
matter expert recruiter in a Temporary Additional Duty (TAD) / surge 
(requirement or time) capacity with MCRC and have primary 
recruitment responsibility of non-prior service applicants.
13.f.  Specialized Recruiting TAD Funding. The community of interest 
will be responsible for funding TAD expenses for specialized 
recruiters. TAD funding requests can be submitted to MCRC for 
consideration.  
13.g.  Feedback. OccFLD specialists shall provide feedback on 
the performance of MCTAP Marines and the MCTAP process itself to 
Headquarters United States Marine Corps at 6 months and 12 months 
from the date the applicant begins serving in their designated 
billet.
13.h.  How to Apply. Applicants will submit required documentation 
per paragraph 10.a. to the following organizational mailbox: 
TalentManagement@usmc.mil, with the subject line reading MCTAP. 
14.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General James F. Glynn, 
Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.