Announcement of the Fiscal Year 2026 First Sergeants School

1.  Situation. Since 1996, the Commandant of the Marine Corps has 
directed a formal course of instruction to be provided for all newly 
promoted and selected First Sergeants. The course facilitates the 
transition from Gunnery Sergeant to First Sergeant. 
2.  Mission. The Marine Corps Senior Enlisted Academy (MCSEA) will 
conduct the First Sergeants School to provide quality instruction 
covering their upcoming duties and responsibilities across the 
Marine Air Ground Task Force.
3.  Execution.
3.A.  Dates for Fiscal Year 2026 courses are as follows:
Course  Class Code   Convene         Graduate
1-26    2026001      08 Dec 25       19 Dec 25
2-26    2026002      02 Feb 26       13 Feb 26
3-26    2026003      23 Mar 26       03 Apr 26
4-26    2026004      01 Jun 26       12 Jun 26
5-26    2026005      17 Aug 26       28 Aug 26
3.A.1.  Allocations may be submitted throughout the fiscal year; 
each class will have a maximum of 50 seats. These school seats are 
available on a first-come, first-serve basis. If a class reaches
capacity, students are placed on a waiting list in Marine Corps 
Training Information Management Systems (MCTIMS) and registered
in the order they were added. Individuals are encouraged to view 
class availability on MCTIMS.
3.B.  Coordinating instructions and the command screening checklist
will be sent via separate correspondence approximately 45 days 
before the start of the respective class.
3.B.1   Attendance is highly recommended within the first 12 months
of promotion/frocking.
3.B.2.  Student Registration. Parent command G-3/S-3 are required 
to submit nominees to MCU_seniorenlistedacademy@usmcu.edu.  
To avoid any delay, ensure the subject line 
reads "ATTN: Operations/1stSgt". 
The email body must include the following information:
Name:
Rank:
EDIPI:
Class Code:
Active Duty or Reserve:
Upon receipt of the nomination, the MCSEA staff will register the 
student in MCTIMS and funding letters will be available for 
download following approval from Training and Education Command 
Formal Schools.
3.B.3.  Cancel registration. All registration cancellation 
requests must be sent from the individual's Sergeant Major to 
MCU_seniorenlistedacademy@usmcu.edu and carbon copy (CC) the 
8999 Program Lead, Sergeant Major Jacqueline Townsel at 
jacqueline.townsel@usmcu.edu.
3.B.4.  Clearance verification. A classified brief has been 
implemented to enhance understanding of the organization's
preparation for future conflicts as part of enlisted education
progression. No later than two weeks prior to attendance, 
all participants must ensure their parent command's security 
manager submits a visit access request (VAR) to:
SMO Code: MS3302 (Marine Corps University, Quantico VA) 
Visit Name:  First Sergeants School
Start Date: (Class start date)
End Date: (Class end date)
Access Level:  Secret
Reason:  Resident PME 
Defense Information System for Security (DISS) point of contact: 
Lisa Nelson, lisa.nelson@usmcu.edu, 703-432-5578. Security 
Managers must ensure they grant secret clearance access upon 
submitting the visitor's request. 
3.C.  Mentor Nominations. Each class requires six Sergeants Major 
to serve as mentors. Sergeants Major may be active or reserve.
3.C.1.  Sergeant Major mentor allocations and details for each 
course are as follows:
Command            Allocations
MARFORPAC             02
MARFORCOM             01
MARFORRES             01
MCICOM                01
TECOM                 01
3.C.2.  All mentor names shall be submitted to the Director of MCSEA, 
at the following email address: MCU_seniorenlistedacademy@usmcu.edu, 
ATTN: Director, no later than 90 days prior to the class report date.  
Course      Travel Day      Mentor Orientation
1-26        05 Dec 25       06 Dec 25
2-26        30 Jan 26       31 Jan 26
3-26        20 Mar 26       21 Mar 26
4-26        29 May 26       30 May 26
5-26        14 Aug 26       15 Aug 26
4.  Administration and Logistics.
4.A.  Active Component.
4.A.1.  Orders. Temporary additional duty orders will be 
non-reporting.
4.A.2.  Travel/per diem is provided by TECOM World-Wide Travel.  
4.B.  Reserve Component
4.B.1.  Orders. Marine Reserve Order Writing System Professional 
Military Education/school orders will be routed through Marine 
Forces Reserve G-3 in order to receive funding and will be 
non-reporting.
4.B.2.  Travel/per diem shall be requested through Defense Travel 
System (DTS)-Reserve Travel.
4.B.3.  Reserve Marines can attend any course; however, course 
1-26 is recommended for all Reserve Marines. 
4.C.  Transportation. Attendees should not schedule any flight 
departures prior to 1800 on the graduation date. Parent commands 
are responsible for the cost of rental cars.
4.D.  Lodging.  
4.D.1.  Mentors who require lodging are required to lodge at 
Inns of the Corps, Quantico, commercial: (703) 630-4444.
4.D.2.  Students who require lodging are required to lodge at 
Liversedge Hall, commercial: (703) 784-3149.  
4.D.3.  If billeting is not available, Marines must receive a 
statement of non-availability from Liversedge Hall and Inns of 
the Corps, Quantico, before arranging off-base lodging. 
4.E.  Uniform.
4.E.1.  The prescribed uniform is the Marine Corps Combat Utility 
Uniform and appropriate seasonal service uniform.
4.E.2.  Students should bring a sufficient number of uniforms for 
the duration of the class.  The seasonal service uniform will be 
worn on the last Friday of the calendar month only.
4.E.3.  Appropriate civilian attire and suit are required. Further 
guidance will be provided via separate correspondence.
4.F.  Social Events. All attendees shall attend a professional 
dinner. The prescribed uniform for the dinner is formal business 
attire.  Solid color suits for males and solid color dress or 
formal business attire equivalent for females are required.
5.  Reporting Instructions.
5.A.  Marines will report by 0700 in authorized USMC green 
on green PT gear (green undershirt and green shorts) with 
white socks (no logos) ready to conduct a height and weight 
verification.
5.B.  Marines must bring or have completed the following items 
when checking-in:
5.B.1.  Completed Command Screening Checklist.
5.B.2.  Approved Duty Status Waiver (if required).
5.B.3.  All pre-course work submitted in MOODLE by 0700 on the day 
of check-in.
5.C.  Students are required to bring a Personal Electronic Device 
(PED), such as a laptop, tablet, etc. Students who do not own a 
device are not required to purchase one. It is the unit's 
responsibility to provide the Marine a temporary loan device for 
the duration of the class.
6.  Command and Signal. Direct all inquiries regarding the content 
of this Marine Administrative Message to Sergeant Major Jacqueline
Townsel, 8999 Program Lead, at jacqueline.townsel@usmcu.edu, or 
MCU_seniorenlistedacademy@usmcu.edu, ATTN: Operations/ 1stSgt School. 
7.  Release authorized by Brigadier General Matthew Tracy, 
President, Marine Corps University.