Fiscal Year 2025 Active Reserve Marine Corps Graduate Education Program (GEP) Selection Panel

1.  This MARADMIN announces the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025
Active Reserve (AR) Graduate Education Program (GEP) Selection Panel.  
The AR GEP exists to provide requisite graduate education 
opportunities for AR officers to fill validated billet requirements.  
The AR GEP Selection Panel will convene on 19 September 2024.
2.  Reserve Affairs (RA) is soliciting applicants for two AR GEP
opportunities. 
2.a.  One AR officer will receive a Master of Science in Management
degree from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in the Manpower 
Systems Analysis (MSA), 847 curriculum.  This degree will be 
accompanied with the 8840 Additional Military Occupational 
Specialty (AMOS).
2.a.1.  Course Objective:  Prepare military officers to serve as
Manpower planners by conducting and participating in manpower
related studies to ensure that sound management techniques are used
at all levels of manpower systems.
2.a.2.  Course Description:  Prepare graduates to develop manpower
policy and implement manpower techniques; to conduct studies and
surveys; and to analyze objectives, policies, procedures, 
organization, and administrative actions to assess the effect of 
management policies.
2.a.3.  The AR officer selected for this opportunity will be 
assigned to a three-year utilization tour within the Manpower Plans
Section, Reserve Affairs Division, Manpower and Reserve Affairs,
Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) immediately upon graduation.
2.b.  One AR officer will receive a Master of Business 
Administration from the NPS in the Financial Management (FM) 837 
curriculum.  This degree will be accompanied with the 8844 AMOS.
2.b.1.  Course Objective:  Prepare military officers for effectively
managing financial resources to achieve the goals and objectives of
the Service.
2.b.2.  Course Description:  Prepare graduates for assignments in
budgeting, accounting, business and financial management, cost
management, cost analysis, internal control and auditing, and
financial analysis.
2.b.3.  The AR officer selected for this opportunity will be 
assigned to a three-year utilization tour in the Programs and
Resources Department, HQMC immediately upon graduation.
3.  Manpower Systems Analysis Eligibility Criteria:
3.a.  AR captains with a minimum of two-years time-in-grade are 
eligible to apply.  
3.b.  Career Designated AR captains are eligible to apply.  
3.c.  AR officers who have been passed for promotion selection in
their current grade will not be considered.
3.d.  Applicants must have two-years Time on Station (TOS) prior to
1 June 25 to apply.  TOS waivers may be requested from qualified 
applicants.
4.  Financial Management Eligibility Criteria:
4.a.  Career Designated AR majors and captains are eligible to apply.
4.b.  AR officers who have been passed for promotion selection in
their current grade will not be considered.
4.c.  Applicants must have two-years TOS prior to 1 June 25 to apply.  
TOS waivers may be requested from qualified applicants.
4.d.  Although not a pre-requisite, Marines with the 3404 Financial
Management Officer MOS, or who have significant educational or
professional backgrounds in the accounting or finance fields, are
considered highly desirable for this opportunity.
5.  The AR GEP application process is a two-step process and the 
following guidelines apply to the AR GEP application:
5.a.  Step 1:  All AR applicants will be screened by NPS for the 
MSA and/or FM discipline.  No other disciplines are available for AR 
GEP applicants at this time.  Applicants must complete the NPS online
application located at https:(slash)(slash)nps.edu.  Official 
transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be 
submitted directly to NPS from the institutions attended.  The 
transcripts need to include all credits and letter grades.  Mail 
transcripts to Naval Postgraduate School Admissions Office, 1 
University Circle, He-061A, Monterey, CA 93943-5100.  
Electronic transcripts may be submitted from the institution to NPS 
using admissions@nps.edu as the recipient.  Applicants are 
responsible for ensuring their official transcripts arrive to NPS NLT
7 August 24.  Any questions regarding the NPS process may be 
addressed via email at admissions@NPS.edu.  
5.a.1.  Step 2:  Applicants must apply via the online RPME 
application website at https:(slash)(slash) 
www2.manpower.usmc.mil/application_cac/edu/index.jsp.  
Common Access Card (CAC) certification is not required to access the 
site.  
Officers with an MRA portal account will proceed to the login 
process.  Upon login, the system will validate basic individual
eligibility for application.  Officers are advised to read the
instructions in their entirety before completing the application. 
The web-based application allows for the attachment of documents 
and offers GEP options via drop-down boxes.
5.a.2.  Officers who do not have an MRA portal account will receive
a 404 access error.  Within the error message are instructions on 
how to register for an MRA portal account, which is available to 
all officers.  Any officer who cannot access the application should 
contact the AR GEP POCs listed in this MARADMIN.
5.a.3.  Applicants must also complete the AR GEP application. 
The application format and privacy act statement may be found 
in reference (a) and on the RAM-3 website at https:(slash)(slash) 
www.manpower.usmc.mil/wordpress/?reserve_marine=test-reserve-marine-
page/test-reserve-marine-child-page/personnel-managment-ram/programs-
and-boards-ram-3/reserve-officer-pme-2.  Letters of recommendation 
may be included as enclosures.  The following statement must be 
included in the application:  "If selected, I agree to remain on 
active duty as part of the Active Reserve Program for at least four
years after completion of my training.  I agree not to transfer from
the Active Reserve Program or request separation or retirement until 
I have completed this commitment within the program."
5.a.4.  Participants in the GEP MSA and FM curriculum will incur 
a four-year service obligation.
5.a.5.  Officers must have no less than six years of commissioned
service remaining to be considered for this program.
5.a.6.  Applicants must submit unofficial transcripts from all 
colleges and universities attended on the web application.  The 
transcripts need to include all credits and letter grades.
5.a.7.  The deadline for submitting all material is 27 August 2024,
2359 Eastern Standard Time (EST).  Late submissions will not be
accepted.  The web-based, online RPME application is the only method
to apply.  
5.a.8.  All uploaded documents must be in portable document format 
(PDF).  The submitted name of the files must be in the following
Format: EDIPI_FileDescription.PDF.
5.a.9.  Photographs.  Per reference (b), official photographs are no
longer permitted in selection process packages. 
5.a.10.  Upon release of the results MARADMIN, PCS orders will be 
issued for the selected officers to attend the NPS curriculum 
reporting for the summer semester in July 2025 and graduating in 
Spring 2027.  Officers must ensure a sincere, dedicated interest 
in the GEP program before applying.
6.  Administration
6.a.  Ensure e-mail addresses and telephone numbers are current 
and provided on the application.  
6.b.  Notification of selection.  The panel will select a primary
for each school seat.  The panel will also select a sufficient number
of alternates to meet quota requirements if selectees decline or 
otherwise cannot accept.  Once the panel results are approved,
primary selectees will be announced via MARADMIN.  Applicants
selected as primaries and approved by CMC (RA) will receive
correspondence from this HQ with specific information regarding
school selection to include dates.  The results MARADMIN will provide
administrative guidance for orders processing and issuance.
Alternates will be listed on the RAM-3 website identified in 
paragraph 5.a.3.  Unanticipated GEP vacancies will be filled by 
alternates.
7.  Waivers to eligibility requirements set forth in this MARADMIN
will be considered at the discretion of the Director of Reserve 
Affairs Division on a case-by-case basis.   
8.  This MARADMIN is applicable only to the Active Reserve.
9.  Release authorized by Major General Karl D. Pierson, Director,
Reserve Affairs Division.