Fiscal Year 26 Return to Active Duty Program for Marine Corps Officers

1.  In accordance with the Commandant of the
Marine Corps' Talent Management 2030 focus on permeability and
due to the success of the Fiscal Year (FY) 25 Return to Active
Duty (RAD) process, this MARADMIN is released to inform the force
of FY26 requirements.  This MARADMIN clarifies changes to
MCO 1001.65A until it is updated.
2.  The FY25 RAD program allowed more than 50 officers, ranging from
first lieutenant to colonel, to return to the active component (AC).
To continue bolstering the strength of the officer corps,
Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) will continue to execute the
updated RAD program in FY26.
2.a.  The RAD program will continue to be announced via MARADMIN
each FY by Manpower Management Officer Assignments-3 (MMOA-3).
While the deadline for FY26 submissions is 30 September 2026,
applications to RAD may be submitted at any point during the FY
and will be screened on a monthly basis.
2.b.  Eligibility
2.b.1.  Officers in the grades first lieutenant to colonel are
eligible to apply.  Applicants who apply will undergo screening
to ensure senior Reserve Component (RC) officers are within their
Mandatory Retirement Date and Mandatory Service Date.
2.b.2.  Reserve officers affiliated with the Ready Reserves
(Selected Marine Corps Reserves, Individual Mobilization Augmentees,
Active Reserves, and Individual Ready Reserves) are eligible
to apply.
2.b.3.  Retired officers in the Retired Reserves are not eligible
for the RAD program.
2.c.  Process
2.c.1.  All applicants in the Selected Marine Corps Reserves,
Individual Mobilization Augmentees, and Active Reserves will apply
via NAVMC 10274 Administrative Action (AA) Form to CMC (MMOA-3), via
the first O-5 commander in their current Reserve chain of command.
2.c.2.  Applicants in the Individual Ready Reserve will submit their
AA Form requesting to RAD directly to CMC (MMOA-3) using the SMB box
provided in para 4.d of this MARADMIN.  Officers in the Individual
Ready Reserve are not required to have an O-5 commander's
endorsement on their AA Form and may send their package directly
to MMOA-3.
2.c.3.  All applicants must be within 180 days from their Mandatory
Drill Participation Stop Date at the time of application.  If beyond
180 days, applicants must address this in the AA Form and request
an exception to policy (ETP) waiver with concurrence from their
Reserve chain of command.  Director, Reserve Affairs (RA) is the
approving or disapproving authority for this requirement.  MMOA-3
will not accept packages without an endorsed ETP from RA.  It is the
responsibility of the applicant to route the ETP to RA.  Once ETP is
endorsed, the Marine will submit the completed RAD package with ETP
to CMC (MMOA-3).
2.c.4.  Reserve officers in the grades of second lieutenant to
captain who commissioned through the Reserve Officer Commissioning
Program (ROCP), and who do not meet the obligation requirements set
forth in paragraph 2.c.2 will require an endorsed ETP from
Director, Reserve Affairs.  MMOA-3 will not process packages without
the inclusion of a required ETP.  Reserve officers seeking an ETP
should submit all pertinent enclosures and endorsements directed in
this MARADMIN to the ROCP mailbox at SMB_RAM-4@usmc.mil.
2.c.5.  Applicants who are affiliated with the Active Reserve (AR)
program are required to include an approved DD Form 368 Conditional
Release Form with their application.  The DD Form 368 must be
endorsed by the applicant's respective AR monitor.  There will
be no exceptions to this requirement.
2.c.6.  Applicants will provide a current Physical Fitness
Test (PFT), Combat Fitness Test (CFT) and Height and Weight (HT/WT)
scoresheet.  PFT, CFT, and HT/WT must be certified via the current
NAVMC 11622 if the applicant does not have a current PFT, CFT, and
HT/WT in Marine Corps Total Force System (MCTFS).
2.c.7.  Applicants will apply to RAD in their current primary
military occupational specialty (PMOS).  Applicants may also request
a PMOS lateral move as a part of their RAD and will be considered on
a case-by-case basis.  Applicants who are approved for a lateral
move will incur an additional service obligation following the
completion of their PMOS school.  Applicants should reach out to the
point of contact above for more information.
2.c.8.  Per reference (a), all applicants will include a completed
DD Form 2807-1 in their application which must include the following
statement by a competent medical authority: "Applicant has been
found fit or unfit for an Active Duty military obligation."
3.  Coordinating Instructions
3.a.  All first lieutenants and captains who have been approved
to RAD and have not been previously screened for career designation
(CD) will be offered CD.
3.b.  Applicants who have been approved to RAD will serve a minimum
of 24 months on active duty, with the start date being the date
joined to the AC.  Any prior existing RC service obligations will
run concurrently with any RAD obligations assigned, and if existing
RC obligated service remains when AC service expires, the Marine
will then execute their remaining obligated service in the SMCR as
an obligor.
3.c.  Each Marine Corps RC officer recommended and approved for
transfer to the AC shall be appointed as an active component officer
in the same grade and with the same date of rank as the grade and
date of rank that the officer would have held had the officer been
serving on the active duty list as an AC officer on the date of
regular appointment.  Officer Promotions (MMPB-10) will provide a DOR
and Lineal Control Number (LCN) in accordance with applicable laws
and regulations.  Questions regarding assignment of DOR or LCN may be
directed to MMPB-10 once an estimated return date
is established.  MMPB-10 may be contacted at
officerpromotions@usmc.mil or at 703-784-9304.
3.d.  Officers may use the Reserve Service Calculator to determine
their active duty time at https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Divisions
/Manpower-Management/Separation-and-Retirements-Branch/.
3.e.  Applicants can discuss available duty stations and billet
assignments with their gaining active duty monitor.  Officers should
anticipate a post-RAD assignment to valid active duty structure
based on the needs of the Marine Corps, billet vacancies, and, as
able, personal preference.
4.  Application Procedures
4.a.  RAD applications must be submitted via AA Form via the first
O-5 commander in their Reserve chain of command or directly to
MMOA-3 per para. 2.c.
4.a.1.  All RAD applications will include at least one, but no more
than three, letter(s) of recommendation attesting to the applicant's
leadership, technical skills, abilities, and overall performance.
4.a.2.  All RAD applications will include a personal statement in
naval letter format explaining why the applicant desires to RAD.
4.b.  All RAD applications must include a signed statement from
their Special Security Officer (SSO) attesting to the current
security clearance level and date of adjudication, to include
eligibility for TS/SCI, if applicable to their MOS.  MMOA-3 will
not provide an SSO letter template.  SSO letter templates are
SSO-specific and must include a letterhead and signature (digital
signature is acceptable) of the SSO.
4.c.  Applications will include all forms and letters specified
in para 2.c.
4.d.  All RAD applications must be submitted as a single .PDF file
to the MMOA-3 Organizational Mailbox at
 SMB_MANPOWER_OFFICER_PROGRAMS@USMC.MIL and labeled as
"EDIPI_LastName_RAD".  Failure to do so will result in the RAD
application being returned with no action taken.  All submissions
will receive a notification of receipt.
4.d.1.  MMOA-3 will staff packages monthly with the appropriate
HQMC stakeholders.  Prepared packages will be sent to Deputy
Commandant (DC), M&RA for recommendation.
4.d.2.  Applicants who are recommended for RAD by DC, M&RA will be
forwarded to the Secretary of Defense or the Senate, as appropriate,
for AC appointments through the scrolling process.  MMOA-3 will
notify applicants once their package is forwarded to the Secretary
of Defense or Senate.
4.d.3.  Applicants whose package is denied will be notified by
MMOA-3.
4.d.3.  The RAD application process may take 180 days or more.  This
includes the application screening within Manpower Management
Division, M&RA, and the scrolling process to the Secretary of
Defense or Senate.
4.d.4.  RAD decisions, requests for information, or coordination
will be communicated to the applicant via separate e-mail
correspondence and may include MMOA, RA, and MPP in the
message traffic.
5.  This MARADMIN cancels on 30 September 2026.
6.  Release authorized by BGen Fridrik Fridriksson, Director,
Manpower Management Division.