Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Enlisted to Chief Warrant Officer 2 Gunner Selection Board Results
This MARADMIN announces the selection of 10 enlisted Marines for commission to Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CWO2) Gunner for Fiscal Year 2026. Selectees are scheduled to be commissioned on 1 February 2026 at Marine Corps Base Quantico and must report to the Warrant Officer Basic Course (WOBC) between 11-12 January 2026, with the course convening on 12 January 2026.
Issued: October 31, 2025
1. Per references (a) and (b) the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) approved the FY26 Enlisted to Chief Warrant Officer 2 Gunner Selection Board report. The below-named personnel have been selected for commission to Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CWO2):
Name SMOS MCC RUC
Baldwin, Ruben F. 0306 V17 11210
Buschang, Alec T. 0306 1GS 12190
Guelzow, Matthew N. 0306 UKT 35010
Johnson, Matthew L. 0306 V34 13230
Lee, Joshua D. 0306 V26 13170
Lilly, Phillip S. II 0306 029 56011
McDannell, Kyle Q. 0306 KA2 31350
Sparks, Lewis H. 0306 T0A 13001
Underwood, Ryan S. 0306 V26 13170
Wellmon, Kyle R. 0306 1K4 20371
2. Selectees who desire to decline commission in the primary MOS in which selected shall submit a letter of declination via their chain of command to the Commanding General Marine Corps Recruiting Command (CG, MCRC). As a courtesy, please notify the POC via email of your intention to decline.
3. Per paragraph 8 of reference (a), selectees may defer to the next available Warrant Officer Basic Course (WOBC) if they are not medically qualified by BUMED or due to a personal hardship. Selectees shall submit a Request for Deferment through their chain of command to CG MCRC.
4. Commanding officers shall ensure the selectee meets the commissioning requirements set forth in reference (a). If a selectee fails to meet those requirements, the commanding officer will initiate a delay in accordance with reference (a) and the commission will not be effected.
5. CWO2 selectees are slated to be commissioned on 1 February 2026 at a ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base, Quantico. CWO2 selectees will attend the WOBC. The mission of the WOBC is to train and educate newly appointed/commissioned warrant officers in the high standards of professional knowledge, esprit-de-corps, and leadership required to transition from enlisted Marines to officers with particular emphasis on the duties, responsibilities, and warfighting skills required of a provisional platoon commander. By separate orders, selectees will be ordered by the CMC, Manpower Management (MM) to report to the Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC), The Basic School (TBS) to attend the WOBC that is scheduled to convene on 12 January 2026. Selectees must report no earlier than 0800 on 11 January 2026, and no later than 2359 on 11 January 2026. References (c) and (d) define the differences in duty under instructions (DUINS) and Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders in relation to per diem and other allowances. All Gunner selectees will report to WOBC under PCS orders from their parent command due to requirements for completion of WOBC and Infantry Weapons Officer Course (IWOC) while at TBS.
Selectees will PCS to the Quantico, VA area and receive follow-on orders to their next command upon completion of IWOC.
6. Orders Process
a. Although the majority of students will be attending WOBC via TAD orders from their command, the individual monitors will determine if an individual executes TEMINS orders or TAD orders to WOBC.
1) Marines within 50 miles of Marine Corps Base, Quantico will be issued Permanent Change of Assignment orders.
2) Marines with no dependents (CONUS and OCONUS) will be issued TEMINS orders.
3) Marines with dependents (CONUS and OCONUS) or single Marines who were previously authorized to reside off-base will be issued TAD orders via DTS and a funding letter will be provided in MCTIMS by TECOM. Marines attending WOBC in a TAD status should ensure proper administrative and legal documents are completed prior to departing to WOBC (e.g. Power of Attorney).
b. The point of contact for TAD orders is your local administrative office or consolidated admin center. The point of contact for all other order types is the respective monitor at Manpower Management Officer Assignments (MMOA).
c. All commanders issuing orders for Marines to attend WOBC will ensure a DD Form 214 is created via the Document Tracking and Management System (DTMS) in Marine Online (MOL). The DD Form 214 will cover all active duty enlisted service through 31 January 2026. Ensure strict compliance with reference (f). Although the hard copy DD Form 214 may be signed and copies 1 and 4 issued to the Marine prior to executing orders to TBS, the DD Form 214 should not be certified, published and distributed via DTMS until the unit has confirmed the individual's appointment/commission via the Marine Corps Total Force System (MCTFS). Upon appointment/commission confirmation, the DD Form 214 may be certified, published and distributed per the current edition of reference (f).
d. If a selectee is found unqualified or is otherwise not appointed/commissioned for any reason after executing orders to TBS, the DD Form 214 previously generated via DTMS shall be deleted and any hard copy DD Form 214 issued to the Marine shall be shredded, as appropriate. The following blocks/items will be standard on each 2022 enlisted to warrant officer DD Form 214: 12B. 20260101 ;
15A-C. No ; 16. None ; 20-20A. No ; 23. Discharged ; 24. Honorable ; 25. MARCORSEPMAN 6404.1 ; 26. KGM1 ; 27. N/A ; 28. Accept commission or warrant in same branch of service . All other provisions of reference (f) for this occasion shall apply to all other sections of the DD Form 214.
7. Administration
a. Check-in procedures and initial information for WOBC will be sent via the Welcome Aboard Email to selectees at a later date. TBS will add all selected Marines to the MarineNet Moodle Page NLT four weeks prior to course pickup. The package will contain important information concerning the upcoming WOBC, including check-in procedures and amplifying comments for this message.
The TBS POC will be the WOBC 1-26 Executive Officer, who will reach
out to selectees NLT than four weeks prior to course pick up.
b. Selectees must report to TBS with original orders, Defense Travel System travel authorizations, completed DD Form 214 in accordance with the information in the paragraph above and complete health and dental records. The Appointment of Acceptance (NAVMC 763) and Identification Card will be completed/issued at WOBC. Uniform for selectees reporting to WOBC will be communicated via the Welcome Aboard email.
Service Alpha uniform or be prepared to have their uniforms tailored prior to the commissioning ceremony.
8. Training Requirements
a. Selectees are encouraged to arrive in peak physical condition due to the rigors of the course. Selectees must achieve a
first class physical fitness test (PFT) prior to commissioning as outlined in reference (g) and maintain Marine Corps Body Composition and Military Appearance standards per reference (h). Those who are not within standards or do not score a first class PFT will be dropped from the course prior to 1 February 2026.
If a Marine is dropped from training, the CO TBS has the discretion to delay the commissioning or allow a Marine to defer to the next WOBC. There will be extended field time at the WOBC. Selectees are encouraged to practice running the obstacle course with an emphasis on rope climbing. Hiking under load and running in boots and utilities are also recommended. Passing a conditioning hike under
prescribed load, a standard Marine Corps Obstacle Course and the TBS Endurance Course are required to graduate from WOBC.
b. Selectees with less than 13 years of service are encouraged to be current rifle and pistol qualified prior to attending WOBC
1-26 as the number of range seats available at first duty station as
an officer will be limited, if available at all.
c. Selectees are required to read and review the following
publications prior to check in:
(1) MCDP 1
(2) MCDP 1-3
(3) MCDP 6
(4) MCWP 6-10
(5) The Armed Forces Officer (2017 Edition)
d. Marines who are selected to become Infantry Weapons Officers must complete Expeditionary Warfare School (EWS), Distance Education Program: 8670 prior to checking into The Basic School and 8671 during IWOC. POC for this requirement is Marine Gunner (CWO4) Keith Eggers, TBS Gunner, Director Infantry Weapons Officer Course at (703) 784-0306. This course can be enrolled in at your regional EWS coordination center and can be completed online.
e. Once selectees have been in-processed, there will be a commissioning ceremony on 1 February 2026. Further details will be made available on the TBS website and through follow-on correspondence from the India Company staff.
9. Commanding officers are required to document by page 11 entry, a permanent CWO2 selectee's acknowledgement of the probationary status of commission. Active component CWO2 selectees will receive the following entry: "I understand that the first three years as a permanent Chief Warrant Officer 2 (Gunner) is a probationary period, and that the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) may terminate the commission of any Warrant Officer who fails to complete the WOBC, or any required MOS follow-on school. A Marine whose commission is terminated may, upon his or her request, and at the discretion of SECNAV, be enlisted in a grade not lower than that held immediately prior to commission." All Marines selected for the Warrant Officer program will incur a 3-year obligation from the date of appointment/commission.
10. Physical Qualifications
a. Selectees who do not meet the qualifications established in references (g), (h) and (i) will not be appointed.
b. These individuals will remain on the list of Marines approved for appointment to the grade of WO and, once medically qualified, will have an appointment date consistent with other WOs with whom he or she attends the WOBC or Basic Officer Course as assigned.
c. Immediately upon release of this message, all selectees are required to provide (via email) a letter on command letterhead with their point of contact information to include work and personal telephone numbers as well as work and personal email addresses to the point of contact at MCRC, Mr. Brent Reidenbach, at brent.reidenbach@marines.usmc.mil.
d. Per reference (i), prior to commission, selectees must be determined physically qualified for appointment by the Bureau Of Medicine and Surgery and must pass with a first class PFT as outlined in reference (g). Failure to comply with requirements may delay receipt of the commissioning documents at TBS, and may subsequently result in a forfeiture of the date of rank. Commanding officers of deployed Marines can contact MCRC, ON-E to establish arrangements to complete this task, if needed. If not completed already, selectees must submit a current commissioning physical examination, to include a Report of Medical Examination (DD Form 2808), a Report of Medical History (DD Form 2807-1), and an Annual Certification if applicable. The date of the physical exam must not be older than 1 February 2024. If the physical examination was completed prior to 1 February 2025, then copies of the current and previous years' preventative health assessments (PHA) are required in addition to the physical examination.
e. Local medical personnel and the selectee must closely review a selectee's medical and dental records to ensure accuracy and completeness prior to their arrival at TBS. Selectees should arrive at TBS fully medically ready to train at the time of check in with no outstanding medical issues that would preclude training. Pay particular attention to the following items:
(1) Marks and scars must be listed.
(2) Selectees must be dental class type 1 or 2, documented on the DD Form 2808 in block 43, and have block 83.a signed by a dentist or submit a dental examination as a separate enclosure. Dental records should be updated to reflect the most current dental examination.
(3) HIV results must be within 24 months of check-in to include date tested and roster number.
(4) Distance vision must be documented in block 61 of the DD Form 2808. If vision does not correct to 20/20, a current manifest refraction and ophthalmology evaluation is required. WO selectees with a history of vision correction surgery must have all pre-operative and post-operative reports included with the medical documents.
(5) The results of an updated audiogram must be included in DD Form 2808 block 71.a. or as a separate enclosure. If any result is outside the normal range, per reference (i), section 38, submit an Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) or Audiology consultation/evaluation and interpretation.
(6) Female selectees, over the age of 21, must have a current Papanicolaou (PAP) test within the past 36 months. The pathology report from the most recent test must be submitted.
(7) Ensure all "yes" answers on DD Form 2807-1 are explained by the physician in block 29. All pertinent medical clearance documents for each condition disclosed in the DD Form 2807 should be provided.
(8) Ensure all answers on DD Form 2808 blocks 17-42 (excluding block 41 for males) are marked normal or abnormal. "NE" is not an acceptable answer.
11. Questions from medical personnel concerning the medical
requirements may be addressed to HMC Delapena at sarah.delapena@marines.usmc.mil or by phone at commercial 571-559-4660. CG MCRC is the approval authority for medical deferments for selectees who have not yet been appointed. Requests for medical deferments with supporting documentation must be routed via their chain of commands, to include a general officer level endorsement, and forwarded to CG MCRC. All requests for deferment must be received by MCRC before the projected date of appointment.
12. Selectees who fail to comply with the aforementioned requirements will delay receipt of their appointment documents at TBS, and will subsequently result in a forfeiture of their date of rank. In accordance with reference (a), Marines may defer up to two times after which, CG MCRC will recommend removal from the list of selects. This will occur on or after 1 February 2028.
13. This MARADMIN is not applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve.
14. This MARADMIN cancels 31 March 2026.
15. Release authorized by Major General W. M. Field, Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruiting Command.