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AwardsRoutine update

FY26 Semiannual International Affairs Program Experience Track Selection Panel Results

MARADMIN 004/26·January 8, 2026·Official source

The selected Marines assigned Foreign Area Officer (FAO), Regional Affairs Officer (RAO), and Foreign Area Staff NCO (FAS) Additional Military Occupational Specialties (AMOS 82XX) under the FY26 IAP Experience Track panel. Contains the full name list with rank, PMOS, AMOS, designation, and region.

This is a routine update — a name list, a set of results, or a recurring notice. There is nothing here to translate into plain English, so the official text is reproduced in full below. Read it on marines.mil

Official text

R 081655Z JAN 26

MARADMIN 004/26

MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC PPO PL WASHINGTON DC//

SUBJ/FY26 SEMIANNUAL INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS PROGRAM EXPERIENCE

TRACK SELECTION PANEL RESULTS//

REF/A/DOC/CMC/PPO/20250311//

REF/B/DOC/SECDEF/OUSD-P&R/20220325//

REF/C/DOC/SECNAV/DUSN(P)/20230406//

REF/D/GENADMIN/CMC/211530ZXXX25//

NARR/REF A IS MARINE CORPS ORDER 1540.33, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

PROGRAM (IAP). REF B IS DODI 1315.20, MANAGEMENT OF THE DOD FOREIGN

AREA OFFICER PROGRAM. REF C IS SECNAVINST 1301.7B, DEPARTMENT

OF THE NAVY FOREIGN AREA OFFICER PROGRAMS. REF D IS MARADMIN 497/24,

FY 2025 MARINE CORPS FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY BONUS ELIGIBILITY

REQUIREMENTS.//

POC/1/BRETT M. MCCORMICK/LTCOL/CMC PPO PL WASHINGTON DC/DSN 312-

224-4365/703-692-4365/BRETT.MCCORMICK(AT)USMC.MIL//

POC/2/CLAYTON J. FISHER/CIV/CMC PPO PL WASHINGTON DC/DSN 312-224-

0322/703-614-0322/CLAYTON.FISHER(AT)USMC.MIL//

POC/3/LEE M. MOFFETT/MGYSGT/CMC PPO PL WASHINGTON DC/DSN 312-224-

4366/703-692-4366/LEE.MOFFETT(AT)USMC.MIL//

POC/4/ASHLEY K. ALMEIDA/CTR/CMC PPO PL WASHINGTON DC/DSN 312-224-

2168/703-692-2168/ASHLEY.ALMEIDA.CTR(AT)USMC.MIL//

POC/5/IAP OMB/IAPMARINE(AT)USMC.MIL//

GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. The purpose of this MARADMIN is to announce the

results of the FY26 Semiannual International Affairs Program (IAP)

Experience Track Selection Panel.

2. Based on their background, operational experience, and academic

credentials, the IAP experience track selection panel selected the

Marines listed below for assignment of the Foreign Area Officer

(FAO), Regional Affairs Officer (RAO) and Foreign Area

Staff Non-Commissioned Officer (FAS)

Additional Military Occupational Specialty (AMOS).

Selection panel results. (Read in 6 columns):

Name                   Rank   PMOS  AMOS  Desig  Region

Albayrak, E.I.         LtCol   0202  8245  FAO   Africa

Berit, M.A.            Maj     7202  8227  RAO   Europe

Blackwood, M.A.        LtCol   4402  8241  FAO   LATAM

Blue, W.J.             Maj     0402  8243  FAO   INDO-PAC

Goldberg, M.J.         Capt    4402  8243  FAO   INDO-PAC

Johnson, A.            Maj     0302  8227  RAO   Europe

Johnsen, J.L.          Maj     0102  8245  FAO   Africa

Leonardelli,J.R.       LtCol   0202  8227  RAO   Europe

Lyon, B. A.            Capt    6002  8241  FAO   LATAM

McDonnell, P.E.        Maj     0202  8241  FAO   LATAM

Radel, C.              LtCol   3002  8242  FAO   Europe

Ryan, J.P.             Maj     0302  8227  RAO   Europe

Sierawski, A.E.        Capt    5803  8223  RAO   NE Asia

Sorrells, D.           Maj     7518  8227  RAO   Europe

Stark, J.A.            Capt    3002  8241  FAO   LATAM

Stevens, M.            LtCol   1302  8223  RAO   NE Asia

Sweeney, J.B.          Maj     0402  8241  FAO   LATAM

Szimonisz, J.D.        LtCol   0202  8228  RAO   SE Asia

Szimonisz, J.D.        LtCol   0202  8224  RAO   Middle East

Warrington, D.A.       Capt    0302  8242  FAO   Europe

Weaver, J. F.          Maj     0202  8227  RAO   Europe

Xue,H.                 SSgt    0678  8233  FAS   NE Asia

Yoon, W                Capt    0602  8243  FAO   INDO-PAC

3. This MARADMIN serves as authority to assign the respective AMOS

as listed above. All selectees listed above must request

appropriate entries be made into their permanent service records

to reflect the appropriate AMOS through their Installation

Personnel Administration Centers or command administration offices.

4. Per ref A, Marines applying for an IAP AMOS are highlighting

their availability to serve in international affairs billets when

not serving in their primary MOS. Marines who subsequently decline

to serve in such billets will have their IAP AMOS administratively 

withdrawn.

5. Per refs A and D, Marines with a FAO AMOS are required to

maintain current minimum Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT)

scores of 2/2/1+ (FAO) or 1+/1+ (FAS) (Reading/Listening/Speaking).

Failure to maintain minimum scores will result in administrative

withdrawal of the FAO AMOS.

6. Per ref A, IAP Marines who are slated with orders to fill 82XX

billets are required to complete a Tier 5 (T-5) investigation in

order to facilitate their integration into MAGTF planning,

operations, security cooperation, and intelligence efforts during

future assignments within tactical, operational, and strategic-

level Marine Corps staffs, joint and combined staff, and for duty

with interagency organizations. Marines who are slated to fill 82XX

billets and do not have current T-5 investigation will submit a

request through their Security Office. Orders issued for individuals

filling 82XX billets will serve as the authoritative document to

initiate a T-5 Investigation.

7.Language sustainment training may be available for Marines in the

82XX AMOS, contingent upon available funding. Cost-free options can

be found on the IAP website "https //www.ppo.marines.mil/Units/

Strategy-and-Plans-Division/International-Affairs-Branch/

International-Affairs-Program/" under the courses section. These

resources offer opportunities to develop and enhance language

skills. Additional requests may be submitted to

IAPMarine(at)usmc.mil.

8. Questions regarding the IAP should be directed to the points of

contact (POCs) listed above. Panels will take place during the first

week of November and May, with applications submitted no later then

30 October and 30 April, respectively. Applications must be in one

pdf with naming "Rank.Last.First.Region" 

(e.g., GySgt.Smith.John.Africa). Applications must be submitted

through the IAP website under the IAP Submissions and

Registration section, using the link referencing

Experience Track Panel.

9. Release authorized by BGen Daniel B. Taylor, Director, Strategy

and Plans Division, Plans, Policies and Operations, Headquarters

U.S. Marine Corps.//

Resources & references

The documents this bulletin points to, with a plain-English note on why each matters. Links marked CAC required need a government login.

  • International Affairs Program order (MCO 1540.33)Reference

    This is the governing Marine Corps Order for the International Affairs Program. It sets the rules for earning and keeping an IAP AMOS, including language score requirements and obligations to serve in international affairs billets.

  • DOD Foreign Area Officer Program instruction (DODI 1315.20)Reference

    This is the DOD-level directive governing management of the Foreign Area Officer program. It establishes the overarching policy framework within which the Marine Corps IAP operates.

  • Department of the Navy Foreign Area Officer Programs instruction (SECNAVINST 1301.7B)Reference

    This is the Secretary of the Navy instruction governing Navy and Marine Corps Foreign Area Officer programs. It provides the service-level policy that sits between DOD guidance and Marine Corps-specific orders.

  • FY25 Marine Corps Foreign Language Proficiency Bonus Eligibility Requirements (MARADMIN 497/24)MARADMIN

    This MARADMIN covers foreign language proficiency bonus eligibility. It is directly relevant to FAO and FAS AMOS holders who must maintain minimum DLPT scores or risk losing their AMOS.

  • This is the official Marine Corps International Affairs Program website, where Marines can find application templates for programs like the Foreign Area Officer, Regional Affairs Officer, and Personnel Exchange Program, along with language testing information, course listings, and governing policies. If you are interested in pursuing or maintaining a role in political-military affairs or international assignments, this site has the forms and resources to get started.

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