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Army War College Distance Education Program open for AY 27-28 applications

MARADMIN 008/26·January 12, 2026·2 min read·Official source
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The Marine Corps University's College of Distance Education and Training (CDET) is soliciting applications from active duty officers for the AY 27-28 United States Army War College Distance Education Program (USAWCDEP). This is a two-year, online-primary program that earns the same Top Level School (TLS) PME credit and fully accredited Master of Strategic Studies degree as the resident program at Carlisle Barracks. It also qualifies for JPME Phase I, and potentially Phase II for selected students.

Heads up: This MARADMIN explicitly does not apply to the Marine Corps Reserve. If you are SMCR, IMA, or IRR, this one is not for you.

Who it affects

Active component Lieutenant Colonels and Colonels only. The rank requirement is nonwaiverable, and any selected Lieutenant Colonel must already be promoted before the May 2026 program start. You also need:

  • An adjudicated Secret clearance
  • Completed Intermediate Level School (ILS), resident or distance education
  • Battalion or squadron command experience (desired, not required)

Officers who were previously enrolled and then disenrolled or dropped on request are not eligible to reapply.

What you need to do

Talk to your CO first. This program runs about 15 hours of coursework per week and requires two mandatory in-person summer sessions at Carlisle Barracks (late June 2027 and late July 2028). Make sure your command can support your availability before you apply.

If you're eligible and interested, build your application on command letterhead. It must include:

  1. Name, rank, DoD ID, and MOS
  2. Current military mailing address
  3. Years of commissioned service
  4. Security clearance level
  5. ILS completed and date
  6. Background info: current MOS, billet, date tour began, and command time
  7. A 250-word (maximum) essay: why your completion of USAWCDEP would bring value to the Marine Corps
  8. Current Master Brief Sheet
  9. Command endorsement
  10. Military email address and phone number

Submit as a PDF via DoD SAFE at https://safe.apps.mil/ to wilfrid.kirkbride@usmcu.edu. Check the encryption block and send a separate encryption paraphrase to the same address. You'll get a confirmation email when your application is received.

MCTFS note: The formal school code for USAWCDEP is R2Q.

Key dates

  • 3 March 2026, 2359: Application deadline
  • May 2026: Program begins
  • Late June 2027: First mandatory resident session (Carlisle Barracks, PA)
  • Late July 2028: Final mandatory resident session (Carlisle Barracks, PA)

The official version

Full details are in MARADMIN 008/26. The program is governed by Marine Corps Order 1553.4B. Additional course info is at https://ssl.armywarcollege.edu/dde.

POC: Mr. Will Kirkbride, CDET, at wilfrid.kirkbride@usmcu.edu or (703) 784-5971. For joint matters questions, contact the HQMC Joint Officer Matters Office at (703) 784-9211/9212.

This is written by a reservist, for reservists. It is not an official publication of HQMC or MARFORRES. Always verify guidance with your command or unit S-1 before acting on any article or summary.

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.

  • Marine Corps PME Order (MCO 1553.4B)Reference

    This order defines the requirements, objectives, policies, programs, and responsibilities for Marine Corps Professional Military Education. It is the governing document underpinning the TLS PME framework described in this MARADMIN.

  • DoD Secure Access File Exchange (DOD SAFE)

    DoD SAFE is a secure file transfer tool that lets you send and receive large files with a DoD CAC login or as a guest without needing email attachments. Reservists may need it to exchange documents, forms, or other files with commands or units that are too large to send through regular email.

  • US Army War College Distance Education Program website

    This is the US Army War College's Distance Education Program page, describing online strategic leader education options including a two-year program leading to a Master of Strategic Studies and Military Education Level 1, as well as shorter Defense Strategy courses. Reserve Marines competitive for senior-level professional military education may want to review this as a potential path to MEL-1 credit through a board-selected, fully online format.

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