The Marine Corps has opened the FY27 HQMC Special Duty Assignment Screening Team (HSST) process. MMEA will push the list of eligible Marines through TFRS around 1 March 2026. From that point, commands are on the clock to screen those Marines and submit complete SDA packages. Missing the deadline isn't a neutral outcome — Marines who don't submit will be assumed eligible and directly assigned.
Bottom line: Commands must submit SDA screening packages for all identified Marines via TFRS no later than 15 April 2026, or those Marines can be assigned to an SDA without command input.
Who it affects
This primarily hits active component commands with enlisted Marines flagged for HSST screening, but reservists on active orders or IMA Marines in blended status should check with their chain of command if they receive a TFRS notification. The SDA billets covered are: Recruiter, Drill Instructor, Combat Instructor, and MSG Detachment Commander.
What you need to do
For commands with identified Marines:
- Watch TFRS on or around 1 March 2026 for the eligible-Marine list.
- Screen each identified Marine using the checklists and instructions in MCO 1326.6 CH-1 (SCREENMAN). Checklists vary by grade, and Recruiting Duty and Drill Instructor checklists are required for all Marines. Combat Instructor checklists apply to infantry and female Marines only.
- Build the complete package. At minimum it must include: the applicable screening checklists and financial worksheet (available in TFRS), close-up tattoo photos (PT-gear-visible only) with written descriptions, IMR showing "Fully Medically Ready," disciplinary records, chain of command RELM comments addressing both retention and the SDA request, a Security Clearance Eligibility Letter, and a fitness report inventory.
- Submit via TFRS as a RELM request. Marines with an End of Current Contract (ECC) before 30 September 2027 use the
SDA / Reenlistment / HSSTRELM type. Marines with an ECC of 1 October 2027 or later useSDA w/ Extension / HSST. - Submit by 15 April 2026. Packages sitting in "Pending Additional Information" status for more than 14 days may be pulled back to HQMC.
For Marines who are unqualified:
Submit source documentation of the disqualifying factor via a TFRS SDA Only request. Unit Diary entries must be reflected in MCTFS to validate the disqualification. Examples: Medical Officer prognosis letters, legal conflicts with class dates, BCP assignment entries, or PFT/CFT failures.
For volunteers not on the HSST list:
You can still apply. Submit a package using the same process in paragraph 3 of the MARADMIN.
Key rule on volunteers: If a Marine already submitted a complete RELM volunteer package with a "Submitted Date" of 28 February 2026 or earlier, they're considered a volunteer and should accept that assignment. Declining to gain the obligated service will result in a RE-3O reenlistment code.
Re-certification: Commands must re-certify Marines between 60 and 45 days before their SDA class report date. This is not optional. Skipping it is a finding of non-compliance.
Key dates
- ~1 March 2026: MMEA releases the eligible-Marine list via TFRS
- 28 February 2026: Cutoff for a RELM volunteer package to count as a volunteer submission
- 15 April 2026: Hard deadline for all SDA package submissions to MMEA via TFRS
- By August 2026: HSST publishes by-name assignment list via TFRS
- Within 15 days of approved RELM return: Marine must accept obligated service or receive a RE-3O code
- 60 to 45 days before class report date: Command re-certification window
The official version
This is covered in MARADMIN 043/26.
Referenced orders: MCO 1326.6 CH-1 (SCREENMAN), MCO 1300.8 CH-1 (Personnel Assignments Policy), MCO 1040.31 (Enlisted Retention and Career Development), Marine Corps Bulletin 1020 (Tattoo Policy), and MARADMIN 317/25 (FY27 HSST Campaign).
POCs at MMEA-25:
- Maj K. L. McCoy (Unit Head):
kristina.mccoy@usmc.mil/ 703-784-9201 - Maj P. N. DeLaCruz:
patrick.delacruz@usmc.mil/ 703-784-9493 - SSgt E. J. Serwas (SDA Retention Chief):
erich.serwas@usmc.mil/ 703-432-9745 - GySgt B. J. Walker (Recruiting Monitor):
blake.walker@usmc.mil/ 703-432-9474 - GySgt A. C. Morales (DI Monitor):
adrian.c.nanez.mil@usmc.mil/ 703-432-9472 - GySgt D. A. Hamrick (MSG Monitor):
david.a.hamrick.mil@usmc.mil/ 703-432-9476 - GySgt B. S. Wilkins (Combat Instructor Monitor):
brandon.wilkins@usmc.mil/ 703-432-9473 - SSgt C. Santuario (Asst SDA Monitor):
cecilia.santuario@usmc.mil/ 703-432-9474
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.