FY26 Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Selection Board

R 241518Z FEB 26

MARADMIN 061/26

MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//

SUBJ/CONVENING OF THE FY26 LEGAL COUNSEL TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE

JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF SELECTION BOARD//

REF/A/MSGID: DOC/10 U.S.C/CONGRESS/-//

REF/B/MSGID: DOC/CMC MMPR/YMD:20250718//

REF/C/MSGID: DOC/CMC/YMD:20000714//

NARR/REF A IS TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE. REF B IS MCBUL 1400,

OFFICER LINEAL PRECEDENCE. REF C IS MCO P1070.12K W/CH 1, MARINE

CORPS INDIVIDUAL RECORDS ADMINISTRATION MANUAL (IRAM).//

POC/MICHAEL J. COOK/MAJ/MMPB-10/-/TEL: (703)784-9704/

EMAIL:MICHAEL.J.COOK@USMC.MIL//

GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  A Joint Selection Board convened pursuant to

section 156 of reference (a) by the Secretary of War to recommend a

Regular Component Judge Advocate (JA) for selection as the Legal

Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is scheduled

to convene on or about 25 March 2026, at the Pentagon in Arlington,

VA.

2.  The Marine Corps officers eligible for consideration by the

board must satisfy the following criteria:

2.a. All eligible officers wishing to OPT-IN for this board must

submit a written request indicating their intent to compete for

this position NLT 27 Feb 2026.  Requests to OPT-IN must be submitted

to the Officer Promotions Unit at SMB_Officer_Promotions@usmc.mil or

directly to the Head of Officer Promotions, Major Michael Cook at

michael.j.cook@usmc.mil.  Correspondence to the board may be

submitted concurrently or in accordance with paragraph 7 below.

2.b. Be on the Active-Duty List (ADL) and have a permanent grade of

brigadier general, or serving in the grade of colonel with a date of

rank of 1 March 2024, or earlier.

2.c.  Possess the 4402 (Judge Advocate) Military Occupational

Specialty as their Primary Military Occupational Specialty or, in

the case of a general officer, as their Additional Military

Occupational Specialty.

2.d.  Be compliant with the qualifications of Article 6, UCMJ, to

include being a member in good standing of a bar of a Federal court

or the highest court of a state or territory.

3.  Exclusion from consideration.

3.a. Any officer with an established separation/retirement date that

is within 90 days after the convening date of the board shall be

excluded from consideration.

3.b. Any officer who does not OPT-IN in accordance with the guidance

provided in paragraph 2.a.

4.  Selection Board.  The board will consider those officers who

OPT-IN, in one category, in-zone (IZ). Officers may review reference

(b) and their eligibility for the board on the internet at the

Performance Branch homepage by navigating to Promotions, Officer

Promotions, and then navigating to the Officer Promotions

SharePoint.  In SharePoint, you may find reference (b) under Lineal

Management. The zone is as follows:

4.a. In Zone:

Senior Officer In-Zone - Brigadier General Woodard, Kevin S.

                         DOR 19Dec22   LCN 03338000

Junior Officer In-Zone - Colonel Farsaad, Alexander

                         DOR 01Feb24   LCN 20022000

5. Board Preparation Guidance. Officers are advised to review

reference (c), for guidance regarding submission of information,

auditing the Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) and Master

Brief Sheet (MBS), fitness reports, and requests for non-selection

prior to the convening date of the board.

6.  Personal responsibilities.  Each officer is personally

responsible for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of their

Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) and Master Brief Sheet (MBS)

before the date the board convenes. The most expeditious means

of obtaining and viewing the OMPF and MBS is through the OMPF-Record

Management Application (O-RMA). Refer to reference (c) to determine

what documents are appropriate for inclusion in the OMPF. Due to the

Joint nature of this board, eligible officers should contact MMPB-10

to notify of any changes made to their record after the OPT-IN

deadline to ensure those changes are appropriately reflected in the

joint selection boardroom.

7. Officer Correspondence. All eligible officers who OPT-IN are

encouraged, but not required to submit correspondence to the

President of the Board. Officers are encouraged to submit their

correspondence concurrently with their OPT-IN request or NLT 2359

Friday, 13 Mar 2026 to ensure timely submission in accordance with

section 156 of reference (a). Correspondence arriving after this

date will not be seen by the board.

8.  Release authorized by BGen Fridrik Fridriksson, Director,

Manpower Management Division.//