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FY26 Career Counselor Symposium set for August at Quantico

MARADMIN 098/26·March 12, 2026·2 min read·Official source
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HQMC's Manpower Management Enlisted Assignments Branch is hosting the FY26 Career Counselor Retention Planning and Training Symposium at Quantico, 17-21 August 2026. The event covers enlisted retention operations, the Career Counselor occupational field, and formal instruction for Marines recently promoted into Major Subordinate Command (MSC)-level billets. RC Career Counselors in MSE or MSC billets are eligible to attend alongside their active component counterparts.

Heads up: Registration closes 2 August 2026, and Marines who miss the deadline or leave out required info will not be considered for attendance.

Who it affects

Career Counselors serving in billets at the MSE or MSC level. Both active component and RC Career Counselors in those billets are eligible. Attendance is capped at 40 Marines total. Commands with MSE or MSC-level Career Counselor billets are responsible for identifying and nominating their people.

What you need to do

  1. Confirm with your command that you are identified as a nominee.
  2. Email both POCs below NLT 2 August 2026 with your rank, name, unit, DSN/COMM phone, and email address.
  3. Call Liversedge Hall at (703) 432-1341 to reserve your room before 2 August. Tell them you are part of the FY26 Career Counselor Symposium.
  4. Arrive no later than 16 August 2026. Return date is 22 August 2026.
  5. Plan on woodland MARPAT for the uniform throughout the symposium.

A few things to sort out early: funding comes from your parent command, not HQMC. Government messing is not available, so plan accordingly. If other Career Counselors are traveling from your area, coordinate on rental car sharing to keep costs down.

POCs:

  • MGySgt B. P. Lodge Jr., MMEA-3: bryant.lodge@usmc.mil / 703-784-9658
  • GySgt B. M. Elsey, MMEA-3: brandon.elsey@usmc.mil / 703-784-1216

Key dates

  • 2 August 2026: Room reservation deadline (call Liversedge Hall)
  • 2 August 2026: Email registration deadline to POCs
  • 16 August 2026: Arrival date (travel day)
  • 17-21 August 2026: Symposium
  • 22 August 2026: Return/departure date

The official version

Full details are in MARADMIN 098/26. The symposium operates under MCO 1040.31 (Enlisted Retention and Career Development Program) and the Recruiting and Retention Training and Readiness Manual.

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.

  • Enlisted Retention and Career Development Program (MCO 1040.31)Reference

    This is the Marine Corps Order governing the enlisted retention and career development program. It is the foundational policy document underpinning the symposium and the retention operations discussed throughout this MARADMIN.

  • Recruiting and Retention Training and Readiness Manual (NAVMC)Reference

    This manual covers training and readiness standards for the recruiting and retention community. It is a key reference for Career Counselors attending the symposium.

  • FY2026 Enlisted Retention Campaign (MARADMIN 585/24)MARADMIN

    This MARADMIN established the FY26 enlisted retention campaign. The symposium will include an after-action review of that campaign, so Career Counselors should be familiar with it.

  • FY2027 Enlisted Retention Campaign (MARADMIN 590/25)MARADMIN

    This MARADMIN established the FY27 enlisted retention campaign. The symposium will include a progress update on FY27 execution, making this directly relevant for attending Career Counselors.

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