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FY28 Colonel, LtCol, Major promotion boards are convening this spring

MARADMIN 151/26·April 2, 2026·3 min read·Official source
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The Marine Corps has announced the convening schedule for FY28 promotion selection boards covering Colonel, LtCol, and Major, plus the All-Fully-Qualified-Officers List (AFQOL) screening process for Captain. These are Active Component boards. If you are on the ADL and approaching your in-zone window, your record correction deadline is coming up fast.

Heads up: Board correspondence deadlines for Colonel and LtCol land in late April and early May 2026. If your record needs work, the window is closing.

Who it affects

Active Component officers on the ADL who are in-zone, above-zone, or below-zone for Colonel, LtCol, or Major. First Lieutenants approaching two years' time in grade are also in scope for the Captain AFQOL process. This MARADMIN does not convene Reserve-specific boards, but RC officers on the ADL are subject to the same eligibility rules.

What you need to do

  1. Check your eligibility and lineal control number (LCN) against the in-zone markers below and on the officer promotion homepage.
  2. Review your official military record now. Errors, missing fitness reports, and missing documentation take time to fix.
  3. If you want your current Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) considered by the board, submit WHtR documentation signed by your Command Physical Training Representative as an enclosure to your letter to the board. This is optional, but the board will see any prior height/weight records already in your file.
  4. If you are newly placed on the ADL and would be in-zone or above-zone within one year, your eligibility is automatically deferred. Submit a written waiver request before the convening date if you want to be considered.
  5. Submit any letter to the board or correspondence before the board correspondence deadline for your grade (see Key Dates).

In-zone markers by board:

BoardSenior In-ZoneJunior In-ZoneJunior Below-Zone
ColonelLtCol Kearney, C.J. (DOR 1 Dec 21, LCN 13757000)LtCol Baker, I.S. (DOR 1 Sep 22, LCN 14099000)LtCol Wisniewski, S.C. (DOR 1 Aug 23, LCN 14558000)
LtColMaj Castro, V.G. (DOR 1 Aug 21, LCN 25232000)Maj Eklund, D.A. (DOR 1 Jul 22, LCN 26244000)Maj Rocco, Z.R. (DOR 1 Jul 23, LCN 27274000)
MajorCapt Battle, K.A. (DOR 1 Dec 21, LCN 38219000)Capt Hansen, J.R. (DOR 1 Dec 22, LCN 39779000)Capt Sugg, J.M. (DOR 1 Nov 23, LCN 41658000)
Capt AFQOL1stLt Cauchi, N.J. (DOR 23 May 25, LCN 41300000)1stLt Towle, M.S. (DOR 7 May 26, LCN 45294000)N/A

Merit-based reorder: SECNAV has authorized the Colonel and LtCol boards to reorder up to 15% of their selection lists based on particular merit.

Continuation boards: After the Major and LtCol promotion boards close, those same boards reconvene as continuation boards. Majors with two failed selections for LtCol and less than 18 years of active service may be considered. Captains with two failed selections for Major and between 15 and 18 years of active service may also be considered. Specific MOS and occupational fields (1803, 4402, 17XX, 73XX, 75XX) have additional continuation provisions. Contact CMC Manpower Management Separations and Retirement (MMSR) to verify your continuation eligibility.

Key dates

  • 24 Apr 26: Board correspondence due, Colonel board
  • 5 May 26: Colonel board convenes
  • 1 May 26: Board correspondence due, LtCol board
  • 12 May 26: LtCol board convenes
  • 22 May 26: Board correspondence due, Major board
  • 2 Jun 26: Major board convenes
  • 22 Jan 27: Board correspondence due, Captain AFQOL process
  • 2 Feb 27: Captain AFQOL process convenes

Note: Officers with a confirmed separation or retirement date within 90 days of their board's convening date (as of 2359 EST the day prior) will not be considered.

The official version

This is MARADMIN 151/26. Referenced documents include MARADMIN 622/25 (FY28 officer promotion board announcement), MCBUL 1400 (officer lineal precedence), MCO P1070.12K (IRAM), MCO 1610.7B (Performance Evaluation System), and MCO 1553.4B (PME). POC is Maj Michael J. Cook, MMPB-10, at (703) 784-9703 or michael.j.cook@usmc.mil.

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.

  • FY28 USMC Officer Promotion Selection Boards announcement (MARADMIN 622/25)MARADMIN

    This is the original announcement of the FY28 promotion boards that this MARADMIN implements. Officers should review it for background context on board authority and initial guidance.

  • Officer Lineal Precedence bulletin (MCBUL 1400)Reference

    This bulletin defines which officers are on the active-duty list and establishes lineal control numbers used to determine in-zone, above-zone, and below-zone eligibility for each board.

  • Marine Corps Individual Records Administration Manual (MCO P1070.12K w/Ch 1)Reference

    This manual governs how individual Marine records are maintained and administered. Officers preparing their records for board consideration should be familiar with it.

  • Performance Evaluation System order (MCO 1610.7B)Reference

    This order governs fitness reports, which are a primary component of the record a promotion board reviews. Officers should ensure their fitness reports are accurate and complete before the board convenes.

  • Professional Military Education order (MCO 1553.4B)Reference

    This order defines PME requirements that factor into an officer's promotion record. Ensuring PME is properly documented can affect how a board views an officer's record.

  • Officer PME Summary (MARADMIN 703/08)MARADMIN

    This MARADMIN provides a summary of officer PME requirements and is referenced alongside the PME order. Officers should review it to confirm their PME documentation is in order before the board.

  • Change to Annual Fitness Report Schedule (MARADMIN 634/23)MARADMIN

    This MARADMIN changed the annual fitness report schedule for Active Component Captains through Lieutenant Colonels. Officers in those grades should confirm their fitness report timeline aligns with the updated schedule before the board convenes.

  • Change 1 to Advance Notification of Changes to PFT and Body Composition Evaluation Process (MARADMIN, Ref H)MARADMIN

    This MARADMIN modifies the height and weight requirement to a Waist-to-Height Ratio standard. This MARADMIN notes the Digital Boardroom cannot yet pull WHtR data, so officers should be aware of how this change affects how their record appears to the board.

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FY28 Colonel, LtCol, Major promotion boards are convening this spring — Reservable