The Marine Corps published MARADMIN 189/26 on 23 April 2026, laying out the specific procedures for identifying and involuntarily separating Marines with a current diagnosis, history, or symptoms of gender dysphoria. This implements earlier DoD and SECNAV direction. The guidance covers how Marines are flagged, how commands process the referral, and what happens to a Marine's status and pay while the separation moves forward.
★ Affects all reservists: SMCR commanders must excuse identified Marines from drill for the duration of their separation process, with no drill pay or retirement points earned during that period.
Who it affects
This policy applies to all components. For the reserve, the most direct impact falls on SMCR commanders and any SMCR Marine who has a current diagnosis, history, or symptoms of gender dysphoria and has not already requested voluntary discharge under ALNAV 038/25. IMA and IRR Marines are not specifically addressed in the SMCR-specific paragraphs, but the broader identification and separation procedures apply to all Marines.
What you need to do
If you are a commander:
- Know the two identification triggers: a Marine's own Periodic Health Assessment (PHA) disclosure, or your direct awareness of a diagnosis, prior ETP request, DEERS sex-marker change request, or documented medical treatment for gender dysphoria.
- If you become aware of a potentially affected Marine, contact the BUMED Deployability and Action Cell (BUMED DAC) to initiate a medical record review:
usn.ncr.bumedfchva.mbx.bumed-deployability-action-cell@health.mil - Notify Manpower Military Policy (MPO) at
SMB_HQMC_MPO@USMC.MILwithin 24 hours of requesting that medical review. - Once BUMED DAC confirms the Marine meets the medical criteria, excuse the Marine from drill. Report excused drills as
EA – OTHERin the unit diary with the history statement:Excused absence in accordance with ALNAV 011/26 for the duration of the retirement/separation process. - If you choose not to excuse a Marine from drill, notify MPO within 24 hours of that decision.
- Route the referral package (naval letter format, titled with the Marine's initials and last five EDIPI digits, saved as PDF) through MPO to the Consolidated Disposition Authority (CDA). The CDA is Commander, Navy Installations Command.
If you are an affected Marine:
Nothing initiates on your own right now if you already requested voluntary discharge under ALNAV 038/25. If you have not, and you self-identify to your chain of command in writing, that written self-identification triggers the review process and the possibility of involuntary separation. Talk to a military judge advocate before taking any action. Contact your S-1 or the POCs below with questions.
If this is awareness-only for you: Know the policy exists, know how your unit will report your status if you are affected, and flag any questions to your S-1.
Key dates
- Within 24 hours of requesting a medical record review: commander must notify MPO.
- Within 24 hours of deciding not to excuse an SMCR Marine from drill: commander must notify MPO.
- Within 30 calendar days of referral: the CDA will notify the Marine that involuntary separation proceedings have begun and inform them of their board rights.
- No specific cutoff date is stated in this MARADMIN for identification to begin. The process runs on a rolling basis as Marines are identified.
The official version
This guidance is published as MARADMIN 189/26. It implements ALNAV 011/26 and ALNAV 038/25, and references MCO 1900.16 (Marine Corps Separations and Retirement Manual) and DoD Instruction 1332.18 (Disability Evaluation System). Contact MPO at SMB_HQMC_MPO@USMC.MIL or (703) 784-9632 with policy questions. For officer separations: SMB_MANPOWER_MMSR20@USMC.MIL. For enlisted separations: SMB_MANPOWER_MMSR2E@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.