The Marine Corps has reissued its amplifying guidance on Operational Support Airlift (OSA), replacing the previously cancelled MARADMIN 344/22. The update clarifies when government aircraft can be used for official travel, who can approve it, and how requests must be submitted. Most reservists won't request OSA themselves, but commanders, staff officers, and anyone in the approval chain need to know these rules.
Heads up: Government aircraft are a premium, tightly controlled resource. Personal convenience is never a valid justification, and the approval requirements are more specific than many units realize.
Who it affects
Primarily officers and SNCOs who request, coordinate, validate, or approve MilAir travel. This includes commanding officers, operations officers, and anyone serving as a travel authorizing official or departure/arrival coordinator. It also applies to anyone who might ride as a secondary passenger on a mission-scheduled aircraft.
This is not a day-to-day reservist issue, but unit leadership and S-3/S-4 staff should be familiar with the requirements.
What you need to do
If your unit ever requests or approves OSA (MilAir), here is the process:
- Confirm the trip qualifies. Commercial air must be unavailable within a 24-hour window, or OSA must be cost-equal-or-cheaper, or an emergency/operational necessity applies. Personal convenience does not qualify.
- Complete DD Form 2768 (Mar 1998 version). Every block must be filled out. Times go in both Zulu and local in the remarks section.
- Include names, grades, duty titles, and branch of service for the senior traveler, all General/Flag Officers, SES employees, spouses, and any non-federal personnel.
- List email addresses for the Requester, Departure Coordinator, and Arrival Coordinator in Block 11 (Remarks). The Departure and Arrival Coordinator cannot be the same person.
- The senior traveler must sign the form personally. This cannot be delegated.
- The Travel Authorizing Official (Block 13) must be at least one organizational level above the senior traveler. A "by direction" authority works only if the delegation explicitly includes transportation eligibility authorization.
- Submit the completed form to your respective validating office.
On cost-effectiveness: If a request doesn't clearly pass the cost test on its own, Travel Authorizing Officials are encouraged to provisionally approve it and forward it to the scheduling agency. Only the scheduling agency makes the final cost-effectiveness call.
On dedicated vs. opportune OSA: Dedicated OSA is for mission requirements only. Opportune OSA (what most people call MilAir) covers other official travel when the qualifying conditions above are met.
Who qualifies as a "required use" traveler: Very few people. Only Marine General Officers in specific positions (CMC, CJCS, Vice CJCS, or Combatant Commander) qualify for required-use travel. Everyone else must justify the request under the standard criteria.
Key dates
- Effective: This MARADMIN was released 27 April 2026. Treat it as current policy now.
- No submission deadline. Applies to all future OSA requests.
The official version
See MARADMIN 197/26 for the full text.
The DD Form 2768 is referenced in the MARADMIN. The URL was partially obscured in the source text; confirm the current form location with your S-4 or administrative office.
Key references include: OMB Circular A-126, DoDI 4500.43, DoDI 4500.56, USTRANSCOM Instruction 3200.03, and the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR).
POC for questions: Jason Emerich, GS-14, HQMC Aviation, 703-693-9888, jason.m.emerich.civ@usmc.mil. Command POC: Col Brett Allison, 703-614-1010, brett.a.allison@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.