The Marine Corps just announced the FY27 Command Screening Boards (CSB) for lieutenant colonel and colonel command billets projected to be available between June 2027 and May 2028. The boards convene in July 2026. If you're an eligible unrestricted LtCol or Col (or select), the questionnaire is open right now and your deadline is May 30.
Bottom line: The questionnaire and any Remove by Request are both due by 2359 EST on May 30, 2026. Miss that window and you screen whether you want to or not.
Who it affects
Unrestricted colonels, colonels (select), lieutenant colonels, and lieutenant colonels (select), active and reserve, unless you fall under one of the ineligibility criteria below.
You are NOT eligible if any of these apply:
- You have an established separation or retirement date, or your mandatory retirement date is before June 1, 2030.
- You are a LtCol in or above the promotion zone for the CY2026/FY2028 Promotion Selection Boards.
- You've already commanded one of the designated screened billets for at least 12 months, are currently in command, or are already slated from a previous CSB. (Note: a Col-select currently in a LtCol command is still eligible for a colonel command.)
- You previously declined command.
- You're in a post-graduate school payback tour (School of Advanced Warfighting, School of Advanced Military Studies, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, or Maritime Advanced Warfighting School) and won't complete 12 months by October 31, 2026.
- You're currently attending a graduate education program. You'll be eligible after graduation.
- You're in the Marine Corps PhD-Strategist program and won't be All But Dissertation (ABD) complete by June 31, 2027.
- You entered the Marine Corps PhD-Technical (PhD-T) program in FY25 or later. (FY16-FY24 PhD-T officers remain eligible if they meet all other criteria.)
- You're inbound to or currently in a joint duty assignment and won't have 12 months complete by July 30, 2026.
- Your primary MOS is 8059 or 8061 (acquisition).
- You are a limited duty officer.
- You were relieved for cause from a designated screened billet.
- You're assigned to specific programs (Marine Attaché, Personnel Exchange Program, Security Cooperation Organization, or similar) and won't complete your planned tour by July 31, 2026.
- You're enrolled in a Top Level School program that requires a utilization tour.
Check the eligibility roster posted at the MMOA-3 website (link in the official version section below). Contact your PMOS monitor with eligibility questions.
What you need to do
- Check the eligibility roster. Confirm you're on it before doing anything else.
- Complete the online questionnaire. This is the board's primary way to hear from you. You can include command preferences, location preferences, and personal or family situations. No CAC required to access it. Find it on the MMOA-3 website under the Command Screening Program sub-folder.
- Check your OMPF. Make sure fitness reports are submitted to Performance Evaluation Section (MMPB-2) and your record is accurate. Update your official photograph if you want your current Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) reflected (the Digital Boardroom cannot pull WHtR data any other way, but you won't be penalized solely for not having a current measurement on file).
- Submit OMPF update requests via O-RMA (OMPF-Records Management Application). Your unit S-1 or local IPAC can help.
- If you do NOT want to screen (Remove by Request): Complete the questionnaire AND attach a signed AA form endorsed by the first Marine in your fitness report routing chain. Email a copy to your PMOS monitor. This is also due by 2359 EST on May 30, 2026.
- If you submitted an RBR and changed your mind: Submit a second AA form signed only by you (no other endorsements needed) to your PMOS monitor and MMOA-3 at
smb_mmoa_planso@usmc.mil.
A few important notes on the questionnaire:
- You cannot edit responses after moving to the next item or after submitting. Submit a new questionnaire if you need to change anything. The board receives your most recent submission.
- Documents uploaded must follow the instructions on the final page of the questionnaire or they will not be presented to the board.
- Do NOT submit documents by email. The questionnaire upload is the only accepted method.
- If you have upload problems, call MMOA-3 at
(703) 784-9284.
Key dates
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Now (message release) | Questionnaire open |
| May 30, 2026 (2359 EST) | Questionnaire due |
| May 30, 2026 (2359 EST) | Remove by Request (RBR) due |
| July 7, 2026 | Lieutenant colonel CSB convenes |
| July 8, 2026 | Colonel CSB convenes |
| August 2026 (TBD) | Board results released |
| June 1, 2027 – May 31, 2028 | Projected command billet availability window |
The official version
This is MARADMIN 203/26.
Referenced orders: MCO 1300.64B (Command Screening Program), MCO 1300.8 CH-1 (Personnel Assignment Policy), MCO 1900.16 CH-2 (Separation and Retirement Manual), MARADMIN 582/25, MARADMIN 066/26 Change 1 (PFT/body composition changes), MARADMIN 127/26 Change 1 (official photograph requirements).
Eligibility rosters and the questionnaire are at the MMOA-3 website: https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Manpower-Management/Officer-Assignments/#tab/top-level-schools-and-programs
POC: Maj T.J. Kitasato, MMOA-3, (703) 784-9284, taylor.kitasato@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.