The Marine Corps just opened applications for the FY27 Congressional Fellowship Program (CFP). This is a 42-month program where selected officers and SNCOs work on Capitol Hill for a U.S. Senator or Representative, then serve a utilization tour, typically in the Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA). The application deadline is 09 July 2026, and the panel convenes shortly after.
Heads up: SMCR, IMA, and IRR Marines are explicitly ineligible. This is open to AR officers and AR SNCOs on active reserve status only, within specific rank and date-of-rank windows.
Who it affects
AR officers who may apply:
- Majors or Major-selects with a date of rank junior to 01 June 2023
- Must be scheduled to complete their prescribed tour control factor by 30 September 2027
- Career designated AR officers with a Date Current Tour Began (DCTB) on or after 01 October 2025 are ineligible
- AR officers on accession tours with a DCTB on or after 01 October 2024 are ineligible
AR SNCOs who may apply:
- GySgt through MSgt, all MOSs
- Eligibility is subject to MOS health review by RAM-2
- Must have at least 24 months time on station by 14 June 2027
- Must report with at least 54 months of obligated service
Not eligible: SMCR, IMA, and IRR Marines of any component. Also ineligible: anyone with an approved separation or retirement, officers who have completed a resident graduate education program (Naval Postgraduate School, Air Force Institute of Technology, etc.), 1stSgts and SgtMajs, and SNCOs who have twice failed promotion selection.
What you need to do
If you meet the eligibility criteria and want to apply:
- Complete the "FY27 Congressional Fellowship Panel" questionnaire at
https://www2.manpower.usmc.mil/BoardsAndSurveys/boardAdmin/5668/details - Compile your full application as a single PDF, titled
EDIPI_CFP_Last Name, file size 800 KB or under. - Get command endorsements routed through the first general officer in your chain of command.
- Get your PMOS monitor or RAM-2 acknowledgement (an email is sufficient).
- Include a signed privacy act release form.
- Submit the complete package by 09 July 2026. Incomplete packages will be removed from consideration.
AR enlisted Marines submit via SDA request in TFRS. Route through the normal RELM chain to CMC (MMEA-25). Your unit career counselor can submit and track the request in TFRS.
Also verify your OMPF and Master Brief Sheet (MBS) are accurate and complete before the panel convenes. If you want your current waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) visible to the board, update your official photograph in your OMPF. The board will not hold a missing WHtR measurement against you, but prior height/weight entries and FITREPs with WHtR comments will be in your record.
For program information and application instructions: https://www.hqmc.marines.mil/Agencies/Office-of-Legislative-Affairs/Congressional-Fellowship-Program/
Key dates
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Now | Questionnaire opens |
| 09 July 2026 | Applications due / questionnaire closes |
| ~14 July 2026 | CFP Round 1 panel convenes |
| ~01 August 2026 | Round 1 results released |
| ~06 August 2026 | Round 2 interviews complete |
| 31 August 2026 | Round 2 results released (NLT) |
| 14 June 2027 | CFP report date |
| ~21 June 2027 | Master's program classes begin |
| 01 January 2028 | Capitol Hill fellowship begins |
| 01 January 2029 | Utilization tour begins (OLA) |
| 01 January 2031 | PCS/A orders to complete remaining service obligation |
The official version
This is MARADMIN 268/26.
Officer questions: SMB_MMOA_GRAD_EDU@USMC.MIL or MAJ Dumanovsky at (703) 784-9284.
OLA/program questions: LTCOL Cummings at Rachel.Cummings@USMC.MIL or MSgt Barnard at Joseph.A.Barnard@USMC.MIL.
AR enlisted questions: LTCOL Grodek (RAM-2) at (703) 784-0531.
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.