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AY 2027-2028 Advanced Intermediate Level School Applications Are Open

MARADMIN 304/26·July 1, 2026·3 min read·Official source
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The Marine Corps published the application message for Advanced Intermediate Level Schools (A-ILS) for AY 2027-2028. These are one-year, graduate-level programs that award MOS 0505 (Operational Planner) and an accredited master's degree. Selection boards convene August through September 2026. RC officers are eligible, but the process has extra steps and a firm service obligation attached.

Heads up: RC officers must contact Reserve Affairs Manpower Management (RAM) and get a signed Statement of Understanding (SOU) and a RAM Branch Head endorsement letter before submitting anything. An intent-to-apply email without those documents will not be considered.

Who it affects

This is primarily for unrestricted Marine officers who are majors, major-selects, or in zone for the FY2028 Lieutenant Colonel promotion board. RC officers (AR, SMCR, IMA, and IRR) are eligible to apply, though they normally attend SAW specifically. Applying to other schools is possible after consulting with RAM and SAW leadership.

You are not eligible if you:

  • Cannot execute PCS orders in the summer of 2027
  • Still owe a payback tour for a previous program
  • Are a captain in zone for the FY2028 major board
  • Are a lieutenant colonel or were selected on the FY2027 LtCol board or earlier
  • Are a Joint Service Reserve or National Guard officer
  • Are selected to take command of a recruiting station in FY2027

What you need to do

RC officers, do these steps in order:

  1. Contact RAM to obtain your signed SOU and the RAM Branch Head endorsement letter. Do this first, before anything else.
  2. Send your intent-to-apply email to the SAW Program Manager at melissa.calloway@usmcu.edu no later than 31 July 2026.
  3. Use the subject line format: LAST NAME, F. M. - INTENT TO APPLY TO SAW (add other schools if applicable, e.g., SAW/SAMS/SAASS).
  4. Include in the email body: first name, middle initial, last name, rank, branch of service, military email, personal email, and personal and work phone numbers.
  5. You will receive a reply with application instructions, forms, and an essay prompt. Complete everything no later than 10 August 2026. If you do not get a reply within 48 hours, call or email the SAW POC directly.
  6. If selected as a competitive applicant, participate in a panel interview between 1 August and 30 September 2026. VTC and phone interviews are available for those outside the National Capital Region.

On the service obligation: If selected, RC officers attend school and complete a 12-month utilization tour at MARFORRES in New Orleans, LA, for a minimum 24-month AR Program commitment. This obligation cannot be waived, including for Return to Active Duty (RAD) requests.

On security clearance: You must have, or have initiated, a TS-SCI clearance before the AY 2027-2028 school year begins.

On ILS/IDE: All applicants must be Intermediate Level School (ILS) or Intermediate Developmental Education (IDE) complete, or currently enrolled and projected to finish no later than June 2027. Failure to complete ILS terminates eligibility.

Key dates

  • 31 July 2026: Intent-to-apply email due to SAW Program Manager
  • 10 August 2026: Full application materials due
  • 1 August to 30 September 2026: SAW panel interviews
  • Late October 2026: Selection results announced via separate MARADMIN

The official version

Full details are in MARADMIN 304/26.

Referenced orders include MCO 1553.4B (PME), MCO 1300.8 (Personnel Assignment Policy), MCO 1001.52K (AR Program Management), and MCO 1001R.1L CH 2 (MCRAMM). Contact the SAW Deputy Director at joshua.cavan@usmcu.edu or (703) 784-6890, the SAW Program Manager at melissa.calloway@usmcu.edu or (703) 784-6800, or the MCU Registrar at mcu_registrar@usmcu.edu.

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.

  • Marine Corps Professional Military Education (MCO 1553.4B)Reference

    This order governs Marine Corps PME policy and is one of the foundational references for the A-ILS application process. Reservists should be familiar with it to understand the education framework these programs operate under.

  • Marine Corps Personnel Assignment Policy (MCO 1300.8)Reference

    This order covers personnel assignment policy and is cited as a reference governing how officers are assigned and moved for programs like A-ILS. It is relevant to understanding PCS and tour requirements tied to attendance.

  • Management of the Active Reserve Program (MCO 1001.52K)Reference

    This order governs the Active Reserve program that Reserve officers must participate in if selected for A-ILS. It underpins the service obligation and administrative requirements spelled out in this MARADMIN.

  • MARADMIN 470/25MARADMIN

    This earlier MARADMIN is cited alongside MCO 1001.52K as the basis for Reserve officer service obligations incurred when attending A-ILS. Reservists selected for the program should review it to understand their commitments.

  • Separation and Retirement Manual (MCO 1900.16 CH 3)Reference

    This manual is cited as governing the service obligation incurred by officers selected for A-ILS. Reservists should be aware of it because the obligation cannot be waived, including requests to Return to Active Duty.

  • Marine Corps Reserve Administrative Management Manual (MCO 1001R.1L CH 2)Reference

    Known as the MCRAMM, this manual governs Reserve administrative management and is cited as a governing reference for Reserve officer participation in the A-ILS program. It is directly relevant to how Reserve obligations and administrative actions are processed.

  • DoD Policy on Graduate Education for Military Officers (DoDI 1322.10)Reference

    This DoD instruction sets policy for graduate-level education for military officers and is a foundational reference for programs like A-ILS that result in an accredited master's degree. It frames the broader authorization under which these programs operate.

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