OVERVIEW
The Commandant’s Education Board (CEB) consists of two boards the Commandant’s Professional Intermediate-Level Board (CPIB) and the Commandant’s Career-Level Education Board (CCLEB) both are the premier Professional Military Education (PME) and graduate education opportunities.
The board will convene for approximately four weeks to select the best and fully qualified officers for resident PME programs, graduate education programs, and special duty assignments available within the Marine Corps.
Marine Corps Graduate Education Program Order, reference (a), establishes the policies and procedures governing the CCLEB and CPIB, to include the eligibility process, board selection and slating, and requirements for participation and completion of these programs. Marines are encouraged to review the graduate education order 1524.1
The CEB consists of the Commandant’s Career-Level Education Board (CCLEB) for First Lieutenants and Captains, as well as the Commandant’s Intermediate-Level Education Board (CPIB) for Majors (and Major selects).
CPIB selects the best and fully qualified captains (selected for promotion to major) and majors to staff resident education programs and special duty assignments available within the Marine Corps, to include:
- Resident Graduate Education Programs
- International Affairs Programs
- Resident PME
- Foreign PME
- Fellowships
- Olmsted Scholar Program
- Training with Industry
CEB Announcement
In early summer each year, MMOA-3 will release separate MARADMINs announcing the upcoming CEB.
An eligibility roster will be available on the MMOA-3 website announcing the officers to be screened on the boards.
Survey, Applications, and Program Info Webpage:
CEB Eligibility
Time-on-station Requirements. Unrestricted commissioned officers in the active component with slated estimated dates of departure within the fiscal year who will complete TOS requirements per MCO 1300.8 within the fiscal year are eligible. Please contact me if you wish to change your current tour length to meet eligibility requirements.
Grade Requirements. All majors, captains who have been selected for promotion to major, and captains in zone for promotion to major will be considered by the CPIB. Selection of an in-zone captain by the CPIB is conditional upon the officer also being selected for promotion to the next rank.
CEB Ineligibility:
- Officers in the above zone for promotion to major and officers selected for promotion to lieutenant colonel.
- Officers with an approved separation or retirement date
- Officers who are currently enrolled in a program designated to them by a previous CEB (CCLEB or CPIB)
- Officers who have not fulfilled an obligated utilization tour for a previously attended program (CCLEB or CPIB)
- Officers who complete the Command and Staff Blended Seminar Program (BSP) or Advanced-ILS (i.e. SAW, SAMS, MAWS, SAASS)
- Exceptions
- Lieutenant colonels, or officers in zone or selected for promotion to lieutenant colonel, may opt in to be considered for the Congressional Fellowship Program
- Officers who are A-ILS complete and meet all other eligibility requirements may screen for Training with Industry or fellowship opportunities.
Board Eligibility see the following:
Available CPIB programs:
- Resident PME (Intermediate Level School-ILS)
- Marine Corps Command and Staff College (MCCSC).
- Army Command and General Staff College (ACGSC).
- College of Naval Command and Staff (CNCS).
- Air Command and Staff College (ACSC).
- Foreign PME (FPME).
- Special Education Assignments.
- Graduate education programs
- Naval Postgraduate School (NPS).
- Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT).
- Civilian Institutions for Education (8802) and History (8878).
- The Judge Advocate Generals Legal Center and School (TJAGLCS).
- San Diego State University (SDSU) (4505).
- Advanced Civilian Schools Program (ACSP).
- International Affairs Program’s (IAP) Regional Affairs Officer Program (RAO).
- Olmsted Scholar Program (OSP).
Available CCLEB Programs:
- Resident PME
- Expeditionary Warfare School (EWS).
- PMOS-specific Army Captains Career Courses.
- Graduate Education Programs
- Naval Postgraduate School (NPS).
- Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT).
- Civilian Institutions for Education (8802) and History (8878) curriculums.
- San Diego State University (SDSU) (4505).
- Advanced Civilian Schools Program (ACSP).
- International Affairs Program’s (IAP) Foreign Area Officer Program (FAO).
- Olmsted Scholar Program (OSP).
- Junior Officer Strategic Intelligence Program (JOSIP).
- Internships
- Junior Officer Cryptologic Career Program (JOCCP).
- Junior Officer Geographic Geospatial Intelligence Program (JOGP).
CEB Questionnaire
Marines eligible for a CEB will be provided a questionnaire to solicit their preferences.
Questionnaires and transcripts enable monitors to make informed slating decisions to assign the right Marine to the right program for the right reasons. Officers with long programs must submit transcripts to the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). All officers should submit your undergraduate/graduate transcripts via the questionnaire.
Officers who fail to complete the questionnaire or submit transcripts will still screen and may be slated/assigned to a program at the board’s and/or monitor’s discretion.
CEB Selection
An annual non-statutory board selects primaries and a sufficient number of alternates that mitigate historic attrition rates due to resignations, deferrals, and retirements.
The board make selections based only on performance and potential as indicated from the officer’s OMPF and any supplemental information submitted by the officer to the board.
All correspondence to the board must originate from or be endorsed by the eligible officer.
CEB Program Length
Long Programs (48 months or more)
- PhD Program (Technical or Strategy)
- 3 years training + 3 years utilization tour = 6 years total
- Resident GradEd (NPS or AFIT)
- 2 years training + 3 years utilization tour = 5 years total
- Regional Affairs Officer
- 1.5 years training + 3 years utilization tour = 4.5 years total
- Resident GradEd (SDSU)
- 1 year training + 3 years utilization tour = 4 years total
Medium Programs (36 to 42 months)
- Congressional Fellowship
- 1.5 years training + 2 years utilization tour = 3.5 years total
- Olmsted Scholarship
- 1 year training + 2 years utilization tour = 3 years total
Short Programs (12 to 24 months)
- Foreign PME
- 1 year training + 1 year tour = 2 years total
- Resident PME (USMC/USN/USAF/USA)
- Advanced Civilian School Program
- CMC Fellowships
CEB Related Links
Below are several links to the schools/opportunities that are screened on the Commandant’s Education Board. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to MMOA-3 Graduate Education Manager (smbmmoagradedu@usmc.mil or 703-784-9284/5 or website)
Command and Staff
Naval Postgraduate School
Olmstead Scholar Program
Congressional Fellowship Program
Foreign PME
Air Force Institute of Technology
Naval War College
International Affairs (FAO & RAO)
Terms and Definitions from MCO 1524.1 (GradEd Program)
Certificate Program. A non-degree program consisting of a concentration of graduate-level courses in a specific area that results in award of academic credit and a certificate of completion.
Congressional Fellowship Program. The Congressional Fellowship Program offers Marine officers the opportunity to understand the operations and functions of the Legislative branch of the U.S. Government and the legislative process, which is vital to the Marine Corps. Typical responsibilities of fellows include: drafting legislation, planning Congressional committee hearings, serving as liaisons to constituents, business, trade associations and public interest groups, briefing members of congress for floor debates, strategic planning and analysis of public policy issues, planning international conferences and dialogues.
Degree Program. A course of study for which a college or university confers an award to signify satisfactory completion of that course of study.
Fellowship Program. An assignment in which selected Marine Corps military personnel work away from the DoD for a specified time, not to exceed 12-months, to gain education or experience of value to the Marine Corps and the gaining organization.
Fully Funded. While pursuing a graduate degree, the military officer receives full pay and allowances, with the majority of the tuition and other schooling costs being assumed or paid by the U.S. Government or by another organization. The officer attends school instead of performing usual military duties.
Foreign PME. Officers are assigned to Marine Corps-funded, full-time JPME at intermediate and senior level international colleges. Programs differ in length and foreign language requirements, but all result in award of JPME phase I credit. Marine Corps University provides annual requirements list for international military college quotas to HQMC (MMOA-3) to achieve prioritized engagement efforts.
NPS Certificate and Non-degree Programs. Selected officers participate in Marine Corps-funded certificate and non-degree programs. These programs may be offered via distributed learning, while in residence at NPS in another degree program.
Partially Funded. While pursuing a graduate degree, the military officer receives full pay and allowances with the majority of tuition and other schooling costs paid by the officer from personal funds and/or benefits to which the military officer was entitled. The officer attends school instead of performing usual military duties.
Service Colleges. Officers are assigned to Marine Corps-funded, fulltime PME and JPME at the College of Naval Command and Staff or the College of Naval Warfare, Air Force War College, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, or Command and General Staff College. These schools provide intermediate level service college accredited by the CJCS to award JPME phase I credit. Students may earn a master’s degree at each college.
Olmsted Scholar Program. Marine Corps officers are assigned to Marine Corps and scholarship-funded, full-time graduate education at a foreign university to meet Marine Corps requirements. Selection to this program also includes the requisite language training conducted at Defense Language Institute.
Scholarship Program. Officers are assigned to Marine Corps and scholarship-funded, full-time master’s degree programs to meet Marine Corps requirements.
Service and Joint Advanced Warfighting Schools. Officers are assigned to Marine Corps-funded, full-time programs at service and joint schools to meet officer professional development requirements. Programs differ in length and education outcomes.
Service College Distributed Learning Programs. Officers and enlisted members may complete funded service PME and JPME phase I via distributed learning modes including seminar, Web-enabled, or correspondence to meet professional development requirements. This is considered off-duty education although commanders may provide time during duty hours for program completion.
Training with Industry. Officers are assigned to Marine Corps-funded, full-time non-degree opportunities at civilian businesses to meet Marine Corps requirements for skills and experience in best business processes and practices.
Unfunded Education. While pursuing a graduate degree, the majority of tuition and other schooling costs are paid by the officer from personal funds and/or benefits to which the officer was entitled. The officer attends school during off-duty time.