Your name is on a promotion list. Here's what happens next.

MARADMIN 025/26 just dropped the February 2026 first lieutenant promotion list.

If your name is on it, this message is the legal authority to pin on.

Here's what you need to know.

Reference: MARADMIN 025/26, signed 23 January 2026. Governed by MCO 1400.31D (Marine Corps Promotion Manual, Vol. 1) and SECNAVINST 1412.6M.

The old problem

Promotions have a lot of moving parts.

Commands sometimes wait for a physical commission document to arrive before pinning Marines on.

That wait is not required and has caused unnecessary delays.

The new rule (in one line)

This MARADMIN is the promotion authority. The commission certificate is not.

Who is being promoted

Active-duty Marines promoted to 1stLt:

Keagan P. Casey. DOR: 01 Feb 26
Seth C. Murray. DOR: 02 Feb 26
Hiram A. Murray III. DOR: 02 Feb 26
Matthew D. Stoffolano. DOR: 03 Feb 26
Scott G. Cmelo. DOR: 08 Feb 26
Carlton B. Buckle. DOR: 09 Feb 26
Issac Camberos. DOR: 09 Feb 26
Sean M. Foley. DOR: 09 Feb 26
Thanhtam T. Nguyen. DOR: 09 Feb 26
Jason P. Frisoli. DOR: 10 Feb 26
Nicholas E. Gillette. DOR: 12 Feb 26
Hunter J. Laurin. DOR: 12 Feb 26
Ian R. Viado. DOR: 15 Feb 26
Isaac N. Hayes. DOR: 16 Feb 26
Kenneth A. Madyaguiar. DOR: 17 Feb 26
Eliot J. Perez. DOR: 17 Feb 26
John E. Baltz. DOR: 20 Feb 26
Thomas C. Romig Jr. DOR: 20 Feb 26
Evan E. Vazquez. DOR: 24 Feb 26

Reserve Marines promoted to 1stLt:

✦ Caleb H. Gonzales. DOR: 24 Feb 26. Status: IRR

(Yes, there is one Reserve Marine on this list. If that's you, keep reading.)

How the promotion actually works

The paperwork timeline:

✦ This MARADMIN publishes. Your command now has authority to promote you. ✦ A physical commission certificate gets mailed to your parent command separately. ✦ Expect 4 to 6 weeks for that certificate to arrive. ✦ You do not need to wait for the certificate. The ceremony can happen now.

For the ceremony itself:

Sample commissions and the oath of office are in Chapter 6 of MCO 1400.31D.

You can also find them at www.Marines.mil by navigating: Marines / Career / Promotions / Officer Promotions / Reference tab.

What could delay or stop a promotion

Your commanding officer has the authority to delay your promotion if they determine you are not mentally, physically, morally, or professionally qualified.

For Reserve Marines specifically, that includes completing the required physical examination.

Here is what has to happen if a CO delays a promotion:

The officer must receive written notice of the grounds before the effective date. If that is not practicable, as soon as possible after.
The CO must notify CMC (MMPB-10) before the effective date so the promotion is not entered into MCTFS.
Supporting documentation must be submitted on time.

Also worth knowing: before this list was published, every officer on it was screened for adverse information. Anyone flagged was quietly removed from this MARADMIN and will receive separate correspondence from CMC (JPL).

(If your name was on a board's select list but is not here, that may be why. Talk to your S-1.)

Accepting or declining the promotion

By default, you are considered to have accepted the promotion on your date of rank listed above.

If you want to decline:

✦ You must submit a written letter of declination to CMC (MMPB-10). ✦ It must happen at the moment your command notifies you and directs you to start wearing the new insignia. ✦ Any action that signals acceptance, putting on the new rank, saying yes, anything, permanently waives your right to decline.

There is no take-back window after that moment.

A note on retirement and transfers

If you are thinking about voluntary retirement, review MCO 1900.16 for any service obligation that comes with accepting this promotion before you say yes.

Your promotion selection carries over if you move between components. That means from active duty to SMCR or IRR, or the other direction through augmentation.

Why this matters for Reserve Marines

Reserve officers sometimes get lost in the shuffle on promotion execution.

Your promotion is real the moment your name appears on this MARADMIN.

The physical exam requirement is not optional. If it has not been completed, your CO has grounds to delay the promotion and must act before your DOR.

IRR Marines have fewer touchpoints with their chain of command. If you are Caleb Gonzales or anyone else in an IRR status tracking a promotion, do not assume your command knows where you are or that the paperwork is moving. Be proactive.

A smaller note for active-duty Marines

The 19 active-duty officers on this list are promoted effective their individual dates of rank listed above. The process is the same. This MARADMIN is the authority. The certificate is ceremonial. Pin on and move forward.

The bottom line

If your name is on this list, you are promoted as of your date of rank.

Your command does not need to wait for the certificate.

Reserve Marines must ensure the physical exam requirement is squared away. If it is not, your CO has to act fast.

And if you want to decline, you have one narrow window to do it in writing.

What to do with this

If you are the promoted officer:

✦ Confirm your date of rank from the list above. ✦ Coordinate your promotion ceremony with your command. ✦ If you have any doubt about your physical exam status, contact your S-1 immediately. ✦ If you want to decline, act in writing before your command formally notifies you and directs you to pin on.

If you are a commanding officer or S-1:

✦ This MARADMIN is your authority to execute the promotion. You do not need to wait for the certificate. ✦ If there is a fitness, conduct, or qualification issue, notify CMC (MMPB-10) and the officer in writing before the DOR. ✦ For Reserve and IRR Marines, confirm physical exam completion before the effective date.

If you have questions:

✦ Call: (703) 784-9705 or DSN 278-9705 ✦ Email: officerpromotions@usmc.mil ✦ Or submit through the Officer Promotions page at www.Marines.mil ✦ POC: Maj M. J. Cook, MMPB-10

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.

Want a shorter version of this? A one-paragraph summary for a unit brief? Or a longer breakdown of the delay and declination process? Let me know and I can tailor it.

1STLT PROMOTIONS FOR FEBRUARY 2026