SOLICITATION OF POLICY ISSUES FOR MARINE CORPS RESERVE POLICY BOARD CALENDAR YEAR 2026 (CY26)
MARADMIN 026/26 · January 26, 2026 · Source
The Marine Corps wants your policy complaints. Here's how to submit them before the deadline.
Every year, there's a board that exists specifically to fix broken Reserve policy.
Most Marines don't know about it.
And the submission window closes February 28.
Reference: MARADMIN 026/26, signed January 23, 2026. Governed by MCO 5420R.8H and SECNAVINST 5420.170N.
The old problem
Reserve policy issues pile up at every level.
Drill weekends, AT orders, pay quirks, promotion timelines, mobilization rules.
Marines gripe about them. Unit S-1s work around them. Nothing changes.
That's partly because most people don't know there's a formal channel for exactly this kind of feedback.
The new rule (in one line)
The Marine Corps Reserve Policy Board meets every April to fix Reserve policy, and right now they are literally asking you to send them your problems.
What the MCRPB actually is
The Marine Corps Reserve Policy Board (MCRPB) is a congressionally mandated board.
Its job is to review Reserve policy issues, decide which ones are fixable, and recommend changes to the Secretary of the Navy when needed.
It meets once a year, in April.
It can push changes all the way up to Department of Defense instructions and U.S. Code.
(Yes, this board has real teeth.)
How to submit an issue
Here's the process, step by step.
1. Get the template.
Download the official Issue Submission Template from the MCRPB page on the Manpower portal.
Direct link: manpower.marines.mil, Reserve Affairs Policy, Marine Corps Reserve Policy Board
2. Build your submission.
Your slide needs to do four things:
✦ Summarize the issue clearly
✦ Name the specific policy or regulation that needs to change (MCO, SECNAVINST, DODI, U.S. Code, etc.)
✦ Recommend the actual change you want
✦ Explain how this policy affects the Reserve Component specifically
(Vague complaints won't make it through. Cite the rule. Name the fix.)
3. Send it in.
Email your completed slides to: omb_rap@usmc.mil
Or submit directly to any MCRPB member listed on the board's website.
You can attach supporting documents or information papers if your issue needs more context.
4. Hit the deadline.
Submissions are due by 2359 EST, February 28, 2026.
Late submissions may be considered at a future board. But don't count on it.
Why this is a big deal
Most policy feedback loops in the Marine Corps go nowhere.
This one is different.
The MCRPB is required by law. The Secretary of the Navy receives its recommendations. And the board actively solicits input from the Total Force, meaning any Marine can submit.
The people who actually live with Reserve policy day to day are the most qualified to identify what's broken.
If you've ever been burned by a mobilization rule that made no sense, a pay regulation that didn't account for your situation, or an administrative process that treated you like an afterthought, this is the mechanism designed to fix that.
It only works if people use it.
A smaller note for active-duty Marines
This MARADMIN applies to the Total Force, so active-duty Marines can submit issues too. If you work alongside Reserve units and see policy gaps that affect the Reserve Component, you're encouraged to participate. The focus of the board is Reserve policy, so frame your submission accordingly.
The bottom line
The MCRPB exists to fix Reserve policy.
They're asking for your input right now.
The window closes February 28, 2026.
If you have an issue worth fixing, this is your shot.
What to do with this
If you're a Reserve Marine with a policy frustration: Download the template, write it up, and send it to omb_rap@usmc.mil before February 28.
If you're a unit S-1 or staff officer: Brief your Marines on this opportunity. You've seen the policy gaps firsthand. Put something in.
If you're an IMA or IRR Marine: You're still eligible. If you've bumped into a policy that doesn't account for your status, this board is exactly the right venue.
If you're not sure whether your issue qualifies: Email omb_rap@usmc.mil and ask. That's what the POC is there for.
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? It fits in about four sentences. Want a deeper breakdown of how to write a strong issue submission? That's a longer conversation worth having separately.