HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS (HQMC) SEMPER FIT BRANCH SEEKS ELITE WARRIOR ATHLETE APPLICATIONS
MARADMIN 040/26 · February 12, 2026 · Source
Are You a Competitive Athlete Still in Uniform? The Marine Corps Wants to Hear From You.
There's a program most Marines have never heard of.
It funds elite athletes to compete at national and world-level events.
And it applies to Reserve Marines.
Reference: MARADMIN 040/26, signed 10 February 2026. Administered by HQMC Semper Fit Branch.
The old problem
Most Marines who compete seriously in individual sports had no clear path to doing it in uniform.
The All-Marine Sports program covers team and command-level athletics.
But if you're a powerlifter, track cyclist, wrestler, or marathon runner chasing a national qualifier on your own, there wasn't an obvious door to knock on.
This program is that door.
The new rule (in one line)
HQMC Semper Fit will fund qualified Marine athletes to compete at national, international, and Olympic-level events, with your CO's approval.
What the program actually is
The program was formerly called the Exceptional Athlete Program.
It's now called the Elite Warrior Athlete (EWA) program.
The purpose is simple: let serious Marine athletes compete at the highest levels of their sport, representing the Corps on a national or world stage.
This is not All-Marine Sports. That program covers collective, command-sponsored athletics.
EWA is for the individual athlete who's competing at a level beyond that.
A full list of eligible sports lives at Armed Forces Sports. It is not exhaustive, so if your sport isn't listed, it may still qualify.
What you need to apply
Every applicant, regardless of sport, must complete a standard athletic testing battery.
The required tests are:
✦ 3-rep max hex-bar or barbell deadlift
✦ 3-rep max bench press
✦ 3-rep max squat
✦ 1-rep max broad jump
✦ Pro-agility test
✦ 3-mile run time (from most recent fitness test)
✦ 880-yard run time (from most recent fitness test)
Strong applications also include proof of prior competitive experience.
Think: high school or collegiate records, prior national qualifications, race results, rankings, awards.
(You don't have to be an Olympian. But you do need to show you compete seriously.)
The application form and full testing instructions are at usmc-mccs.org/allmarinesports.
Submit completed applications to: allmarinesports@usmc-mccs.org
The approval and funding process
Here's how it flows:
- You complete the standard testing events and gather your competitive history.
- You fill out the application and submit it to the program email.
- Your Commanding Officer approves your participation. This is required.
- If selected, you are placed on Temporary Additional Duty (TAD) status for the event.
- HQMC Semper Fit covers costs based on financial feasibility, the competitive level of the event, and your ranking within your sport.
CO approval is not a formality.
COs are specifically encouraged to endorse athletes who reflect Marine Corps core values and will represent the Corps well on a national or international stage.
(Commanders can also recall participants from TAD status if mission needs require it.)
Why this is a big deal
Reserve Marines are explicitly included in this program.
MARADMIN 040/26 covers the Active Component, Selected Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR), and Marines on Active Duty Operational Support (ADOS) orders.
That's a meaningful inclusion. Reserve athletes often compete seriously in civilian life, sometimes at very high levels, and have historically had fewer pathways to institutional support.
This program gives a Reserve Marine competing in, say, Olympic weightlifting trials or a national wrestling championship the same access to Marine Corps sponsorship as an active-duty counterpart.
The name change from "Exceptional Athlete" to "Elite Warrior Athlete" also signals a shift in framing. This isn't about accommodating athletes as an exception. It's positioning them as an expression of what Marines are.
A smaller note for active-duty Marines
This program applies to you as well, under the same application process and standards.
The TAD status and CO approval requirements are the same.
If you're an active-duty Marine with a serious individual sport, the path is identical.
The bottom line
If you are a Reserve Marine who competes seriously in an individual sport, this program can fund your travel to national or world-level competition, put you on official orders, and represent you as a Marine athlete on a public stage.
Most people don't know it exists.
Now you do.
What to do with this
If you're a Reserve Marine athlete:
✦ Check the eligible sports list at armedforcessports.defense.gov/Sports
✦ Download the application at usmc-mccs.org/allmarinesports
✦ Schedule your standard testing events and document results
✦ Pull together your competitive history, results, and any awards
✦ Talk to your CO early. Their endorsement is required, and early buy-in helps.
✦ Submit your completed application to allmarinesports@usmc-mccs.org
If you're a unit S-1 or admin chief:
✦ Know that approved participants go on TAD status. Plan accordingly.
✦ Direct inquiries to Joel Hines (703-432-5472 / joel.hines@usmc-mccs.org) or Michael Sebaaly (703-432-9577 / michael.sebaaly@usmc-mccs.org) at HQMC Semper Fit.
If you're a CO:
✦ Review the application with the Marine Corps core values framing the MARADMIN uses. Strong endorsements are encouraged for athletes who reflect those values and will bring visibility to the Corps.
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.
Need a shorter summary for a unit brief, or a deeper breakdown of the TAD status and funding mechanics? Let me know and I'll cut or expand accordingly.