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CALENDAR YEAR 26 (CY26) MARTIAL ARTS AND FITNESS CENTER OF EXCELLENCE SCHEDULED EVENTS

MARADMIN 083/26 · March 5, 2026 · Source

MCMAP, FFI, and Water Survival seats are open for 2026. Here's how to get one.

The Marine Corps just published the full training schedule for its Martial Arts and Fitness Center of Excellence.

That means real seats, real dates, and real deadlines.

If you've been waiting to get certified or recertified as a Martial Arts Instructor, Force Fitness Instructor, or Water Survival Advanced swimmer, this is your window.

Reference: MARADMIN 083/26, signed 03 March 2026. Released by the Deputy Commandant for Training and Education. Applies to the Marine Corps Total Force, including Reserve components.

The old problem

MAFCE training opportunities exist every year, but they don't market themselves.

If your unit didn't push the word down, you probably didn't know seats were available. Deadlines passed. Certifications expired. Marines who wanted these quals missed the boat because no one put the calendar in front of them.

This MARADMIN puts the calendar in front of you.

The new rule (in one line)

MAFCE has published every CY26 course, location, date, and registration contact in one message so there are no more excuses for missing the window.

What's actually being offered

There are three programs. Pick the one that applies to you.

Program 1: Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP)

This one is for existing Martial Arts Instructors (MAIs) and Martial Arts Instructor Trainers (MAITs) who need to recertify, and for Marines who want to become one.

Two Martial Arts Instructor Trainer Courses (MAITC) are running at Raider Hall, Quantico. One Martial Arts Instructor Course (MAIC) will also run there.

The roadshows and Technique Symposium are the main recertification vehicle for working MAIs and MAITs. Attend the full event and you walk out recertified.

Course schedule:

✦ MCMAP Roadshow, East Coast. MCRD Parris Island, SC. 16-20 March 2026.

✦ MCMAP Roadshow, OCONUS. Camp Hansen, Okinawa. 23-27 March 2026.

✦ MAITC 2-26. Raider Hall, Quantico. 13 April through 29 May 2026.

✦ MAITC 3-26. Raider Hall, Quantico. 3 August through 18 September 2026.

✦ MCMAP Technique Symposium. Raider Hall, Quantico. 26-30 October 2026.

How to register:

For the resident MAITC courses: register through MCTIMS.

For everything else (MAIC, roadshows, Technique Symposium): email the MCMAP Chief directly at jack.pavao@usmc.mil no later than 14 days before the event.

Your nomination email needs to include:

  1. Name and rank
  2. EDIPI
  3. Unit and contact information
  4. Current instructor certification status
  5. Command endorsement from your first commander in the chain
  6. Unit funding status

(Yes, you need a command endorsement. Get that lined up before you email.)

Seats cap at 55 students per course. First come, first served.

If your MAI or MAIT certification has expired, you can still submit. Recertification for expired instructors is handled case by case.

Program 2: Force Fitness Instructor Course (FFIC)

This course earns you MOS 0919 and makes you your unit's subject matter expert on physical fitness and injury prevention.

It's a full course, not a weekend event. Budget your AT or IDT time accordingly.

Course schedule:

✦ FFIC MTT 2-26. Camp Geiger, NC (School of Infantry East). 16 March through 29 April 2026.

✦ FFIC 3-26. Raider Hall, Quantico. 1 June through 15 July 2026.

✦ FFIC 1-27. Raider Hall, Quantico. 26 October through 10 December 2026.

How to register:

For resident FFIC courses: register through MCTIMS.

For the MTT at Camp Geiger only: email the FFI Chief, GySgt Ludwig, at albert.ludwig@usmc.mil no later than 21 days before the course starts.

Your nomination email needs to include:

  1. Name and rank
  2. EDIPI
  3. Unit and contact information
  4. Unit funding status

Seats cap at 55 students.

Program 3: Water Survival Advanced (WSA)

The WSA course certifies you as an advanced swimmer. It also qualifies you to serve as a safety swimmer when your unit runs aquatic training outside of standard MCWSTP events.

This one is open to the National Capital Region. Six course dates are available.

Course schedule:

✦ WSA 4-26. Ramer Hall, Quantico. 23-27 March 2026.

✦ WSA 5-26. Ramer Hall, Quantico. 25-29 May 2026.

✦ WSA 6-26. Ramer Hall, Quantico. 27-31 July 2026.

✦ WSA 1-27. Ramer Hall, Quantico. 28 September through 2 October 2026.

✦ WSA 2-27. Ramer Hall, Quantico. 30 November through 4 December 2026.

How to register:

Email the MCIWS Chief, Sgt Maranzano, at sierra.maranzano@usmc.mil no later than 5 days before your desired course.

(Five days. That is a short window. Do not wait.)

Your nomination email needs to include:

  1. Name and rank
  2. Unit and contact information
  3. Current water survival qualification level

Seats cap at 30 students per course.

Why this is a big deal

Reserve Marines often miss these opportunities for one reason: timing.

By the time word trickles down from HQMC to MARFORRES to your regiment to your battalion to your company, the deadline has passed or the seats are gone.

This MARADMIN was released in early March. Some of these events start mid-March. The first WSA course closes in under three weeks from publication.

If your unit didn't brief this at your last drill, you might already be behind on the early events.

The good news is that MAFCE runs these all year. Missing March doesn't mean missing 2026.

One more thing worth naming for Reserve Marines specifically: all costs are unit funded, and each Marine is responsible for coordinating their own travel through DTS.

That means you need your unit's budget buy-in before you submit a nomination. Start that conversation with your S-4 and S-3 now, not after you've already emailed MAFCE.

A smaller note for active-duty Marines

This MARADMIN applies to the total force, so everything above applies to you too. The MAITC seats at Quantico and the WSA courses are your most likely entry points. Register through MCTIMS for resident courses and coordinate TAD orders through your chain of command as normal.

The bottom line

MAFCE has seats open in MCMAP, Force Fitness, and Water Survival training throughout 2026. The dates and contacts are published. The only thing standing between you and these quals is a nomination email and your command's endorsement.

What to do with this

If you are a Reserve Marine who wants to attend any of these courses:

  1. Identify the course and date that fits your drill schedule or AT window.
  2. Check whether you need MCTIMS registration or a direct nomination email. They are not the same process.
  3. Talk to your S-3 and S-4 now. You need command endorsement and unit funding confirmed before you submit.
  4. Submit your nomination before the deadline. Build in extra time. Deadlines here are hard cutoffs, not suggestions.

If you are a unit S-3 or training officer:

  1. Brief this at the next drill weekend.
  2. Identify Marines in your unit with expired MAI or MAIT certs. This is their recertification window.
  3. Budget for at least one FFIC seat if your unit doesn't have a current 0919.

If you want more information or hit a snag:

Contact the MAFCE Operations Officer, Capt Gallahan, at maxwell.gallahan@usmc.mil or 703-432-6466.

Or reach the ops mailbox at smb_trngcmd_tbs_mafce_ops@usmc.mil.

Full MAFCE information is also on their website at tbs.marines.mil/mafce.

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 version of this for a drill brief or unit newsletter? Or a deeper breakdown of one specific program? Let me know and I can tailor it.

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