Your mandatory training just got cut in half. Here's what that means.

The Marine Corps quietly published a major update to its Common Military Training requirements.

If you've been grinding through the same annual training cycle year after year, something just changed in your favor.

Here's what happened and what you need to do.

Reference: MARADMIN 199/26, signed 28 April 2026. Implements revised MCO 1500.63A, Marine Corps Common Military Training Requirements, directed by a Secretary of Defense memorandum from September 2025.

The old problem

Common Military Training was mostly annual.

That meant every year, commands had to schedule, track, and document the same recurring training blocks. For Reserve units working with limited drill weekends, this created real pressure. Training time is already scarce. Spending it on repetitive compliance boxes hurt readiness more than it helped.

There was also a tracking mess. MCTIMS codes weren't always clearly distinguishing between training someone got at boot camp versus training a unit ran as sustainment. That caused reporting headaches up and down the chain.

The new rule in one line

Most non-core CMT requirements just shifted from annual to every two years.

(Yes, it's that simple.)

What actually changed

Two categories of CMT now exist under MCO 1500.63A:

✦ Core requirements (Section I of the MCO): Frequency unchanged. These still run on whatever schedule the MCO specifies.

✦ Non-core requirements (Section II of the MCO): Now biennial. You do them every two years instead of every year.

The transition clock matters. Here's where you stand:

✦ Completed your non-core CMT sometime in 2025? You're current through the end of 2027.

✦ Did not complete non-core CMT in 2025? You owe it in 2026.

Check your MCTIMS record now so you know which bucket you're in.

New Marines joining after 1 January 2026:

✦ If you came in after that date, your initial entry training counts. You've met the baseline CMT requirement. Your sustainment cycle starts from there.

Training codes in MCTIMS:

The system now uses distinct codes to separate foundational training from recurring sustainment training.

✦ Entry-level completions get codes like 808 (Recruit Training) or RMG (Basic Officer Training).

✦ Unit-run sustainment training uses a separate sustainment code for each CMT requirement.

This distinction matters for tracking. If your record looks wrong, flag it to your S-1.

One rule commanders need to know:

Commanders cannot add supplemental material to CMT without prior approval from DC, T&E or DC, M&RA. The standardization is intentional.

They can still bring in credentialed subject matter experts, like an Equal Opportunity Advisor or Suicide Prevention Program Coordinator, to help lead the training. That's encouraged.

Waivers:

If a waiver is needed for a CMT requirement, it lives with the first General Officer in the Marine's chain of command.

Why this is a big deal

This came from the top.

The Secretary of Defense directed a reduction in mandatory training requirements in September 2025. The Marine Corps is now executing that direction.

The stated goal is to cut training redundancy and increase combat lethality. That's not marketing language. It reflects a real institutional shift: less time on compliance training, more time on warfighting skills.

For Reserve Marines specifically, this is meaningful. Every drill weekend is a finite resource. Moving non-core CMT to a two-year cycle gives units real room to prioritize tactical and unit-specific training.

The administrative machinery is also getting cleaned up. Better MCTIMS codes, clearer sourcing, and a prohibition on unapproved supplements all point toward a leaner, more standardized system.

A smaller note for active-duty Marines

This applies to the Total Force, so active-duty Marines are in the same boat. Non-core CMT is now biennial for you too. Check your 2025 completion dates in MCTIMS and confirm which requirements carry over to 2027 versus which ones are due this year.

The bottom line

Non-core Common Military Training is now every two years.

If you did it in 2025, you're good until 2027. If you didn't, you owe it this year. MCTIMS is the only system that counts. Check your record.

What to do with this

If you're an individual Reserve Marine (SMCR, IMA, or IRR):

Log into MCTIMS and pull your CMT completion dates.
Identify which requirements are non-core under MCO 1500.63A Section II.
If you completed them in 2025, confirm your record shows completion. You're current through 2027.
If you have gaps from 2025, those are due in 2026. Get ahead of it before your next drill.
If your record looks wrong or your codes seem off, notify your S-1 immediately.

If you're a unit S-1 or training officer:

Within 30 days of 28 April 2026: Verify that training completion dates in MCTIMS align with the new reporting codes.
Within 60 days of 28 April 2026: Report any MCTIMS discrepancies related to MCO 1500.63A to TECOM TSD.
Rebuild your annual training plan to reflect the biennial schedule for all non-core requirements.
Brief your commander on the prohibition against supplementing CMT materials without DC T&E or DC M&RA approval.

If you're a commander:

Restructure unit training to the biennial cycle now. Do not wait for the next planning cycle.
Do not add to CMT materials without going up the approval chain.
Use your credentialed SMEs (EO Advisors, SPPC) to lead training where possible.
Waiver requests go to your first GO in the chain. Know who that is.

Questions or discrepancies? Contact your unit S-1. For policy clarifications, the POCs in MARADMIN 199/26 are TECOM TSD and M&RA.

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? Ask for the one-page summary. Want a deeper breakdown of the MCO 1500.63A sections or the MCTIMS code changes? That can be built out separately.

UPDATE TO MARINE CORPS COMMON MILITARY TRAINING REQUIREMENTS