Did the FY26 Reserve SNCO Board Just Change the Rules on You?

Yes. A few of them. Here is what moved and what you need to do before the board convenes.

A new MARADMIN dropped in May 2026 amending the original FY26 Reserve SNCO promotion board message. It updates the promotion zones, feeder MOS lists, allocations, and a few eligibility rules. If you are a Reserve Staff NCO in zone, this one is for you.

Reference: MARADMIN 228/26 | Signed 15 May 2026 | Amends MARADMIN 180/26 (the original FY26 Reserve SNCO board message)

Points of contact:

✦ Maj William C. Griffin, MMPB-11: william.c.griffin@usmc.mil | DSN 278-3440

✦ MSgt Dathan T. Mills, MMPB-11: dathan.mills@usmc.mil | DSN 278-2765

✦ MSgt Joel S. Austin, RAP-2: joel.austin@usmc.mil | DSN 278-9879

Questions specifically about zone and feeder changes go to RAP-2. Everything else goes to MMPB-11.

The old problem

The original board message (MARADMIN 180/26) published the zones, feeders, and allocations for the FY26 Reserve SNCO board.

But numbers and lists like these get revised before boards convene. MOS feeder chains shift. Zone populations change. A few eligibility rules needed clarification.

Without a change message, Marines in zone might prep their records against outdated information and not know it.

The new rule in one line

The feeder MOS charts, promotion zones, and allocations from the original board message have been updated. Use this version, not the April message.

Core content

1. Your RQS deadline

The board convenes in summer 2026.

You have until 27 June 2026 to submit a complete Reserve Qualification Summary (RQS) as part of your board correspondence.

(This is your one shot to put your best case in front of the board. Do not skip it.)

2. PME requirements

✦ Active resident PME and reserve resident PME both count. Either one makes you PME complete.

✦ CDET distance education programs are equivalent to the in-person SNCOA. Completing the online version is not a lesser option.

✦ The critical thing: the completion has to show up in your record. The board cannot see what is not there. Evidence means the school code in MCTFS and/or the course completion certificate in your OMPF.

If your PME is done but your record does not reflect it, fix that now.

3. Which category you compete in

✦ SMCR and IMA Marines compete together in the SMCR category.

✦ IRR Marines compete in a separate IRR category.

✦ EAD recruiting Marines compete in whichever reserve component they are assigned to on the date the board convenes, using their PMOS promotion zone.

4. Retirement points requirement

You need at least 50 retirement credit points in your anniversary year completed before the board convenes.

Two details worth knowing:

✦ SMCR Marines who affiliated with their current component after 8 July 2024 must meet this 50-point threshold. If you fall short, you will not be considered for promotion, but you will not receive a failure of selection either.

✦ IRR Marines must also hit 50 points and must be an active participant in the IRR.

Check your Career Retirement Credit Report (CRCR) on MOL right now. If something looks wrong, flag it to your Inspector-Instructor or commanding officer before the board convenes. This is your responsibility to verify.

5. GySgt and 1stSgt competing for E8/E9

This section gets a little layered.

✦ IRR Gunnery Sergeants eligible for First Sergeant compete in the SMCR category, not the IRR category.

✦ If an IRR GySgt is not selected to 1stSgt but is eligible for MSgt, they roll into the IRR category and are considered for MSgt.

✦ IRR and SMCR First Sergeants competing for Sergeant Major who are not selected will incur a failure of selection.

One notable change for GySgts going for 1stSgt: you no longer need to submit a letter of intent to MMPB-11. That requirement is gone.

What still matters: only GySgts whose most recent fitness report has an "F" marked in block 8h will be considered for selection to First Sergeant.

Questions about available SMCR 1stSgt and SgtMaj billets go to SgtMaj B.J. Hibbard at (703) 784-9100.

6. Feeder MOS chart

This is the section that changed most from the original message.

Your PMOS determines which Intended MOS (IMOS) you compete for at the next grade. The chart below shows what feeds into what. Read each row left to right: Column A is your current PMOS, Column B is the IMOS you compete for.

E9: First Sergeant to Sergeant Major

| Your PMOS | Competes for | |-----------|-------------| | 8999 | 8999 |

E9: Master Sergeant to Master Gunnery Sergeant

E8: Gunnery Sergeant to Master Sergeant

| Your PMOS | Competes for | Your PMOS | Competes for | Your PMOS | Competes for | |-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------| | 0111 | 0111 | 0211 | 0211 | 0231 | 0231 | | 0241 | 0241 | 0261 | 0261 | 0321 | 0321 | | 0363 | 0393 | 0369 | 0399 | 0372 | 0372 | | 0411 | 0411 | 0451 | 0451 | 0471 | 0471 | | 0491 | 0491 | 0511 | 0511 | 0629 | 0699 | | 0639 | 0699 | 0679 | 0699 | 0681 | 0681 | | 0848 | 0848 | 0811 | 0869 | 0869 | 0869 | | 0871 | 0871 | 1169 | 1169 | 1349 | 1349 | | 1361 | 1371 | 1371 | 1371 | 1391 | 1391 | | 1732 | 1732 | 1721 | 1799 | 1833 | 1833 | | 2111 | 2181 | 2131 | 2181 | 2141 | 2149 | | 2147 | 2149 | 2161 | 2181 | 2171 | 2181 | | 2311 | 2311 | 2336 | 2336 | 2651 | 2659 | | 2629 | 2691 | 2862 | 2891 | 2874 | 2874 | | 2887 | 2891 | 3047 | 3047 | 3152 | 3152 | | 3381 | 3381 | 3432 | 3432 | 3451 | 3451 | | 3529 | 3529 | 3537 | 3537 | 4421 | 4421 | | 4591 | 4591 | 5769 | 5769 | 5811 | 5811 | | 5821 | 5821 | 5831 | 5831 | 5939 | 5993 | | 5948 | 5993 | 5951 | 5959 | 5952 | 5959 | | 5953 | 5959 | 5954 | 5959 | 5974 | 5993 | | 5979 | 5993 | 6042 | 6042 | 6046 | 6046 | | 6048 | 6019 | 6062 | 6019 | 6073 | 6019 | | 6074 | 6019 | 6092 | 6019 | 6113 | 6019 | | 6114 | 6019 | 6116 | 6019 | 6123 | 6019 | | 6124 | 6019 | 6132 | 6019 | 6152 | 6019 | | 6153 | 6019 | 6154 | 6019 | 6156 | 6019 | | 6173 | 6019 | 6174 | 6019 | 6176 | 6019 | | 6216 | 6019 | 6217 | 6019 | 6227 | 6019 | | 6256 | 6019 | 6257 | 6019 | 6276 | 6276 | | 6286 | 6019 | 6287 | 6019 | 6314 | 6391 | | 6316 | 6391 | 6317 | 6391 | 6323 | 6391 | | 6324 | 6391 | 6326 | 6391 | 6336 | 6391 | | 6337 | 6391 | 6423 | 6391 | 6432 | 6391 | | 6469 | 6391 | 6483 | 6391 | 6492 | 6391 | | 6499 | 6391 | 6591 | 6591 | 6672 | 6672 | | 6694 | 6694 | 6842 | 6842 | 7011 | 7011 | | 7041 | 7041 | 7051 | 7051 | 7240 | 7240 | | 7291 | 7291 | | | | |

E7: Staff Sergeant to Gunnery Sergeant

| Your PMOS | Competes for | Your PMOS | Competes for | Your PMOS | Competes for | |-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------| | 0111 | 0111 | 0211 | 0211 | 0231 | 0231 | | 0241 | 0241 | 0261 | 0261 | 0321 | 0321 | | 0363 | 0363 | 0369 | 0369 | 0372 | 0372 | | 0411 | 0411 | 0441 | 0491 | 0451 | 0451 | | 0471 | 0471 | 0511 | 0511 | 0621 | 0629 | | 0627 | 0629 | 0629 | 0629 | 0631 | 0639 | | 0639 | 0639 | 0679 | 0679 | 0681 | 0681 | | 0848 | 0848 | 0871 | 0871 | 0811 | 0869 | | 1141 | 1169 | 1164 | 1169 | 1171 | 1169 | | 1316 | 1349 | 1341 | 1349 | 1345 | 1349 | | 1361 | 1361 | 1371 | 1371 | 1391 | 1391 | | 1721 | 1721 | 1732 | 1732 | 1833 | 1833 | | 2111 | 2111 | 2131 | 2131 | 2141 | 2141 | | 2147 | 2147 | 2161 | 2161 | 2171 | 2171 | | 2311 | 2311 | 2336 | 2336 | 2629 | 2629 | | 2651 | 2651 | 2831 | 2862 | 2841 | 2862 | | 2847 | 2862 | 2862 | 2862 | 2874 | 2874 | | 2887 | 2887 | 3047 | 3047 | 3152 | 3152 | | 3381 | 3381 | 3432 | 3432 | 3451 | 3451 | | 3529 | 3529 | 3537 | 3537 | 4421 | 4421 | | 4591 | 4591 | 5711 | 5769 | 5769 | 5769 | | 5811 | 5811 | 5821 | 5821 | 5831 | 5831 | | 5939 | 5939 | 5948 | 5948 | 5951 | 5951 | | 5952 | 5952 | 5953 | 5953 | 5954 | 5954 | | 5974 | 5974 | 5979 | 5979 | 6042 | 6042 | | 6046 | 6046 | 6048 | 6048 | 6062 | 6062 | | 6073 | 6073 | 6074 | 6074 | 6092 | 6092 | | 6113 | 6113 | 6114 | 6114 | 6116 | 6116 | | 6123 | 6123 | 6124 | 6124 | 6132 | 6132 | | 6153 | 6153 | 6154 | 6154 | 6156 | 6156 | | 6173 | 6173 | 6174 | 6174 | 6176 | 6176 | | 6216 | 6216 | 6217 | 6217 | 6227 | 6227 | | 6256 | 6256 | 6257 | 6257 | 6276 | 6276 | | 6286 | 6286 | 6287 | 6287 | 6314 | 6314 | | 6316 | 6316 | 6317 | 6317 | 6323 | 6323 | | 6324 | 6324 | 6326 | 6326 | 6336 | 6336 | | 6337 | 6337 | 6423 | 6423 | 6432 | 6432 | | 6469 | 6469 | 6483 | 6483 | 6492 | 6492 | | 6499 | 6499 | 6531 | 6591 | 6541 | 6591 | | 6672 | 6672 | 6694 | 6694 | | |

If your PMOS is not on the list, check with your S-1. Do not assume you are ineligible without confirming.

Why this is a big deal

The original board message was published in April. This change message came out six weeks later, 45 days before the board.

That is not a lot of runway.

A Marine who never saw MARADMIN 228/26 might prep their record based on stale zone information, or assume they have more time to get PME documented, or not know the letter of intent requirement for 1stSgt was dropped.

Any of those gaps can cost a competitive record.

The MOS feeder chart is the biggest practical update. Several MOSs now compete into different IMOS at the next grade compared to prior boards. Check your column carefully.

A smaller note for active-duty Marines

If you are a Reserve Marine on EAD recruiting duty, this board applies to you. You compete in the reserve component you are assigned to on the convening date, using your PMOS promotion zone. You are not exempt from this board just because you are on active orders.

The bottom line

The FY26 Reserve SNCO board has updated zones, feeders, and allocations. The original April message still governs most procedures, but use this May update for the actual zone and feeder data. Your RQS is due by 27 June 2026. Your PME and CRCR need to be reflected accurately in your record before the board sits.

What to do with this

If you are a GySgt, MSgt, or 1stSgt in a promotion zone:

Pull up MARADMIN 228/26 and find your PMOS in the feeder chart for your grade.
Confirm your IMOS and that you are competing in the right category.
Log into MOL and verify your CRCR shows at least 50 retirement points for the completed anniversary year.
Check MCTFS and your OMPF to confirm your PME school code and certificate are both present.
Submit your RQS no later than 27 June 2026.

If you are a GySgt competing for First Sergeant:

✦ You no longer need to submit a letter of intent. That step is gone.

✦ Your most recent fitness report must show an "F" in block 8h or you will not be considered.

✦ For billet questions, contact SgtMaj Hibbard at (703) 784-9100.

If you are an S-1, admin chief, or career planner:

✦ Cross-check the updated feeder chart against your unit's in-zone Marines.

✦ Notify anyone whose IMOS changed from what was in the April message.

✦ Remind all in-zone Marines of the 27 June RQS deadline now. Do not assume they saw this MARADMIN.

If you are an IRR Marine:

✦ Confirm you are coded as an active IRR participant.

✦ Verify your 50-point threshold on MOL.

✦ If something looks wrong, contact your nearest reserve support activity or the POCs listed above.

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 unit brief or a longer breakdown of how to read the feeder MOS chart? Both are easy to produce. Just ask.

CHANGE 1 TO THE FY 2026 RESERVE (SMCR-IMA-IRR) STAFF NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER (SNCO) PROMOTION SELECTION BOARD MARADMIN