I understand the pressure for this. I understand the senior field grade boards have struggled to fill demand. To be frocked, you have to be selected for promotion; this is non-selected pseudo frocking...brevet promotions. It will be interesting to see what MOS's these go to and how many get assigned.
This SPOT issue seems like another paper cut. The macro issue seems to be working at both ends, recruitment of young men and women who wish to make the commitment and sacrifice to join a branch of the US Military. cfrog has posted some detailed discussion of the problems there, particularly the DEP, robbing Peter to pay Paul to maintain and or meet the overall recruiting requirements. At the other end there seems to be a disconnect of such significance at the 04/05/06 level that Manpower has had to resort to the SPOT program. On its face in the post it seems cockeyed. That said, one of the best instructors at IOC in the fall of 1978, was an LDO Captain, who had many years of enlisted ranks infantry experience. “Don’t look at me Lieutenant, it’s your field problem to figure out!”
It does all seem to funnel back to a senior leadership that is either confused, or does not know what the Hell it is doing, so it shouts out orders. We have all been there, “Brown side out! Green side out”, all in the hopes of coming to conclusions that get them out of the mess the Corps is in. A mess partially of their own making, but equally a sign of a more general malaise and skepticism of the American public and their view of civilian and military leadership. There is an unwillingness to make sacrifices for nebulous future outcomes especially when it may mean the blood and treasure of a working poor or middle class family, is lost for eternity, because of failed foreign policy adventures. The past 20 plus years provide a poor fact pattern for recruitment purposes.
I suspect an already demoralized Marine Officers Corps, many of whom are experienced in years of war will find this shell game of spot promotion another reason to seek greener pastures. If your short on officers and you spot promote who fills the empty billet? CMC reportedly told the Majors to stop thinking, they took his pieces of silver and must pay the devil, click their heels, salute and March or Die to Force Design, or possibly just Die because of this untested, defensive disaster. So in end the you will fill your Officer Corps w sycophants and DEI/CRT picks.
Perhaps this is a late April fools' prank? Well, I'm not laughing. If it's not a joke, then this is one of the most boneheaded things I have ever seen! With thinking such as this no wonder things are in disarray! If we as Americans want a first-class military then we will need to "pay" for it....no not with just a few extra $$$ in their paychecks but with first-class facilities, etc! I saw first-hand the slow but steady degradation of services and facilities during the course of my 20 yrs and it has continued unabated. Somehow the bean counters think that adding a few extra bucks but taking away lots of other things will somehow balance out and maybe we will not notice! I in good conscience could not and will not tell a young person today that making a career of the military is a wise life decision! Just look at what was available from the late 70s to now. Does anyone really believe that you can get fantastic deals at the BX/AAFES/NEX? At checkout there is always a banner of some sort that says we provided $$$$$ back to the military community. Great, but whose money is that? It's our money and we been self-funding our own bowling alleys, hobby shops, etc. Those that cost too much money were then shuttered! Maybe we should not have a top tier military......especially if we are not willing to pay for it. Lastly, I most definitely would encourage all able-bodied men and women to serve BUT be very careful when deciding to make a career of it.
SUBJ/CONVENING OF THE FY26 U.S. MARINE CORPS COLONEL AND LIEUTENANT COLONEL SPOT PROMOTION SELECTION BOARDS//
REF/A/MSGID:MSG/CMC/201845ZMAR24//
NARR/REF A IS MARADMIN 140/24, CONVENING OF THE FY26 U.S. MARINE CORPS COLONEL, LIEUTENANT COLONEL AND MAJOR PROMOTION SELECTION BOARDS AND ALL-FULLY QUALIFIED CAPTAIN SELECTION PROCESS.
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. This MARADMIN announces the convening of the FY26 U.S. Marine Corps Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel Spot Promotion Selection Boards to consider officers for temporary promotion to Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel. The boards will convene at Harry Lee Hall, Marine Corps Base, Quantico, VA, as follows:
1 May 2024 - Colonel
7 May 2024 - Lieutenant Colonel
2. 10 U.S.C. Section 605 authorizes the temporary promotion of lieutenant colonels and majors to the next higher grade when those officers possess skills in which the Marine Corps is critically short, and the officers serve in designated qualifying billets. Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC), Manpower Management Officer Assignments (MMOA) manages the list of qualifying billets and will make it available once approved by the Secretary of the Navy. Officers selected for temporary promotion upon reporting to a qualifying billet will wear the insignia and uniform, assume the title of the next higher grade, and receive pay and benefits commensurate with the higher grade.
3. Spot Promotion Boards.
3.a. Colonel Spot Promotion Board. The Colonel spot promotion board will consider officers eligible for the FY26 USMC Colonel Promotion Selection Board (above-zone, in-zone, and below-zone) who are not selected by the FY26 Colonel Promotion Selection Board for permanent promotion to colonel. Above-zone officers who failed selection to colonel more than three times are not eligible for consideration for a spot promotion to colonel.
3.b. Lieutenant Colonel Spot Promotion Board. The Lieutenant Colonel spot promotion board will consider officers eligible for the FY26 USMC Lieutenant Colonel Promotion Selection Board (in-zone and below-zone) with a primary military occupational specialty of 0102, who are not selected by the FY26 USMC Lieutenant Colonel Promotion Selection Board for permanent promotion to lieutenant colonel.
4. Date of Rank. The date of rank and effective date for pay and allowances of the temporary grade will be stated in the officer’s appointment.
5. Request to forgo consideration. Officers who do not desire a temporary promotion or assignment to a qualifying billet should request to forgo consideration by the spot promotion board by submitting correspondence to CMC, Manpower Management Performance Branch, Officer Promotions Unit (MMPB-10). Officers may upload requests to the Board Correspondence Portal at https:(slash)(slash)www2.manpower.usmc.mil/application_cac/. Officers should submit requests in the portal using the appropriate grade spot promotion board link. The spot promotion board will not consider any officer who writes a letter requesting to forgo consideration by the spot promotion board. Requests must be received NLT the spot promotion board convene date.
6. Status of Spot Promoted Officers. Spot promotions do not affect an officer’s eligibility for subsequent consideration by statutory promotion selection boards.
7. Termination of Temporary Grade. Temporary appointments terminate the day an officer detaches from a qualifying billet. Upon termination, officers revert to the highest permanent grade held prior to the appointment, unless the officer's temporary grade is terminated as a result of promotion to the permanent grade. Officers may transfer from one qualifying billet immediately to another qualifying billet without termination of the temporary grade.
8. Post-board Information and Guidance. Officers may view the approval progress of spot promotion boards from the officer promotion homepage.
8.a. MMPB-10 will publish spot promotion board results when results are approved for release.
8.b. Officers selected for temporary appointment should contact MMOA for assignment information. Upon executing orders to a qualifying billet, officers incur a two-year service obligation. This obligation will run concurrently with other incurred service obligations.
8.c. Slating for officers selected by the spot promotion boards is expected to begin in FY25.
9. Personal Responsibilities. Each officer is personally responsible for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of their OMPF and MBS before the date the board convenes. Refer to reference (a) for information on obtaining and reviewing your OMPF and fitness report submission guidelines and timelines.
10. Officer Correspondence. All eligible officers may, if desired, submit correspondence to the President of the Spot Promotion Board. MMPB-10 will provide officer correspondence received for the FY26 USMC Colonel and FY26 USMC Lieutenant Colonel permanent promotion boards to the appropriate spot promotion boards for consideration. Refer to reference (a) on correspondence submission requirements and forwarding options.
11. Release authorized by BGen Ryan S. Rideout, Director, Manpower Management Division.//
Sam, although I don't agree with the 'out of control' hyperbolic remarks, you ask a great question. How are these promotions being funded? I suspect they get confirmed like any other promotion...because the Senate confirms the names the service gives them. Knowing what I know about the boards...perhaps this is a way of getting a de facto LDO Col / LtCol without putting them into the mix of consideration for higher rank. Yes, I know the water is now muddied...does selection for SPOT make an officer more competitive, or does selection for SPOT advance an otherwise uncompetitive officer? A lot of unknowns with this.
I understand the pressure for this. I understand the senior field grade boards have struggled to fill demand. To be frocked, you have to be selected for promotion; this is non-selected pseudo frocking...brevet promotions. It will be interesting to see what MOS's these go to and how many get assigned.
This SPOT issue seems like another paper cut. The macro issue seems to be working at both ends, recruitment of young men and women who wish to make the commitment and sacrifice to join a branch of the US Military. cfrog has posted some detailed discussion of the problems there, particularly the DEP, robbing Peter to pay Paul to maintain and or meet the overall recruiting requirements. At the other end there seems to be a disconnect of such significance at the 04/05/06 level that Manpower has had to resort to the SPOT program. On its face in the post it seems cockeyed. That said, one of the best instructors at IOC in the fall of 1978, was an LDO Captain, who had many years of enlisted ranks infantry experience. “Don’t look at me Lieutenant, it’s your field problem to figure out!”
It does all seem to funnel back to a senior leadership that is either confused, or does not know what the Hell it is doing, so it shouts out orders. We have all been there, “Brown side out! Green side out”, all in the hopes of coming to conclusions that get them out of the mess the Corps is in. A mess partially of their own making, but equally a sign of a more general malaise and skepticism of the American public and their view of civilian and military leadership. There is an unwillingness to make sacrifices for nebulous future outcomes especially when it may mean the blood and treasure of a working poor or middle class family, is lost for eternity, because of failed foreign policy adventures. The past 20 plus years provide a poor fact pattern for recruitment purposes.
Thanks…I am using 2 means to view and comment. Not always synchronized.
I suspect an already demoralized Marine Officers Corps, many of whom are experienced in years of war will find this shell game of spot promotion another reason to seek greener pastures. If your short on officers and you spot promote who fills the empty billet? CMC reportedly told the Majors to stop thinking, they took his pieces of silver and must pay the devil, click their heels, salute and March or Die to Force Design, or possibly just Die because of this untested, defensive disaster. So in end the you will fill your Officer Corps w sycophants and DEI/CRT picks.
Perhaps this is a late April fools' prank? Well, I'm not laughing. If it's not a joke, then this is one of the most boneheaded things I have ever seen! With thinking such as this no wonder things are in disarray! If we as Americans want a first-class military then we will need to "pay" for it....no not with just a few extra $$$ in their paychecks but with first-class facilities, etc! I saw first-hand the slow but steady degradation of services and facilities during the course of my 20 yrs and it has continued unabated. Somehow the bean counters think that adding a few extra bucks but taking away lots of other things will somehow balance out and maybe we will not notice! I in good conscience could not and will not tell a young person today that making a career of the military is a wise life decision! Just look at what was available from the late 70s to now. Does anyone really believe that you can get fantastic deals at the BX/AAFES/NEX? At checkout there is always a banner of some sort that says we provided $$$$$ back to the military community. Great, but whose money is that? It's our money and we been self-funding our own bowling alleys, hobby shops, etc. Those that cost too much money were then shuttered! Maybe we should not have a top tier military......especially if we are not willing to pay for it. Lastly, I most definitely would encourage all able-bodied men and women to serve BUT be very careful when deciding to make a career of it.
We should be encouraging Marines to make a career of the Corps, not denigrating and making light of service to the nation. Disgusting.
My head is spinning……add this to the list of new acronyms…WEZ, FD, SIF, MLR, THE DON/USMC..HAS BECOME AN ORWELLIAN LAND OF INSANITY.
Be a SPOT! R 291722Z MAR 24
MARADMIN 162/24
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//
SUBJ/CONVENING OF THE FY26 U.S. MARINE CORPS COLONEL AND LIEUTENANT COLONEL SPOT PROMOTION SELECTION BOARDS//
REF/A/MSGID:MSG/CMC/201845ZMAR24//
NARR/REF A IS MARADMIN 140/24, CONVENING OF THE FY26 U.S. MARINE CORPS COLONEL, LIEUTENANT COLONEL AND MAJOR PROMOTION SELECTION BOARDS AND ALL-FULLY QUALIFIED CAPTAIN SELECTION PROCESS.
POC/M.D. SCOTTO/MAJ/MMOA/-/TEL: (703) 784-9284/EMAIL: MICHAEL.D.SCOTTO@USMC.MIL//
POC/M.J. MCCLINNIS/MAJ/MMPB-10/-/TEL: (703) 784-9704/EMAIL: MELANIE.MCCLINNIS@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. This MARADMIN announces the convening of the FY26 U.S. Marine Corps Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel Spot Promotion Selection Boards to consider officers for temporary promotion to Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel. The boards will convene at Harry Lee Hall, Marine Corps Base, Quantico, VA, as follows:
1 May 2024 - Colonel
7 May 2024 - Lieutenant Colonel
2. 10 U.S.C. Section 605 authorizes the temporary promotion of lieutenant colonels and majors to the next higher grade when those officers possess skills in which the Marine Corps is critically short, and the officers serve in designated qualifying billets. Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC), Manpower Management Officer Assignments (MMOA) manages the list of qualifying billets and will make it available once approved by the Secretary of the Navy. Officers selected for temporary promotion upon reporting to a qualifying billet will wear the insignia and uniform, assume the title of the next higher grade, and receive pay and benefits commensurate with the higher grade.
3. Spot Promotion Boards.
3.a. Colonel Spot Promotion Board. The Colonel spot promotion board will consider officers eligible for the FY26 USMC Colonel Promotion Selection Board (above-zone, in-zone, and below-zone) who are not selected by the FY26 Colonel Promotion Selection Board for permanent promotion to colonel. Above-zone officers who failed selection to colonel more than three times are not eligible for consideration for a spot promotion to colonel.
3.b. Lieutenant Colonel Spot Promotion Board. The Lieutenant Colonel spot promotion board will consider officers eligible for the FY26 USMC Lieutenant Colonel Promotion Selection Board (in-zone and below-zone) with a primary military occupational specialty of 0102, who are not selected by the FY26 USMC Lieutenant Colonel Promotion Selection Board for permanent promotion to lieutenant colonel.
4. Date of Rank. The date of rank and effective date for pay and allowances of the temporary grade will be stated in the officer’s appointment.
5. Request to forgo consideration. Officers who do not desire a temporary promotion or assignment to a qualifying billet should request to forgo consideration by the spot promotion board by submitting correspondence to CMC, Manpower Management Performance Branch, Officer Promotions Unit (MMPB-10). Officers may upload requests to the Board Correspondence Portal at https:(slash)(slash)www2.manpower.usmc.mil/application_cac/. Officers should submit requests in the portal using the appropriate grade spot promotion board link. The spot promotion board will not consider any officer who writes a letter requesting to forgo consideration by the spot promotion board. Requests must be received NLT the spot promotion board convene date.
6. Status of Spot Promoted Officers. Spot promotions do not affect an officer’s eligibility for subsequent consideration by statutory promotion selection boards.
7. Termination of Temporary Grade. Temporary appointments terminate the day an officer detaches from a qualifying billet. Upon termination, officers revert to the highest permanent grade held prior to the appointment, unless the officer's temporary grade is terminated as a result of promotion to the permanent grade. Officers may transfer from one qualifying billet immediately to another qualifying billet without termination of the temporary grade.
8. Post-board Information and Guidance. Officers may view the approval progress of spot promotion boards from the officer promotion homepage.
8.a. MMPB-10 will publish spot promotion board results when results are approved for release.
8.b. Officers selected for temporary appointment should contact MMOA for assignment information. Upon executing orders to a qualifying billet, officers incur a two-year service obligation. This obligation will run concurrently with other incurred service obligations.
8.c. Slating for officers selected by the spot promotion boards is expected to begin in FY25.
9. Personal Responsibilities. Each officer is personally responsible for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of their OMPF and MBS before the date the board convenes. Refer to reference (a) for information on obtaining and reviewing your OMPF and fitness report submission guidelines and timelines.
10. Officer Correspondence. All eligible officers may, if desired, submit correspondence to the President of the Spot Promotion Board. MMPB-10 will provide officer correspondence received for the FY26 USMC Colonel and FY26 USMC Lieutenant Colonel permanent promotion boards to the appropriate spot promotion boards for consideration. Refer to reference (a) on correspondence submission requirements and forwarding options.
11. Release authorized by BGen Ryan S. Rideout, Director, Manpower Management Division.//
Already linked in Compass Point's post.
Are SPOT Promotions authorized in Gold Water Nichols or anywhere else? Or is this another “DICTATE FROM AN OUT OF CONTROL COMMANDANT”?
Sam, although I don't agree with the 'out of control' hyperbolic remarks, you ask a great question. How are these promotions being funded? I suspect they get confirmed like any other promotion...because the Senate confirms the names the service gives them. Knowing what I know about the boards...perhaps this is a way of getting a de facto LDO Col / LtCol without putting them into the mix of consideration for higher rank. Yes, I know the water is now muddied...does selection for SPOT make an officer more competitive, or does selection for SPOT advance an otherwise uncompetitive officer? A lot of unknowns with this.