U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. John Hall, a combat photographer, takes a picture in the promotion photo studio at Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., in June 2019. (Isaac Martinez/U.S. Marine Corps)
Marines will once again need to keep their uniforms photo-ready, per new guidance released last week that reinstates the use of official photos in certain selection board processes.
Marines may now be evaluated on appearance for boards “pertaining to assignment, training, education, and command,” the service announced Thursday.
However, the memo reaffirms that photographs remain prohibited for promotion selection boards.
This update rolls back a 2020 policy, issued by then-Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, that directed all military branches to stop using official photos in promotion and selection processes to reduce appearance-based bias and ensure “equal opportunity for all who serve.”
The Combat Visual Information Center’s photo studio displays where Marines capture official photographs of personnel stationed across Okinawa, on Sept. 20, 2021. The Marine Corps released guidance Dec. 4 stating that official service photographs will be considered again for non-promotion selection boards. (Ryan Pulliam / Marine Corps)
At the time, the policy was issued in order to minimize appearance-based discrimination and give “equal opportunity for all who serve,” according to Esper’s 2020 memo.
Headquarters Marine Corps will have access to Marines’ official military personnel file photographs during non-promotion selection boards for both active-duty and reserve components starting April 1.
Photos must be taken by authorized Marine Corps or Defense Department photography offices within 365 days of the board convening to be considered current.
The Marine Corps’ new guidance references a pair of 2025 decisions by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that rescinded the 2020 photo ban, allowing service photos to return for most selection boards except those for promotion.
The service noted that restoring limited use of photographs allows board members to assess “the visible expression of discipline,” including adherence to height and weight standards.
A list of applicable boards that will use photographs was posted Dec. 4 on an official Marine Corps website, but may be updated as needed, the memo said.
