121555Z Jan 17
MARADMIN 021/17
MSGID/MARADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA RA//
SUBJ/RESERVE OFFICER COMMISSIONING PROGRAM (ROCP) ONE YEAR EXPERIENCE TOUR – 2017 GUIDANCE//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/RAM-2/19JUL2016//
REF/B/MSGID: DOC/RAP/23DEC2015//
NARR/REFERENCE (A) IS MCO 1001R.65, RESERVE OFFICER COMMISSIONING PROGRAMS (ROCP). REFERENCE (B) IS MCO 1001R.1L, MARINE CORPS RESERVE ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT MANUAL//
POC/M. S. BECKER/CAPT/RAM-2/703-784-9149/MICHAEL.BECKER(AT)USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  This message provides guidance and procedures for execution of the ROCP one year experience tour program.
2.  Background.  In 2007, the ROCP was created to correct staffing deficiencies in the Selected Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR) company grade officer ranks.  To date, the ROCP has effectively bridged the gap in company grade officer shortages, commissioning more than 1100 reserve officers, thereby, greatly improving the SMCR staffing levels.  Prior to the creation of the ROCP, the primary source of accession into the SMCR came from experienced officers leaving the active component.  Accessing officers directly into the SMCR during a time with few activation opportunities for reserve units has decreased our ability to provide experience opportunities for newly accessed reserve officers, therefore, this new concept is intended to ensure our reserve officer corps is afforded operational tours to gain experience and provides another method by which the reserve component seeks to actively support and augment the active component.  The initial accession phase of this program provides one year experience tours to newly accesses ROCP lieutenants.  At the completion of their one year experience tour, ROCP lieutenants return to their assigned SMCR unit with a stable foundation to build their career.
3.  Intent.  Provide newly accessed reserve officers the opportunity for an operational tour to gain leadership and technical experience, appropriate to their grade and primary military occupation specialty (PMOS), by providing Active Duty Operational Support (ADOS) opportunities within 30 days after graduating from MOS school.
4.  Accession process and acceptance of experience tour orders.
    a.  While at The Basic School (TBS):
        (1) Lieutenants will accept an experience tour while attending TBS.  Lieutenants who do not wish to participate in the experience tour will communicate their intent to the ROCP manger in an Administrative Action (AA) form during the MOS designation and unit assignment process.
        (2) The ROCP manager will coordinate with MMOA to determine one year experience tour assignments for ROCP lieutenants.
        (3) Lieutenants will be provided their MOS classification, SMCR unit assignment, and one year experience tour assignment all prior to leaving TBS.
    b.  While at MOS school:
         (1) Lieutenants who did not accept an experience tour while at TBS may do so while at MOS school by submitting an AA Form to CMC (RA).
         (2) MOS schools will direct ROCP lieutenants assigned to units within 150 miles of their primary residence to immediately report to their unit after graduation.  Lieutenants assigned to units outside of 150 miles will be directed to report no later than 10 days following graduation.
    c.  Upon joining the SMCR:
        (1) Lieutenants who did not accept an experience tour prior to completing initial accession training may do so by submitting an AA Form to CMC (RA).
        (2) SMCR units will join ROCP lieutenants reporting from MOS school to the Billet Identification Code (BIC) assigned by CMC while at TBS.  Lieutenants will remain assigned to this BIC for the duration of their experience tour.
        (3) SMCR units will ensure primary residence addresses are accurately reflected in the Marine Corps Total Force System (MCTFS).
        (4) SMCR units will authenticate experience tour orders as required.
    d.  Reserve Affairs is prepared to draft and fund ADOS orders that provide permanent change of station authority to move lieutenants to their assigned one year experience tour.  To reduce confusion and to ensure the correct payment of entitlements, one year experience tour orders will not commence until a lieutenant has joined their SMCR unit and all administrative actions on the period of active duty covering initial accession training have been completed.
    e.  Gaining commands are required to ensure ROCP lieutenants are employed according to the billet they have been assigned to within their reporting orders.
    f.  Upon completion of their one year experience tour, officers will report to their originally assigned reserve training center, and begin drilling with their assigned reserve unit.
5.  Eligibility.
    a.  Grade requirements.  Must be a second lieutenant or a first lieutenant with less than three months time in grade.
    b.  Commissioning source.  Must be commissioned under the Reserve Officer Commission Program.
    c.  Direct questions regarding eligibility to the point of contact listed above.
6.  Coordinating Instructions.
    a.  CMC (RA) is the ROCP manager and the point of contact for the one year experience tour program.  The ROCP manager is responsible for the overall planning, coordination, and execution of the ROCP one year experience tour program.
    b.  Requests for one year experience tours made after completing TBS should be sent to the RA Personnel Management Branch (RAM) organizational mail box:  joinar(at)usmc.mil
    c.  One year experience tour orders and the continuation of this program is dependent on the availability of funds.
8.  This message cancels and replaces MARADMIN 256/12.
9.  Release authorized by Colonel J. M. Morrisroe, Director, Reserve Affairs Division, Acting.//