R 241207Z JUL 17
MARADMIN 386/17
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/VERIFICATION OF PERSONAL DATA FOR ELIGIBLITY OF THE BLENDED RETIREMENT SYSTEM (BRS)//
REF/A/DOC/MCBUL/20170618//
REF/B/DOC/DON/20170427//
REF/C/DOC/MCO/20131126//
REF/D/MSG/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA/091726Z DEC 16//
AMPN/REF A IS MCBUL 1800, THE MARINE CORPS BRS POLICY. REF B IS THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY BRS IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE. REF C IS MCO 1900.16, THE MARINE CORPS SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT MANUAL (MARCORSEPMAN) WITH CHANGE 1 INCORPORATED. REF D IS MARADMIN 644/16, BLENDED RETIREMENT SYSTEM (BRS) OPT-IN ELIGIBLE POPULATION.//
POC/MAURICE GORDON/CIV/UNIT: MI/TEL: 703-432-9176 EMAIL: MAURICE.GORDON@USMC.MIL/ ALAN HARGIS/CIV/UNIT: MPO/TEL: 703-784-9386 EMAIL: ALAN.HARGIS@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  To encourage Marines to review their personnel records to verify the accuracy of the data elements in their record that affect eligibility and benefits under the BRS.  Marines should resolve any suspected errors with their personal information prior to 1 December 2017.
2.  Situation.  Per references (a) through (d), BRS goes into effect 1 January 2018.  The record review is particularly important for Marines who entered the Armed Forces via Service academies, Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) or Platoon Leaders Course (PLC) programs, who have broken service and/or service in another branch of the Armed Forces.  These Marines are at risk for inaccurate data elements that may affect BRS eligibility and benefits.
3.  Data Elements Defined
3.a.  The Date of Original Entry into Armed Forces (DOEAF) is established when an individual initially enlists or is appointed as a commissioned officer or warrant officer in the active component (AC) or reserve component (RC) of the Armed Forces.  For midshipmen at the Naval Academy, it is the date of entry into the academy.  For ROTC, it is the date of
scholarship contract or the date the advanced ROTC course began, whichever is earlier.  For the Delayed Entry Program (DEP), it is the date an enlistment contract (DD Form 4/1) is signed.  The DOEAF is not adjustable and is not affected by a break in service.
3.b.  The Pay Entry Base Date (PEBD) denotes how much of a Marines service is creditable towards longevity for pay purposes.  PEBD is adjusted for time lost and break in service.
3.c.  Retirement points are earned in the RC for active or inactive duty performed, reserve membership, and correspondence courses. The total point accumulation is recorded in a Marine’s Career Retirement Credit Report (CRCR).
3.d.  Break in service is a period of time during which a Marine is separated entirely from the service upon completion of all service obligations and returns to a civilian status for longer than 24 hours or is transferred to the inactive status list.
3.e.  Date of Birth (DOB) is the date a Marine was born as documented on the birth certificate.
4.  Significance of Data Elements
4.a.  For AC Marines, the DOEAF determines whether a Marine is grandfathered into the legacy retirement system (i.e., High-36 System) or is directly enrolled into the BRS as a new accession.  PEBD determines whether a Marine is eligible to opt in to the BRS.  Further, eligibility for continuation pay and Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) benefits are computed by a Marines PEBD.  Age-based withdrawals of TSP balances are based on the DOB.
4.b.  For RC Marines, including Active Reserve (AR), the DOEAF determines whether a Marine is grandfathered into the legacy retirement system (i.e., High-36 System) or is directly enrolled into the BRS as a new accession.  Total retirement point accumulation determines whether a Marine is eligible to opt in to the BRS.  Like AC Marines, eligibility for continuation pay and TSP benefits are computed from a Marine’s PEBD and age-based withdrawals of TSP balances are based on the DOB.
4.c.  During the BRS enrollment window in calendar year 2018, AC and RC Marines cannot record their election decision (i.e., remain in the legacy retirement system or opt into the BRS) until the BRS opt-in training has been completed.  Once the training is completed via Marine Net (Course Code BRSOPTIN01 or Course Code RESERVEBRS for reserve Marines), the completion will be automatically resident in Marine Corps Total Force System (MCTFS) within one or two business days.  If training is completed in a classroom setting by a certified financial instructor or online with Joint Knowledge Online, the training will be recorded by Unit Training Sections (S-3) using Marine Corps Training Information Management System (MCTIMS) or submitting
5.  Review of Personal Data Elements
5.a.  MOL will be the primary means to review the accuracy of your personal information.  The Basic Individual Record (BIR) under the Personal Information tab displays your DOEAF, PEBD, and DOB.  The CRCR under the Personal Information tab displays retirement point accumulation for RC Marines.  The Basic Training Record (BTR) or the Education section under the Personal Information tab will display your BRS opt-in course completion date.
5.b.  IPACs/ Admin Units are the secondary means to review the accuracy of your personal information.  If you do not have access to MOL, contact your servicing IPAC/Admin Unit to request a copy of your BIR and BTR, and CRCR as applicable.
6.  Correction of Personal Data Elements.  For AC and RC Marines, contact your unit S-1 to report any suspected errors with your DOEAF, PEBD, and DOB via the Electronic Personnel Action Request (EPAR) module in MOL.  Contact your Unit Training Section (S-3) if your BRS opt-in training completion is not reflected in your training record.
7.  Commanders, administrators, and individual Marines should proactively ensure that personal data elements are accurate.  Each Marine is responsible for their own personnel record.
8.  For more information on BRS, access the Marine Corps website for BRS (https:(slash)(slash)www.manpower.usmc.mil/BRS) or email your questions to BRS@usmc.mil.
9.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the Marine Corps Total Force.
10.  Release authorized by LtGen Mark. A. Brilakis, Deputy Commandant, Manpower and Reserve Affairs.//