R 051915Z OCT 17
MARADMIN 553/17
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA RA//
SUBJ/POLICY CLARIFICATION REGARDING JOINING PRIOR SERVICE (PS) MARINES TO SELECTED MARINE CORPS RESERVE (SMCR) UNITS//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/CMC/YMD: 20151223//
REF/B/MSGID: DOC/MCTFSPRIUM/YMD: 20120807//
REF/C/MSGID: DOC/CMC/YMD: 20110502//
NARR/REFERENCE (A) IS MCO 1001R.1L MARINE CORPS RESERVE ADMINISTRATION MANAGEMENT MANUAL. REFERENCE (B) IS MCO 1040R.35 RESERVE CAREER RETENTION AND DEVELOPMENT MANUAL. REFERENCE (C) IS MCO 1080.40C MARINE CORPS TOTAL FORCE SYSTEM (MCTFS) PERSONNEL REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS USER MANUAL (PRIUM).//
POC/S. P. NORTON/MAJ/RA (RAP)/TEL: (703)784-9136/EMAIL: RAP@USMC.MIL//
POC/C. A. HINES/MAJ/MCRC (PSR)/TEL: (703)784-9900/EMAIL: CHARLES.HINES@MARINES.USMC.MIL//
POC/P. A. WRIGHT/CIV/MARFORRES G-1 MPWR/TEL: (504)697-7192/EMAIL: PHILLIP.A.WRIGHT@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  To provide policy clarification regarding joining PS Marines to SMCR units.  This clarification will be incorporated as part of the ongoing revisions to reference (a) and are forthcoming.
2.  General
    a.  Marine Corps Recruiting Command (MCRC) Prior Service Recruiters (PSR) are responsible for processing all PS applicants unless stated otherwise in the annual join credit policy.
    b.  PSRs are responsible for ensuring PS Marines meet the moral, medical and professional standards for SMCR affiliation.  If a unit commander believes a Marine is unqualified for affiliation in accordance with references (b), then the commander, or a designated representative, must complete a rejection of accession (ROA) within three working days of receiving the MCRC PSR Form 10 (New Join Worksheet).  See paragraph 5 of this message for details.
3.  Orientation Briefings for PS Marines
    a.  The orientation brief should be conducted by the SMCR unit Commanding Officer (CO)/Officer in Charge (OIC) or the Inspector-Instructor (I-I)/ Site Commander.  The orientation brief is neither an interview nor a screening process to determine suitability for service in the Marine Corps Reserve.
    b.  COMMARFORRES is responsible for ensuring SMCR units conduct an orientation brief with PS Marine applicants, similar to that provided to non-prior service Marines.  The orientation brief should be conducted by the SMCR unit CO/OIC or the I-I/Site Commander to welcome and become acquainted with new unit members after unit acceptance and join.  The brief should convey a sense of camaraderie and familiarize the new member with the unit as well as duties and training highlights.
    c.  The orientation brief should occur within the first 30 days of affiliation.  If an in-person orientation is not feasible, an orientation via telephone with an official command representative may be arranged.
    d.  At a minimum, the briefing should:
        (1) Identify and resolve any geographic, occupational, or other circumstances that might interfere with inactive duty training attendance or scheduled active duty dates.
        (2) Discuss duties and training highlights.
        (3) Answer any questions the joining Marine might have.
    e.  Commanders will not make local policies that restrict prior service recruiting in any way.  For example, PS Marines are not required to provide fitness reports, Master Brief Sheets, letters of recommendation, or any other material not listed in the MCRC PSR Form 10.
    f.  Commanders may request that staff noncommissioned officers and officers submit a Reserve Qualification Summary (RQS) during the join process.
4.  Join Procedures.  Units will adhere to the following join procedures:
    a.  Unit commanders, or their designated representative, will provide an acceptance or rejection decision upon presentation of a complete, qualified PS join package.
    b.  MCTFS.  Units will report the join via unit diary within five working days of the signed MCRC PSR Form 10.  PSRs will present the unit with all requirements of reference (c) to complete the join.
    c.  Unit Join Date.  The join date will be the effective date the MCRC PSR Form 10 is signed by the designated unit representative and the PS Marine.  These procedures have been established to ensure that PS Marines are properly charged to the unit and paid on the first drill the Marine performs.  Failure to follow the procedures per reference (c) can result in issues of accountability.
5.  Rejection of Accession
    a.  Unit commanders or their representative will not reject a PS Marine for affiliation unless one of the following applies:
        (1) Unqualified.  The applicant is unqualified for affiliation in accordance with reference (a) and (b).
        (2) BIC Availability.  If there is no BIC available for the Marine, then the unit cannot join the Marine.  An interunit transfer not currently pending in the Inventory Development and Management System, or a non-obligor Marine in an excess BIC are not reasons for rejection.
   b.  ROA Submissions.  The unit commander, or designated representative, will scan and email the signed MCRC PSR Form 10 to the MARFORRES manpower officer via the organizational mailbox (MFR_Manpower@usmc.mil) within three working days of being presented the join package by a PSR.  The email must include the specific reason(s) for the ROA.  For example:  an ROA due to non-availability of a valid BIC must include the complete BIC intended to be filled by the PS Marine, the date of the BIC/needs report used by the unit to confirm the non-availability of the BIC, the name(s) of the incumbents currently holding the BIC, etc.
   c.  ROA Validation.  MARFORRES will coordinate with the applicable chain of command to validate the ROA within three working days.  If MARFORRES reverses the units ROA, the unit will be directed to complete the unit acceptance and join process immediately.
6.  This clarification to policy is effective immediately.
7.  Release authorized by Colonel J. M. Morrisroe, Director, Reserve Affairs Division, Acting.//