FISCAL YEAR 2021 SELECTED MARINE CORPS RESERVE RESERVE OFFICER RETENTION BONUS AND FORWARD AIR CONTROLLER/AIR OFFICER RETENTION BONUS
Date Signed: 8/24/2020 | MARADMINS Number: 486/20
MARADMINS : 486/20

R 212030Z AUG 20
MARADMIN 486/20
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA RA//
SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2021 (FY21) SELECTED MARINE CORPS RESERVE (SMCR) RESERVE OFFICER RETENTION BONUS (RORB) AND FORWARD AIR CONTROLLER (FAC)/AIR OFFICER RETENTION BONUS//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/DODI 1304.34/YMD: 20160711//
REF/B/MSGID: DOC/CMC/YMD: 20170323//
REF/C/MSGID: DOC/MCTFSPRIUM/YMD: 20120807//
REF/D/MSGID: DOC/MCO 1001R.1L W/CH-1/YMD: 20180315//
NARR/REFERENCE (A) IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION 1304.34 GENERAL BONUS AUTHORITY FOR OFFICERS. REFERENCE (B) IS NAVMC 3500.42C, TACP T AND R MANUAL. REFERENCE (C) IS THE MARINE CORPS TOTAL FORCE SYSTEM PERSONNEL REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS MANUAL. REFERENCE (D) IS THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT MANUAL (MCRAMM).//
POC/S. A. BROCKWAY/MAJ/RA (RAP)/TEL: (703) 432-9771/EMAIL: RAP@USMC.MIL//
POC/D. P. KAYWOOD/GYSGT/RA (RAP)/TEL: (703) 432-9771/EMAIL: RAP@USMC.MIL//
POC/B. L. MARKS/GYSGT/RAM-1/TEL: (703) 432-9077/EMAIL: RAM-1@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  In accordance with (IAW) reference (a), this MARADMIN announces the eligibility, application procedures, and reporting procedures for the FY21 SMCR RORB and FAC/Air Officer Retention Bonus.  The 20,000 dollar lump sum bonuses are for company grade officers and chief warrant officers (CWO) joined to an SMCR unit.  Officers must be filling a valid Billet Identification Code (BIC) in their Military Occupational Specialty (MOS).  Officers will incur a three year drilling obligation in the approved SMCR BIC beginning on affiliation date.
2.  Unit and MOS eligibility
    a.  The FY21 20,000 dollar RORB is applicable to the following units for company grade officers with the required Primary MOS (PMOS)/Necessary MOS (NMOS) (read in four columns):
MOS   Unit Name                             City                State
0203  BTL SPACE SURV CO ISB FHG MARFORRES   Mobile              AL
0203  DS CO ISB MARFORRES                   Buckley AFB         CO
0203  DET 1 OPS CO ISB FHG MARFORRES        CP Lejeune          NC
0203  DET 3 OPS CO ISB FHG MARFORRES        Kelly               TX
0203  DS TM 23D MAR REGT 4TH MARDIV         San Bruno           CA
0203  HQTRS CO CLR 4 4TH MLG                Kansas City         MO
0204  DET 2 CI/ HUMINT CO A ISB FHG         San Antonio         TX
0204  DET 2 DS CO ISB FHG MARFORRES         Quantico            VA
0302  Rfl Co L 3/23 4th MARDIV              Montgomery          AL
0302  Rfl Co G 2/23 4th MARDIV              Pico Rivera         CA
0302  Rfl Co F 2/25 4th MARDIV              Plainville          CT
0302  Rfl Co B 1/24 4th MARDIV              Terre Haute         IN
0302  H&S Co 3/23 4th MARDIV                Bridgeton           MO
0302  Wpns Co 3/23 4th MARDIV               Springfield         MO
0302  Wpns Co 1/24 4th MARDIV               Perrysburg          OH
0302  Rfl Co C 1/23 4th MARDIV              Corpus Christi      TX
0302  H&S Co 2/23 4th MARDIV                Pasadena            CA
0302  Rfl Co F 2/23 4th MARDIV              Salt Lake City      UT
0302  Rfl Co I 3/23 4th MARDIV              N. Little Rock      AR
0302  Rfl Co C 1/24 4th MARDIV              Lansing             MI
0302  H&S Co 2/24 4th MARDIV                Chicago             IL
0302  Wpns/Rfl Co C 1/23 4th MARDIV         Harlingen           TX
0303  LAR CO C 4th LAR BN 4th MARDIV        CP Williams         UT
0303  LAR CO F 4th LAR BN 4th MARDIV        Columbia            SC
0802  HQTRS Btry 5/14 4th MARDIV            Seal Beach          CA
0802  6TH ANGLICO FHG MARFORRES             Ft. Lewis           WA
1803  AAV Co A 4th AA BN 4th MARDIV         Little Creek        VA
    b.  The FY21 20,000 dollar RORB is offered to CWOs assigned to an SMCR unit.  CWOs must be assigned to a BIC that matches their grade and MOS, or be an acceptable BIC mismatch IAW the SMCR BIC Assignment and Management Policy.
    c.  The FY21 20,000 dollar FAC/Air Officer Retention Bonus is for officers who possess the 7502 Additional MOS (AMOS) and are assigned to infantry, light armored reconnaissance, tank, reconnaissance battalions, infantry regiments, and Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Companies (ANGLICOs).
3.  Eligibility requirements
    a.  RORB.  Commissioned company grade officers and CWOs, including officers currently serving in an SMCR unit, who meet the MOS requirements in paragraph 2.
        (1) SMCR officers must be within 90 days of completing their current drilling obligation, or have completed any required service, and be serving in a Reserve Affairs (RA) validated BIC commensurate with the officer's grade and MOS prior to application submission.
        (2) SMCR officers conducting an inter-unit transfer (IUT) may request the RORB in conjunction with the IUT.  Adjudication of the RORB by RA will occur concurrently to the IUT approval.  Units must include a completed Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES) IUT request checklist (available from MARFORRES G-1 section), submitted with the Total Force Retention System (TFRS) request as an attachment.  The IUT checklist must be endorsed by the gaining command.
        (3) Officers serving in the Active Component (AC), Active Reserve (AR), Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), or Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) program are eligible to request this incentive once joined to an incentivized SMCR unit and valid BIC.
        (4) Prior service AC or AR officers must be released from active duty under honorable conditions.
        (5) Reserve officers must not have more than a four year break in service from the AC or last Selected Reserve assignment at the time the RORB is accepted.
        (6) SMCR officers that were commissioned via the Reserve Officer Commissioning Programs (OCC-R, RECP, and MCP-R) must be within 90 days of, or have already passed, their mandatory drill participation stop date (MDPSD).  The three year retention obligation is in addition to any remaining mandatory participation requirement.
        (7) IMAs are eligible regardless of the time remaining in their IMA tour.  Upon approval by RA, officers will be released from their IMA tour and assigned to the gaining SMCR unit.
        (8) Not be in receipt of, or entitled to receive retirement or retainer pay.
        (9) Officer must serve in a valid BIC as a grade and MOS match.  Lieutenants may fill a BIC one grade up; captains with no more than two years time in grade (TIG) are authorized to fill a BIC one grade down.  Captains with more than two years TIG are not eligible to receive this incentive while filling a lieutenant BIC.
        (10) Captains selected for promotion to major and captains in-zone for promotion to major are not eligible for this incentive.
        (11) Lieutenants, captains, or CWOs who have failed selection to the next higher grade while in a Reserve competitive category are not eligible for this incentive.  Failures of selection to the next higher grade incurred while in the Active Component competitive category do not necessarily disqualify an otherwise eligible officer.
        (12) CWOs who have completed any service obligation incurred from the Warrant Officer Accession Bonus, and have less than 16 years of satisfactory service, are eligible for the bonus.
        (13) Eligibility requirements may be waived by RA based on emergent needs of the Marine Corps Reserve.
    b.  FAC/Air Officer Retention Bonus
        (1) Commissioned company grade officers and majors with less than four years TIG, joined to an SMCR unit, in a valid FAC or Air Officer BIC.
        (2) The officer must possess the AMOS of 7502 and have a minimum of 12 months of currency remaining from their most recent 18 month evaluation IAW reference (b) certification.
        (3) Aviators who do not possess the AMOS 7502 must submit a Reenlistment Extension Lateral Move (RELM) via a Prior Service Recruiter (PSR)/Career Planner (CP) requesting to attend the Amphibious Tactical Air Control Party Course offered at Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Coronado, California, or NAB Little Creek, Virginia.  RA will execute payment upon completion of the required course and the AMOS reported in Marine Corps Total Force System (MCTFS).  School seats are limited and may not be available for all units.
        (4) Lieutenants or captains who have failed selection to the next higher grade while in the unrestricted Reserve competitive category are not eligible for this incentive.  Failures of selection to the next higher grade incurred while in the Active Component competitive category do not necessarily disqualify an otherwise eligible officer.
        (5) Application procedures.  The TFRS request must include training documentation verifying the officer’s graduation date from Amphibious Tactical Air Control Party Course or most recent 18 month evaluation if applicable.
        (6) Aviators who are between 30 to 42 months since their last successful evaluation (or original certification) may apply for the FAC/Air Officer Retention Bonus after joining the unit, provided they complete recertification prior to expiration of the 24 month window (e.g., 42 months since their last successful evaluation or original certification).
        (7) Recipients must serve in a FAC or Air Officer BIC in the assigned unit for three years.
        (8) Recipients must remain current and complete an evaluation every 18 months IAW reference (b).  Remaining current will require up to five days of active duty or up to 10 additional paid drills every six months.  These currency requirements are in addition to the unit’s 48-drill inactive duty training and annual training schedules.
        (9) Time previously served at the unit will not be applied toward the obligation specified in the statement of understanding (SOU).
        (10) In addition to the recoupment triggers outlined in paragraph 7 below, recoupment will be initiated if the officer is assigned to a BIC other than a FAC or Air Officer.  Recoupment will be initiated by the unit if the officer does not successfully complete an 18 month evaluation.
4.  Administrative guidance
    a.  PSRs will provide incentive requests along with the new join package to the unit CP for submission to RA for AC and IRR Marines effective the day the applicant joins the unit.  Unit CPs will submit the request for Marines that are current members of the AR, SMCR, and IMA Marines requesting to IUT to an SMCR unit.
    b.  Requests must be received by RA no later than 20 August 2021.  Officers must obtain RA bonus approval prior to 1 September 2021 and accept payment within 60 days or prior to 24 September 2021, whichever comes first.  Direct Affiliation Program participants must first join the approved BIC and SMCR unit prior to 24 September 2021 to be eligible for the bonus.  Failure to join the approved BIC and SMCR unit within this window will result in bonus revocation, except in conjunction with a lateral move, as specified in paragraph 5 below.
    c.  All requests must be submitted via TFRS to RA.
    d.  A signed SOU must be submitted with the TFRS request prior to issuance of a bonus.  SOUs can be retrieved via TFRS, or by visiting the Manpower and Reserve Affairs website at www.manpower.usmc.mil.  Select “Reserve Marine”, “RAM”, “RAM-1”, “Link to References”.
    e.  RA will adjudicate and return the officer incentive request via TFRS to the originator (PSR/CP) with the following items:
        (1) RA endorsed SOU with bonus approval or disapproval.
        (2) Incentive Administrative Reporting Guidance document.
    f.  Once the officer incentive request is accepted in TFRS, the following actions are required:
        (1) The originator must:
            (a) Enter the acceptance date in TFRS.
            (b) Provide the endorsed SOU, Incentive Administrative Reporting Guidance document, and TFRS approval to the unit’s administrative section for appropriate action.
        (2) The unit’s administrative section must:
            (a) Verify MCTFS D302 screen to validate posting of the obligation remark.
            (b) Report the reserve BIC via the Inventory Development Management System (IDMS), bonus PEF code, and applicable bonus entry per the Incentive Administrative Reporting Guidance document via the Unit Diary/Marine Integrated Personnel System (UD/MIPS).
            (c) E-mail the RA endorsed SOU to Manpower Management Records and Performance (MMRP) Branch for inclusion into the member’s Official Military Personnel File to smb.manpower.mmsb@usmc.mil.
    g.  Payment will execute upon completion of all MCTFS reporting and posting requirements IAW reference (c).
    h.  In the event the officer does not accept the bonus approval or join with the SMCR unit, the originator must notify RA via organizational mailbox at RAM-1@USMC.MIL.
    i.  Waiver requests with all required endorsements will be routed to RA and submitted as an attachment to the TFRS request at the time of submission.  Waiver requests submitted from PSRs will include Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruiting Command (MCRC) endorsement via MCRC OPS G-3.  Waiver requests submitted from CPs will include the member’s chain of command endorsements to include Commander, MARFORRES.  RA will approve/disapprove waiver requests in the adjudication process of the TFRS request.
    j.  Officers must affiliate with the gaining unit (if not already joined to an eligible unit/BIC) between 1 October 2020 and 1 September 2021.
    k.  All approved bonuses must be paid by 24 September 2021.
    l.  Marines in receipt of this bonus are required to waive the reasonable commuting distance requirement (if applicable) per reference (d).
5.  Retraining in conjunction with the RORB or FAC/Air Officer Retention Bonus
    a.  Requests for assignment to the SMCR lateral move program must be submitted and approved by RA prior to the Marine joining or agreeing to remain with the SMCR unit.
    b.  Marines assigned to the SMCR lateral move program must report for formal MOS training within 180 days of affiliation with the contracted SMCR unit.  Failure to meet this deadline will result in ineligibility for the applicable incentive, and may result in transfer to the IRR.
    c.  If a Marine is accepted to the SMCR lateral move program, payment of the applicable incentive will not be received until MOS training is complete.
    d.  Selection to major will disqualify an officer from retraining eligibility, with the exception of civil affairs and naval aviators approved for transition or conversion by the Deputy Commandant for Aviation or the Commanding General, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing.
    e.  The training requirements will not be waived.
6.  Obligation
    a.  Recipients of these incentives will incur a three year obligation to the SMCR beginning on the date affiliated with the unit or the SOU is signed, whichever is later.  The three year service obligation of officers who submit for the bonus during the last 90 days of their current SMCR obligation will not run concurrent.  The new three year obligation will begin upon completion of the current obligation.  Contractual time previously served will not be applied towards the new contractual obligation.
    b.  Recipients must serve in a BIC commensurate with their grade and MOS at the joining unit for three years.  Requests for IUT must be adjudicated by RA.  RA will be notified and the D302 MCTFS remarks updated in the case of a Marine who is later assigned to a different BIC.
    c.  Officers who have transferred their Post-9/11 GI Bill or Montgomery GI Bill-SelRes education benefits to a dependent or spouse in accordance with Department of Defense Instruction 1341.13 and Section 16132a of Title 10, U.S.C., are eligible for a retention bonus in accordance with reference (a).
7.  Recoupment.  Recoupment will occur on a prorated basis if the officer:
    a.  Fails to fulfill the three year service obligation.
    b.  Fails to participate satisfactorily in all scheduled drills and annual training IAW reference (b).
    c.  Executes a subsequent lateral move without RA approval.
    d.  Changes BICs without RA approval (this includes any excess BICs).
    e.  Executes an IUT without RA approval, including an IUT to a BIC with the same billet title/description.
    f.  Performs Active Duty Operational Support (ADOS) with a unit other than their own for a period greater than 90 cumulative days per FY without prior approval by RA.  Acceptance of ADOS orders to attend Expeditionary Warfare School (or other career-level PME) and/or Marine Corps Command and Staff (or other intermediate-level PME) will not count towards this 90 days but will require the extension of the MDPSD by the same number of days covered by the school ADOS orders.
    g.  Accesses to the AC or the AR program.
    h.  Elects to transfer to the IMA program, not due to Force Structure Review Group (FSRG) or Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) IAW paragraph 6b.
    i.  Transfers to the IRR or another Service.
    j.  Resigns his or her commission.
8.  Requests for early release or deferment of the three year service obligation shall be submitted to RA.
9.  The RORB and FAC/Air Officer Retention Bonus are distributed as a 20,000 dollar lump sum payment, less any applicable taxes, and will not be paid out while member is on active duty orders.
10.  Incentives will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted, or existing unit shortfalls are overcome.  Availability of funds will be updated periodically via TFRS message as required.
11.  Submission deadline is 31 August 2021.
12.  This MARADMIN cancels on 30 September 2021.
13.  Release authorized by Major General H. G. Pratt, Director, Reserve Affairs Division.//