R 281936Z FEB 22
MARADMIN 084/22
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/CALENDAR YEAR 2023 CONTINUATION PAY PROGRAM FOR BLENDED RETIREMENT SYSTEM PARTICIPANTS//
REF/A/DOC/USC/2016//
REF/B/DOC/ASN/20170426//
REF/C/DOC/MCBUL/20210615//
REF/D/MSG/MARADMIN/20211203//
REF/E/MSG/MARADMIN/20170428//
REF/F/DOC/MCTFS-PRIUM/20180417//
AMPN/REF A IS TITLE 37 U.S. CODE SECTION 356. REF B IS ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE NAVY (MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS) MEMORANDUM, IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BLENDED RETIREMENT SYSTEM. REF C IS MCBUL 1800, THE MARINE CORPS BRS POLICY. REF D IS MARADMIN 691/21 WHICH ANNOUNCED THE CALENDAR YEAR 2022 CONTINUATION PAY PROGRAM. REF E IS MARADMIN 210/17 WHICH DISCONTINUED CAREER STATUS BONUS AND REDUX RETIREMENT PLAN. REF F IS MCTFS-PRIUM CH 9 SECTION 18.//
POC1/ALAN HARGIS/CIV/MPO/TEL: 703-784-9386/EMAIL: ALAN.HARGIS@USMC.MIL//
POC2/MATTHEW ERVINE/MAJ/MPO/TEL: 703-784-9563/EMAIL: MATTHEW.ERVINE@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  To announce the new increased pay rate for Continuation Pay (CP) offered to Blended Retirement System (BRS) participants who complete 12 years of service (YOS) during calendar year 2023 and commit to serve four additional years.
2.  Background. Per the references, CP is a cash incentive for BRS participants.  CP is offered during the midpoint of a Marine’s career to ensure retention of Marines for force management purposes.
3.  Force Management.  Retaining our experienced and highly skilled Marines at their mid-career point is important to sustain our force end-strength in the active and reserve components.
4.  Eligibility.  Effective 1 January 2023, the new CP rates described herein will go into effect for BRS participants who complete 12 years and zero days of service, calculated by their pay entry base date, during calendar year 2023, and commit to serve an additional four years’ service obligation.  This obligation will run concurrent with any existing service obligation.  The new CP rates apply to both officers and enlisted Marines regardless of primary military occupational specialty.
5.  New CP Rates.
5.A.  Active Component and Active Reserve (AR) Marines.  The CP pay rate doubles from 2.5 to 5.0 times the monthly basic pay at the over 12 years basic pay rate.
5.B.  Selected Reserve (non-AR).  CP pay rate doubles from 0.5 to 1.0 times the monthly basic pay, based on active duty basic pay, at the over 12 years basic pay rate.
6.  Relationship to Other Pays and Allowances.  CP is in addition to any other pays or allowances to which the Marine is entitled.  Payment and receipt of CP does not disqualify a Marine from receipt of other pays or allowances.
7.  The new CP rates described herein do not apply to Marines who reached 12 years and zero days of service before calendar year 2023.  The existing CP rates remain in effect for such Marines as described in reference (d).
8.  Effect of CP Payment on Military Retired Pay.  A Marine’s receipt of CP payment, whether it is received in annual installments or in a single lump payment, does not cause a change in the dollar amount or timing of retired annuity pay the Marine would receive should he or she qualify for retired pay.  Importantly, CP should not be confused with the Career Status Bonus (CSB) that was offered under the REDUX Retirement Plan which was discontinued on 1 January 2018, as announced in reference (e). Unlike the CSB, CP does not cause a reduction in a Marine’s retired annuity pay.
9.  CP Training.  Eligible Marines are encouraged to make a CP election after having completed CP training and no later than three (3) months prior to the beginning of their 12th year of service.  The preferred method to complete training is via the Marine’s installation Personal Financial Manager (PFM).   PFMs offer in-person and virtual training options.  Marines whose permanent duty status (PDS) is not located near a Marine Corps installation should contact a PFM closest to their PDS.  
10.  CP Election Procedures.  Eligible Marines must sign a statement of understanding (i.e., NAVMC 11905 for active component or NAVMC 11908 for Select Reserve), accepting or declining CP, before reaching 12 years and zero days of service.  Administrative guidance and CP election procedures remain unchanged and are contained within references (c) and (f).
11.  Recoupment of CP.  Marines who receive CP and do not fulfill their additional obligated service are subject to recoupment of the unearned portion of CP as described in reference (c).  The additional obligated service incurred as a result of electing to receive CP must be served in the component in which the Marine is serving at the time of agreement.  For example, AR Marines who elect to receive CP must serve the additional obligated service in the AR program.
12.  More information, to include local PFM contact information, can be found at M&RA(MPO) webpage (https:(slash)(slash)www.manpower.usmc.mil/webcenter/portal/MPO/pages_compensation).  Send your questions to CMC(MPO) at mpo@usmc.mil.
13.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the Marine Corps Total Force.
14.  Release authorized by BGen A. T. Williamson, Director, Manpower Plans and Policy Division.//