R 102155Z SEP 10
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 505/10
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/MCBUL 5314 ENLISTED CAREER FORCE CONTROLS (ECFC) PROGRAM//
REF/A/MSG/CMC/051459ZOCT2009//
REF/B/MSG/CMC/021335ZNOV2009//
REF/C/DOC/CMC/01OCT2002//
REF/D/DOC/CMC/11MAY2006//
REF/E/DOC/CMC/30MAY2001//
REF/F/DOC/CMC/23JUN2004//
REF/G/MSG/CMC/311925ZJAN2007//
REF/H/MSG/CMC/241036ZJUN2009//
REF/I/DOC/USC TITLE 10 SECT 1174//
REF/J/DOC/CNO/20DEC2005//
NARR/  REF A IS MARADMIN 0593/09 ECFC PROGRAM FOR FY10.
REF B IS MARADMIN 0646/09 CHANGE 1 TO FY10 ECFC PROGRAM.
REF C IS MCO 1130.80A, PRIOR SERVICE AND RESERVE AUGMENTATION ENLISTMENTS INTO THE REGULAR MARINE CORPS.
REF D IS MCO P1400.32D, THE ENLISTED PROMOTIONS MANUAL.
REF E IS MCO P1900.16F W/CH 1-2, MARINE CORPS SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT MANUAL.
REF F IS MCO P1040.31J, THE ENLISTED RETENTION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT MANUAL.
REF G IS ALMAR 007/07 OUTLINING THE SERGEANTS MAJOR SENIOR COMMAND LEVEL SLATING PROCESS.
REF H IS MARADMIN 341/10 ANNOUNCING THE FY11 SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS (SRB) PROGRAM.
REF I IS SECTION 1174, OF TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE GOVERNING SEPARATION PAY UPON INVOLUNTARY DISCHARGE OR RELEASE FROM ACTIVE DUTY.
REF J IS OPNAVINST 1900.4 CONCERNING SEPARATION PAY FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION FROM ACTIVE DUTY.// POC/DOZINE POWELL/CIV/CMC MMSR-2/RETIREMENT ISSUES/ TEL:DSN 278-9324//
POC/S. M. DENAULT/MAJ/CMC MMPR-2/PROMOTION ISSUES/TEL:DSN 278-9718//
POC/S. M. DAVIS/GYSGT/CMC MMEA-6/ASSIGNMENT ISSUES/TEL:DSN 278-9771//
POC/K. O. LAKE/CAPT/CMC MPP-20/POLICY ISSUES/TEL:DSN 278-9363//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  PURPOSE.  TO PROVIDE COMMANDERS, SENIOR ENLISTED LEADERS, CAREER RETENTION SPECIALISTS, AND INDIVIDUAL MARINES WITH INFORMATION REGARDING THE ORIGIN, REQUIREMENT FOR, AND PROGRAM ELEMENTS OF THE ECFC PROGRAM.  THIS MARADMIN CANCELS REF A, MARADMIN 0593/09, AND REF B, MARADMIN 0646/09, AND PROVIDES THE ECFC POLICIES FOR FY11.
2. BACKGROUND.
A.  THE MARINE CORPS IMPLEMENTED THE ECFC PROGRAM IN 1985 TO BETTER MANAGE THE CAREER FORCE.  TO DATE, THE ECFC PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THE FOLLOWING:
(1) ACTIVELY SHAPED THE INVENTORY OF MARINES BY GRADE AND MOS TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MARINE CORPS.
(2) STABILIZED RETENTION IN ORDER TO STANDARDIZE PROMOTION TEMPO ACROSS ALL MOS(S).  THE FOLLOWING ARE THE MARINE CORPS' TIME IN SERVICE (TIS) PROMOTION TARGETS:
SGT                     4 YEARS
SSGT                  8.5 YEARS
GYSGT                  13 YEARS
1STSGT/MSGT          17.5 YEARS
SGTMAJ/MGYSGT          22 YEARS
B.  THE END STATE OF THE ECFC PROGRAM IS TO BALANCE THE INVENTORY OF MARINES BY GRADE AND MOS TO MEET CAREER FORCE REQUIREMENTS. CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE FORCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES WILL HELP ENSURE THAT COMMANDERS ARE PROVIDED THE RIGHT MARINES BY GRADE AND MOS.
3.  INFORMATION.
A.  SELECTION BY MOS.  MARINES ARE SELECTED TO THE GRADES OF CPL AND ABOVE BY MOS BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE MARINE CORPS.  THIS ENSURES THE SKILLS OF THE INDIVIDUAL MARINES SELECTED FOR PROMOTION ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE VACANCIES IN THE FORCE.  MARINES ARE CONSIDERED FOR PROMOTION TO SSGT AND ABOVE BASED ON PRIMARY MOS HELD THE DAY THE SELECTION BOARD CONVENES, UNLESS THEY HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED AN INTENDED MOS, IN WHICH CASE THEY WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR PROMOTION IN THE INTENDED MOS, NOT THE PRIMARY MOS, ON THE CONVENING DATE OF THE BOARD.
B.  VARIABLE FIRST TIME IN-ZONE SELECTION OPPORTUNITY.  THIS CONTROL HELPS ENSURE STANDARDIZED PROMOTION TEMPO ACROSS MOS(S).  FIRST TIME IN-ZONE SELECTION OPPORTUNITIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
PROMOTION      MINIMUM           STANDARD        MAXIMUM
TO             OPPORTUNITY       OPPORTUNITY     OPPORTUNITY
SSGT             70                80              90
GYSGT            65                75              85
MSGT             60                70              80
SGTMAJ/MGYSGT    55                65              75
VARIABLE SELECTION OPPORTUNITY IS APPLIED IN ORDER TO STANDARDIZE PROMOTION TEMPO AS FOLLOWS BASED ON THE DEGREE OF PROMOTION STAGNATION:
(1) MOS(S) THAT ARE PROMOTING WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE AVERAGE TIS TO PROMOTION TO THAT GRADE WILL RECEIVE THE STANDARD OPPORTUNITY.  FOR EXAMPLE, 80 PERCENT STANDARD OPPORTUNITY TO SSGT MEANS THAT FOR 100 ALLOCATIONS, 125 SGTS WILL BE PLACED IN ZONE.
(2) MOS(S) THAT ARE PROMOTING SLOWER THAN ONE YEAR OF THE AVERAGE TIS TO PROMOTION TO THAT GRADE WILL RECEIVE THE MINIMUM OPPORTUNITY. APPLYING THE MINIMUM SELECTION OPPORTUNITY WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MARINES PLACED IN THE PROMOTION ZONE FOR THE FIRST TIME TO COMPETE FOR A GIVEN NUMBER OF PROMOTION ALLOCATIONS.  THIS WILL SPEED UP THE RATE AT WHICH MARINES IN THE SLOWER PROMOTING MOS(S) ARE CONSIDERED FOR PROMOTION.  FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE ARE 100 ALLOCATIONS IN A SLOW PROMOTING MOS TO SSGT, 143 SGTS WILL BE PLACED IN ZONE.
(3) MOS(S) THAT ARE PROMOTING FASTER THAN ONE YEAR OF THE AVERAGE TIS TO PROMOTION TO THAT GRADE WILL RECEIVE THE MAXIMUM OPPORTUNITY.  APPLYING THE MAXIMUM SELECTION OPPORTUNITY WILL DECREASE THE NUMBER OF MARINES PLACED IN-ZONE FOR THE FIRST TIME TO COMPETE FOR A GIVEN NUMBER OF PROMOTION ALLOCATIONS.  THIS WILL SLOW THE RATE AT WHICH MARINES IN THE FASTER PROMOTING MOS(S) ARE CONSIDERED FOR PROMOTION.  ADDITIONALLY, SINCE SUCH MOS(S) ARE CHARACTERISTICALLY UNDER STRENGTH, WE CAN ENHANCE RETENTION BY REDUCING THE PERCENTAGE OF NON-SELECTIONS RELATIVE TO OTHER MOS(S).  FOR EXAMPLE, IN A FAST PROMOTING MOS TO SSGT, THE MAXIMUM OPPORTUNITY FOR PROMOTION TO SSGT WOULD BE APPLIED.  IF THERE ARE 100 ALLOCATIONS TO SSGT, 111 SGTS WILL BE PLACED IN ZONE.
C.  ENLISTED GRADE STRUCTURE REVIEWS ARE CONDUCTED TO ENSURE THAT EACH MOS HAS A PYRAMID-SHAPED STRUCTURE REQUIREMENT THAT:
(1) SUPPORTS PROMOTING MARINES AT THE TIS TARGETS FOR EACH GRADE.
(2) DEFINES A LOGICAL CAREER PATH THAT IS ACHIEVABLE THROUGH THE MANPOWER PROCESS.  MOS SPECIALISTS, TOTAL FORCE STRUCTURE DIVISION, AND OCCFLD SPONSORS ARE NOW CHARGED WITH ENSURING THAT T/O CHANGES DO NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT THE GRADE SHAPE OF THEIR MOS(S).
D.  RESTRICTIONS ON PRIOR SERVICE ACCESSIONS.  THIS PROGRAM ENSURES THAT PRIOR SERVICE MARINES ARE NOT BROUGHT BACK INTO OVER STRENGTH MOS(S), THEREBY FURTHER SLOWING PROMOTION TEMPO FOR MARINES WHO HAVE REMAINED ON ACTIVE DUTY.  PER REF C, QUALIFIED PRIOR SERVICE MARINES WHO FIT A CRITICAL MARINE CORPS REQUIREMENT WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR REENLISTMENT ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.
E.  CONTROL OF MERITORIOUS PROMOTIONS.  THE MARINE CORPS CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE PROMOTION OF EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMERS AHEAD OF CONTEMPORARIES.  HOWEVER, THE DESIRE FOR SUCH PROMOTIONS MUST BE BALANCED WITH THE NEED TO PROMOTE MARINES IN MOS(S) WITH VACANCIES. MERITORIOUS PROMOTIONS TO CPL AND SGT ARE ALLOCATED TO MAJOR COMMANDS.  MERITORIOUS PROMOTIONS TO SSGT AND GYSGT ARE PROVIDED TO MAJOR COMMANDS AND MARINES IN SPECIAL DUTY ASSIGNMENTS (DRILL INSTRUCTOR, MARINE SECURITY GUARD, RECRUITER, AND COMBAT INSTRUCTOR).  REF D CONTAINS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT MERITORIOUS PROMOTIONS.
F.  FTAP.  THE FTAP IDENTIFIES THE NUMBER OF FIRST-TERM MARINES BY PMOS THE MARINE CORPS MUST REENLIST TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CAREER FORCE.  THE NUMBER OF BOATSPACES IS BASED ON CAREER FORCE STRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS AND PROJECTED INVENTORY.
G.  STAP.  STAP COMPLEMENTS THE FTAP BY REDUCING OUR OVERALL REQUIREMENT FOR FIRST-TERM REENLISTMENTS.  STAP SETS REENLISTMENT GOALS FOR ALL MOS(S) WITH EMPHASIS ON SHORT MOS(S) IN THE CAREER FORCE.
H.  SERVICE LIMITS.  SERVICE LIMITS ENSURE THAT MARINES WHO HAVE REACHED A CERTAIN YEAR OF SERVICE IN THEIR CURRENT GRADE WITHOUT BEING SELECTED FOR PROMOTION ARE EITHER SEPARATED AT THEIR EAS OR ARE REQUIRED TO TRANSFER TO THE FMCR.  TRANSFER TO THE FMCR WILL OCCUR ON THE LAST DAY OF THE MONTH DURING THE MONTH OF EAS. ENFORCEMENT OF SERVICE LIMITS IMPROVES PROMOTION OPPORTUNITY FOR MARINES IN JUNIOR GRADES.  FOR SERVICE LIMIT COMPUTATION PURPOSES, MARINES WITH BROKEN SERVICE WILL COUNT ALL ACTIVE DUTY MARINE CORPS TIME IN COMPUTING YEARS OF SERVICE.  PER REF C, MARINES WITH PRIOR SERVICE IN ANOTHER MILITARY BRANCH WILL ONLY COUNT ACTIVE DUTY MARINE CORPS SERVICE TOWARD COMPLETED YEARS OF SERVICE. THE CURRENT SERVICE LIMITS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
CPL              8 YEARS
SGT             13 YEARS
SSGT            20 YEARS
GYSGT           22 YEARS
1STSGT/MSGT     27 YEARS
SGTMAJ/MGYSGT   30 YEARS
(1) MANDATORY TRANSFER TO THE FMCR DUE TO SERVICE LIMITATIONS. MARINES APPROACHING SERVICE LIMITS MUST TRANSFER TO THE FMCR IN ACCORDANCE WITH REF E, UNLESS AN ECFC WAIVER IS APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR, MANPOWER MANAGEMENT DIVISION (MM) FOR REQUESTS ONE YEAR OR LESS BEYOND SERVICE LIMITS, OR APPROVED BY DC, MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS FOR REQUESTS GREATER THAN ONE YEAR BEYOND SERVICE LIMITS.  REQUESTS FOR ECFC WAIVERS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED WITH JUSTIFICATION, BY AA FORM OR STANDARD NAVAL LETTER TO CMC (MMSR-2), VIA THE MARINE'S CHAIN OF COMMAND, UP TO THE FIRST GENERAL OFFICER.  COMMAND ENDORSEMENTS SHOULD INCLUDE JUSTIFICATION FOR RETENTION BEYOND SERVICE LIMITS. MARINES APPROACHING SERVICE LIMITS WHO MUST REQUEST TRANSFER TO THE FMCR ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
(A) ALL SSGTS APPROACHING 20 YEARS OF SERVICE.
(B) GYSGTS APPROACHING 22 YEARS OF SERVICE, OR IF TWICE PASSED FOR PROMOTION, GYSGTS APPROACHING 20 YEARS OF SERVICE OR WHO HAVE AN EAS BETWEEN 20 AND 22 YEARS OF SERVICE.
(C) 1STSGTS/MSGTS APPROACHING 27 YEARS OF SERVICE, OR IF TWICE PASSED FOR PROMOTION, 1STSGTS/MSGTS APPROACHING 22 YEARS OF SERVICE OR WHO HAVE AN EAS BETWEEN 22 AND 27 YEARS OF SERVICE.
(D) DC M AND RA WILL RETAIN SERVICE LIMIT WAIVER AUTHORITY FOR SGTMAJ/MGYSGT WHO REQUEST TO SERVE BEYOND 30 YEARS OF SERVICE.
(E) GYSGTS, 1STSGTS, AND MSGTS WHO HAVE ONCE FAILED SELECTION TO THE NEXT HIGHER GRADE WILL BE LIMITED TO THE TWICE PASSED SERVICE LIMITATION (20 YEARS FOR GYSGTS OR 22 YEARS FOR 1STSGTS/MSGTS). THESE MARINES WILL BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO REQUEST ADDITIONAL SERVICE VIA CMC MMEA, IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A SECOND LOOK FOR PROMOTION.  THE LENGTH OF THE ADDITIONAL SERVICE MUST NOT EXCEED FIVE MONTHS BEYOND THE ADJOURNMENT DATE OF THE PROMOTION BOARD.
(2) PROMOTION CONSIDERATION
(A) PER REF E, MARINES WHO MUST TRANSFER TO THE FMCR DUE TO THE ABOVE LIMITS, MAY REQUEST PROMOTION CONSIDERATION VIA CORRESPONDENCE TO CMC (MMSR-2) IF THEIR EAS IS AFTER THE SCHEDULED ADJOURNMENT DATE OF THE NEXT PROMOTION BOARD.
(B) MARINES WHO SUBMIT A VOLUNTARY REQUEST TO TRANSFER TO THE FMCR, BUT ARE NOT REQUIRED TO TRANSFER TO THE FMCR, ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR PROMOTION CONSIDERATION, UNLESS THE RETIREMENT REQUEST IS WITHDRAWN BEFORE THE BOARD CONVENES.  IT IS REQUESTED THAT WITHDRAWAL REQUESTS OCCUR NLT 60 DAYS PRIOR TO BOARD CONVENE DATE.
(C) MARINES WHO ARE REQUIRED TO TRANSFER TO THE FMCR DUE TO DECLINING PCS ORDERS, OR WHO HAVE DECLINED TO REENLIST/EXTEND TO CARRY OUT PCS OR UDP ORDERS, ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR PROMOTION CONSIDERATION.
(D) MARINES AUTHORIZED EARLY APPROVAL OF TRANSFER FMCR REQUESTS (GREATER THAN 14 MONTHS PRIOR TO THEIR TRANSFER DATE) WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR PROMOTION CONSIDERATION.
(E) PER REF F MARINES WHO HAVE ONCE FAILED SELECTION TO THE NEXT HIGHER GRADE, ARE ELIGIBLE TO TRANSFER TO THE FMCR, AND HAVE NOT SUBMITTED FOR TRANSFER TO THE FMCR, MAY BE GRANTED AN EXTENSION TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE NEXT PROMOTION BOARD, ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS BY CMC (MMEA), PROVIDED EXTENSIONS DO NOT EXCEED SERVICE LIMITS.
(3) CONTINUATION OF SERVICE
(A) CPLS WITH 4 OR MORE YEARS OF SERVICE WHO REENLIST AT THE FTAP MAY BE AUTHORIZED A 4 YEAR REENLISTMENT IF ELIGIBLE FOR A SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS (SRB).
(B) PER REF F SGTS MAY REENLIST UP TO THEIR SERVICE LIMIT OF 13 YEARS PROVIDED THEY ARE RECOMMENDED BY THEIR COMMANDING OFFICER AND MEET ALL REENLISTMENT STANDARDS.  HOWEVER, BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE MARINE CORPS, CMC (MMEA) HAS FINAL APPROVAL AUTHORITY.
(C) PER REF F CMC (MMEA) WILL CONSIDER EXTENSION REQUESTS FOR GYSGTS, 1STSGTS, AND MSGTS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, PROVIDED THEY DO NOT EXCEED SERVICE LIMITS.
(D) MARINES REQUESTING A WAIVER OF ECFC:
(I) WHO MEET ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO TRANSFER TO THE FMCR, WILL SUBMIT AN AA FORM/STANDARD NAVAL LETTER WITH JUSTIFICATION, VIA THE MARINE'S CHAIN OF COMMAND, UP TO THE FIRST GENERAL OFFICER, TO INCLUDE SUPPORTING COMMAND ENDORSEMENTS, TO CMC (MMSR) FOR PROCESSING.
(II) WHO DO NOT MEET ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO TRANSFER TO THE FMCR, OR WHO ARE REQUESTING A WAIVER OF ECFC IN CONJUNCTION WITH REENLISTMENT/EXTENSION WILL SUBMIT A REENLISTMENT/EXTENSION REQUEST THROUGH THEIR COMMAND CAREER RETENTION SPECIALIST VIA THE TOTAL FORCE RETENTION SYSTEM (TFRS), WITH COMMAND ENDORSEMENTS THROUGH THE FIRST GENERAL OFFICER, TO CMC (MMEA) FOR PROCESSING.
(III) 1STSGTS/MSGTS AND BELOW, WHO HAVE BEEN TWICED PASSED FOR PROMOTION OR WHO HAVE MET SERVICE LIMITS, PER PARA 3H1, WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR SERVICE LIMIT EXTENSIONS GREATER THAN ONE YEAR.
(E) PER REF G, SERGEANTS MAJOR WHO DESIRE CONSIDERATION FOR COMMAND LEVEL SLATING, BUT REQUIRE A WAIVER OF THE 30 YEAR SERVICE LIMIT, MUST SUBMIT AN AA FORM WITH JUSTIFICATION, VIA THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, UP TO THE FIRST THREE-STAR GENERAL OFFICER, TO CMC (MM) FOR PROCESSING.
I.  OTHER SUPPORTING PROGRAMS.  WHILE NOT FORMALLY CONSIDERED PART OF THE ECFC PROGRAM, THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS SUPPORT THE GOALS OF THE ECFC PROGRAM:
(1) SRB PROGRAM.  THE SRB PROGRAM PROVIDES MARINES WITH CERTAIN SKILLS A MONETARY INCENTIVE TO REENLIST.  THIS HELPS THE MARINE CORPS RETAIN MARINES WITH CRITICALLY NEEDED SKILLS.  REF H IDENTIFIES THOSE MOS(S) TARGETED FOR AN SRB DURING FY11.  THE SRB PROGRAM MAY BE EXTENDED, SHORTENED, OR MODIFIED THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR TO MEET MANPOWER REQUIREMENTS AND/OR FISCAL CONSTRAINTS.
(2) SEPARATION PAY.  FACILITATES TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE FOR THOSE CAREER MARINES WHO HAVE BEEN DENIED FURTHER SERVICE.  SEPARATION PAY DOES NOT APPLY TO THOSE MARINES WHO VOLUNTARILY SEPARATE FROM THE MARINE CORPS.  REF I STIPULATES THAT ENLISTED MEMBERS WITH MORE THAN 6 YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE IMMEDIATELY BEFORE DISCHARGE, AND WHO ARE DISCHARGED INVOLUNTARILY OR ARE SEPARATED AS A RESULT OF THE DENIAL OF REENLISTMENT, ARE NORMALLY ENTITLED TO SEPARATION PAY.  TWICE PASSED SGTS WITH LESS THAN 13 YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SEPARATION PAY UNLESS DENIED FURTHER SERVICE BY CMC (MMEA-6).  TWICE PASSED SSGTS WITH LESS THAN 20 YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SEPARATION PAY UNLESS DENIED FURTHER SERVICE BY CMC (MMEA-6).  REFS F AND J FURTHER ADDRESS THE CURRENT SEPARATION PAY POLICY AND TO WHOM IT APPLIES.
4.  ACTION.  COMMANDERS, SENIOR ENLISTED LEADERS, AND CAREER RETENTION SPECIALISTS WILL FAMILIARIZE ALL MARINES WITH THE CONTENTS OF THIS BULLETIN.
5.  RESERVE APPLICABILITY.  THIS BULLETIN IS NOT APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE.
6.  CANCELLATION.  30 SEP 11.
7.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY SES M. F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION.//