R 101855Z FEB 15
MARADMIN 062/15
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/CHANGE TO FY15 AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF FY16 MARINE CORPS ENLISTED TEMPORARY EARLY RETIREMENT AUTHORITY (TERA) PROGRAM//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/CONGRESS/31DEC2011//
REF/B/MSGID:DOC/CONGRESS/23OCT1992//
REF/C/MSGID:DOC/CMC MMSR/26NOV2013//
REF/D/MSGID:DOC/CONGRESS/7JAN2011//
REF/E/MSGID:DOC/DOD OSD/12APR2012//
REF/F/MSGID:DOC/SECNAV/YMD:18SEP2012/NOTAL//
REF/G/MSGID:MSG/CMC/221650ZMAY14//
NARR/REF (A) IS THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012 GRANTING THE SERVICES TEMPORARY AUTHORITY TO OFFER MILITARY PERSONNEL THE OPTION OF RETIRING AFTER ONLY 15 YEARS OF SERVICE. REF (B) IS THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 1993 GOVERNING RULES FOR TEMPORARY EARLY RETIREMENT. REF (C) IS MCO 1900.16, MARINE CORPS SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT MANUAL. REF (D) IS TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE, SECTIONS 6333 AND 1412 GOVERNING RULES FOR RETIRED PAY ENTITLEMENTS. REF (E) IS MEMORANDUM FROM THE OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PROVIDING PROCEDURAL GUIDANCE FOR THE CONDUCT OF TEMPORARY EARLY RETIREMENT. REF (F) IS SECNAV APPROVAL OF TEMPORARY EARLY RETIREMENT AUTHORITY FOR FY13-FY16. REF (G) IS MARADMIN 251/14, FY15 MARINE CORPS ENLISTED TEMPORARY EARLY RETIREMENT AUTHORITY (TERA) PROGRAM//
POC/E.P. HOVEY/MAJ/CMC MPP-20/QUAN/TEL:DSN 278-9361//
POC/D.P. FITZGERALD/CAPT/CMC MMSR-2/QUAN/TEL:DSN 278-9324//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  PER REFERENCES (A), (B), AND (F), THE MARINE CORPS IS AUTHORIZED TO OFFER VOLUNTARY EARLY RETIREMENT AT A REDUCED MONTHLY RETAINER PAY RATE TO ACTIVE COMPONENT MARINES WITH MORE THAN 15 AND LESS THAN 20 YEARS ACTIVE DUTY DURING FISCAL YEAR 2016. THE TERA PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE STRATEGIC FORCE MANAGEMENT OF THE MARINE CORPS AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AN INDIVIDUAL ENTITLEMENT. THE TERA PROGRAM WILL BE USED TO RETIRE MARINES WHO, ABSENT THE AVAILABILITY OF TERA, WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPECTED TO QUALIFY FOR A 20-YEAR RETIREMENT. MARINES TRANSFERRED TO THE FLEET MARINE CORPS RESERVE UNDER TERA ARE NOT ENTITLED TO INVOLUNTARY SEPARATIONS PAY (ISP), SPECIAL SEPARATION BENEFITS (SSB), VOLUNTARY SEPARATION INCENTIVE (VSI), OR VOLUNTARY SEPARATION PAY (VSP).
2.  ELIGIBILITY.  THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC CRITERIA IS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT (NOTE CHANGES TO ELIGIBLE MOS’S):
    A.  CHANGES TO THE ELIGIBLE FY15 MOS’S WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE 30 DAYS FROM THE RELEASE OF THIS MESSAGE. FOR EXAMPLE, PER REFERENCE  (G), A GUNNERY SERGEANT (E7) WITH AN 0481 MOS HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ELIGIBLE. HOWEVER, THAT MARINE WILL NO LONGER BE CONSIDERED ELIGIBLE (UNLESS ALREADY HAVING FAILED SELECTION FOR PROMOTION) 31 DAYS AFTER THE RELEASE OF THIS MESSAGE. ADDITIONALLY, MOS’S THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN NOT ELIGIBLE PER REFERENCE (G), BUT NOW ARE ELIGIBLE PER THIS CHANGE, MAY SUBMIT A TERA REQUEST IMMEDIATELY UPON RELEASE OF THIS MESSAGE. FOR EXAMPLE, A GUNNERY SERGEANT (E7) WITH A 6112 MOS IS NOW IMMEDIATELY ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR CONSIDERATION.
    B.  ACTIVE COMPONENT MARINE STAFF SERGEANTS (E6), GUNNERY SERGEANTS (E7), AND  MASTER SERGEANTS (E8) IN ALL PRIMARY MOS’S (PMOS) ARE ELIGIBLE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE FOLLOWING MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES: 0211, 0241, 0261, 0321, 0372, 0431, 0481, 0491, 0619, 0629, 0659, 0681, 0689, 0699, 0848, 0861, 2336, 2621, 2631, 2651, 2671, 2673, 2674, 2676, 2691, 2887, 3044, 3451, 4133, 4691, 4821, 5511, 5512, 5821, 5951, 5952, 5953, 5954, 5959, 6116, 6156, 6176, 6212, 6213, 6216, 6218, 6242, 6252, 6253, 6256, 6258, 6276, 6282, 6283, 6286, 6288, 6313, 6316, 6326, 6332, 6333, 6336, 6338, 6386, 7011, 7236, 7257, 7291, 7314, 8412. ALL ACTIVE COMPONENT MARINE FIRST SERGEANTS (E8) ARE ELIGIBLE. ADDITIONALLY, ALL MARINE STAFF SERGEANTS (E6), GUNNERY SERGEANTS (E7), AND MASTER SERGEANTS (E8) IN ANY PMOS WHO HAVE FAILED SELECTION FOR PROMOTION TO THE NEXT HIGHER GRADE AT LEAST ONE TIME ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY.
    C.  TERA APPLICATIONS FROM MARINES OF A GRADE OR MOS LISTED IN PARAGRAPH 2A WILL NOT RECEIVE FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION (UNLESS ALREADY HAVING FAILED SELECTION FOR PROMOTION).  REEVALUATION OF ELIGIBLE MOS’S, GRADES, AND ADJUSTMENTS TO THE ELIGIBLE POPULATION WILL OCCUR NO LESS THAN ANNUALLY THROUGHOUT THE FORCE SHAPING AND DRAWDOWN PERIOD.
    D.  A MARINE MUST MEET ALL OTHER RETIREMENT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA UNDER REFERENCE (C). ADDITIONALLY, MARINES MUST REACH AT LEAST 15 YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE BUT LESS THAN 20 YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE BY THEIR EFFECTIVE DATE OF RETIREMENT DURING FY16 TO BE ELIGIBLE.
    E.  THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF FLEET MARINE CORPS RESERVE TRANSFER MUST BE NO LATER THAN 31 AUGUST 2016, AND REQUEST SHOULD NOT NORMALLY BE APPROVED FOR A DATE BEYOND CURRENT END OF ACTIVE SERVICE (EAS).
    F.  PER REFERENCE (E), MARINES WHO PREVIOUSLY ELECTED TO TRANSFER POST 9/11 GI BILL BENEFITS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR TERA WITH NO EFFECT ON TRANSFERRED BENEFITS. THIS WAIVER OF OBLIGATED SERVICE FOR POST 9/11 GI BILL BENEFITS TRANSFER IS ONLY APPLICABLE TO FORCE SHAPING SEPARATIONS. MARINES MAY NOT TRANSFER POST 9/11 BENEFITS AFTER REQUESTING TERA.
    G.  WAIVERS OF OTHER SERVICE OBLIGATIONS INCURRED (I.E. TIME ON STATION, EDUCATION PAY-BACK, ETC) WILL BE CONSIDERED ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE MARINE CORPS.
    H.  MARINES MUST NOT BE STABILIZED FOR DEPLOYMENT AT THE TIME OF THEIR REQUESTED EARLY RETIREMENT DATE. ADDITIONALLY, MARINES NOT STABILIZED, BUT POSSESSING OBLIGATED SERVICE TO MEET FUTURE DEPLOYMENT DEMAND, WILL BE CONSIDERED ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.
    I.  MARINES PENDING LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDINGS, ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATION, OR DISABILITY SEPARATION OR RETIREMENT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR TERA.
    J.  COMMANDERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT; MSC’S WILL ENSURE THAT APPROVAL DOES NOT REDUCE ON BOARD STAFFING BELOW 80 PERCENT OF TABLE OF ORGANIZATION AND NO LESS THAN 70 PERCENT OF THE PRIMARY MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF THE MARINE REQUESTING TERA. MSC G-1’S MUST ENSURE ANY REDISTRIBUTION OF PERSONNEL BE DONE SO IN A COORDINATED EFFORT WITH CMC (MM DIV).
3.  RETIRED PAY COMPUTATION. THE BASIC TERA RETAINER PAY ENTITLEMENT IS COMPUTED BY APPLYING A REDUCTION FACTOR OBTAINED FROM TABLE 1 OF REFERENCE (E). RETIRED PAY MULTIPLIERS ARE SUBJECT TO FURTHER REDUCTION IF THE MARINE PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED THE CAREER S TATUS BONUS/REDUX. IN ADDITION, FOR MARINES RECEIVING TERA WHO PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED THE CAREER STATUS BONUS/REDUX, THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT NORMALLY APPLIED TO RETIRED PAY WILL BE REDUCED BY ONE (1) PERCENTAGE POINT IF THE STANDARD COLA FOR RETIREES IS GREATER THAN ONE (1) PERCENT. RETIREMENT PAY CALCULATIONS CAN BE FOUND AT THE WEBSITE: HTTP: (SLASH) (SLASH) COMPTROLLER.DEFENSE.GOV/FINANCIALMANAGEMENT/REPORTS/TERA.ASPX EXAMPLE: THE CALCULATION FOR A GUNNERY SERGEANT WITH 16 YEARS 7 MONTHS AND 12 DAYS OF SERVICE, THE 12 DAYS ARE ROUNDED UP SO THAT THE REDUCTION FACTOR IS BASED ON 16 YEARS AND 8 MONTHS OR (16 X 12 + 8 = 200 MONTHS). THE APPLICABLE REDUCTION FACTOR CORRESPONDS TO THE TABLE 1 ENTRY, FOUND IN REFERENCE (E), (THE DIFFERENCE OF THE NUMBER OF MONTHS AT THE MEMBER'S REQUESTED RETIREMENT DATE AND THE NUMBER OF MONTHS IN 20 YEARS OF SERVICE, 240 - 200 = 40 MONTHS) FOR 40 MONTHS IS .96667 REDUCTION FACTOR. FOR EXAMPLE, A 16 YEAR GUNNERY SERGEANT WITH A HIGH-36 MONTH AVERAGE BASIC PAY OF $4,122.50 WOULD BE COMPUTED AS FOLLOWS: $4,122.50 X ((200 / 12) X .025) X .96667 = ~ $1,662.00 FOR THE ESTIMATED AVERAGE MONTHLY RETIREMENT ANNUITY.
4.  COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS 
    A.  SUBMIT TERA REQUESTS BY AA FORM VIA THE CHAIN OF COMMAND TO CMC (MMSR-2) PER REFERENCE (C). AT A MINIMUM, EACH REQUEST SHOULD BE ENDORSED BY THE BATTALION/SQUADRON COMMANDER. THE PRIMARY METHOD TO SUBMIT A REQUEST IS THE MMSR-2 ORGANIZATIONAL MAIL BOX AT: SMB.MANPOWER.MMSR2E(AT)USMC.MIL. REQUESTS FOR A WAIVER OF SERVICE OBLIGATIONS REQUIRE JUSTIFICATION AND EACH APPLICATION WILL BE CONSIDERED CASE-BY-CASE, BASED ON FORCE REQUIREMENTS AND THE NEEDS OF THE MARINE CORPS.
    B.  THE AA FORM WILL CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
        (1) A STATEMENT THAT ALL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA IN REFERENCE (C) HAS BEEN SATISFIED OR A JUSTIFICATION FOR WAIVER OF ANY SERVICE OBLIGATION.
        (2) A STATEMENT VERIFYING THAT A TRANSITION ASSISTANCE CLASS AND FINAL PHYSICAL WILL BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO FLEET MARINE CORPS RESERVE TRANSFER DATE.
        (3) THE DATE OF INTENDED TRANSFER TO THE FLEET MARINE CORPS RESERVE. THIS DATE MUST BE THE LAST DAY OF THE MONTH IN WHICH THE MARINE DESIRES TRANSFER (MUST BE NLT 31 AUG 2016).
        (4) THE PLANNED DETACHMENT DATE (PDD).
    C.  MARINES MEETING ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA MAY APPLY UPON PUBLICATION OF THIS MARADMIN. REQUESTS FOR RETIREMENT MUST BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO THE PDD TO ALLOW FOR REQUIRED PROCESSING. THE SUBMISSION WINDOW FOR THE FY16 TERA PROGRAM CLOSES ON 1 MAY 2016.
    D.  TERA REQUESTS WILL BE APPROVED THROUGH THE MARINE CORPS TOTAL FORCE SYSTEM. ONCE APPROVED, MMSR-2 WILL REPORT TTC 775 000 PLANNED SPD OF NBE1. THIS ENTRY WILL REFLECT ON THE RT01 SCREEN. THE NARRATIVE REASON OF “EARLY RETIREMENT” WILL BE USED WHEN PREPARING THE DD FORM 214. THE SEPARATION AUTHORITY WILL BE PARAGRAPH 7007 OF REFERENCE (C).
    E.  MARINES CAN TRACK THE STATUS OF THEIR REQUEST THROUGH THE BASIC INDIVIDUAL RECORD IN MARINE ONLINE AND BY CONTACTING THEIR UNIT ADMINISTRATOR. USE THE “RET/FMCR STATUS” FIELD UNDER CONTRACT INFORMATION. ADDRESS FURTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING INDIVIDUAL REQUESTS THROUGH UNIT ADMINISTRATORS. PER REFERENCE (C) THE STANDARD WINDOW TO PROCESS A REQUEST IS 60 DAYS.
    F.  CAREER STATUS BONUS (CSB): A CSB ELECTION DECISION IS REQUIRED BETWEEN 14 YEARS AND SIX MONTHS ACTIVE SERVICE AND 15 YEARS ACTIVE SERVICE. MARINES WHO ENTERED THE SERVICE ON OR AFTER 1 AUGUST 1986 AND MEET ALL OF THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA ARE GIVEN THE CSB/REDUX ELECTION OPPORTUNITY. COMMANDING OFFICERS ARE AUTHORIZED TO REPORT A CSB ELECTION CODE OF 5 (ELECTED NOT TO RECEIVE CSB) IN THE MARINE CORPS TOTAL FORCE SYSTEM FOR CSB ELIGIBLE MARINES WHO DID NOT MAKE THE REQUIRED ELECTION PRIOR TO APPROVAL OF THEIR TERA REQUEST. MARINES WHO RECEIVED THE CSB AND ARE THEN APPROVED FOR TERA MUST SUBMIT AN INDIVIDUAL APPLICATION FOR WAIVER OF CSB RECOUPMENT TO THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE NAVY (M&RA). SUBMIT REQUESTS THROUGH THE CHAIN OF COMMAND TO MMSR-2. TEMPLATES AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS ARE AT: HTTPS: (SLASH) (SLASH) WWW.MANPOWER.USMC.MIL/PORTAL/ PAGE/PORTAL/M_RA_HOME/MM/H_SR/B_RETIREMENT.
    G.  TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM IN AN ORDERLY MANNER, THE DECISION TO APPLY FOR TERA IS A FINAL AND IRREVOCABLE DECISION TO RETIRE FROM THE MARINE CORPS. REQUESTS TO WITHDRAW, CANCEL, OR MODIFY APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE APPROVED.
    H.  CMC (MP) MAINTAINS ALL POLICY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM.
    I.  CMC (MM) MAINTAINS FINAL APPROVAL AUTHORITY FOR ALL REQUESTS.
5.  THIS MARADMIN IS NOT APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE.
6.  THIS MARADMIN CANCELS ON 30 SEP 2016 IF NOT CANCELED EARLIER.
7.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY (SES) MR. M. F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION.//