R 171940Z JUL 18
MARADMIN 399/18
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA RA//
SUBJ/ FISCAL YEAR 2019 (FY19) ACTIVE RESERVE OFFICER RETENTION BONUS (ARORB)//
REF/A/MSGID:  DOC/DODI 1304.34/YMD:  20160711//
REF/B/MSGID:  DOC/MCO 1001.52J/YMD: 20110606//
REF/C/MSGID:  DOC/MCTFSPRIUM/YMD:  20120807//
NARR/REFERENCE (A) IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION 1304.34
GENERAL BONUS AUTHORITY FOR OFFICERS.  REFERENCE (B) IS THE MARINE
CORPS ACTIVE RESERVE PROGRAM ORDER.  REFERENCE (C) IS THE MARINE
CORPS TOTAL FORCE SYSTEM PERSONNEL REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS MANUAL.//
POC/E. L. REDMON/MAJ/RAM-2/TEL:  (703) 784-0530/EMAIL:  ERYN.REDMON@USMC.MIL//
POC/A. S. TAUALA/SSGT/RAM-1/TEL:  (703) 432-9771/EMAIL:  RAM-1@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  In accordance with reference (a), this MARADMIN announces the eligibility and administrative guidance for the FY19 Active Reserve Officer Retention Bonus (ARORB).  Officers will incur a three year obligation in the Active Reserve (AR) beginning on the date joined to a valid AR BIC.
2.  MOS eligibility.  This bonus is a lump sum payment, as applicable below:
    a.  Officers with the following MOS/qualifications are eligible for a lump sum payment in the amount of 10,000 dollars:
 MOS  Qualification
 7532  NSI (AMOS 7547)
 7557  NSI (AMOS 7547)
 7563  NSI (AMOS 7547)
 7565  NSI (AMOS 7547)
    b.  Officers with the following MOS/qualifications are eligible for a lump sum payment in the amount of 20,000 dollars:
 MOS  Qualification
 7509  ACTI/WTI (AMOS 7539/7577)
 7523  FAI/WTI (AMOS 7577)
 7532  WTI (AMOS 7577)
 7557  WTI (AMOS 7577)
 7563  WTI (AMOS 7577)
 7565  WTI (AMOS 7577)
3.  Eligibility requirements
    a.  Officers selected for the AR program on the FY 19-1 or 19-2 AR Program Officer Accession Board.
    b.  Officers must meet the MOS/qualification requirements in paragraph 2.
    c.  Officers must be filling a valid AR BIC to be eligible for the bonus.
    d.  Meet the captain/major time in grade (TIG) limits as indicated in reference (b).  Majors must have no more than three years TIG.
    e.  Officers previously selected for or assigned to the AR program are not eligible for this bonus.
4.  Administrative guidance
    a.  Once joined to the AR program and filling a valid AR BIC, eligible officers must submit an incentive request through their unit career planners.
    b.  All incentive requests must be submitted via the Total Force Retention System (TFRS) to Reserve Affairs (RA).
    c.  A completed and signed statement of understanding (SOU) must be submitted with the TFRS request prior to issuance of the bonus.  SOUs can be obtained on the RAM-2 website located at https:(slash)(slash)www.manpower.usmc.mil, Reserve Marine, Reserve Affairs (RA), Personnel Management (RAM), Active Reserve Assignments (RAM-2), Officer Accessions.
    d.  RA will adjudicate and return the officer incentive request via TFRS to the unit career planner with the following items:
        (1) RA endorsed SOU with bonus approval or disapproval.
        (2) Incentive Administrative Reporting Guidance document.
    e.  Once the officer incentive request is accepted in TFRS, the following actions are required:
        (1) The unit career planner 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.
    f.  Payment will execute upon completion of all MCTFS reporting and posting requirements IAW reference (c).
    g.  In the event the officer does not accept the bonus approval, the unit career planner must notify RA via organizational mailbox at RAM-1@usmc.mil.
    h.  All approved bonuses must be paid by 24 September 2019.
5.  Obligation.  Recipients of this bonus incur a three year obligation in the AR program beginning on the date joined to a valid AR BIC.
6.  Recoupment
    a.  Recoupment will occur on a prorated basis if the AR officer:
        (1) Fails to fulfill a three year obligation in the AR Program.
        (2) Augments to the Active Component.
        (3) Transfers to the Individual Mobilization Augmentee program, Selected Marine Corps Reserve, or Individual Ready Reserve.
        (4) Transfers to another Service.
        (5) Separates from the Marine Corps for reasons other than designated in paragraph 6b.
        (6) Aviators who lose designation as a Naval Aviator except as specified in paragraph 6b.
        (7) Aviators terminated on duty involving flying operations assignment or Aviation Incentive Pay except as designated in paragraph 6b.
        (8) Medical incapacitation or physical disability resulting from misconduct, gross negligence, or resulting from a period of unauthorized absence.
    b.  Officers will not be subject to recoupment if eligibility is terminated for the following reasons:
        (1) Involuntary separation from military service by operation of law, or involuntary separation by operation of military service or DoD policy (except separation of dismissal for cause, resignation in lieu of Court Martial, or processing for administrative separation).
        (2) Death or disability, including medical grounding of suspension, which is not the result of misconduct, willful negligence, and not resulting from a period of unauthorized absence.
7.  The ARORB is distributed as a 10,000 dollar or 20,000 dollar lump sum payment, less any applicable taxes, and will not be paid out until the member is joined to the AR program.
8.  Due to finite funds, incentives will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted.
9.  This MARADMIN cancels on 30 September 2019.
10.  Release authorized by Colonel J M Morrisroe, Director, Reserve Affairs Division, Acting.//