R 281205Z APR 17
MARADMIN 210/17
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/ DISCONTINUATION OF CAREER STATUS BONUS AND REDUX RETIREMENT PLAN//
REF/A/DOC/PUBLIC LAW 114-92/YMD: 20151125//
REF/B/OSD/YMD: 20170127 AMPN/REF A IS THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FY 2016. REF B IS THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE FOR THE BLENDED RETIREMENT SYSTEM.//
POC/ALAN HARGIS/CIV/UNIT: MRA(MPO)/-/TEL: 703-784-9386/EMAIL: ALAN.HARGIS@USMC.MIL/ PAUL CLIFFORD/MAJ//
UNIT: MRA(MMSR)/-/TEL: 703-784-9304/EMAIL: PAUL.CLIFFORD@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. Purpose. To announce the pending discontinuation of the Career Status Bonus (CSB) and REDUX retirement plan.
2. Background 
2A. Per the references, effective 1 January 2018, CSB/REDUX is discontinued and the new Blended Retirement System goes into effect.
2B. Under CSB/REDUX, Marines with a Date Entered Armed Forces on or after 1 August 1986 and upon completing 15 years of active duty service, as determined by their Armed Forces Active Duty Base Date, may choose to retire under the High-3 or CSB/REDUX retirement system. Election of the 30,000 dollar CSB places the Marine under the REDUX retirement plan vice the High-3 system.
3. Action 
3A. No new CSB/REDUX agreements may be entered into after 31 December 2017.
3B. Marines who complete 14 years and 6 months of active duty service before 1 July 2017 shall be notified of their CSB/REDUX election opportunity using the existing notification process and DD Form 2839. Such Marines must reach 15 years of active duty and make their election decision no later than 31 December 2017. The deadline to make the election decision cannot be waived, nor deferred under any circumstances. Marines who fail to make the election decision by the deadline will remain covered under the High-3 system. Marines who complete 14 years and six months of active duty service after 30 June 2017 will no longer be notified of a CSB/REDUX opportunity.
4. Timing of CSB Payment. Payments pursuant to a CSB agreement entered into prior to 1 January 2018 may continue to be made on or after 1 January 2018, so long as the Marine reaches 15 years of active duty service prior to 1 January 2018. The decision to elect the CSB/REDUX is irrevocable.
5. The following is provided as a reminder of existing procedures for electing CSB/REDUX.
5A. Mandatory Training. Any Marine electing to choose CSB/REDUX must complete the tutorial, called The Retirement Choice, on MarineNet (course code: CSBF-CURRICULUM) and provide a completion certificate bearing their name to the witnessing official when making the election. Marines not electing CSB/REDUX are not required to complete the tutorial. Also, a retirement choice calculator is available at the Center for Naval Analyses webpage at: www.cna.org/research/retirement-calculator. Information about CSB/REDUX can also be found online at the M&RA web portal (https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/webcenter/portal/MMSR_ADR/PayPlans).
5B. Commanders. Commanders must ensure that all Marines under their charge receive appropriate counseling on the impacts of their retirement choice. If electing to receive the CSB, Block 13 of DD Form 2839 (Witness Block of CSB Election Form) must be completed by the Marine’s Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, or Sergeant Major. Command element counseling and witness of the Marine's election constitutes appropriate leadership interest in this irrevocable decision and further indicates the command's endorsement that the Marine is qualified for additional service to complete no less than 20 years. Lack of such an endorsement for a career Marine requires notification to CMC (MM) for a determination of future service.
5C. Election Deferment Due to Disability Processing. A Marine's assignment into the Disability Evaluation System (DES) for either Temporary Limited Duty (TLD) or referral to the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) is an indication that the Marine may not complete 20 years of service. Therefore, an election shall be deferred until the Marine has been found fit and is in a full duty status, qualified for re-enlistment and worldwide assignment or until 31 December 2017, whichever occurs first. In no case will deferrals under this paragraph extend beyond 31 December 2017. A Marine who is granted a deferral and still in TLD or is referred to the PEB after 31 December 2017 must remain in the High-3 system. Further, this election deferment does not apply to Marines assigned to Retirement Permanent Limited Duty or Expanded Permanent Limited Duty by CMC
(MMSR-4) as they have been approved to continue their service to 20 years. Thus, these Marines may make election decision but it must be made before 1 January 2018.
6. Send questions about this MARADMIN or the Blended Retirement System to BRS@usmc.mil.
7. This message is applicable to the Active Component and Active Reserve. 
8. Release authorized by LtGen Mark A. Brilakis, Deputy Commandant,Manpower and Reserve Affairs.//