R 301800Z OCT 19
MARADMIN 612/19
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//
SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF AUTHORITY FOR EARLY REENLISTMENT, DELEGATION OF REENLISTMENT APPROVAL AUTHORITY, AND CHANGES TO PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS POLICY//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/CMC WASH DC/YMD 20190717//
REF/B/MSGID: DOC/CMC WASH DC MMEA-1/YMD 20100908//
REF/C/MSGID: DOC/CMC WASH DC MMPR-2/20120614//
NARR/REF A IS THE 38TH COMMANDANT’S PLANNING GUIDANCE. REF B IS MCO 1040.31 ENLISTED RETENTION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. REF C IS MCO P1400.32D, ENLISTED PROMOTION MANUAL.//
POC/A. A. CRUZ/MGYSGT/CMC MMEA-1/-/TEL: (703) 432-9125 TEL: DSN 378-9125/EMAIL: ARBENZ.CRUZ@USMC.MIL//
POC/C. A. ASHINHURST/MAJ/CMC MMEA-1/-/TEL: (703) 432-9124 TEL: DSN 378-9125/EMAIL: CHRISTOPHER.ASHINHUR@USMC.MIL//
POC/Z. A. BASICH/CAPT/CMC MPP-20/-/ TEL: (703) 784-9361 TEL: DSN 378-9361/EMAIL: ZACHARY.BASICH@USMC.MIL//
POC/LINDSAY D. PERRY/GYSGT/MMPR-2/-/TEL: DSN 278-9718/EMAIL: LINDSAY.PERRY@USMC.MIL//
POC/ANGELA ZUNIC/MAJ/MPP-20/TEL: (703) 784-9361/EMAIL: ANGELA.ZUNIC@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. Purpose. To announce the establishment of three programs under the authority of the Deputy Commandant, Manpower and Reserve Affairs that seek to retain and promote the most highly qualified Marines for continued service in the Marine Corps. These programs will allow for Marines to reenlist up to one fiscal year prior to their current eligibility, will delegate reenlistment approval authority to Major Subordinate Command (MSC) General Officers, and will continue to develop professional capabilities in our critical enlisted ranks.
2. Background. In accordance with reference (a), the ability for the Marine Corps to retain and promote the best and most qualified Marines is critical to the service’s ability to fight and win. Furthermore, the service is seeking to create a more agile and flexible retention process while increasing the professional development of our Sergeants and Staff Sergeants. Marines across the service who demonstrate high levels of proficiency and talent must be given the most efficient means by which to request and be approved for reenlistment and subsequently be provided opportunities to excel in critical leadership roles.
3. To provide effective means by which to manage talent across the enlisted ranks, beginning in FY21 the Commandant of the Marine Corps announces three significant changes to current reenlistment and promotion processes. The first of these three policies will allow highly qualified First Term Alignment Program (FTAP) Marines to submit for reenlistment up to one fiscal year prior to their eligible reenlistment cohort. The second policy will delegate select FTAP retention approval authority to MSC-level General Officers. The third program will change the time-in-service (TIS) requirement for promotion to Sergeant, and change the TIS and time-in-grade (TIG) requirements for promotion to Staff Sergeant in both the regular and reserve components.
4. Concept of Operations
4.a. Early Reenlistment Authority. The authority to conduct early reenlistments will allow a select number of computed Tier 1 FTAP Marines to submit for reenlistment one year prior to their eligibility period. For example, this program will allow qualified FY22 FTAP Marines to submit for reenlistment during the FY21 submission period and receive fiscal and duty station incentives. Marines will complete current assignment obligations prior to receiving new duty station incentives. These Marines will be authorized to submit for contract lengths in accordance with reference (B). Contract lengths will be 48 months in addition to their current contract in order to allow Marines to maximize their TIS as well as ensure they receive the maximum fiscal incentives.
4.a.1. Under current policy, an FTAP Marine with an end of current contract (ECC) of April 2022 is considered an FY22 cohort Marine and is currently required to wait until July 2021 to submit for reenlistment. Under Early Reenlistment Authority, this Marine, if a computed Tier 1 Marine with no jeopardy on current contract, will be allowed to reenlist as early as July 2020 during the FY21 Enlisted Retention Campaign. Additionally, this Marine will be eligible for any FY21 reenlistment incentives available to the FY21 cohort.
4.a.2. Early Reenlistments must be endorsed by an MSC-level General Officer and submitted to CMC (MMEA) for approval.
4.a.3. Detailed information and coordinating instructions will be provided via separate correspondence prior to the FY21 Enlisted Retention Campaign.
4.a.4. This policy will apply only to the Active Component.
4.b. Delegation of Retention Authority. The authority to reenlist a select number of qualified FTAP Marines will be delegated to MSC-level General Officers during the FY21 Enlisted Retention Campaign. The authority to approve reenlistments will apply to computed Tier 1 and Tier 2 Marines who do not have any jeopardy during their contract.
4.b.1. MSC-level General Officers will be allocated a specified number of reenlistments for approval based on the percentage of the eligible cohort assigned to their command. Once those allocations are approved, remaining approvals will be routed to CMC (MMEA) in accordance with reference (B).
4.b.2. Under this authority, a computed Tier 2 Marine with no jeopardy that is assigned to 1st Marine Division can be approved for reenlistment by the Commanding General, 1st Marine Division.
4.b.3. Detailed information and coordinating instructions will be provided via separate correspondence prior to the FY21 Enlisted Retention Campaign.
4.b.4. This policy will apply only to the Active Component.
4.c. Change in Promotion Requirements. Beginning in January 2020, the TIS requirement for promotion to Sergeant will increase from 24 months to 48 months. Additionally, the TIS requirements for promotion to Staff Sergeant will increase from 48 months to 60 months and the TIG requirements will increase from 27 months to 36 months. This change in promotion policy will better align the minimum TIS/TIG promotion requirements with USMC established promotion plans, standardize the rate of promotion across the force, and allow commanders to manage talent by selecting high performers for early advancement through the meritorious promotion process.
4.c.1. For promotion to Sergeant, current policy states that a Corporal must have 24 months TIS before being eligible for promotion to Sergeant. Effective 1 January 2020, a Corporal will be required to have 48 months TIS before being eligible for promotion to Sergeant. There will be no waiver of the TIS requirement.
4.c.2. For promotion to Staff Sergeant, current policy states that a Sergeant must have 48 months TIS and 27 months TIG before being eligible for promotion to Staff Sergeant. The new policy will require that a Sergeant must have 60 months TIS and 36 months TIG before being eligible for promotion Staff Sergeant. (The existing 6 months TIG waiver policy will remain).
4.c.3. For active component Marines, this change will be in effect for the FY 2020 Staff Sergeant Selection Board that is scheduled to convene on 15 July 2020. For reserve component Marines, this change will be in effect for the FY 2021 Reserve SNCO Selection Board which will convene in January 2021.
4.c.4. This policy does not change the current meritorious promotion policy, which provides commanders the flexibility to promote exceptional Marines regardless of TIG.
4.c.5. This policy will apply to the Total Force.
4.d. Two-year Obligated Service Requirement for Staff Sergeants. Beginning in July 2020, Marines who are selected to the rank of Staff Sergeant must have at least 24-months of obligated service remaining on contract beginning on the date of their promotion.
4.d.1. Upon release of the Staff Sergeant Selection list, Marines who are selected will submit to CMC (MMEA), via the Total Force Retention System, the necessary reenlistment or extension request to acquire the obligated service requirement. CMC (MMEA) will approve the request prior to the Marine’s eligible promotion date.
4.d.2. Any selectee that fails to request and/or gain the obligated service will not be promoted until they meet this requirement. Failure to do so at the end of the Marine’s current contract will indicate to the service the Marine’s desire to end active service and transition out of the Marine Corps.
4.d.3. This policy will apply only to the Active Component.
5. Release authorized by LtGen Michael A. Rocco, Deputy Commandant, Manpower and Reserve Affairs.//