R 032133Z APR 20
MARADMIN 213/20
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC MRA DAG SEC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/EXTENSION OPTIONS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19//
REF/A/DOC/CMC/20100908//
REF/B/DOC/CMC/20190215//
REF/C/DOC/CMC/20110502//
NARR/REF A IS MCO 1040.31 ENLISTED RETENTION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. REF B IS MCO 1900.16 WITH CHANGE 2 SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT MANUAL. REF C MCO 1040R.35, RESERVE CAREER PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT MANUAL.//
POC/A. A. CRUZ/MGYSGT/CMC MMEA-1/-/TEL: (703) 432-9125 / EMAIL: ARBENZ.CRUZ@USMC.MIL//
POC/C. N. BLAIR/MAJ/CMC MMSR/-/TEL: (703) 784-9314 / EMAIL: CLARISSA.BLAIR@USMC.MIL//
POC/N. L. RENFRO/MAJ/CMC MMOA/-/TEL: (703) 784-9272 EMAIL: NORMAN.RENFRO@USMC.MIL//
POC/K. L. BROWN/MGYSGT/RA (RAP)/TEL: (703)784-0583/EMAIL: KEVIN.L.BROWN@USMC.MIL//
POC/J. U. ARELLANO/RA (RAP)/TEL: (703)784-9143/EMAIL: JESSICA.ARELLANO@USMC.MIL//
POC/S. B. SIMMONS/RA (RAM)/TEL: (703)784-0514/EMAIL: STEVEN.B.SIMMONS@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. Purpose. To provide initial guidance regarding extensions for Marines impacted by COVID 19 through the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 20. As the situation evolves through the coming months, subsequent guidance will be promulgated regarding extensions across the fiscal year.
2. Background. As the challenges presented by COVID 19 continue to unfold, Headquarters Marine Corps is attempting to reduce the impacts to individual Marines and their families. The Service developed options to provide separating and retiring Marines the necessary time to effectively and safely transition amid the current pandemic. Therefore, the Deputy Commandant, Manpower and Reserve Affairs will continue to authorize extensions to Marines who may need additional time in order to ensure completion of their transition requirements to include medical appointments and transition assistance programs.
3. Options for Separating Marines.
3.a. Active Component and Active Reserve Enlisted Marines.
3.a.1. In accordance with ref (a) and (c), O-5 and O-6 Commanders may offer voluntary extensions to Enlisted Marines who require additional time to transition through 30 June 2020. If a Marine requires service beyond 30 June 2020 due to COVID 19, their unit Career Planner can contact MMEA-1 or RAM-1 to be extended up to the remainder of the fiscal year.
3.a.2. Deployed Commanders may offer voluntary extensions to deployed Marines through 30 August 2020 if the unit redeployment date shifts to beyond their current End of Active Service (EAS) date. If additional time is required, MMEA or RAM-1 may approve into September 2020 and beyond. Active Reserve Enlisted Marines who need an EAS extension past 30 September 2020 due to hardship or other extenuating circumstances must submit an AA Form with GO level endorsement to DC, M&RA for consideration and approval.
3.a.3. MMEA remains the authority for any Enlisted Marine who requires an extension beyond the current fiscal year. Additional guidance for cross fiscal year extensions will be provided at a later date.
3.b. Active Component and Active Reserve Officers.
3.b.1. Active Component Officers are authorized to request an EAS extension via one of two paths.
3.b.1.a. Officers who are career designated can request an EAS extension by submitting an AA Form to MMSR-2(O).
3.b.1.b. Officers that were not offered career designation, or who elected to decline career designation should contact MMOA-3 (Retention and Release Officer). Please include an endorsement letter from the first O-5 commander in the reporting chain. Officers are encouraged to inform their PMOS monitor of their request for tracking and awareness.
3.b.2. Active Reserve Officers who need an EAS extension due to COVID impacts should contact their monitor. On a case by case basis, RAM may approve COVID-related extensions out to 30 September 2020. Active Reserve Officers that need an EAS extension past 30 September 2020 due to hardship or other extenuating circumstances must submit an AA Form with GO level endorsement to DC, M&RA for consideration and approval.
3.c. Selected Reserve Marine Corps (SMCR), Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA), and Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) Marines.
3.c.1. In accordance with ref (c), commanders are authorized to utilize a local command authority (LCA) extension to adjust the ECC/RECC of SMCR/IRR/IMA enlisted Marines who desire retention up to 30 September 2020. Commanders are authorized by the Director, Reserve Affairs to extend Marines beyond service limitations (if applicable) not to exceed 30 September 2020.
3.c.1.a. Commanders are NOT authorized to use this local command authority (LCA) extension if the result of the extension of enlistment would exceed the following in the case of the individual Marine.
- A total of 48 months of extensions of enlistments on current contract.
- 30 years of total federal service.
3.c.1.b. Career Planners will utilize the Reserve LCA Extension RELM type in TFRS to create and execute this extension in accordance with reference (b). When generating the NAVMC 321a, the purpose will state: “To allow ample contractual time in order to submit a subsequent TFRS retention request in accordance with TFRS Message R66002”.
3.c.1.c. Prior Service Recruiters are not authorized to utilize this temporary authority.
3.d. Officer and enlisted Marines on additional support on station (ADOS) orders may request EAS extensions on case-by-case basis with General Officer endorsement to RAM-1.
4. Options for Separating and Retiring Marines. Any Marine with an approved retirement or separation date may contact MMSR to modify approved retirement dates within the fiscal year.
4.a. Enlisted Separations and Retirements.
4.a.1. Voluntary retirement request. For enlisted voluntary retirements, an enlisted Marine may request a modification of retirement date by submitting an AA Form with Battalion/Squadron level endorsement to MMSR-2E via smb.manpower.mmsr2E@usmc.mil. The approval authority rests with MMEA.
4.a.2. Separation based on Enlisted Career Force Control (ECFC). For ECFC waivers within the fiscal year, an enlisted Marine may request an ECFC waiver by submitting an AA Form with Battalion/Squadron level endorsement to MMSR-2E via smb.manpower.mmsr2E@usmc.mil. Approval authority rests with Dir, MM.
4.b. Officer Separations and Retirements.
4.b.1. Voluntary Requests or Non-Career Designated.
4.b.1.a. For voluntary requests to retire, a career designated officer may request an EAS extension by submitting an AA Form with Battalion/Squadron level endorsement to MMSR-2(O) via smb.manpower.mmsr2O@usmc.mil. Approval authority rests with DC, M&RA.
4.b.1.b. Officers that were not offered career designation, or who elected to decline career designation should contact MMOA-3 (Retention and Release Officer). Please include an endorsement letter from Battalion or Squadron Commander. Officers are encouraged to inform their PMOS monitor of their request for tracking and awareness.
4.b.2. Mandatory Separation or Mandatory Retirement Date.
4.b.2.a. For Mandatory Separation (career designated officer that is not retirement eligible with a mandatory separation date, i.e. 2 failure pass of selection). A career designated officer with a mandatory separation date may request to have their EAS deferred by submitting an AA Form with endorsement from the first general officer in chain of command to MMSR-2(O) via smb.manpower.mmsr2O@usmc.mil. Authority rests with ASN. Officers are encouraged to inform their PMOS monitor of their request for tracking and awareness. The officer must continue with the separation administrative process until a decision is made.
4.b.2.b. For Mandatory Retirement a career designated officer with a mandatory retirement may request to be retired/retained in order to extend their EAS. Submit an AA form with endorsement from the first general officer in their chain of command to MMSR-6 via smb.manpower.mmsr6@usmc.mil. Officers are encouraged to inform their PMOS monitor of their request for tracking and awareness. The officer must continue with the retirement administrative process until a decision is made.
4.c. Disability Retirements. Marines pending disability discharge or retirement may request to remain on active duty past their established separation date via PLD per ref (b). Marines will submit an AA Form with Battalion/Squadron level endorsement to MMSR-4 via smb.manpower.mmsr4@usmc.mil.
5. This MARADMIN is applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve.
6. Release authorized by LtGen M.A. Rocco, Deputy Commandant, Manpower and Reserve Affairs.//