R 261615Z MAY 22
MARADMIN 270/22
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA RA//
SUBJ/RESERVE COMPONENT OPT OUT OF CONSIDERATION FOR PROMOTION//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/CONGRESS/8AUG2018//
REF/B/DOC/DOD/16DEC2020//
REF/C/DOC/SECNAV/28MAR2019//
REF/D/MSGID: DOC/SECNAV MEMO/5JAN2022//
NARR/REF (A) IS TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE. REF (B) IS DOD INSTRUCTION 1320.14, COMMISSIONED OFFICER PROMOTION PROGRAM PROCEDURES. REF (C) IS SECNAVINST 1420.3, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY COMMISSIONED OFFICERS PROMOTION PROGRAM, REF (D) IS THE SECNAV MEMO WHICH DELEGATES OPT OUT AUTHORITY TO THE MARINE CORPS.//
POC/R. LIU/MAJ/RAP-1/TEL: (703) 784-9138//
POC/T. A. DEMPSEY/MAJ/RAP-2/TEL: (703) 784-0533//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. PURPOSE. This MARADMIN communicates the opt out of consideration for promotion process and provides background information in advance of execution of the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Active Reserve and Reserve Major, Lieutenant Colonel, and Colonel Promotion Boards.
2. The Defense Officer Personnel Management Act (DOPMA) in the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act provides relief to officers in traditional promotion systems. Opt out of promotion consideration is a statutory authority that allows an eligible officer to request to opt out of promotion in a given year without penalty.
3. Opt out of consideration for promotion. Section 14301 of reference (a) is the statutory authority granting the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) the discretion to authorize eligible officers to opt out of consideration for promotion by a promotion selection board (PSB). Reference (d) delegates approval authority to the Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs (DC M&RA).
(a) The intent for the request is to allow an officer to complete a broadening assignment, advanced education, assignment of significant value to the Reserve Component (RC), or a career progression requirement delayed by assignment to professional military education. The following categories of officers may be eligible to opt out of consideration for promotion:
(1) Officers completing broadening assignments. Examples include but are not limited to: Foreign Professional Military Education, Congressional Fellowship, and Commandants’ National Fellows.
(2) Officers completing advanced education. Examples include but are not limited to: Non-resident Professional Military Education, full-time resident Career Level School, Intermediate Level School, or Top Level School, and equivalent service institutions and/or resident civilian education programs.
(3) Officers completing assignment of significant value. Examples include but are not limited to: Foreign or Regional Area Affairs, Personnel Exchange Program, assignments of primary military occupational specialties (PMOSs) determined by the Marine Corps to be of significant value and approved by DC M&RA, and extended service in the Individual Ready Reserve due to extraordinary circumstances.
4. Eligibility
(a) All RC unrestricted officers, to include AR, who are eligible to be considered as in-zone or above-zone not previously considered eligible for promotion to Major, Lieutenant Colonel, or Colonel in FY24, who meet the following requirements:
(1) Must not have previously failed selection for promotion to the grade requesting exclusion.
(2) Must be within height and weight standards.
(3) Must have no outstanding investigations, pending legal matters, or in-grade adverse material.
5. Officers who meet the criteria in paragraphs 3 and 4 may submit a request to opt out of consideration for promotion.
(a) Officers may request promotion opt out only once in their career, regardless of rank.
(1) Requests shall include the officer's justification for the request to opt out of consideration for promotion, current assignment, PMOS, eligibility requirements, and endorsements from the chain of command.
(2) Applications must be endorsed by the first general officer in the applicant’s chain of command.
(3) Requests must be submitted to HQMC via a NAVMC 10274 Administrative Action (AA) request form no later than 8 June 2022. Submit endorsed AA forms to Reserve Affairs Personnel Policy, Plans, and Programming (RAP-2) email address: RAP@usmc.mil or the following mailing address: Commandant of the Marine Corps (RAP-2)(Attn: RC Opt Out of Consideration for Promotion) 3280 Russell Road Quantico, VA 22134-5103
6. Approval or disapproval of request will be determined if the request is in the best interest of the RC based on military occupational specialty strengths and the needs of the service.
7. Coordinating instructions. O5 and O6 Commanders will endorse the applicant’s request to opt out of consideration for promotion. The first general officer in the chain of command will provide a recommendation to DC M&RA for all requests. Reserve Affairs Plans (RAP-2) and Reserve Affairs Management (RAM-2) will review all requests and provide appropriate recommendation to DC M&RA for final determination. RAP-2 will ensure that approved officers are removed from the eligible population for consideration for promotion, appropriately update the history of lineal establishment database to memorialize that the officer opted out of consideration for promotion, and update post-board reports in accordance with references (b-d).
8. Recommendations for opt out requests will address the service of an officer in a broadening assignment, advanced education, or assignment of significant value and overall performance history and ability to meet career progression milestone requirements.
9. RAP-2 will notify officers by letter via standard mail of their approval or disapproval after DC M&RA has made final determination. A copy of the approval letter will be placed in the officer’s official military personnel file.
10. In-zone officers who are approved will be removed from the FY24 eligible population to be placed in the above zone, not previously considered for the FY25 Active Reserve and Reserve Major, Lieutenant Colonel, or Colonel Promotion Boards, without penalty.
11. AR Officers approved for opt out are not precluded from receiving PCS orders.
12. Officers considering opt out of consideration for promotion are advised to consult with their respective monitor, executive officer, or commanding officer for guidance on career progression and eligibility.
13. To consult with a Career Counselor via the Career Management Team (CMT), Reserve Affairs Division, please call commercial 703-784- 0524, DSN 278-0524, or e-mail: smb_manpower_cac@usmc.mil. CMT can be found on the Manpower and Reserve Affairs webpage at www.manpower.usmc.mil. From the homepage, click on “Reserve Marine,” “Career Management Team (CMT).”
14. Applicability. This MARADMIN is applicable only to the Reserve Component.
15. This MARADMIN cancels after the results of the FY24 Active Reserve and Reserve Marine Corps Major through Colonel Selections are made public via ALNAV or approximately 31 Jan 2023.
16. Release authorized by LtGen David A. Ottignon, Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.//