R 051800Z FEB 24
MARADMIN 054/24
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA RA//
SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 24-2 ACTIVE RESERVE PROGRAM OFFICER ACCESSION AND CAREER DESIGNATION BOARDS//
REF/A/DOC/MCO 1001.52K/YMD:20190215//
REF/B/DOC/MCO 1610.7B/YMD:20230605//
NARR/REFERENCE (A) IS THE MARINE CORPS ACTIVE RESERVE PROGRAM ORDER. REFERENCE (B) IS THE MARINE CORPS ORDER FOR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION.//
POC/STEPHEN D. GRODEK/MAJ/RAM-2/TEL: 703-784-1514/DSN: 278-1514/EMAIL: STEPHEN.GRODEK@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Reserve Affairs will convene the Fiscal Year 24-2 Active Reserve (AR) Officer Accession and Career Designation Boards on 18 March 2024.
2.  Unrestricted Officer Accession Board
2.a.  The AR Program provides well-trained and experienced Reserve Component (RC) officers to integrate the United States Marine Corps Reserve into the Total Force Marine Corps.  The AR Program is structured to facilitate the mobilization of Reserve Forces by administering policy, conducting training, instruction, recruitment, and performing other functions as required by reference (a).
2.b.  Officers selected to join the AR Program will fill a variety of global billets in support of the RC.
2.c.  Initial orders will be 36 months in duration, with the option to submit for career designation after a period of 540 days of observed Fitness Reports have been recorded.  The process for applying for career designation is described in Paragraph 3.  Officers interested in applying must complete an application and submit via online survey using the following website:  www2.manpower.usmc.mil/application_cac/.
2.d.  Officer Eligibility Criteria
2.d.1.  Active Component (AC) and RC officers must meet all qualifications listed on pages 2-2 through 2-4 of reference (a).
2.d.2.  Rank and Time-in-Grade (TIG) Eligibility
2.d.2.a.  Ground Officers:  First lieutenants and captains are eligible with no TIG limitations.  
2.d.2.b.  Aviators (75XX):  Captains through lieutenant colonels are eligible with no TIG limitations. 
2.d.3.  Officers must complete service obligations (commission, minimum time on station, any bonus or incentive pay including continuation pay, payback tours, flight contracts, etc.) by 30 September 2024.
2.d.4.  RC officers commissioned via the Reserve Officer Commissioning Program are only eligible to apply if they are within 180 days of their Mandatory Drill Participation Stop Date at the time the board convenes.
2.d.5.  AC officers who are not in receipt of Permanent Change of Station Orders are eligible to apply.
2.e.  AC officers will be screened for a Reserve Commission upon application.
2.f.  The AR Program is projecting demand for the following primary MOS:  0102, 3002, 3404, 6602, 7523, 7532, 7557, 7563, 7565, and 7566.  Specific MOS shortfalls will be prioritized prior to the board convene date.
2.g.  Applicants with an MOS not listed in paragraph 2.f. are eligible to apply but may require MOS reclassification.
2.h.  The AR Program maintains 0505, 8840, and 8844 officers.  Officers having received those MOSs from Naval Post Graduate School or Advanced Intermediate Level School should annotate this qualification in their application as they may receive additional consideration on the accession board.
2.i.  Accession Board Application Process:  The application process includes completing the application package, obtaining command endorsement, and submitting the application package NLT 2359 on 1 March 2024 via the Manpower & Reserve Affairs application website.  Officers who have previously applied must submit a new application.
2.i.1.  Complete the application package identified under the “Active Reserve Officer Accession Package Templates” webpage found at:  www.manpower.usmc.mil/wordpress/?reserve_marine=test-reserve- marine-page/test-reserve-marine-child-page/personnel-management-ram/active-reserve-assignments-ram-2/active-reserve-officer-accessions.  Required documents are annotated on the enclosures section of the application template.
2.i.2.  Obtain endorsement of application package from the first O5 or O6 commander in current chain of command.  Officers serving in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) or currently attending resident PME do not require an O5/O6 endorsement.  Officers with unusual circumstances should contact RAM-2 for guidance.
2.i.3.  Complete application survey and submit the completed application package by 2359 on 1 March 2024 via the web portal at www.manpower.usmc.mil/application.  All uploaded documents must be in portable document format (PDF).
2.j.  Reserve applicants only.  The board will be provided a current Career Retirement Credit Report (CRCR).  Reserve officers are encouraged to review their CRCRs for accuracy, completion, and certification within the previous 12 months.
2.k.  Board Results.  Officers selected for accession will be notified via MARADMIN.  Officers selected as alternates will be notified via separate correspondence.
2.l.  Accession timelines will be coordinated between RAM-2 and officers selected for accession.  A standard accession tour is 36 months.
2.m.  RC officers serving on a previous set of orders for greater than 30 continuous days may elect to carry over any unused leave balance.  AC officers electing a seamless transition between the AC and the AR (no break in active duty service) will not be permitted to sell back accrued leave.  AC officers electing to sell back leave must have a minimum of a 24-hour break in active duty service.  Leave sell back election must be made via NAVMC 11060 prior to current End of Active Service (EAS) date.
2.n.  Officers who have received or are receiving involuntary or voluntary separations pay may be subject to recoupment by the U.S. Government upon accession.
3.  Competitive Career Designation
3.a.  Competitive career designation offers an opportunity for unrestricted AR officers to continue service in the AR Program beyond their accession tour.  Officers will be considered for career designation on the first career designation board held after receiving 540 days of observed Fitness Reports for continued service in the AR Program.  Officers selected for career designation will be assigned an indefinite EAS.
3.b.  The board will consider Fitness Reports submitted through 1 March 2024 towards the 540 days of required observation.
3.c.  Officers with an EAS not supporting an opportunity for career designation due to non-observed Fitness Reports must request an EAS extension from RAM-2 via Administrative Action Form.
3.d.  Officers not selected for career designation will be released from the AR Program upon EAS.  Officers with an EAS that allows for additional career designation boards will be considered on those boards if they apply.
3.e.  Career Designation Application Process:  The application process includes completing the application package, obtaining command endorsement, and submitting the application package NLT 2359 on 1 March 2024 via the Manpower & Reserve Affairs application website.
3.e.1.  Complete the application package identified under the “Active Reserve Officer Career Designation” webpage found at:  www.manpower.usmc.mil/wordpress/?reserve_marine=test-reserve-marine-page/test-reserve-marine-child-page/personnel-managment-ram/active-reserve-assignments-ram-2/active-reserve-officer-career-designation.  Required documents are annotated on the enclosure portion of the application template.
3.e.2.  Obtain endorsement of application package from the first O5 or O6 commander in current chain of command.  Officers serving in the IRR or currently attending resident PME do not require an O5/O6 endorsement.  Officers with unusual circumstances should contact RAM-2 for guidance.
3.e.3.  Complete application survey and submit the completed application package by 2359 on 1 March 2024 via the web portal at www2.manpower.usmc.mil/application_cac/.  All uploaded documents must be in PDF.
3.f.  Career designation incurs a 24-month obligation from the first day of the month following the date of acceptance.  Officers who decline career designation will be separated on their EAS date.
4.  Officers are responsible for ensuring completion of Fitness Reports as required by reference (b).
5.  Officers are encouraged to request a career counseling for review of the Official Military Personnel File and Master Brief Sheet.  To request counseling services, send an email to SMB_MANPOWER_CAC@usmc.mil with name, EDIPI, contact information, and service requested.
6.  Waivers to eligibility requirements set forth in this MARADMIN or reference (a) will be considered at the discretion of the Director of Reserve Affairs Division on a case-by-case basis.  Waiver requests are submitted via application letter, refer to paragraph 2.i.1.
7.  Release authorized by Major General Karl D. Pierson, Director, Reserve Affairs Division.//