R 221947Z OCT 24
MARADMIN 503/24
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2025 JUDGE ADVOCATE CONTINUATION PAY 
PROGRAM//
REF/A/DOC/TITLE 37 U.S.C. SEC 321//
REF/B/DOC/TITLE 37 U.S.C. SEC 332//
REF/C/DOC/DOD/DODI 1304.34/11JUL16//
REF/D/DOC/DOD FMR 7000.14-R/JUN20//
NARR/ REF A IS THE UNITED STATES CODE THAT AUTHORIZES THE USE 
OF JUDGE ADVOCATE CONTINUATION PAY.  REF B IS THE UNITED STATES CODE 
THAT AUTHORIZES GENERAL BONUSES FOR OFFICERS.  REF C IS DOD 
INSTRUCTION  1304.34, GENERAL BONUS AUTHORITY FOR OFFICERS. 
REF D IS VOLUME 14 OF THE DOD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REGULATION//
POC/G. M. PARHAM/MAJ/HQMC/JAD/JPI/TEL:  703-955-1424//
POC/J. M. ORTIZ/CAPT/HQMC/JAD/JPI/TEL:  703-614-2847//
POC/M. A. HAYNES/MAJ/DC MRA/MP/MPP-30/TEL:  703-784-9365//
POC/N. M. MATTHAI/MAJ/DC MRA/MM/MMOA-1/TEL:  703-784-9272//
POC/N. C. ROGERS/CAPT/DC MRA/MM/MMOA-1/TEL:  703-784-9277//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  The purpose of this MARADMIN is to 
provide information on the Judge Advocate Continuation Pay (JACP) 
Program for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25).  Reference (a) provides the 
legal authority for the JACP Program.   
2.  Background.  JACP is a special pay offered to judge advocates to
retain high-performing and experienced counsel.  This Program 
provides a proactive, short-term incentive for judge advocates in 
certain grades experiencing shortfalls.  JACP consists of a maximum 
of $110,000 per officer, paid in three phases throughout a judge 
advocate’s career as outlined in paragraph 5.  Contract lengths and 
monetary amounts are based on current and forecasted community 
shortfalls to improve the health of the judge advocate community and 
will be offered to Marine judge advocates who meet eligibility 
requirements outlined in paragraph 3.
3.  Eligibility Requirements.  To receive JACP, officers must meet 
the following non-waivable criteria during the effective dates of 
the FY25 JACP Program (1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025): 
3.a.  Must be a captain or major;
3.b.  Must be in the active component;
3.c.  Must have completed all initial active duty service obligation 
incurred through the officer’s original commissioning program;
3.d.  Must be qualified and certified as a judge advocate as defined 
in Section 801 of Title 10 U.S. Code;
3.e.  Must have been selected for and accepted Career Designation 
(CD);
3.f.  Must have served more than four and fewer than 12 years of 
active commissioned service, to include time spent in the active 
reserve or on active duty operational support orders, as measured 
from the officer’s Armed Forces Active Duty Base Date (AFADBD), or 
Date of Rank First Commissioning (DORFC) in the case of 
prior-enlisted judge advocates; and,
3.g.  Must agree to continue serving as a Marine Corps judge 
advocate in the active component for the defined JACP contract term. 
3.h.  Judge advocates who are uncertain of their eligibility status, 
or believe they are eligible despite a non-qualifying AFADBD, are 
encouraged to contact the Judge Advocate Division (JAD) and Manpower 
Plans and Policy (MPP-30) points of contact listed in this MARADMIN.
4.  Ineligible Categories  
4.a.  Officers accessed into the Marine Corps judge advocate 
community through the Marine Corps-sponsored Funded Law Education 
Program under MCO 1524.1 are not eligible.  This criteria does not 
apply to otherwise eligible officers accessed into the Marine Corps 
judge advocate community through the Marine Corps-sponsored Excess 
Leave Program (ELP) under MCO 1524.1.  Officers accessed through the 
ELP are eligible after completing the attendant service obligation.
4.b.  Officers passed for promotion are not eligible for JACP.  
Officers previously passed for promotion who have been subsequently 
selected for promotion and meet remaining eligibility criteria are 
eligible to apply for JACP.
5.  Payment Provisions.  The FY25 JACP Program consists of three 
phases based on grade and years of active commissioned service as 
measured from the officer’s AFADBD or DORFC in the case of 
prior-enlisted judge advocates.
5.a.  Phase I:  Captains upon acceptance of CD and completion of 
four and no more than seven years of active commissioned service.
5.a.1. Three annual payments of $10,000 (total $30,000).
5.b.  Phase II:  Upon promotion to major and completion of 7 and no 
more than 10 years of active commissioned service.
5.b.1. Three annual payments:  $20,000 for the first installment and 
$10,000 for both the second and third installments (total $40,000).
5.b.2. Any Phase I obligated service must be fulfilled prior to the 
Phase II contract start date. 
5.c.  Phase III:  Majors, including lieutenant colonel-selects, upon 
completion of 10 and no more than 12 years of active commissioned 
service.
5.c.1. Three annual payments:  $20,000 for the first installment and 
$10,000 for both the second and third installments (total $40,000).
5.c.2. Any Phase II obligated service must be fulfilled prior to the 
Phase III contract start date.
5.d.  Judge advocates will be paid the first installment no later 
than 30 days after the contract start date as defined in the 
following paragraph.  Second and third installment payments will be 
made on the anniversary date of the officer’s JACP contract start 
date.  
5.e.  Contract start date is defined as the date the application is 
approved by the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) (MPP-30) or the 
completion of any existing service obligation that cannot run 
concurrently with JACP service obligation per reference (c), 
whichever occurs later.
6.  Active Duty Service Obligation.  Officers approved for JACP will 
incur an active duty service obligation of three years from the 
contract start date.
6.a.  No JACP payments will be issued prior to the commencement of 
the officer’s JACP service obligation.
6.b.  JACP service obligation shall be served consecutively with 
existing service obligations except where reference (c) authorizes 
concurrent service obligations.  
6.c.  Judge advocates with existing service obligations who are 
approved for JACP may request to withdraw from JACP participation no 
less than 90 days prior to their contract start date.  Such requests 
will be submitted via NAVMC 10274 to JAD@usmc.mil.
6.d.  Judge advocates receiving JACP who are offered continuation on 
active duty after being twice passed for promotion may elect to 
refuse continuation on active duty but may be subject to the 
recoupment of any unearned JACP payments if they are separated prior 
to fulfilling their JACP service obligation, per paragraph 7.a of 
this message.
6.e.  Incomplete application packages, packages requiring 
resubmission, or submission of excess information beyond the 
requirements may delay the processing of the package and could 
result in a delay of contract start date.
6.f.  An officer may only be released from their JACP service 
obligation upon approval by CMC (MP).
7.  Recoupment and Repayment Provisions
7.a.  Termination and Repayment Required.  Judge advocates who are 
unable to complete the service obligation specified in the JACP 
agreement may be subject to termination of any unpaid bonus amount 
and repayment of the unearned portion of prepaid amounts on a 
pro-rated basis in the following circumstances:
7.a.1. Voluntary or involuntary separation from active duty or 
discharge within the related contract extension time;
7.a.2. Loss of certification under Article 27(b), UCMJ, or 
suspension from practice as a judge advocate for one year or longer, 
subsequent to acceptance of JACP;
7.a.3. Medical incapacitation or physical disability resulting from 
misconduct, gross negligence, or incurred during a period of 
unauthorized absence;
7.a.4. Separation or dismissal for cause, resignation in lieu of 
court martial, or resignation in lieu of processing for 
administrative separation; or
7.a.5. Involuntary separation from military service by operation of 
law, or involuntary separation by operation of military service or 
policy.
7.b.  Recoupment and Repayment Not Required.  Officers will not be 
required to repay the unearned portion of prepaid amounts of JACP, 
and any remaining JACP service obligation will be terminated under 
the following circumstances: 
7.b.1. Before completion of the JACP service obligation, the judge 
advocate dies, is retired or separated with a combat-related 
disability that was not the result of his or her misconduct, or 
receives a sole survivorship discharge; or
7.b.2. The Secretary of the Navy determines that, under the 
circumstances, recoupment or repayment of unearned JACP would be 
contrary to a personnel policy or management objective, would be 
against equity or good conscience, or would be contrary to the best 
interests of the United States.
8.  Application Procedures
8.a.  Applicants must submit their JACP application package to CMC 
(JAD).  Package must include:
8.a.1. Application form (as defined in paragraph 9); and
8.a.2. Endorsements (as defined in paragraph 9). 
8.b.  The documentation needed for processing is a scanned 
electronic copy, with appropriate signatures, sent via unencrypted 
email to JAD@usmc.mil.
8.c.  Applications will be reviewed for eligibility by CMC (JAD) and 
CMC (MMOA-1) and approved by CMC (MPP-30).  Applicants can expect a 
confirmation of receipt of the application via email from CMC (JAD) 
within 10 business days. Processing and approval may take up to 
eight weeks.  If approved, the effective date of JACP contracts will
be the contract start date, as defined in paragraph 5e.  Payments 
will start no earlier than an individual’s contract start date.
8.d.  Officers applying for JACP must apply within the eligibility 
timeframe for each phase as outlined in paragraph 3 of this MARADMIN 
and must agree to accept the associated contract for any phase for 
which approved prior to receiving JACP pay.
9.  Application Form.  Applicants will submit a Standard Naval 
Letter in the following format:
From:  (Applying Officer’s Grade, Name, EDIPI/MOS)
To:    Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs (MPP-30)
Via:   (1) First O-5 Commander or O-5 SJA in applicant’s chain of 
           command
       (2) Commandant of the Marine Corps (JAD)
       (3) Commandant of the Marine Corps (MMOA-1)
Subj:  Request for FY25 Judge Advocate Continuation Pay Phase ___
Ref:   (Cite Subject MARADMIN)
1.  Per the reference, I hereby apply for FY25 Judge Advocate 
Continuation Pay (JACP) Phase___.  Contingent on approval of my 
application for this special pay, I agree to accept an officer 
service obligation to complete three additional years of active 
service beginning the effective date of my JACP contract, (in 
exchange for $10,000 annually for each full year of service) or (in 
exchange for $20,000 for the first year and $10,000 for each of 
years two and three for each full year of service) for a total of 
$__.  I agree not to tender a resignation that would be effective 
during this JACP service obligation.  I understand that, upon 
receipt by JAD/MPP-30, this application becomes a binding contract 
and service obligation for the duration of the contract period upon 
approval.    
2.  I have read, understand, and agree to be bound by the provisions 
of the reference and this MARADMIN, including all provisions 
relating to termination of payments to be made pursuant to this 
agreement, termination of the service obligation, and the 
circumstances under which recoupment by the government of sums paid 
may be required.
3.  I affirm that I meet the eligibility requirements and understand 
CMC (JAD/MMOA-1/MPP-30) must validate my eligibility for JACP.  In 
the event it is determined I am not eligible for JACP, this 
application will be returned with no action taken, and I may 
re-apply at a later date if my eligibility changes.
4.  I am not currently obligated under a judge advocate bonus 
program and am eligible per paragraph 5 of the reference.
5.  The following information is provided and certified to be true 
and accurate:
Date Accepted First Commission: YYYY/MM/DD
Armed Forces Active Duty Base Date: YYYY/MM/DD
Current Years of Commissioned Service: XX yrs XX mos
Date Completed Initial Active Duty Service Obligation: YYYY/MM/DD
Length of Initial Law Contract: XX mos
Date Accepted Career Designation into the Regular Marine Corps:  
YYYY/MM/DD
Work Phone Number:
E-Mail Address:
I certify that I am not currently pending any legal action. 
___[Signature]___
10.  Approval.  Using the format prescribed in paragraph 9 above, 
eligible judge advocates may apply for JACP via their senior judge 
advocate or commanding officer (O-5 and above and/or SJA billet).  
Reviewing officers need only to endorse with the following:  
“Forwarded recommending approval” or “Forwarded not recommending 
approval.”  CMC (JAD/MPP-30) will review all applications.  Once the 
application is approved by CMC (MPP-30), the judge advocate will be 
eligible to receive JACP as authorized by this MARADMIN.  The only 
documentation needed for processing is an electronic copy of the 
application package with appropriate enclosures and signatures.
11.  Authority.  CMC (JAD/MMOA-1/MPP-30) is delegated authority to 
evaluate, administer, and verify eligibility of candidates for the 
JACP Program pursuant to reference (a) and this MARADMIN.  
12.  Individuals who are not eligible for Phase I payments based 
upon AFADBD may still apply for, and receive, Phase II payments if 
otherwise eligible in accordance with paragraph 3 of this MARADMIN.  
Similarly, individuals who are not eligible for either Phase I or 
Phase II payments based upon AFADBD may still apply for, and 
receive, Phase III payments if otherwise eligible in accordance 
with paragraph 3 of this MARADMIN.
13.  Upon confirmation of eligibility and JACP approval, MPP-30 will 
send an e-mail detailing the applicant’s JACP start date.  MPP-30 
will send an official letter detailing the applicant’s service 
obligation and monetary amounts to the officer upon the contract 
start date.  Selection for JACP is not intended to be a career 
enhancement and shall not be annotated in a Marine’s fitness report.
14.  JACP payments will be taxed as per Department of Defense 
Financial Management Regulation, except for those identified in 
Volume 7A, Chapter 44, Paragraph 440202, reference (d).
15.  Financial Planning Consideration.  Resources are available 
aboard each installation to discuss the significant financial 
decisions associated with the receipt of bonuses such as changing 
tax brackets, savings, investments, and retirement planning.  Local 
resources available include Personal Financial Managers, contracted 
Personal Financial Counselors, and unit Command Financial 
Specialists.
16.  This MARADMIN is not applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve.
17.  This MARADMIN cancels on 30 September 2025.
18.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General Michael J. 
Borgschulte, Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.//