R 291800Z JUL 25
MARADMIN 356/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/FY25 VOLUNTARY ENLISTED EARLY RELEASE PROGRAM//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/CONGRESS//
REF/B/MSGID: DOC/SECNAV/YMD: 20250701//
REF/C/MSGID: DOC/DOD/YMD: 20200612//
REF/D/MSGID: DOC/DOD/YMD: 20170303//
REF/E/MSGID: DOC/CMC/YMD: 20190215//
REF/F/MSGID: WEB/CMC/YMD: 20200504//
REF/G/MSGID: DOC/OSD/YMD: 20180712//
REF/H/MSGID: MSG/CMC/YMD: 20240124//
REF/I/MSGID: DOC/CMC/YMD: 20151230//
REF/J/MSGID: DOC/CONGRESS//
REF/K/MSGID: DOC/DFAS/YMD: 20200501//
REF/L/MSGID: DOD/OSD/YMD: 20170127//
REF/M/MSGID: DOD/SECDEF/YMD: 20091112//
REF/N/MSGID: DOD/CMC/YMD: 20191113//
NARR/REF (A) IS TITLE 10 UNITED STATES CODE SECTION 1171, REGULAR
ENLISTED MEMBERS: EARLY DISCHARGE.  REF (B) IS SECNAV APPROVAL OF
FISCAL YEAR 2025 VOLUNTARY ENLISTED EARLY RELEASE PROGRAM (VEERP)
DATED 1 JULY 2025.  REF (C) IS DODI 1332.14, ENLISTED ADMINISTRATIVE
SEPARATIONS.  REF (D) IS DODI 1332.29, INVOLUNTARY SEPARATIONS PAY
(NON-DISABILITY).  REF (E) IS MCO 1900.16 CH2, MARINE CORPS
SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT MANUAL.  REF (F) IS MARINE CORPS TOTAL
FORCE SYSTEM PERSONNEL REPORTING INSTRUCTION USER’S MANUAL (PRIUM).
REF (G) IS DODI 1341.13, POST-9/11 GI BILL, CH1.  REF(H) IS MARADMIN
027/24, TRANSFER OF POST-9/11 GI BILL EDUCATION BENEFITS (TEB) TO
DEPENDENTS PROCESS.  REF (I) IS MCO 1700.31, TRANSITION READINESS
PROGRAM.  REF (J) IS TITLE 37 UNITED STATES CODE SECTION 373.  REF
(K) IS DOD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS, DOD 7000.14-R, VOLUME
7A, CHAPTER 2, PARAGRAPH 020303.E.  REF (L) IS DEPUTY SECRETARY OF
DEFENSE MEMO FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BLENDED RETIREMENT
SYSTEM.  REF (M) IS SECDEF MEMORANDUM FURTHER DELEGATING AUTHORITY
UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 11498 TO SECRETARIES OF THE MILITARY
DEPARTMENTS.  REF (N) IS MARADMIN 632/19, TRANSITION READINESS.
POC/C. E. PENNINGTON/MAJ/UNIT: CMC MMSR (SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT)
/-/TEL:703-784-9314//
POC/J. E. MILLER/MAJ/UNIT: CMC MMEA-3 (ENLISTED ASSIGNMENTS)
/-/TEL:703-784-9657//
POC/W. C. GRIFFIN/MAJ/UNIT: CMC MMPB-11 (ENLISTED PROMOTIONS)
/-/TEL:703-784-3340//
POC/R. M. MCCOY/CAPT/UNIT: CMC MPP-20 (ENLISTED PLANS)
/-/TEL: 703-784-9361//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  The fiscal year (FY) 2025 VEERP is a
deliberate force shaping initiative.  This message serves to
establish the authority, eligibility, and procedures for the
voluntary early release of Active Component enlisted Marines whose
current end of active service (EAS) is in FY 25.
2.  Background.  References (a), (b), and (m) provide the authority
from the Secretary of the Navy to establish the VEERP.  The FY25
VEERP will commence upon the publication of this MARADMIN.  Marines
approved for this program will separate on a date prior to their
current EAS.  Marines approved for the FY25 VEERP will be considered
to have completed their full active service commitment.  This
MARADMIN does not exempt Marines from completing reserve or
individual ready reserve (IRR) obligations per their individual
service enlistment contracts.
3.  Eligibility
3.a.  This message applies only to Active Component enlisted Marines
with an EAS date on or before 30 September 2025.  Headquarters
Marine Corps reserves the right to adjust the requirements as
necessary to maintain authorized strength requirements.
3.b.  Marines are required to complete mandated Transition Readiness
Seminar (TRS) requirements prior to EAS per reference (i) as
supplemented by reference (n).  Marines must be TRS complete and
medically qualified prior to early release.
3.c.  Marines must be eligible for an honorable discharge
characterization at time of early release.
3.d.  Marines must submit their VEERP package to their first General
Court-Martial Convening Authority (GCMCA) in their chain of command
who may approve all Marines that meet eligibility requirements.
4.  Ineligibility.  Marines meeting any of the following conditions
are ineligible to participate in the FY25 VEERP:
4.a.  Marines with an EAS after 30 September 2025 are not eligible.
4.b.  Marines scheduled for transfer to the Fleet Marine Corps
Reserve (FMCR) or retired list.
4.c.  Marines who are indebted to the government (to include advance
and excess leave).  Indebted Marines desiring early release can make
accelerated repayment of their debts by increasing scheduled
installment amounts and by making cash collections to repay their
indebtedness.  Indebtedness must be entirely resolved prior to early
release.
4.d.  Marines being released under other HQMC directed early out
programs, e.g., early release for education, temporary early
retirement authority, and voluntary separation pay program.
4.e.  Marines currently on terminal leave, including SkillBridge.
4.f.  Marines currently serving on a Special Duty Assignment who
have not completed obligated service required for the assignment.
4.g.  Marines pending legal action or proceedings, administrative
separation, or disability separation or retirement are not eligible
for the VEERP.  The Marine may submit for VEERP once proceedings are
completed and if he/she remains eligible for release under honorable
discharge.  The VEERP should not be viewed as an expeditious manner
to separate Marines who fall into a category which requires
mandatory processing for administrative separation per references
(c) and (e).
4.h.  Marines participating in the National Call to Service Program.
5.  Program timeline
5.a.  Application processing will commence immediately upon release
of this MARADMIN.
5.b.  Marines must meet all eligibility criteria outlined in
paragraph 3 of this MARADMIN prior to early release.  Upon early
release, the Marine will be considered to have completed his/her
full active service commitment.  Marines are reminded that early
release is not an entitlement.
6.  Coordinating instructions
6.a.  It is understood that this program may result in temporary
risks to some units due to falling below staffing levels.  Units
will not receive early staffing replacement.  Commanders’ support of
this force shaping tool is critical for the Marine Corps to attain
its force shaping goal.
6.b.  Individual Marines must submit requests by standard naval
letter via their chain of command to their first GCMCA.
6.b.1.  The first GCMCA in the Marine’s chain of command may approve
all Marines that meet eligibility requirements.
6.b.2. GCMCA approvals will be based upon units’ operational
requirements and Marines’ individual situations and should not be
considered automatic.
6.b.3.  The Marines’ Major Subordinate Command G-1 will report the
new EAS/ECC to their local Installation Personnel Administration
Center via MCTFS unit diary entry per reference (f) and report
weekly participation rosters to HQMC, Manpower Management Separation
and Retirement (MMSR) via email:  smb_manpower_mmsr2e@usmc.mil.
G-1s will include name, rank, EDIPI, new EAS, old EAS, and TEB
obligation status (N/A, Obligation Complete, Obligation Outstanding)
in their emailed reports.  MMSR will consolidate participation data
and provide weekly reporting to DC, M&RA.
6.c.  Unit diary entries reporting release from active duty or
discharge will be submitted per reference (f).
6.c.1.  The Separation Program Designator (SPD) Code for active duty
enlisted Marines being released from active duty is MCC1, Force
Shaping.  This SPD applies to Marines that have remaining obligated
service or wish to transfer to the reserves.  Reference (e),
paragraph 6404.3 provides the authority for this SPD.
6.c.2.  The SPD for active duty enlisted Marines being discharged
from active duty is KCC1, Force Shaping.  This SPD applies to
Marines who have completed eight years’ active duty obligated
service and do not wish to transfer to the reserves.  Reference (e),
paragraph 6404.3 provides the authority for this SPD.
6.c.3.  Marines already denied further service will retain the
appropriate SPD code and must submit for separations pay
determination per references (d), (e), and (f).  Release of regular
active enlisted Marines with military service obligations from
active duty will be effected in accordance with reference (e).
6.d.  It is imperative that commands notify their Disbursing
Officers/Finance Officers (DO/FO) regarding early separations in
accordance with reference (f).
6.e.  In any case where a Marine previously approved for the VEERP
is charged with any offense which requires mandatory processing for
administrative separation per reference (e), the Marine will be
removed from the VEERP and processed accordingly.
6.f.  If a Marine previously approved for the VEERP is found to be
not medically qualified to separate at their adjusted EAS, the
Marine will be removed from the VEERP and processed accordingly.
6.g.  Terminal leave is not authorized upon approval of the VEERP.
SkillBridge is not authorized upon approval of the VEERP.  Marines
will be required to sell back any unused leave.
7.  General information
7.a.  In the event of future recall, Marines released under this
MARADMIN will be considered as being in the same status as those who
have completed their obligated period of active duty.
7.b.  Enlisted Marines separated under authority of this MARADMIN
may be awarded the Good Conduct Medal if their adjusted EAS falls
within 90 days of their 3-year Good Conduct Medal anniversary date.
Waiver request and approved VEERP package must be submitted to
Military Awards Section (MMPB-3).
7.c.  Marines who are entitled to separation pay upon normal EAS,
who elect and are approved for early release from active duty under
this MARADMIN, will retain their entitlement to separation pay
provided they have completed six years of active service prior to
the day of early release (new EAS) from active duty.  Marines are
reminded that early release from active duty under this MARADMIN
could affect the amount of their separation pay.  Reference (d)
prescribes the method of computing separation pay.  Furthermore, if
early release would disqualify Marines for separation pay due to
length of service criteria under the law, Marines will not be
released from active duty until their service length criteria has
been met.
7.d.  Marines entitled to separation benefits are authorized those
benefits if released under this MARADMIN.  Separating Marines and
their family members are encouraged to review their continued
eligibility for TRICARE depending on their beneficiary category.
7.e.  Marines are reminded to review the references for eligibility
and other requirements related to educational benefit programs prior
to participating in VEERP.  Pursuant to reference (a), Marines
approved for VEERP who had been approved for TEB to their dependents
prior to requesting VEERP, are considered to have completed their
previously approved TEB-related service agreement.  Accordingly,
these Marines are not required to take any further action regarding
their TEB.  However, VEERP applicants who had not been previously
approved to TEB, with the exception of Purple Heart recipients, may
not request to TEB.
7.e.1.  Manpower Management Enlisted Assignments (MMEA) will modify
the TEB Obligation End Date for Marines approved for VEERP who had
been previously approved to TEB to their dependents; MMEA will
ensure the applicant’s TEB Obligation End Date is on or before the
Marine’s VEERP separation date.
7.e.2.  In the case that a Marine wishes to withdraw from VEERP
after approval, MMEA will reset the Marine’s TEB Service Obligation
Date to the pre-VEERP TEB Service Obligation Date.
7.e.3.  If the current VEERP applicant is a Purple Heart recipient,
and is eligible for the PGIB, they may request to TEB, in accordance
with references (g) and (h), prior to their separation date.
7.f.  Marines will not be required to repay Blended Retirement
System continuation pay, enlistment bonuses, and/or selective
retention bonuses under the authority of this MARADMIN per
references (a) and (i) through (k).
7.g.  Marines currently on deployment must meet all post deployment
requirements.
8. Reserve Applicability.  This MARADMIN is not applicable to the
Marine Corps Reserve.
9. Reserve component opportunity.  The Selected Marine Corps Reserve
(SMCR) is actively seeking the service of separating Marines who
want to remain affiliated with the Marine Corps upon transition out
of the Active Component.  The SMCR Direct Affiliation Program offers
a valuable opportunity to continue service and retain associated
benefits.  This program ensures a structured pathway to sustain
commitment to the Marine Corps.  Marines are encouraged to consult
their Career Planner for detailed information and guidance on
transitioning into the Reserves.
10. This MARADMIN cancels on 30 Sep 2025.
11. Release authorized by Lieutenant General Michael J. Borgschulte,
Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.//