R 051618Z JAN 98 ZYB
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//MM//
TO ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS //N01040//
ALMAR 015/98
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC MMEA-6//
SUBJ/FIRST TERM ALIGNMENT PLAN EXECUTION PROGRESS REPORT//
REF/A/GENADMIN/CMC/051622Z/SEP97//
AMPN/REF A IS CAREER PLANNER NEWSGRAM 13-97.//
POC/CAPT P. T. LAVIGNE/MMEA-6/TEL: DSN 224-3719//
RMKS/1.  THE REF RELEASED IN SEPTEMBER, DETAILED THE EXECUTION PLAN
FOR THE FY98 FIRST TERM ALIGNMENT PLAN.  THIS MESSAGE UPDATES ALL
MARINES ON FTAP PROGRESS SIXTY DAYS INTO THE FY AND HIGHLIGHTS AREAS
OF FOCUS FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS.
2.  THE PLAN.  BASED ON A DETAILED RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF FY97
FIRST TERM RETENTION AND REVIEW OF THE LESSONS LEARNED THROUGHOUT
FY97, WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED SEVERAL STRATEGIES IN FY98 WHICH WE EXPECT
WILL HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE EXECTUION OF THE FIRST TERM
REENLISTMENT EFFORT:
   A.  REDUCED THE REENLISTMENT GRACE PERIOD FROM 30/45 DAYS TO
10/15 DAYS.
   B.  FRONT-LOADED SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS (SRB) MONEY.
   C.  DELAYED SUBMISSION DATES FOR LATERAL MOVES BY 45 DAYS.
   D.  RE-ALIGNED SUBMISSION DATES FOR OPEN MOS'S.
3.  TREND ANALYSIS/ROAD MAP FOR THE REMAINDER OF FY98.  THE DATA
BELOW SUGGEST THAT WE WILL BE MOST SUCCESSFUL IN MEETING OUR CORPS
CAREER FORCE REQUIREMENT THROUGH STEADY APPLICATION OF A FEW BASIC
PRACTICES:
   A.  ADJUSTMENTS TO SRB'S EACH QUARTER.
   B.  LATERAL MOVES TO MEET SHORTFALLS IN PMOS REENLISTMENTS.
   C.  ENFORCEMENT OF REENLISTMENT GRACE PERIODS.
   D.  CROSS YEAR EXTENSIONS ARE LIMITED AND NORMALLY WILL NOT BE
GRANTED IN LIEU OF REENLISTMENT.
4.  THE DATA.  AT THE SIXTY DAY MARK, REENLISTMENT (ACTUAL
REENLISTMENT EXECUTED) COMPARED FAVORABLY WITH THOSE FOR THE SAME
TIME IN FY97:
   A.  REENLISTMENT RATES INCREASED BY 11% IN FY98 WITHOUT THE
EXECUTION OF LATERAL MOVES.  THIS TIME LAST YEAR WE WERE WELL INTO
EXECUTING LATMOVES, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE 11% BEHIND THIS YEAR'S
REENLISTMENT PACE.
   B.  58% OF ALL FY98 BOATSPACES HAVE BEEN EXECUTED, AND 1136
BOATSPACES REMAIN.
   C.  52 MOS'S HAVE CLOSED.
   D.  6.3 MILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN SPENT ON SRB, COMPARED TO 3.9
MILLION DOLLARS FOR THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
5.  THE CHALLENGE.  IN ORDER TO RETAIN GOOD MARINES IN THE NUMBERS
AND MOS'S TO SUSTAIN OUR WARFIGHTING REQUIREMENTS, COMMANDERS AND
THEIR STAFFS NEED TO CONTINUE THEIR DRIVE TO REENLIST QUALITY FIRST
TERM PERFORMERS.  WITH THE RAPID EXECUTION OF THE FY98 FTAP AND
DIMINISHING REENLISTMENT OPPORTUNITIES, THE ROLE OF MARINE LEADERSHIP
IS CLEAR:
   A.  "RECRUIT" FIRST TERM MARINES INTO THE CAREER FORCE WITH
SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON PMOS REENLISTMENTS IN TOUGH MOS'S AS REPORTED BY
MMEA-6.
   B.  ENSURE ALL ELIGIBLE FIRST TERM MARINES ARE MADE AWARE OF
REENLISTMENT OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING LATERAL MOVES FOR THOSE WHOSE
PMOS IS CLOSED.
   C.  ENSURE MARINES ARE MADE AWARE THAT REENLISTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
ARE CLOSING EARLIER IN SOME MOS'S AS REPORTED WEEKLY BY MMEA-6.
   D.  STRIVE TOWARDS KEEPING MARINES IN THEIR PMOS WHEN
OPPORTUNITIES EXIST.  PERSUASIVE LEADERSHIP CAN MAKE A BIG
DIFFERENCE.
6.  KEYS TO SUCCESS.  AS IN ANY OPERATION, SUSTAINING THE MOMENTUM IS
CRUCIAL TO SUCCESS:
   A.  PROACTIVE MARINE LEADERSHIP - "VICTORY SMILES UPON THOSE WHO
ANTICIPATE THE CHANGES IN THE CHARACTER OF WAR, NOT UPON THOSE WHO
WAIT TO ADAPT THEMSELVES AFTER THEY OCCUR."  (GIULIO DOUHET)
   B.  COORDINATION WITH HQMC (MMEA-6) - "THE FIRST ELEMENT OF
COMMAND AND CONTROL IS PEOPLE WHO GATHER INFORMATION, MAKE DECISIONS,
TAKE ACTION, COMMUNICATE, AND COOPERATE WITH ONE ANOTHER IN THE
ACCOMPLISHMENT OF A COMMON GOAL."  (MCDP 6, COMMAND AND CONTROL)
   C.  CLOSURE OF THE FTAP REQUIRES CONCERTED COMMAND EMPHASIS TO
SUSTAIN THE MOMENTUM.  AT THE SAME TIME, DON'T LET YOUR MARINES MISS
OUT ON PERISHABLE REENLISTMENT OPPORTUNITIES.  EXTREMELY LIMITED
CROSS FISCAL YEAR EXTENSIONS WILL CONSTRAIN LATE YEAR RETENTION
OPTIONS.  ACT NOW.
7.  POINT OF CONTACT IF CAPT LAVIGNE ATLAVIGNEP@HQI.USMC.MIL OR DSN
224-3718/9.//
BT