R 032029Z NOV 11
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 655/11
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/EARLY RELEASE POLICY FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR (CY) 2011 HOLIDAY PERIOD//
REF/A/DOC/CMC/6JUN07//
REF/B/DOC/CMC/14JUL00//
REF/C/DOC/CMC/24AUG04//
REF/D/DOC/CMC/27DEC01//
REF/E/DOC/DFAS-KC-FSP/24AUG95//
REF/F/DOC/DOD/22JUL96//
NARR/REF A IS MCO P1900.16F, MARCORSEPMAN.  REF B IS MCO P1070.12K, IRAM. REF C IS ONLINE MCTFSPRIUM. REF D IS MCO P1700.24B, MARINE CORPS PERSONAL SERVICES MANUAL. REF E IS DFAS 7220.31R, MCTFS APSM. REF F IS THE DODFMR.//
POC/K. M. FLAGG/MAJ/-/-/TEL:DSN 278-9387/TEL:COM 703-784-9387//
RMKS/1. THIS MARADMIN ESTABLISHES AUTHORITY AND CRITERIA FOR THE EARLY RELEASE OF ACTIVE AND RESERVE ENLISTED MARINES AND OFFICERS WHOSE TERM OF ACTIVE SERVICE WILL EXPIRE DURING THE CY 2011 HOLIDAY PERIOD.
2. COMMANDING OFFICERS/COMMANDERS ARE AUTHORIZED TO DISCHARGE OR RELEASE FROM ACTIVE DUTY, SUBJECT TO CONCURRENCE IN WRITING BY THE INDIVIDUAL MARINE, ANY OFFICER AND ANY ACTIVE AND RESERVE ENLISTED MARINE, WHO WOULD NORMALLY BE GRANTED LEAVE DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND WHOSE EXPIRATION OF ACTIVE SERVICE (EAS) WILL OCCUR DURING THE PERIOD 16 DEC 2011 THROUGH 2 JAN 2012, INCLUSIVE. MARINES WILL BE SEPARATED NOT EARLIER THAN 9 DEC 2011.
3. THIS PROGRAM IS LIMITED TO MARINES PERMANENTLY ASSIGNED IN THE 50 STATES, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OR IN THEIR AREA OF RESIDENCE IN DEPENDENCIES, TRUSTS, TERRITORIES, AND COMMONWEALTHS.
4. GENERAL INFORMATION
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.
B. ENLISTED MARINES SEPARATED UNDER AUTHORITY OF THIS MARADMIN WHO ARE ELIGIBLE AS OF THEIR NORMAL EAS DATE MAY BE AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.
C. MARINES WHO ARE ENTITLED TO SEPARATION PAY UPON NORMAL EAS, AND WHO ELECT EARLY RELEASE FROM ACTIVE DUTY UNDER THIS MARADMIN, WILL RETAIN THEIR ENTITLEMENT TO SEPARATION PAY PROVIDED THEY HAVE COMPLETED 6 YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE PRIOR TO THE DAY OF EARLY RELEASE FROM ACTIVE DUTY. MARINES ARE REMINDED THAT EARLY RELEASE FROM ACTIVE DUTY UNDER THIS MARADMIN COULD AFFECT THE AMOUNT OF THEIR SEPARATION PAY. REF A, PAR 1306, 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.
D. MARINES ENTITLED TO SEPARATION BENEFITS ARE AUTHORIZED THOSE BENEFITS IF RELEASED UNDER THIS MARADMIN. AS A REMINDER, ELIGIBLE MARINES AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS DESIRING TO RETAIN TRICARE PRIME UPON SEPARATION ARE REQUIRED TO REENROLL IN TRICARE.
E. ALIENS WHO WOULD BE RELEASED BEFORE COMPLETING 3 FULL YEARS OF SERVICE, AS THE RESULT OF THIS PROGRAM, ARE REMINDED OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF EARLY RELEASE AS SPECIFIED IN PAR 1104.5 OF REF A.
F. MARINES ENTITLED TO THE MONTGOMERY GI BILL (MGIB) CHAPTER 1607 (REAP) BENEFITS ARE REMINDED OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT COMPLETING THE QUALIFYING SERVICE REQUIRED FOR ELIGIBILITY.   THE SELECTED RESERVE MEMBER MUST REMAIN IN THE SELECTED RESERVE TO MAINTAIN ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS. MARINES WHO HAVE USED THE TRANSFERABILITY OPTION OF THE POST 9-11 GI BILL ARE REMINDED OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF FAILING TO MEET THE ADDITIONAL SERVICE TIME AGREEMENTS. THOSE WHO DO NOT FULFILL THEIR ADDITIONAL SERVICE TIME REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO COLLECTION BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
5. ADMINISTRATIVE INSTRUCTIONS
A. SEPARATION UNDER THIS MARADMIN WILL BE EFFECTED NOT EARLIER THAN
9 DEC 2011, EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF A RESERVE MARINE ON INITIAL ACTIVE DUTY FOR TRAINING (IADT), PROVIDED THAT THE RESERVE MARINE IS CONSIDERED BY THE COMMAND TO BE MOS QUALIFIED AT THE TIME OF SEPARATION, AND THAT MEANINGFUL TRAINING IS NOT AVAILABLE DURING THE PERIOD OF 16 DEC 2011 THROUGH 2 JAN 2012. RESERVE MARINES ON IADT BETWEEN THIS TIME FRAME MAY BE RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY BASED UPON ACTUAL OR CONSTRUCTIVE TRAVEL TIME FOR TRANSFER BACK TO THEIR RESERVE UNITS ON 16 DEC 2011. ALL REQUESTS FOR EARLY RELEASE OF RESERVE MARINES ON IADT MUST BE SUBMITTED TO CMC (RAP) VIA THEIR SECTION MAILBOX AT SMB-RAP@USMC.MIL.
B. RESERVE MARINES PERFORMING ACTIVE DUTY FOR OPERATIONAL SUPPORT (ADOS) MAY REQUEST EARLY RELEASE MODIFICATION THROUGH THEIR COMMANDS FOR APPROVAL VIA THE MARINE RESERVE ORDERS WRITING SYSTEM (MROWS). RESERVE MARINES RECALLED UNDER 12302 AUTHORITY OR WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED FOR DUTY UNDER 12301(D) ADOS-CO MAY REQUEST AN ORDERS END DATE MODIFICATION THROUGH THEIR COMMANDS VIA THE MARINE CORPS MOBILIZATION PROCESSING SYSTEM (MCMPS).  COMMANDS SHOULD COORDINATE WITH THEIR HIGHER HEADQUARTERS TO ENSURE TIMELY REQUEST CONSIDERATION AND ROWS/MCMPS PROCESSING.
C. THIS MARADMIN AND PAR 6404.3 OF REF A ARE THE AUTHORITIES FOR DISCHARGE OR RELEASE OF ENLISTED MARINES.
D. RELEASE OF REGULAR AND RESERVE ENLISTED MARINES WITH MILITARY SERVICE OBLIGATIONS FROM ACTIVE DUTY WILL BE EFFECTED PER REF A.  A NAVAL LETTER WILL BE SIGNED VIA THE COMMANDING OFFICER/OIC CONCURRING WITH EARLY RELEASE FOR ENTRY INTO THE MARINES OMPF. MARINES RETURNING TO CONUS TO SEPARATE EARLY WILL HAVE AN APPROPRIATE PAGE 11 IN THEIR SRB/OQR/E-RECORD ANNOTATING APPROVAL OF EARLY RELEASE PER PAR 4006.3J OF REF B.
E. COMMANDERS APPROVING SUCH SEPARATIONS FOR ENLISTED MARINES WILL DESIGNATE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR SEPARATION AND DIRECT THE SEPARATING UNIT TO REPORT THE SEPARATION DATE IMMEDIATELY AS A NEW EAS/ECC VIA UNIT DIARY ENTRY PER REF C.
F. UNIT DIARY ENTRIES REPORTING RELEASE FROM ACTIVE DUTY OR DISCHARGE WILL BE SUBMITTED PER REF C.
(1) THE SEPARATION PROGRAM DESIGNATOR (SPD) FOR ENLISTED MARINES BEING RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY IS MDM1 UNDER HOLIDAY EARLY RELEASE PROGRAM (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF RESERVE MARINES COMPLETING IADT AND MARINES BEING INVOLUNTARILY SEPARATED AT THEIR EAS).
(2) AS PROVIDED IN THE REFERENCES, THE SPD FOR RESERVE MARINES RELEASED EARLY IS THE SAME AS THAT FOR ACTIVE DUTY MARINES RELEASED, AS SPECIFIED IN THEIR ORDERS.
(3) THE SPD FOR THOSE BEING SEPARATED INVOLUNTARILY AT THEIR EAS, AND WHO QUALIFY FOR THE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TAP) BENEFITS PER REF D IS LBK1 OR JGH3.
(4) AN SPD OF KDM4 WILL BE REPORTED FOR ALL ENLISTED MARINES BEING DISCHARGED WHO HAVE COMPLETED AT LEAST 8 YEARS OF SERVICE AND DO NOT DESIRE TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MARINES BEING INVOLUNTARILY DISCHARGED AT THEIR ECC).
(5) AN SPD OF MBK1 WILL BE REPORTED FOR OFFICERS WITH AN EAS.
G. ACTIVE AND RESERVE COMPONENT MARINES ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND MANDATED PRESEPARATION COUNSELING AND THE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM EMPLOYMENT WORKSHOP NO LESS THAN 90 DAYS PRIOR TO SEPARATION/RETIREMENT.
6. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT COMMANDS NOTIFY THEIR DISBURSING OFFICERS/FINANCE OFFICERS (DO/FO) REGARDING EACH MARINE'S EARLY SEPARATION PER REF F.  THOSE ORGANIZATIONS RESPONSIBLE FOR SEPARATING MARINES ARE REQUIRED TO IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE DO/FO VIA A NAVMC 11116 OF THE PENDING SEPARATION.  A NAVMC 11060 MUST THEN BE SUBMITTED IAW PAAN 46-11 AND RPAAN 45-11 IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT REQUIRED PAY ACTIONS (ALLOTMENTS, DIRECT DEPOSIT, LEAVE ACCOUNTS, INDEBTEDNESS TO THE GOVERNMENT, OBLIGATED SERVICE, ETC.) ARE TAKEN PRIOR TO A MARINE'S SEPARATION.
7. OUTSTANDING BALANCES OF NAVY AND MARINE CORPS RELIEF LOANS ARE DEBTS THAT MUST BE REPAID PRIOR TO SEPARATION APPROVAL PER REF E. SEE CHAPTER 50 OF REF E FOR PROCEDURES CONCERNING REPAYMENT OF NAVY AND MARINE CORPS RELIEF LOANS UPON SEPARATION PRIOR TO EAS/ECC.
8. RECOUPMENT OF ENLISTMENT OR REENLISTMENT BONUSES WILL NOT BE MADE FROM MARINES SEPARATED UNDER THIS MARADMIN.
9. PRIOR TO DISCHARGE OR RELEASE FROM ACTIVE DUTY UNDER THIS MARADMIN MARINES SHOULD BE COUNSELED REGARDING THEIR EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS TO INCLUDE THE POST 9/11 GI BILL. INVOLUNTARILY SEPARATED MARINES WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE POST 9/11 GI BILL MAY ELECT TO ENROLL IN THE MGIB. A FULL 1200.00 MUST BE DEDUCTED FROM THEIR PAY TO ENSURE ELIGIBILITY FOR MGIB EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS. THESE MARINES MAY MAKE A LUMP SUM PAYMENT TO THEIR LOCAL DISBURSING OFFICE. IF LUMP SUM PAYMENT IS MADE DISBURSING OFFICERS SHOULD INCLUDE ON THE DD FORM 1131 THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IN BLOCK 8: CASH COLLECTION DUE TO EARLY HOLIDAY RELEASE FOR SPECIAL MGIB ENROLLMENT FOR INVOLUNTARILY SEPARATED MARINES.
10. MARINES WHO MANIFEST SYMPTOMS OF POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER/TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND ARE UNDERGOING POST DEPLOYMENT HEALTH EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT CARE WILL NOT BE SEPARATED UNDER THIS AUTHORITY UNTIL THAT PROCESS IS COMPLETE OR A WAIVER OF TREATMENT EVALUATION HAS BEEN EXECUTED.
11. THIS MARADMIN IS NOT APPLICABLE TO:
A. MARINES ON EXTENSIONS OF ACTIVE DUTY.
B. MARINES PARTICIPATING IN THE NATIONAL CALL TO SERVICE PROGRAM.
C. MARINES SCHEDULED FOR TRANSFER TO THE FMCR OR RETIRED LIST.
D. MARINES TAKING TERMINAL LEAVE.
E. MARINES WHOSE LOSS, IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE COMMANDING OFFICER, WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES OF THE COMMAND.
F. MARINES WHOSE NORMAL EAS OCCURS AFTER 2 JAN 2012 AND WHO ARE QUALIFIED/APPROVED FOR EARLY RELEASE DURING THIS PERIOD (16 DEC 11-2 JAN 12) PER PARS 6405 AND 6420 OF REF A.
G. MARINES WHO ARE INDEBTED TO THE GOVERNMENT (TO INCLUDE ADVANCE AND EXCESS LEAVE). INDEBTED MARINES DESIRING EARLY SEPARATION WILL BE PERMITTED TO MAKE ACCELERATED REPAYMENT OF THEIR DEBTS BY INCREASING SCHEDULED INSTALLMENT AMOUNTS AND BY MAKING CASH COLLECTIONS TO REPAY THEIR INDEBTEDNESS.
H. MARINES BEING RELEASED UNDER OTHER HQMC DIRECTED EARLY OUT PROGRAMS, I.E., EDUCATION AND VEERP.
12. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY MR. M. F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION.//