R 011129Z AUG 11
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 433/11
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/MCBUL 5314 ENLISTED CAREER FORCE CONTROLS (ECFC) PROGRAM//
REF/A/MSG/CMC/102155ZSEP10//
REF/B/DOC/CMC/11MAY2006//
REF/C/DOC/CMC/11MAY2006//
REF/D/DOC/CMC/08SEP2010//
REF/E/DOC/CMC/23JUN2004//
REF/F/MSG/CMC/311925ZJAN2007//
REF/G/MSG/CMC/171605Z JUN 2011//
REF/H/DOC/USC TITLE 10 SECT 1174/-//
REF/I/DOC/CNO/26JUN2009//
REF/J/DOC/DOD/29JUL2011//
NARR/REF A IS MARADMIN 0505/10 ECFC PROGRAM FOR FY11.  REF B IS MCO 1130.80A, PRIOR SERVICE AND RESERVE AUGMENTATION ENLISTMENTS INTO THE REGULAR MARINE CORPS.REF C IS MCO P1400.32D W/CH 1, THE ENLISTED PROMOTIONS MANUAL.  REF D IS MCO P1900.16F W/CH 1-2, MARINE CORPS SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT MANUAL. REF E IS MCO 1040.31, THE ENLISTED RETENTION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT MANUAL.  REF F IS ALMAR 007/07 OUTLINING THE SERGEANTS MAJOR SENIOR COMMAND LEVEL SLATING PROCESS.  REF G IS MARADMIN 348/11 ANNOUNCING THE FY12 SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS (SRB) PROGRAM AND FY12 BROKEN SERVICE SRB (BSSRB) PROGRAM.  REF H IS SECTION 1174, OF TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE GOVERNING SEPARATION PAY UPON INVOLUNTARY DISCHARGE OR RELEASE FROM ACTIVE DUTY.  REF I IS OPNAVINST 1900.4 W/CH1 CONCERNING SEPARATION PAY FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION FROM ACTIVE DUTY.  REF J IS DOD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REGULATION 7000.14-R VOLUME 7B MILITARY PAY POLICY AND PROCEDURES-RETIRED PAY.//
POC/LAURIE BENNETT/CIV/CMC MMSR-3/SEPARATION ISSUES/TEL:DSN 278-9322//
POC/S. M. DENAULT/MAJ/CMC MMPR-2/PROMOTION ISSUES/TEL:DSN 278-9718//
POC/B.P. LODGE/GYSGT/CMC MMEA-6/RETENTION ISSUES/TEL:DSN 278-9771//
POC/R. H. EZELL/MAJ/CMC MPP-20/POLICY ISSUES/TEL:DSN 278-9361//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  PURPOSE.  TO PROVIDE COMMANDERS, SENIOR ENLISTED LEADERS, CAREER PLANNERS, AND INDIVIDUAL MARINES WITH INFORMATION REGARDING THE ORIGIN, REQUIREMENT FOR, AND PROGRAM ELEMENTS OF THE ECFC PROGRAM.  THIS MARADMIN CANCELS REF A, MARADMIN 0505/10, AND PROVIDES THE ECFC POLICIES FOR FY12.
2. BACKGROUND.
    A.  THE MARINE CORPS IMPLEMENTED THE ECFC PROGRAM IN 1985 TO BETTER MANAGE THE CAREER FORCE.  TO DATE, THE ECFC PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THE FOLLOWING:
        (1) ACTIVELY SHAPE THE INVENTORY OF MARINES BY GRADE AND MOS TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MARINE CORPS.
        (2) STABILIZE RETENTION IN ORDER TO STANDARDIZE PROMOTION TEMPO ACROSS ALL MOS(S).  THE FOLLOWING ARE THE MARINE CORPS' TIME IN SERVICE (TIS) PROMOTION TARGETS:
SGT                     4 YEARS
SSGT                  8.5 YEARS
GYSGT                  13 YEARS
1STSGT/MSGT          17.5 YEARS
SGTMAJ/MGYSGT          22 YEARS
    B.  THE END STATE OF THE ECFC PROGRAM IS TO BALANCE THE INVENTORY OF MARINES BY GRADE AND MOS TO MEET CAREER FORCE REQUIREMENTS.  CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE FORCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES WILL HELP ENSURE THAT COMMANDERS ARE PROVIDED THE RIGHT MARINES BY GRADE AND MOS.
    C.  THIS MARADMIN INCORPORATES A MAJOR CHANGE TO THE ECFC PROGRAM, SPECIFICALLY SERVICE LIMITATIONS FOR SERGEANTS.  IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT COMPETITIVE MARINES ARE AFFORDED A TIMELY OPPORTUNITY TO SCREEN FOR PROMOTION, MORE RESTRICTIVE LIMITS HAVE BEEN PLACED ON SERGEANTS WHO HAVE BEEN PASSED FOR SELECTION BY THE PROMOTION BOARD PROCESS.  THIS NEW LIMITATION ENSURES THAT THE MARINE CORPS IS RETAINING COMPETITIVE SERGEANTS, AS DETERMINED BY THE EXISTING STAFF SERGEANT PROMOTION BOARD SYSTEM, MEETING DESIRED TIME IN GRADE PROMOTION TARGETS, AND ENABLING A TIMELY AND PREDICTABLE TRANSITION FOR SERGEANTS PASSED FOR PROMOTION.  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED IN SUBSEQUENT SECTIONS.
3.  INFORMATION. 
    A.  SELECTION BY MOS.  MARINES ARE SELECTED TO THE GRADES OF CPL AND ABOVE BY MOS BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE MARINE CORPS.  THIS ENSURES THE SKILLS OF THE INDIVIDUAL MARINES SELECTED FOR PROMOTION ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE VACANCIES IN THE FORCE.  MARINES ARE CONSIDERED FOR PROMOTION TO SSGT AND ABOVE BASED ON PRIMARY MOS HELDTHE DAY THE SELECTION BOARD CONVENES, UNLESS THEY HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED A LATERAL MOVE (LATMOVE) MOS, IN WHICH CASE THEY WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR PROMOTION IN THEIR LATMOVE MOS, NOT THE PRIMARY MOS, ON THE CONVENING DATE OF THE BOARD.
    B.  VARIABLE FIRST TIME IN-ZONE SELECTION OPPORTUNITY.  THIS CONTROL HELPS ENSURE STANDARDIZED PROMOTION TEMPO ACROSS MOS(S). FIRST TIME IN-ZONE SELECTION OPPORTUNITIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
PROMOTION      MINIMUM           STANDARD        MAXIMUM
TO             OPPORTUNITY       OPPORTUNITY     OPPORTUNITY
SSGT            70PERCENT        80PERCENT       90PERCENT
GYSGT           65PERCENT        75PERCENT       85PERCENT
MSGT/1STSGT     60PERCENT        70PERCENT       80PERCENT
SGTMAJ/MGYSGT   55PERCENT        65PERCENT       75PERCENT
VARIABLE SELECTION OPPORTUNITY IS APPLIED IN ORDER TO STANDARDIZE PROMOTION TEMPO AS FOLLOWS BASED ON THE DEGREE OF PROMOTION STAGNATION:
        (1) MOS(S) THAT ARE PROMOTING WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE AVERAGE TIS TO PROMOTION TO THAT GRADE WILL RECEIVE THE STANDARD OPPORTUNITY.  FOR EXAMPLE, 80 PERCENT STANDARD OPPORTUNITY TO SSGT MEANS THAT FOR 100 ALLOCATIONS, 125 SGTS WILL BE PLACED IN ZONE.
        (2) MOS(S) THAT ARE PROMOTING SLOWER THAN ONE YEAR OF THE AVERAGE TIS TO PROMOTION TO THAT GRADE WILL RECEIVE THE MINIMUM OPPORTUNITY.  APPLYING THE MINIMUM SELECTION OPPORTUNITY WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MARINES PLACED IN THE PROMOTION ZONE FOR THE FIRST TIME TO COMPETE FOR A GIVEN NUMBER OF PROMOTION ALLOCATIONS.  THIS WILL SPEED UP THE RATE AT WHICH MARINES IN THE SLOWER PROMOTING MOS(S) ARE CONSIDERED FOR PROMOTION.  FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE ARE 100 ALLOCATIONS IN A SLOW PROMOTING MOS TO SSGT, 143 SGTS WILL BE PLACED IN ZONE.
        (3) MOS(S) THAT ARE PROMOTING FASTER THAN ONE YEAR OF THE AVERAGE TIS TO PROMOTION TO THAT GRADE WILL RECEIVE THE MAXIMUM OPPORTUNITY.  APPLYING THE MAXIMUM SELECTION OPPORTUNITY WILL DECREASE THE NUMBER OF MARINES PLACED IN-ZONE FOR THE FIRST TIME TO COMPETE FOR A GIVEN NUMBER OF PROMOTION ALLOCATIONS. THIS WILL SLOW THE RATE AT WHICH MARINES IN THE FASTER PROMOTING MOS(S) ARE CONSIDERED FOR PROMOTION.  ADDITIONALLY, SINCE SUCH MOS(S) ARE CHARACTERISTICALLY UNDER STRENGTH, WE CAN ENHANCE RETENTION BY REDUCING THE PERCENTAGE OF NON-SELECTIONS RELATIVE TO OTHER MOS(S). FOR EXAMPLE, IN A FAST PROMOTING MOS TO SSGT, THE MAXIMUM OPPORTUNITY FOR PROMOTION TO SSGT WOULD BE APPLIED.  IF THERE ARE 100 ALLOCATIONS TO SSGT, 111 SGTS WILL BE PLACED IN ZONE.
    C.  ENLISTED GRADE STRUCTURE REVIEWS ARE CONDUCTED TO ENSURE THAT EACH MOS HAS A PYRAMID-SHAPED STRUCTURE REQUIREMENT THAT:
        (1) SUPPORTS PROMOTING MARINES AT THE TIS TARGETS FOR EACH GRADE.
        (2) DEFINES A LOGICAL CAREER PATH THAT IS ACHIEVABLE THROUGH THE MANPOWER PROCESS.  MOS SPECIALISTS, TOTAL FORCE STRUCTURE DIVISION, AND OCCFLD SPONSORS ARE NOW CHARGED WITH ENSURING THAT T/O CHANGES DO NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT THE GRADE SHAPE OF THEIR MOS(S).
    D.  RESTRICTIONS ON PRIOR SERVICE ACCESSIONS.  THIS PROGRAM ENSURES THAT PRIOR SERVICE MARINES ARE NOT BROUGHT BACK INTO OVER STRENGTH MOS(S), THEREBY FURTHER SLOWING PROMOTION TEMPO FOR MARINESWHO HAVE REMAINED ON ACTIVE DUTY.  PER REF B, QUALIFIED PRIOR SERVICE MARINES WHO FIT A CRITICAL MARINE CORPS REQUIREMENT WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR REENLISTMENT ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.
    E.  CONTROL OF MERITORIOUS PROMOTIONS.  THE MARINE CORPS CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE PROMOTION OF EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMERS AHEAD OF CONTEMPORARIES.  HOWEVER, THE DESIRE FOR SUCH PROMOTIONS MUST BE BALANCED WITH THE NEED TO PROMOTE MARINES IN MOS(S) WITH VACANCIES.  MERITORIOUS PROMOTIONS TO CPL AND SGT ARE ALLOCATED TO MAJOR COMMANDS.  MERITORIOUS PROMOTIONS TO SSGT AND GYSGT ARE PROVIDED TO MAJOR COMMANDS AND MARINES IN SPECIAL DUTY ASSIGNMENTS (DRILL INSTRUCTOR, MARINE SECURITY GUARD, RECRUITER, AND COMBAT INSTRUCTOR).  REF C CONTAINS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT MERITORIOUS PROMOTIONS.
    F.  FIRST TERM ALIGNMENT PLAN (FTAP).  THE FTAP IDENTIFIES THE NUMBER OF FIRST-TERM MARINES BY PMOS THE MARINE CORPS MUST REENLIST TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CAREER FORCE.  THE NUMBER OF BOATSPACES IS BASED ON CAREER FORCE STRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS AND PROJECTED INVENTORY.
    G.  SUBSEQUENT TERM ALIGNMENT PLAN (STAP).  STAP COMPLEMENTS THE FTAP BY REDUCING OUR OVERALL REQUIREMENT FOR FIRST-TERM REENLISTMENTS. STAP SETS REENLISTMENT GOALS FOR ALL MOS(S) WITH EMPHASIS ON SHORT MOS(S) IN THE CAREER FORCE.  IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT STAP GOALS ARE MERELY PLANNING TARGETS, NOT LIMITS LIKE FTAP GOALS.
    H.  SERVICE LIMITS.  SERVICE LIMITS ENSURE THAT MARINES WHO HAVE REACHED A CERTAIN YEAR OF SERVICE IN THEIR CURRENT GRADE WITHOUT BEING SELECTED FOR PROMOTION ARE EITHER SEPARATED FROM THE ACTIVE COMPONENT AT THEIR EAS OR ARE REQUIRED TO TRANSFER TO THE FMCR.  ENFORCEMENT OF SERVICE LIMITS IMPROVES PROMOTION OPPORTUNITY FOR MARINES IN JUNIOR GRADES.  FOR SERVICE LIMIT COMPUTATION PURPOSES, MARINES WITH BROKEN SERVICE WILL COUNT ALL ACTIVE DUTY MARINE CORPS TIME IN COMPUTING YEARS OF SERVICE.  PER REF B, MARINES WITH PRIOR SERVICE IN ANOTHER MILITARY BRANCH WILL ONLY COUNT ACTIVE DUTY MARINE CORPS SERVICE TOWARD COMPLETED YEARS OF SERVICE. THE REVISED SERVICE LIMITS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
CPL              8 YEARS
SGT             10 YEARS
SSGT            20 YEARS
GYSGT           22 YEARS
1STSGT/MSGT     27 YEARS
SGTMAJ/MGYSGT   30 YEARS
        (1) MANDATORY TRANSFER TO THE FMCR DUE TO SERVICE LIMITATIONS.  MARINES ELIGIBLE FOR RETIREMENT WHO ARE APPROACHINGSERVICE LIMITS MUST TRANSFER TO THE FMCR PER REF D, UNLESS AN ECFC WAIVER IS APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR, MANPOWER MANAGEMENT DIVISION (MM) FOR REQUESTS ONE YEAR OR LESS BEYOND SERVICE LIMITS, OR APPROVED BY DC M&RA FOR REQUESTS GREATER THAN ONE YEAR BEYOND SERVICE LIMITS.  REQUESTS FOR ECFC WAIVERS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED WITH JUSTIFICATION, BY AA FORM OR STANDARD NAVAL LETTER, TO CMC (MMSR-3) VIA THE MARINE'S CHAIN OF COMMAND, UP TO THE FIRST GENERAL OFFICER.  COMMAND ENDORSEMENTS SHOULD INCLUDE JUSTIFICATION FOR RETENTION BEYOND SERVICE LIMITS.  MARINES APPROACHING SERVICE LIMITS WHO MUST REQUEST TRANSFER TO THE FMCR ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
            (A) ALL SSGTS APPROACHING 20 YEARS OF SERVICE.
            (B) GYSGTS APPROACHING 22 YEARS OF SERVICE, OR IF TWICE PASSED FOR PROMOTION, GYSGTS APPROACHING 20 YEARS OF SERVICE OR WHO HAVE AN EAS BETWEEN 20 AND 22 YEARS OF SERVICE.
            (C) 1STSGTS/MSGTS APPROACHING 27 YEARS OF SERVICE, OR IF TWICE PASSED FOR PROMOTION, 1STSGTS/MSGTS APPROACHING 22 YEARS OF SERVICE OR WHO HAVE AN EAS BETWEEN 22 AND 27 YEARS OF SERVICE.
            (D) DC M&RA WILL RETAIN SERVICE LIMIT WAIVER AUTHORITY FOR SGTMAJ/MGYSGT WHO REQUEST TO SERVE BEYOND 30 YEARS OF SERVICE.
            (E) GYSGTS, 1STSGTS, AND MSGTS WHO HAVE ONCE FAILED SELECTION TO THE NEXT HIGHER GRADE WILL BE LIMITED TO THE TWICE PASSED SERVICE LIMITATION. HOWEVER, THEY MAY BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO REQUEST ADDITIONAL SERVICE VIA CMC, MMEA, IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE NEXT PROMOTION BOARD.  THE LENGTH OF ADDITIONAL SERVICE MUST NOT EXCEED THE NORMAL SERVICE LIMIT FOR THEIR GRADE.
        (2) PROMOTION CONSIDERATION
            (A) PER REF D, MARINES WHO MUST TRANSFER TO THE FMCR DUE TO THE ABOVE LIMITS MAY REQUEST PROMOTION CONSIDERATION VIA CORRESPONDENCE TO CMC (MMSR-2) IF THEIR EAS IS AFTER THE SCHEDULED ADJOURNMENT DATE OF THE NEXT PROMOTION BOARD.
            (B) MARINES WHO SUBMIT A VOLUNTARY REQUEST TO TRANSFER TO THE FMCR, BUT ARE NOT REQUIRED TO TRANSFER TO THE FMCR, ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR PROMOTION CONSIDERATION.
            (C) MARINES WHO ARE REQUIRED TO TRANSFER TO THE FMCR DUE TO DECLINING PCS ORDERS OR WHO HAVE DECLINED TO REENLIST/EXTEND TO CARRY OUT PCS OR UDP ORDERS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR PROMOTION CONSIDERATION.
            (D) MARINES AUTHORIZED EARLY APPROVAL OF TRANSFER FMCR REQUESTS (GREATER THAN 14 MONTHS PRIOR TO THEIR TRANSFER DATE) WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR PROMOTION CONSIDERATION.
            (E) PER REF E, MARINES WHO HAVE ONCE FAILED SELECTION TO THE NEXT HIGHER GRADE, ARE ELIGIBLE TO TRANSFER TO THE FMCR, AND HAVE NOT SUBMITTED FOR TRANSFER TO THE FMCR, MAY BE GRANTED AN EXTENSION TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE NEXT PROMOTION BOARD, ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS BY CMC (MMEA), PROVIDED EXTENSIONS DO NOT EXCEED SERVICE LIMITS.
        (3) CONTINUATION OF SERVICE
            (A) CPLS WITH 4 OR MORE YEARS OF SERVICE WHO REENLIST ATTHE FTAP MAY BE AUTHORIZED A 4 OR 5 (IF REQUIRED) YEAR REENLISTMENT IF ELIGIBLE FOR A SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS (SRB).
            (B) SGTS WITH BETWEEN 7 AND 8 YEARS OF SERVICE WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN IN-ZONE FOR SSGT MAY BE AUTHORIZED A 36 MONTH REENLISTMENT IF THEIR MOS IS ELIGIBLE FOR A SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS (SRB).
            (C) AS PREVIOUSLY INDICATED, A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO THE ECFC PROGRAM IS A CHANGE TO THE SERVICE LIMITATIONS OF SERGEANTS.  EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, THE SERVICE LIMITATION FOR SERGEANTS IS 10 YEARS OR 2 FAILED SELECTIONS TO SSGT.  THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS CHANGE WILL HAVE MULTIPLE ASPECTS.
                (I) ALL EXISTING SERVICE CONTRACTS FOR SERGEANTS WILL BE HONORED REGARDLESS OF TIS CONSTRAINTS.  FOR EXAMPLE, IF A SERGEANT TWICE PASSED FOR PROMOTION HAS AN EXISTING SERVICE CONTRACTWITH AN EAS OF 01 JUNE 2013 WHICH ALLOWS FOR 13 YEARS OF SERVICE, THAT CONTRACT WILL BE HONORED AND THE SERGEANT WILL BE ALLOWED TO SERVE UNTIL THAT CONTRACT EXPIRES.
                (II)  THE ANNUAL SSGT PROMOTION BOARD WILL BE THE BASIS FOR THIS ECFC CONTROL.  UPON THE RELEASE OF THE RESULTS OF THE SSGT PROMOTION BOARD, ALL IN-ZONE AND ABOVE-ZONE SERGEANTS WILL BE CLASSIFIED AS EITHER 'SELECTED FOR PROMOTION' OR 'NOT SELECTED FOR PROMOTION'.  THOSE SERGEANTS SELECTED FOR PROMOTION WILL CONTINUE ON THEIR DESIGNATED CAREER PATH.  SERGEANTS NOT SELECTED FOR PROMOTION TWICE (OR MORE) WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE PROCESSED FOR SEPARATION AT EITHER THEIR EXISTING EAS OR AT A DATE SEVEN MONTHS AFTER THE RELEASE OF THE SSGT PROMOTION BOARD RESULTS, WHICHEVER IS LATER.  SERGEANTS NOT SELECTED FOR PROMOTION ONCE WILL THEN BE SCREENED BY THEIR TOTAL YEARS OF SERVICE (YOS).  SERGEANTS WITH ONE PASS FOR PROMOTION WITH LESS THAN 10 YEARS OF SERVICE WILL BE EXTENDED UNTIL SEVEN MONTHS FOLLOWING THE NEXT ANNUAL SSGT PROMOTION BOARD TO ALLOW AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AN ADDITIONAL PROMOTION SELECTION BOARD.  SERGEANTS WITH ONE PASS FOR PROMOTION WITH MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF SERVICE WILL BE PROCESSED FOR SEPARATION AT THEIR EAS OR AT A DATE SEVEN MONTHS AFTER THE RELEASE OF THE SSGT PROMOTION BOARD RESULTS, WHICHEVER DATE IS LATER.  THE DATE OF THE RELEASE OF THE RESULTS OF THE SSGT PROMOTION RESULTS, I.E. THE DATE OF THE MARADMIN, IS THE DATE USED TO CALCULATE YOS FOR THIS ECFC POLICY.  THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLES ILLUSTRATE:
-A SERGEANT WITH AN EXISTING CONTRACT THAT TAKES HIM TO 13 YEARS OF SERVICE FAILS TO GET SELECTED FOR PROMOTION AT 11 YEARS.  BASED ON HIS EXISTING CONTRACT, HE IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO SERVE.  DURING HIS 12TH YEAR, THIS SERGEANT IS SELECTED FOR PROMOTION.  THIS SERGEANT NOW CONTINUES TO SERVE, RECEIVES HIS PROMOTION, AND IS NOW SUBJECT TO ECFC LIMITATIONS OF A SSGT.  IF THIS SAME MARINE FAILED SELECTION IN HIS 12TH YEAR, HE WOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO SERVE UNTIL HIS CONTRACT EXPIRED.
-A SERGEANT HAS 9 YEARS, 11 MONTHS, AND 29 DAYS OF SERVICE UPON THE RELEASE THE MARADMIN CONTAINING HER FIRST NON-SELECTION OF HER 'IN-ZONE' SSGT PROMOTION BOARD.  BECAUSE SHE HAS LESS THAN 10 YEARS OF SERVICE, SHE IS EXTENDED TO ALLOW HER AN ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR PROMOTION AT THE NEXT SSGT PROMOTION BOARD.  HER EXTENSION WOULD BE FOR NO LONGER THAN SEVEN MONTHS AFTER THE ANTICIPATED RELEASE OF THE NEXT MARADMIN CONTAINING THE RESULTS OF THE NEXT FY SSGT PROMOTION BOARD.
-A SERGEANT HAS EXACTLY 10 YEARS OF SERVICE UPON THE RELEASE OF THE MARADMIN CONTAINING HIS FIRST NON-SELECTION OF HIS 'IN-ZONE' SSGT PROMOTION BOARD.  BECAUSE HE HAS 10 YEARS OF SERVICE, HE WILL BE PROCESSED FOR SEPARATION AT EITHER HIS EXISTING EAS OR A DATE SEVEN MONTHS FROM THE RELEASE OF THE MARADMIN, WHICHEVER IS LATER.
-A SERGEANT WHO HAS 8 YEARS OF SERVICE RECEIVES HER SECOND 'NOT SELECTED FOR PROMOTION' FROM THE SSGT PROMOTION BOARD.  SHE IS PROCESSED FOR SEPARATION AT HER EAS OR A DATE SEVEN MONTHS FROM THE RELEASE OF THE MARADMIN OF THE SSGT PROMOTION BOARD RESULTS, WHICHEVER IS LATER.
                (III)  ALL SERGEANTS, WITHOUT A PUNITIVE REDUCTION AT ANY POINT IN THEIR CAREER, WILL NORMALLY BE ALLOWED A MINIMUM OF ONE OPPORTUNITY FOR PROMOTION TO SSGT, AS LONG AS THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PROMOTION COMES PRIOR TO 13 YEARS OF TOTAL SERVICE.  FOR EXAMPLE, IF A SERGEANT WITHOUT A PUNITIVE REDUCTION IN GRADE ATTAINS 10 YEARS OF SERVICE WITHOUT COMING INTO THE IN-ZONE POPULATION FOR HIS MOS, HE WILL BE EXTENDED UNTIL HE HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A SSGT PROMOTION BOARD TO CONSIDER HIM FOR PROMOTION IN A 'IN-ZONE' STATUS.
            (D) PER REF E CMC (MMEA) WILL CONSIDER EXTENSION REQUESTS FOR GYSGTS, 1STSGTS, AND MSGTS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, PROVIDED THEY DO NOT EXCEED SERVICE LIMITS.
            (E) MARINES REQUESTING A WAIVER OF ECFC:
                (I) WHO MEET ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO TRANSFER TO THE FMCR, WILL SUBMIT AN AA FORM/STANDARD NAVAL LETTER WITH JUSTIFICATION, VIA THE MARINE'S CHAIN OF COMMAND, UP TO THE FIRST GENERAL OFFICER, TO INCLUDE SUPPORTING COMMAND ENDORSEMENTS, TO CMC (MMSR) FOR PROCESSING.
                (II) WHO DO NOT MEET ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO TRANSFER TO THE FMCR, OR WHO ARE REQUESTING A WAIVER OF ECFC IN CONJUNCTION WITH REENLISTMENT/EXTENSION WILL SUBMIT A REENLISTMENT/EXTENSION REQUEST THROUGH THEIR COMMAND CAREER PLANNER VIA THE TOTAL FORCE RETENTION SYSTEM (TFRS), WITH COMMAND ENDORSEMENTS THROUGH THE FIRST GENERAL OFFICER, TO CMC (MMEA) FOR PROCESSING.
                (III)  SGTS SUBJECT TO ECFC SERVICE LIMITATIONS MAY APPLY FOR A WAIVER FOR SERVICE UP TO 13 YEARS IN EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES THROUGH THEIR COMMAND CAREER PLANNER VIA TFRS, WITH COMMAND ENDORSEMENTS THROUGH THE FIRST GENERAL OFFICER, TO CMC (MMEA) FOR PROCESSING.  EXAMPLES OF SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES ARE MARINES DEEMED CRITICAL BY THEIR COMMANDERS TO AN UPCOMING UNIT DEPLOYMENT OR MARINES IN A CRITICALLY SHORT MOS.  WAIVER AUTHORITY FOR SUCH MARINES RESIDES WITH DC, M&RA.
                (IV) 1STSGTS/MSGTS AND BELOW, WHO HAVE BEEN TWICED PASSED FOR PROMOTION OR WHO HAVE MET SERVICE LIMITS, PER PARA 3H1, WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR SERVICE LIMIT EXTENSIONS GREATER THAN ONE YEAR.
            (F) PER REF F, SERGEANTS MAJOR WHO DESIRE CONSIDERATION FOR COMMAND LEVEL SLATING, BUT REQUIRE A WAIVER OF THE 30 YEAR SERVICE LIMIT, MUST SUBMIT AN AA FORM WITH JUSTIFICATION, VIA THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, UP TO THE FIRST THREE-STAR GENERAL OFFICER, TO CMC (MM) FOR PROCESSING. I.  OTHER SUPPORTING PROGRAMS.  WHILE NOT FORMALLY CONSIDERED PART OF THE ECFC PROGRAM, THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS SUPPORT THE GOALS OF THE ECFC PROGRAM:
        (1) SRB PROGRAM.  THE SRB PROGRAM PROVIDES MARINES IN CERTAIN CRITICAL MOS'S A MONETARY INCENTIVE TO REENLIST.  THIS HELPS THE MARINE CORPS RETAIN MARINES IN CRITICALLY SHORT MOS'S.  REF G IDENTIFIES THOSE MOS(S) TARGETED FOR AN SRB DURING FY12.  THE SRB PROGRAM MAY BE EXTENDED, SHORTENED, OR MODIFIED THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR TO MEET MANPOWER REQUIREMENTS AND/OR FISCAL CONSTRAINTS.
        (2) SEPARATION PAY.  FACILITATES TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE FOR THOSE CAREER MARINES WHO HAVE BEEN DENIED FURTHER SERVICE.  SEPARATION PAY DOES NOT APPLY TO THOSE MARINES WHO VOLUNTARILY SEPARATE FROM THE MARINE CORPS.  REF H STIPULATES THAT ENLISTED MEMBERS WITH 6 OR MORE, BUT LESS THAN 20, YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICEIMMEDIATELY BEFORE DISCHARGE, AND WHO ARE DISCHARGED INVOLUNTARILY OR ARE DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF THE DENIAL OF REENLISTMENT, ARE NORMALLY ENTITLED TO SEPARATION PAY.  TWICE PASSED SSGTS WITH LESS THAN 20 YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SEPARATION PAY UNLESS DENIED FURTHER SERVICE BY CMC (MMEA-6).  REFS E AND I FURTHER ADDRESS THE CURRENT SEPARATION PAY POLICY AND TO WHOM IT APPLIES.
        (3) MARINES THAT ARE APPROVED FOR A RESERVE OBLIGATION UNDER REF H BY CMC(RA) MAY BE OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO AFFILIATE WITH A SELECTED MARINE CORPS RESERVE UNIT TO A VACANT AND VALIDATED BILLET IDENTIFICATION CODE. INDIVIDUALS MAY ALSO QUALIFY FOR RETRAINING TO A SPECIFIC BILLET MOS. INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE ADVISED THAT ANY SEPARATIONS PAY WILL BE REQUIRED TO BE PAID BACK IF THE MARINE ACHIEVES A RESERVE RETIREMENT.  IN ACCORDANCE WITH REF J, SEPARATIONS PAY RECOUPMENT WOULD BE INITIATED WHEN RESERVE RETIREMENT PAYMENTS BEGIN.  SEPARATION PAY WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM MONTHLY RETIRED PAY AT A FLAT RATE EQUAL TO 40 PERCENT OF THE MARINE'S GROSS RETIRED PAY UNTIL THE SEPARATION PAY AMOUNT IS PAID IN FULL.
4.  MARINES INTERESTED IN AFFILIATION WITH A SELECTED MARINE CORPS RESERVE UNIT OR THE ACTIVE RESERVE PROGRAM SHOULD CONTACT THEIR LOCAL PRIOR SERVICE RECRUITER ON THEIR BASE OR CALL 1-800-MARINES.
5.  ACTION.  COMMANDERS, SENIOR ENLISTED LEADERS, AND CAREER PLANNERS WILL FAMILIARIZE ALL MARINES WITH THE CONTENTS OF THIS BULLETIN.
6.  RESERVE APPLICABILITY.  THIS BULLETIN IS NOT APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE.
7.  CANCELLATION.  30 SEP 12.
8.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY MR. M. F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION.//