R 301901Z SEP 08
MARADMIN 556/08
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA//
SUBJ/MCBUL 5314 ENLISTED CAREER FORCE CONTROLS (ECFC) PROGRAM//
REF/A/MSGID:MSG/CMC/YMD:20071003//
REF/B/MSGID:DOC/CMC/YMD:20021001//
REF/C/MSGID:DOC/CMC/YMD:20060511//
REF/D/MSGID:MSG/CMC/YMD:20020510//
REF/E/MSGID:DOC/CMC/YMD:20010530//
REF/F/MSGID:DOC/CMC/YMD:20040623//
REF/G/MSGID:MSG/CMC/YMD:20070131//
REF/H/MSGID:MSG/CMC/YMD:20080630//
REF/I/MSGID:DOC/USC TITLE 10 SECT 1174/-//
REF/J/MSGID:DOC/CNO/YMD:20051220//
POC/P. B. BOCK/CAPT/UNIT:CMC MPP-20/-/TEL:DSN 278-9362//
NARR/REF A IS MARADMIN 580/07 ECFC PROGRAM FOR FY08.
REF B IS MCO 1130.80A, PRIOR SERVICE AND RESERVE AUGMENTATION
ENLISTMENTS INTO THE REGULAR MARINE CORPS.
REF C IS MCO P1400.32D, THE ENLISTED PROMOTIONS MANUAL.
REF D IS MARADMIN 262/02 ANNOUNCING THE EXPANSION OF THE SNCO
MERITORIOUS PROMOTION POLICY.
REF E IS MCO P1900.16F W/CH 1-2, MARINE CORPS SEPARATION AND
RETIREMENT MANUAL.
REF F IS MCO P1040.31J, THE ENLISTED RETENTION AND CAREER
DEVELOPMENT MANUAL.
REF G IS ALMAR 007/07 OUTLINING THE SERGEANTS MAJOR SENIOR COMMAND
LEVEL SLATING PROCESS.
REF H IS MARADMIN 370/08 ANNOUNCING THE FY09 SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT
BONUS (SRB) PROGRAM.
REF I IS SECTION 1174, OF TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE GOVERNING
SEPARATION PAY UPON INVOLUNTARY DISCHARGE OR RELEASE FROM ACTIVE
DUTY.
REF J IS OPNAVINST 1900.4 CONCERNING SEPARATION PAY FOR INVOLUNTARY
SEPARATION FROM ACTIVE DUTY.//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. PURPOSE. TO PROVIDE COMMANDERS,
SERGEANTS MAJOR, CAREER RETENTION SPECIALISTS, AND INDIVIDUAL
MARINES WITH INFORMATION REGARDING THE ORIGIN, REQUIREMENT FOR, AND
PROGRAM ELEMENTS OF THE ECFC PROGRAM. THIS MARADMIN CANCELS REF A,
MARADMIN 580/07, AND PROVIDES THE ECFC POLICIES FOR FY09.
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 SHAPED THE INVENTORY OF MARINES BY GRADE AND
MOS TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MARINE CORPS.
(2) STABILIZED 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.
3. INFORMATION. THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE ECFC POLICIES AND
PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTED TO DATE. AT EACH RESPECTIVE SUBPARAGRAPH IS A
SHORT DISCUSSION OF HOW EACH SUPPORTS THE ECFC GOALS. SUBPARAGRAPH
AND ECFC TOPIC:
A. SELECTION BY MOS
B. VARIABLE FIRST TIME IN-ZONE SELECTION OPPORTUNITY
C. ENLISTED GRADE SHAPING
D. RESTRICTIONS ON PRIOR SERVICE ACCESSIONS
E. CONTROL OF MERITORIOUS PROMOTIONS
F. FIRST TERM ALIGNMENT PLAN (FTAP)
G. SUBSEQUENT TERM ALIGNMENT PLAN (STAP)
H. SERVICE LIMITS
(1) MANDATORY TRANSFER TO THE FMCR
(2) PROMOTION CONSIDERATION
(3) CONTINUATION OF SERVICE
I. OTHER SUPPORTING PROGRAMS
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 HELD
THE DAY THE SELECTION BOARD CONVENES, UNLESS THEY HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED
AN INTENDED MOS, IN WHICH CASE THEY WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR PROMOTION
IN THE INTENDED 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 70% 80% 90%
GYSGT 65% 75% 85%
MSGT 60% 70% 80%
SGTMAJ/MGYSGT 55% 65% 75%
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% 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 MARINES
WHO 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. REF D ANNOUNCED THE EXPANSION OF THE SNCO
MERITORIOUS PROMOTION POLICY, NOW PROVIDING ALL SERGEANTS AND STAFF
SERGEANTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE MERITORIOUSLY PROMOTED.
F. 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. 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.
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 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 F, MARINES WITH PRIOR SERVICE IN ANOTHER MILITARY
BRANCH WILL ONLY COUNT ACTIVE DUTY MARINE CORPS SERVICE TOWARD
COMPLETED YEARS OF SERVICE. THE CURRENT SERVICE LIMITS ARE AS
FOLLOWS:
CPL 8 YEARS
SGT 13 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 APPROACHING SERVICE LIMITS MUST TRANSFER TO
THE FMCR PER REF E, 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-2), 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.
(2) PROMOTION CONSIDERATION
(A) PER REF E, 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 F, 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 AT
THE FTAP MAY BE AUTHORIZED A 4 YEAR REENLISTMENT IF ELIGIBLE FOR A
SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS (SRB).
(B) PER REF F, SGTS MAY REENLIST UP TO THEIR SERVICE
LIMIT OF 13 YEARS PROVIDED THEY ARE RECOMMENDED BY THEIR COMMANDING
OFFICER AND MEET ALL REENLISTMENT STANDARDS. HOWEVER, BASED ON THE
NEEDS OF THE MARINE CORPS, CMC (MMEA) HAS FINAL APPROVAL AUTHORITY.
(C) PER REF F, CMC (MMEA) WILL CONSIDER EXTENSION
REQUESTS FOR GYSGTS, 1STSGTS, AND MSGTS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS,
PROVIDED THEY DO NOT EXCEED SERVICE LIMITS.
(D) 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
RETENTION SPECIALIST VIA THE TOTAL FORCE RETENTION SYSTEM (TFRS),
WITH COMMAND ENDORSEMENTS THROUGH THE FIRST GENERAL OFFICER, TO CMC
(MMEA) FOR PROCESSING.
(III) 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.
(E) PER REF G, 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 WITH
CERTAIN SKILLS A MONETARY INCENTIVE TO REENLIST. THIS HELPS THE
MARINE CORPS RETAIN MARINES WITH CRITICALLY NEEDED SKILLS. REF H
IDENTIFIES THOSE MOS(S) TARGETED FOR AN SRB DURING FY09. 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 I STIPULATES THAT ENLISTED
MEMBERS WITH MORE THAN 6 YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE IMMEDIATELY BEFORE
DISCHARGE, AND WHO ARE DISCHARGED INVOLUNTARILY OR ARE SEPARATED AS
A RESULT OF THE DENIAL OF REENLISTMENT, ARE NORMALLY ENTITLED TO
SEPARATION PAY. TWICE PASSED SGTS WITH LESS THAN 13 YEARS OF ACTIVE
SERVICE ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SEPARATION PAY UNLESS DENIED FURTHER
SERVICE BY CMC (MMEA-6). 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 F AND J FURTHER ADDRESS THE
CURRENT SEPARATION PAY POLICY AND TO WHOM IT APPLIES.
4. ACTION. COMMANDERS, SERGEANTS MAJOR, AND CAREER RETENTION
SPECIALISTS WILL FAMILIARIZE ALL MARINES WITH THE CONTENTS OF THIS
BULLETIN.
5. RESERVE APPLICABILITY. THIS BULLETIN IS NOT APPLICABLE TO THE
MARINE CORPS RESERVE.
6. CANCELLATION. 30 SEP 09.
7. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY MR M. F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER
PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION.//