R 150029Z NOV 14
MARADMIN 596/14
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA RA//
SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2015 SELECTIVE MARINE CORPS RESERVE (SMCR) AVIATION RETENTION PAY(ARP)//
REF/A/DOC/TITLE 37 U.S. CODE/-//
REF/B/DOC/DODI 7730.67/YMD:20111212//
REF/C/DOC/MEMORANDUM/YMD:20140918//
NARR/REF A IS USC TITLE 37, CHAPTER 5, SUBSECTIONS II AND III. REF B IS DOD INSTRUCTION 7730.67 AVIATOR INCENTIVE PAYS AND BONUS PROGRAM. REF C IS THE MEMORANDUM FOR DEPUTY COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS (MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS) APPROVING THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE FY15 AVIATION RETENTION PAY PLAN.//
POC/A. C. DINSDALE/MAJ/CMC (RAP)/703-784-9135/EMAIL: ALAN.DINSDALE(AT)USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THE PURPOSE OF THIS MARADMIN IS TO ANNOUNCE THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE FY15 AVIATION RETENTION PAY BONUS ELIGIBILITY AND PROCEDURES. REF A AND B AUTHORIZE ARP TO QUALIFIED RESERVE AVIATORS IAW REF GUIDANCE. THE BONUS WILL BE OFFERED TO MARINE CORPS RESERVE AVIATORS WHO MEET PARA 2 REQUIREMENTS AND ARE APPROVED FOR THE BONUS BY CMC (RA) IN EXCHANGE FOR 3 YEARS OF SATISFACTORY SERVICE IN A SMCR SQUADRON. ARP IS A SPECIAL PAY THAT WILL BE ASSESSED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, WITH CONTRACT AMOUNTS AND ALLOCATIONS VARYING DEPENDING ON THE HEALTH OF AVIATION OFFICER INVENTORIES ASSIGNED TO SMCR SQUADRONS. THE INTENT IS TO PROVIDE AN INCENTIVE TO AFFILIATE TRANSITIONING ACTIVE COMPONENT (AC) AVIATORS WITH SMCR SQUADRONS.
2.  ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. TO RECEIVE ARP, OFFICERS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING NON-WAIVERABLE CRITERIA AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION.
    A.  MUST BE A CAPTAIN OR MAJOR. CAPTAINS PASSED FOR PROMOTION TO MAJOR IN THE RESERVE ARE NOT ELIGIBLE. MAJORS WITH GREATER THAN 36 MONTHS TIME IN GRADE AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION ARE NOT ELIGIBLE.
    B.  BE QUALIFIED AND APPROVED TO PERFORM OPERATIONAL FLYING DUTY WITH 4TH MARINE AIRCRAFT WING (4TH MAW).
    C.  BE ENTITLED TO AVIATION CAREER INCENTIVE PAY (ACIP).
    D.  HAVE NO MORE THAN 15 YEARS OF COMMISSIONED SERVICE AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION.
    E.  AGREE TO AFFILIATE OR REMAIN AFFILIATED IN A DUTY INVOLVING FLYING OPERATIONS (DIFOP) BILLET IN ONE OF THE BELOW SMCR UNITS IN THE LISTED MOS FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS.
        1.  HMH-772:                           7566
        2.  HMLA-773:                          7563, 7565
        3.  HMM-774:                           7562, 7532
        4.  VMFA-112:                          7523
        5.  VMGR-234:                          7557
        6.  VMGR-452:                          7556, 7557
        7.  VMM-764:                           7532
    F.  IF CURRENTLY A RESERVE OFFICER, HAVE SERVED NO MORE THAN 16 CUMULATIVE MONTHS IN ANY OF THE SMCR SQUADRONS LISTED IN PARAGRAPH 2.E. AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION.
    G.  IF IN THE AC, MUST HAVE AN END OF ACTIVE SERVICE (EAS) NLT 31-JAN OR 31-JUL-2015, AND BE JOINED VIA THE MARINE CORPS TOTAL FORCE SYSTEM TO A SMCR SQUADRON IN AN APPROVED ARP BILLET NLT 1-FEB OR 1-AUG-2015 AS APPLICABLE, PER PARAGRAPH 5 OF THIS BULLETIN.
    H.  AVIATORS WHO ARE SERVING OR HAVE SERVED UNDER A PRIOR CONTRACT OR STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING (SOU) TO SERVE IN A SMCR FLYING SQUADRON DUE TO RECEIPT OF A MONETARY INCENTIVE OR RETRAINING FUNDS (PRIOR SERVICE MOS RETRAINING, LATERAL MOVE, AND TRANSITION/ CONVERSION PROGRAMS) ARE NOT ELIGIBLE. PILOTS RECEIVING TRANSITION FUNDS TO TRAIN TO A DIFFERENT VARIANT OF THEIR CURRENT AIRFRAME REMAIN ELIGIBLE. AVIATORS WHO ARE CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED TO SERVE IN NON-FLYING SMCR UNITS, AN OSA CONTRACT FOR VMR, OR MCRIP CONTRACT FOR MATSG-42 ARE NOT ELIGIBLE BUT MAY APPLY UPON COMPLETION OF THEIR CURRENT OBLIGATION.
    I.  APPLICANTS MUST RECEIVE A FAVORABLE ENDORSEMENT AND DIFOP BILLET CONFIRMATION THROUGH ROUTINE CORRESPONDENCE FROM COMMANDING GENERAL, 4TH MAW VIA SQUADRON AND GROUP COMMANDING OFFICER.
    J.  ACTIVE RESERVE OFFICERS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY.
3.  OBLIGATION.
    A.  THE SIGNED SOU OBLIGATES THE MARINE TO 3 CONTINUOUS YEARS OF SATISFACTORY SERVICE IN THE SMCR, IN THE SQUADRON AND LOCATION (IF APPLICABLE) DESIGNATED.
    B.  PAYMENTS OF 15,000 DOLLARS ARE MADE ANNUALLY, FOR THE LENGTH OF THE CONTRACT.
    C.  IN ORDER FOR SUBSEQUENT ANNUAL PAYMENTS TO BE MADE, THE MARINE MUST REMAIN AFFILIATED IN THE APPROVED SQUADRON BILLET IN A DIFOP STATUS, ELIGIBLE FOR ACIP, AND SATISFACTORILY PARTICIPATE IN THE SMCR.
4.  RECOUPMENT.  PRORATED RECOUPMENT OF THE ANNUAL PAYMENT WILL OCCUR IF THE OFFICER:
    A.  FAILS TO MAINTAIN ELIGIBILITY PER PARA 2.
    B.  FAILS TO COMPLETE 48 DRILLS AND 14 DAYS OF ANNUAL TRAINING EACH FISCAL YEAR, UNLESS ACTIVATED FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST 90 DAYS WITH THEIR SMCR SQUADRON DURING THAT FISCAL YEAR.
    C.  FAILS TO MEET MINIMUM ANNUAL FLIGHT TIME REQUIREMENTS. THIS PROVISION MAY ONLY BE WAIVED BY CG 4TH MAW.
    D.  IS A CAPTAIN AND TWICE FAILS TO BE SELECTED FOR PROMOTION TO MAJOR.
    E.  IS SEPARATED FROM THE MARINE CORPS FOR REASONS OTHER THAN DESIGNATED IN PARA 4.I.
    F.  LOSES DESIGNATION AS A NAVAL AVIATOR EXCEPT AS SPECIFIED IN PARA 4.I.
    G.  TERMINATION OF ACIP ELIGIBILITY.
    H.  IS MEDICALLY INCAPACITATED OR PHYSICALLY DISABLED AS A RESULT OF MISCONDUCT, GROSS NEGLIGENCE, OR AS A RESULT OF A PERIOD OF UNAUTHORIZED ABSENCE.
    I.  OFFICERS WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO RECOUPMENT OF ARP PAYMENTS IF ELIGIBILITY IS TERMINATED FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:
        1.  INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION FROM MILITARY SERVICE BY OPERATION OF LAW, OR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION BY OPERATION OF MILITARY SERVICE OR DOD POLICY (EXCEPT SEPARATION OR DISMISSAL FOR CAUSE, RESIGNATION IN LIEU OF COURT MARTIAL, OR PROCESSING FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATION).
        2.  DEATH OR DISABILITY, INCLUDING MEDICAL GROUNDING OR SUSPENSION, WHICH IS NOT THE RESULT OF MISCONDUCT, WILLFUL NEGLIGENCE, AND NOT RESULTING FROM A PERIOD OF UNAUTHORIZED ABSENCE.
    J.  ON AN ANNUAL BASIS 45 DAYS PRIOR TO PAYMENT, CMC (RAP) WILL CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF MARINES APPROVED FOR ARP TO ENSURE EACH MARINE REMAINS ELIGIBLE.
5.  APPLICATION PROCEDURES.
    A.  APPLICATIONS WILL BE PROCESSED AND ADJUDICATED ON A SEMI-ANNUAL BASIS IN FY15, WITH PAYMENTS OCCURRING ON 1 MAR, AND 1-SEP-2015. APPLICATION WINDOWS ARE 1-NOV-2014 THROUGH 1-FEB-2015 AND 1-MAY-2015 THROUGH 1-AUG-2015 FOR THE 1-MARCH AND 1-SEP-2015 PAYMENTS, RESPECTIVELY.
        (1) APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER 1-FEB-2015, BUT BEFORE 1-MAY-2015 WILL BE RETURNED TO THE APPLICANT WITHOUT ACTION.
        (2) APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER 1-AUG-2015 WILL BE RETURNED TO THE APPLICANT WITHOUT ACTION.
    B.  AVAILABILITY OF BONUSES WILL VARY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS RETIREMENTS AND OTHER SEPARATIONS BECOME EFFECTIVE, CAUSING VARIATIONS IN STAFFING LEVELS.
    C.  APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED BY CMC (RAP) VIA THE SECTION MAILBOX (RAP(AT)USMC.MIL) UPON RELEASE OF THIS MARADMIN AND FY15 APPROVAL AUTHORITY. APPLICATIONS WILL INCLUDE A SOU, THE ASSOCIATED CHAIN OF COMMAND APPLICATION ENDORSEMENTS, AND A 4TH MAW ENDORSEMENT WITH DIFOP CERTIFICATION. DIFOP ENDORSEMENT WILL BE INITIATED BY THE APPLICANT, SCREENED BY THE UNIT, INCLUDED ON THE APPLICATION'S ENDORSEMENT AND ROUTED THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE CHAIN OF COMMAND, OR THE DIRECT AFFILIATION PROCESS TO 4TH MAW. APPROVED DIFOP REQUESTS WILL BE FORWARDED TO CMC (RAP) FROM 4TH MAW.
    D.  DO NOT SEND HARD COPIES. SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY SCANNED COPIES WITH APPROPRIATE SIGNATURES TO CMC (RAP) ROUTED PER PARA 5.B.
    E.  APPLICANTS MUST WAIVE THE COMMUTING DISTANCE REQUIREMENT PER MCO 1001R.1K.
    F.  APPLICATIONS FROM OFFICERS WILL BE REVIEWED FOR ELIGIBILITY AND APPROVAL BY CMC (RAP). IF APPROVED THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF ARP WILL BE EITHER 1 MAR 2015, OR 1 SEP 2015 AS APPROPRIATE.
    G.  DUE TO LIMITED AVAILABILITY OF THIS BONUS, AS THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL UNITS/LOCATIONS REACHES OR EXCEEDS THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE AUTHORIZATIONS, CMC (RCT) WILL CONVENE A BOARD TO SELECT THE BEST QUALIFIED OFFICERS TO RECEIVE THE BONUS. UPON COMPLETION OF ANY NECESSARY BOARD, APPLICATIONS IN EXCESS OF THE UNIT/LOCATION ALLOCATIONS WILL BE DISAPPROVED AND RETURNED. APPLICANTS MAY RESUBMIT IN SUBSEQUENT PERIODS IF THEY REMAIN ELIGIBLE.
    H.  ONCE APPROVED TO RECEIVE A BONUS BY DIRECTOR, RESERVE AFFAIRS DIVISION, CMC (RAP) WILL NOTIFY THE OFFICER VIA NAVAL LETTER CORRESPONDENCE DETAILING THE UNIT AND LOCATION THAT THE OFFICER WAS APPROVED TO SERVE WITH, AS WELL AS THE CONTRACT END DATE.
    I.  CMC (RAP) WILL NOTIFY THE UNITS IN PARA 2.E WITH SELECTEES AND PROCEDURES FOR BILLET ASSIGNMENT.
    J.  CMC (RAM) WILL ADJUST THE OFFICER'S MANDATORY DRILL STOP DATE AND RESERVE BILLET IDENTIFICATION CODE AS APPROPRIATE.
6.  APPLICATION DOCUMENTS
    A.  THE FORMAT FOR THE APPLICATION CAN BE FOUND AT  HTTP:(BACKSLASH)(BACKSLASH)WWW.MANPOWER.USMC.MIL. ENTER SEARCH STRING "ARP APPLICATION" IN THE SEARCH BOX IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF THE SCREEN. RIGHT CLICK "ARP FY15 APPLICATION" FROM THE RESULTS AND DOWNLOAD AS APPROPRIATE.
    B.  THE FORMAT FOR THE SOU CAN BE FOUND AT HTTP:(BACKSLASH)(BACKSLASH)WWW.MANPOWER.USMC.MIL.ENTER SEARCH STRING "ARP SOU" IN THE SEARCH BOX IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF THE SCREEN. RIGHT CLICK "ARP FY15 SOU" FROM THE RESULTS AND DOWNLOAD AS APPROPRIATE.
    C.  THE COMMANDING OFFICER NEED ONLY ENDORSE THE APPLICATION WITH: "FORWARD RECOMMENDING APPROVAL" OR "FORWARD NOT RECOMMENDING APPROVAL".
    D.  AN OFFICIAL LETTER FROM CMC (RAP) DETAILING THE APPLICANT'S SERVICE OBLIGATION AND MONETARY AMOUNTS WILL BE SENT TO THE OFFICER ONCE ARP IS APPROVED. A COPY OF THIS LETTER WILL ALSO BE SENT TO MMSB FOR INCLUSION IN THE OFFICER'S OFFICIAL MILITARY PERSONNEL FILE (OMPF).
    E.  ARP IS A FORCE SHAPING TOOL, NOT A CAREER ENHANCING MEASURE. AS SUCH, SELECTION FOR ARP SHALL NOT BE ANNOTATED IN A MARINE'S FITNESS REPORT.
7.  ARP APPLICATIONS CAN BE LOCATED AT HTTPS:(BACKSLASH)(BACKSLASH)WWW.MANPOWER.USMC.MIL/PORTAL/PAGE/PORTAL/M(UNDERSCORE)RA(UNDERSCORE)HOME/RA/RCT/RIT AND FOR ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES, CONTACT CMC (RIT) SMB-RIT(AT)USMC.MIL.
8.  FOR ARP ELIGIBILITY ISSUES, CONTACT CMC (RAP) AT THE POC ABOVE.
9.  THIS MARADMIN CANCELS 30 SEPTEMBER 2015.
10.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY COLONEL R. T. TOBIN, DIRECTOR, RESERVE AFFAIRS DIVISION, ACTING.//