R 222105Z OCT 15
MARADMIN 526/15
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA RA//
SUBJ/ACTIVE RESERVE (AR) PROGRAM ENLISTED CAREER FORCE CONTROLS (ECFC)//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC//DOD/20140512//
REF/B/MSGID:DOC//CMC/20110606//
REF/C/MSGID:DOC/CMC/20131126//
REF/D/MSGID:DOC/RA/20110623//
REF/E/MSGID:DOC/CMC/20120614//
REF/F/MSGID:DOC/CMC/20110502//
NARR/Reference (a) is DODI 1205.18, Full-Time Support (FTS) to the Reserve Components. Reference (b) is MCO 1001.52J, Active Reserve (AR) support to the United States Marine Corps Reserve. Reference (c) is MCO P1900.16 Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual. Reference (d) is MARADMIN 362/11, Implementation Guidance for Rank and DOR Adjustments of AR Enlisted Accessions. Reference (e) is MCO P1400.32D w/ch 1-2 Marine Corps Promotion Manual, Volume 2, Enlisted Promotions. Reference (f) is MCO 1040R.35 Reserve Career Retention and Development Manual.//
POC/M. S. Becker/Capt/RAM-2/TEL: 703-784-9149 EMAIL: Michael.Becker(at)usmc.mil//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. Purpose. This MARADMIN provides AR ECFC policies for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 based on the current environment and is IAW the provisions in the references. This message is only applicable to the AR program.
2. Background
   a. IAW reference (a), the Reserve Components are authorized to maintain a cadre of FTS personnel who are primarily responsible for assisting in the organization, administration, recruitment, instruction, training, maintenance, and supply support to the Reserve Components.
   b. The AR ECFC program is similar to the Active Component (AC) and Marine Corps Reserve (MCR) ECFC. The AR ECFC is designed to accomplish the following:
      (1) Shape the inventory of AR Marines by grade and Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) to the requirements of the AR program.
      (2) Standardize promotion flow points across all MOSs and maintain career progression opportunity for AR Marines.
      (3) Retain the best and most fully qualified Marines.
      (4) Comply with Title 10 U.S.C. end strength requirements.
   c. The end state of the AR ECFC program is to ensure the most qualified and appropriate inventory of AR Marines exists to staff AR career force requirements.
3. Definitions
   a. Career Designation (CD). Per reference (b), career force status removes the requirement to submit a new AR accession package with subsequent reenlistment/extension requests. CD identifies Marines selected to remain in a continuous active duty (ACDU) status until achievement of a 20-year ACDU retirement. Service beyond 20 ACDU years is based on the needs of the program. Per reference (c), administrative separation or the denial of additional service for Marines for whom separation is in the best interest of the program is unaffected by CD status. Career designated personnel will fill AR career force billets.
   b. Career path MOS (CMOS). CMOS is a four-digit code used to identify a specific competitive category for promotions. Each CMOS is comprised of several feeder Primary MOSs (PMOSs), some with similar skills or knowledge, grouped together (e.g., feeder MOSs for 0291 are 0200, 0231, and 0241). Other CMOSs may be unrelated (e.g., feeder MOSs for 0491 are 0400, 0431, and 0481).
4. Information
   a. CMC (RA) implemented rank and date of rank adjustments for qualifying first-term and career designated Marines accessing into the AR program, in reference (c).  The change facilitates promotion competitiveness and reflects rank commensurate with experience. AR promotion targets are as follows:
Rank       Time in Service
Sgt            4 years
SSgt           8.5 years
GySgt          13 years
MSgt           17.5 years
MGySgt         22 years
    b. Corporals and Sergeants accepted for accession into the AR program will have their time in grade adjusted to reflect their ACDU service years per reference (d).
    c. Variable first time in-zone selection opportunity. Per reference (e), variable selection opportunity is applied in order to standardize promotion flow points. The following percentages represent targeted first time in-zone selection opportunities: (all values below are percentages)
Promotion      Minimum          Standard         Maximum
To             Opportunity      Opportunity      Opportunity
SSgt           70               80               90
GySgt          65               75               85
MSgt           60               70               80
MGySgt         55               65               75
These targeted goals may not be feasible for all grades due to the small populations in some CMOS communities.
    d. Selection by CMOS. Per reference (e), Marines are selected for promotion to the grades of Corporal and above by CMOS based on the needs of the AR program. Marines are considered for promotion to staff sergeant and above based on the CMOS held the day the selection board convenes, unless they have been assigned an intended MOS(IMOS).
Marines with an IMOS will be considered for promotion in the IMOS on the convening date of the board.
    e. Enlisted grade structure reviews are conducted with the release of the Authorized Strength Report (ASR) to ensure that each CMOS has a pyramid-shaped structure requirement that:
       (1) Supports promotion at the AC targets for each grade.
       (2) Defines an achievable career path through the manpower process.
    f. Restrictions on new accessions. This effort ensures that new accessions are not accessed into over strength MOSs, thereby further slowing promotion flow points. Only Staff Sergeants with the PMOS of 6276 or the additional MOS (AMOS) of 6242 may be considered for accession to the AR program. No other Staff Sergeants or above will be considered.
    g. Control of meritorious promotions. The AR program 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 MOSs with vacancies. Allocations and information for non-special duty assignment meritorious promotions to Corporal through Gunnery Sergeant are provided annually to major commands via the appropriate messaging system IAW reference (e).  Special duty assignment (Drill Instructor, Recruiter, and Combat Instructor) promotions are affected through the specific command/base headquarters and are also IAW reference (e).
    h. Career Designation. CD sets reenlistment goals for all MOSs and is implemented IAW reference (f) as follows:
       (1) Marine must possess a CMOS.
       (2) Marine must request CD. Requests may be submitted upon receipt of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders, or within 12 months of End of Active Service (EAS) and in conjunction with a reenlistment request.
       (3) Marine must be recommended by command.
       (4) The Marine's record must be competitive for promotion and retention.
       (5) A request must be submitted via Total Force Retention System (TFRS) and in conjunction with a reenlistment request for 36 months or more.
       (6) Retention in PMOS must be consistent with projected program needs. CD Marines who refuse to execute reenlistment or extend in order to execute PCS orders will be released from the AR program at the effective date of the orders, or EAS, whichever is earlier, with a RE-3O reenlistment code. Additionally, retirement eligible CD Marines who request retirement in lieu of PCS orders will be retired NLT the last day of the month of scheduled arrival at the new duty station.
    i. Active Duty Service Limits. Service limits ensure that Marines reaching a certain year of service in their current grade without being selected for promotion or failed selection for promotion two or more times are either separated, transferred to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), or required to transfer to the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve (FMCR), if eligible. Enforcement of service limits improves promotion opportunity for Marines in junior grades.
       (1) Marines exceeding service limitations due to a grade reduction will have their EAS adjusted to accommodate an early separation. The EAS will be adjusted to the first day of the fourth month following the date the Marine was reduced. These Marines will retain their original EAS if it falls before the first day of the fourth month.
       (2) Marines in the AR program will not normally complete 27-30 years of total service. For service limit computation purposes, Marines with broken service will count all ACDU service Marine Corps time in computing years of service. For Marines with prior service in another military branch, all ACDU service time will count toward completed years of service. Current service limits policy, per reference (b), are as follows:
Rank            Service Limits
Cpl                8 years
Sgt               12 years
SSgt              20 years
GySgt             22 years
MSgt              27 years
MGySgt            30 years
       (3) Total Service.  Per reference (b), AR Marines approaching service limits must transfer to the FMCR, if eligible, IAW reference (c) unless an ECFC waiver is approved. Requests for extension of one year, or less beyond service limits must be submitted to the director, Reserve Affairs (RA). Requests for waivers greater than
one year beyond service limits must be submitted to the Deputy Commandant, Manpower and Reserve Affairs (DC MRA). All requests for an ECFC waiver should be submitted, with justification, by AA form or standard naval letter via the chain of command to the first General Officer and through RA (RAM). Command endorsements should Include justification for retention beyond service limits. Marines who must request transfer to the FMCR are defined as follows:
           (a) All Staff Sergeants approaching 20 years of active service.
           (b) Gunnery Sergeants approaching 22 years of active service, or Gunnery Sergeants who have been twice passed for promotion and who are approaching 20 years of active service, or have an EAS between 20 and 22 years of active service.
       (4) Master Sergeants in a CMOS that promotes only to Master Sergeant and Master Gunnery Sergeants who are eligible for an ACDU retirement and have completed their TIG obligation may be denied further service based on needs of the AR program and to maintain promotion opportunities for junior Marines.
       (5) DC MRA will retain service limit waiver authority for Master Gunnery Sergeants who request to serve beyond 30 years of total service.
       (6) Promotion Consideration
           (a) Per reference (b), Marines who must transfer to the FMCR due to the above service 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 orders, are not eligible for promotion consideration.
           (d) Marines approved for transfer to the FMCR outside normal parameters (4-14 months) will not be eligible for promotion consideration.
           (e) RA (RAM) may consider requests, provided the extension does not exceed service limits and does not negatively affect promotion opportunities for junior Marines. Per references (b), (c), and (e), Marines with 20 or more years of ACDU service who have once failed selection to the next higher grade, who are eligible to transfer to the FMCR, and have not submitted for transfer to the FMCR, may be granted an extension on a case-by-case basis in order to be considered by the next promotion board.
           (f) Eligible Marines who fail to request transfer to the FMCR will be separated at their EAS.
       (7) Continuation of Service. Reenlistment and retention in the AR program are not synonymous. Marines may be reenlisted in the Ready Reserve and not retained in the AR program. For all  retirement eligible Marines, ACDU service beyond 20 years is based on the needs of the AR program.
           (a) Initial assignment Corporals with four or more years of ACDU service approved for reenlistment and request CD may be authorized a 48 month reenlistment.
           (b) Per references (e) and (f), Sergeants may reenlist up to their service limit of 12 ACDU years, provided they have not been passed for promotion, are recommended by their Commanding Officer, and meet all reenlistment requirements. However, based on the needs of the AR program, RA (RAM) has final approval authority for retention in the AR program. Sergeants who have been passed for promotion two times will be released from the AR program NLT the first day of September following the release of the board results. Service limits will not apply. Sergeants who reach service limits without having been considered for promotion and are projected to be within zone for the next promotion board may request a waiver of service limits to allow consideration by the next board. Sergeants that are approved for a waiver and subsequently not selected will be released from the AR program NLT the first day of October following the release of the board results.
           (c) Staff Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) passed for promotion two or more times having less than 18 years ACDU may be denied further service on the AR program via a reenlistment or extension request.
           (d) Per references (b) and (f), RA (RAM) will consider extension requests for service beyond 20 years for Gunnery Sergeants, Master Sergeants, and Master Gunnery Sergeants on a case-by-case basis provided they do not exceed service limits and are IAW AR program needs in the particular PMOS.
           (e) Requesting an ECFC waiver:
               (1) Marines meeting eligibility requirements to transfer to the FMCR will submit an AA form/standard naval letter with justification through the Marine's chain of command, up to the first General Officer, to include command endorsements, to CMC (MMSR) via RA (RAM) for processing.
               (2) Marines not meeting eligibility requirements to transfer to the FMCR, 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 TFRS, with command endorsements through the first General Officer, to RA (RCT) for processing.
               (3) Master Sergeants and Gunnery Sergeants, twice passed for promotion and retirement eligible, or meeting service limits, must submit for retirement IAW the twice passed for promotion letter published by CMC (RA). If current EAS/End of Current Contract (ECC) exceeds the current fiscal year corresponding with the release of the SNCO promotion board, RA (RAM) will adjust their current EAS/ECC date to 1 October 2016. Master Sergeants and Gunnery Sergeants, who have been twice passed for promotion, must request retirement prior to their newly adjusted EAS/ECC. Failure to request retirement will result in separation in lieu of retirement.
    j. Other supporting programs. While not formally considered part of the ECFC program, the following programs support the goals of the ECFC program:
       (1) Bonus(s). The AR Reenlistment Bonus (REB) program provides Marines a monetary incentive to reenlist in order to retain Marines with critically needed skills. CMOSs eligible for these bonuses are identified by separate correspondence. Presently, there are no AR CMOSs targeted for a REB during FY16. However, the REB program may be modified throughout the fiscal year to meet manpower requirements.
       (2) Separation Pay. Separation pay is provided to help facilitate the 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. Reference (c) stipulates that enlisted members with more than six years of continuous active service prior to the date of discharge, involuntarily discharged or are separated as a result of the denial of reenlistment, may be entitled to separation pay. Twice passed Sergeants with less than 12 years of active service are not eligible for separation pay unless denied further service by RA (RAM). Twice passed SNCOs with less than 20 years of active service are not eligible for separation pay unless denied further service by RA (RAM).
       (3) Incompatibility. Most AR billets are located away from major installations and military life support services, (commissary, exchange, government housing, etc.). Marines determined incompatible for AR assignments due to not meeting the requirements of the AR application screening/interview guide, per reference (b), fiscal instability, dependent restrictions, or other means may be denied further service in the AR program. Failure to maintain PMOS due to loss of security clearance or misconduct also falls into this category.
5. Action. Commanders, Senior Enlisted Leaders, and Career Planners will familiarize all AR Marines with the contents of this bulletin.
6. This bulletin cancels on 30 September 2016.
7. Release authorized by Colonel R. T. Tobin, Director, Reserve Affairs Division, Acting.//