USNAviator
05-31-11, 04:26 PM
TAMPA, Fla. — The Marine Corps will overhaul its re-enlistment process this summer, introducing a new system that will give Marines more time to decide their future and allow the service to be more selective about who it keeps.
The new rules include four big changes, officials said. They are:
1. New tiered evaluation system. Commanders will have greater say in how Marines are evaluated for re-enlistment with a tiered system that debuts this summer. Enlisted personnel will be rated “eminently qualified,” “highly competitive,” “average” or “below average” on an annual basis, and counseled on how they can improve their rating. In cases where a commander decides a Marine’s low rating is unwarranted due to extenuating circumstances, such as a low Combat Fitness Test score, he can move someone into a higher category.
2. More time to submit materials. For years, Marines have had 30 days to get their re-enlistment package submitted once re-up season began. Those who didn’t risked missing out on an open slot, or boat space, in their military occupational specialty. Under the new system, Marines will have 90 days, beginning July 1, to assess their options. The Corps benefits by having a larger pool of Marines from which to choose, officials said.
3. “Quality Marine” waivers. The Corps also will debut a new wrinkle in which commanding generals can push Marine Corps headquarters to re-enlist specific hard-charging Marines in their MOS, even when there are no more boat spaces left. Waivers will be cut for some Marines only when compelling cases are made. The Corps also will continue to use the Quality Reenlistment Program, a separate system in which about 100 Marines per year are allowed to re-up in their MOS after boat spaces are gone.
4. Targeted re-enlistment recruiting. Career planners and commanders will be advised to search for Marines who could potentially serve in highly technical, in-demand career fields such as cyber, intelligence and explosive ordnance disposal, and encourage them to make lateral moves while re-enlisting. Doing so will strengthen the Corps as a whole and allow some of the service’s brightest Marines to advance more quickly in fields with faster career progression and bigger bonuses, Manpower officials said.
The new rules include four big changes, officials said. They are:
1. New tiered evaluation system. Commanders will have greater say in how Marines are evaluated for re-enlistment with a tiered system that debuts this summer. Enlisted personnel will be rated “eminently qualified,” “highly competitive,” “average” or “below average” on an annual basis, and counseled on how they can improve their rating. In cases where a commander decides a Marine’s low rating is unwarranted due to extenuating circumstances, such as a low Combat Fitness Test score, he can move someone into a higher category.
2. More time to submit materials. For years, Marines have had 30 days to get their re-enlistment package submitted once re-up season began. Those who didn’t risked missing out on an open slot, or boat space, in their military occupational specialty. Under the new system, Marines will have 90 days, beginning July 1, to assess their options. The Corps benefits by having a larger pool of Marines from which to choose, officials said.
3. “Quality Marine” waivers. The Corps also will debut a new wrinkle in which commanding generals can push Marine Corps headquarters to re-enlist specific hard-charging Marines in their MOS, even when there are no more boat spaces left. Waivers will be cut for some Marines only when compelling cases are made. The Corps also will continue to use the Quality Reenlistment Program, a separate system in which about 100 Marines per year are allowed to re-up in their MOS after boat spaces are gone.
4. Targeted re-enlistment recruiting. Career planners and commanders will be advised to search for Marines who could potentially serve in highly technical, in-demand career fields such as cyber, intelligence and explosive ordnance disposal, and encourage them to make lateral moves while re-enlisting. Doing so will strengthen the Corps as a whole and allow some of the service’s brightest Marines to advance more quickly in fields with faster career progression and bigger bonuses, Manpower officials said.