Passed-over reservists get more time to switch

Passed-over reservists get more time to switch
Policy change aims to retain people
By Kimberly Johnson - kjohnson@militarytimes.com
Posted : April 23, 2007

The Marine Corps Reserve is changing its head count policy, giving drilling reservists who have been passed over twice for promotion a couple of additional months on the rolls before transferring them to the Individual Ready Reserve, according to a new Corps policy.

Drilling reservists in grades E-5 through E-8 who have been passed over twice now have until Nov. 1 to be transferred to the Individual Ready Reserve, according to an April 12 Corpswide message.

Previously, Selected Marine Corps Reserve members would have had to move to the IRR within six months from the board’s convening in March, which meant heading to the IRR by September.

The rationale behind the brief extension is to maintain end strength in the Reserve as the active-duty force faces pressures to expand, said Staff Sgt. Alvin Winchester, assistance coordinator for incoming reservists. The Reserve normally counts on filling its ranks by accepting Marines who are leaving active duty. Since the active-duty force is expanding, and pressure is higher on active-duty retention officials to keep those Marines around as long as possible, Reserve officials now face a shrinking pool of would-be reservists.

This makes it harder for the Reserve to maintain its numbers. Keeping twice-passed-over Marines around for two more months helps keep the numbers up.

“That means when we turn in numbers for end strength, they’ll still be accounted for,” Winchester said. “We have to have a certain amount of Marines on the rolls by Oct. 1. Possibly, that will give us the cushion for end-strength numbers.”

Despite the delay, it’s still important for the Corps to transfer Marines who have been passed over twice, Winchester said. The policy keeps the promotion process open, he said. “If a Marine’s been twice passed, then he’s holding the billet.”

The policy change is a new effort to retain reservists at the same time the Corps’ active duty labors to hold onto its ranks. Defense officials want to add 22,000 active-duty Marines by 2011.

The pressure to grow the active-duty end strength will have a trickle-down effect on the Reserve, Winchester said. Recruiters have a maximum number of contracts they can sign a year.

“If they want to up the active duty [contracts], they will decrease the reserves,” he said.

Active-duty Selective Re-enlistment Bonuses are also potentially poaching would-be reservists. “They’re more likely to stay on active duty now, and re-enlist for another tour,” Winchester said. Caps on active-duty SRBs were raised to $60,000 this year, and Corps officials recently announced that every active-duty Marine who re-enlists this fiscal year will receive $10,000 in Assignment Incentive Pay, in addition to the SRB.

Those affected by this policy who may have already received incentive bonuses are safe, according to MarAdmin 248/07. “[SMCR] Marines that have received an incentive and are transferred to the IRR due to compliance with this policy will not have their incentive recouped,” the MarAdmin said.

But SMCR Marines who would rather retire than transfer into the IRR must act soon. The deadline for submitting a retirement request is July 31, with an effective date of Dec. 1, the message said.

Ellie