MARADMINs

This MARADMIN announces the results of the Fiscal Year 2026 Career Designation Panel Number 1 (CDP 1), which convened on 5 February 2026. Selected active component Marine officers are being offered Career Designation (CD), allowing them to remain on active duty beyond their initial service obligation. Officers must accept or decline the offer within 14 days of the MARADMIN release via Marine Online (MOL).

This MARADMIN announces the approved selections to the Fiscal Year 2027 Commandant's Retention Program Reserve (CRP-R), recognizing the Marine Corps' most talented first-term Reserve Marines. Selected Marines receive conditional approval for expedited reenlistment and may be eligible for monetary and non-monetary incentives, as well as lateral move opportunities to pursue new occupational specialties.

This MARADMIN establishes the FY25 Voluntary Enlisted Early Release Program (VEERP), a force shaping initiative that allows eligible Active Component enlisted Marines with an End of Active Service (EAS) date on or before 30 September 2025 to voluntarily separate early. Marines approved for the program will be considered to have completed their full active service commitment, though they must still fulfill any reserve or Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) obligations per their enlistment contracts.

This MARADMIN establishes the FY25 Voluntary Enlisted Early Release Program (VEERP), a force shaping initiative that allows eligible Active Component enlisted Marines with an End of Active Service (EAS) date on or before 30 September 2025 to voluntarily separate early. Marines approved for the program will be considered to have completed their full active service commitment, though they must meet all eligibility requirements including completion of Transition Readiness Seminar and medical qualification before early release.

This MARADMIN implements Department of Defense policy changes regarding gender dysphoria and military service eligibility. It directs that all Marines must conform to standards associated with their biological sex, revokes all previously approved exceptions to policy, and establishes procedures for voluntary separation and administrative absence for affected personnel. The message also outlines reporting requirements for commanders and provides guidance on early retirement options.

This MARADMIN announces the FY27 Regular Colonel Continuation Board, which will convene on 10 July 2025 to consider regular colonels with mandatory retirement dates between 1 January 2026 and 31 December 2027 for continuation on active duty. Officers selected for continuation will be offered the opportunity to remain on active duty for 3 years or until 33 years of commissioned service or age 62, whichever comes first, and must respond within 30 days of notification.

This MARADMIN provides guidance on managing government-issued credentials and network access for Marine Corps civilian personnel participating in the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP). It outlines procedures for handling Common Access Cards (CACs), logical access tokens, and Marine Corps Enterprise Network (MCEN) accounts during the transition period until personnel's end of service or 30 September 2025, whichever comes first.

This MARADMIN provides guidance on the issuance of the DD Form 214-1, which will now be issued alongside the traditional DD Form 214 for Reserve Component Marines who separate or are released from their component. Effective immediately, all qualifying Reserve Marines will receive both forms to ensure a more comprehensive record of their service.

This MARADMIN establishes a pilot Enlisted Career Designation Program (ECDP) for Staff Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) in grades E-8 and E-9, allowing them to voluntarily enlist to serve until current Enlisted Career Force Controls instead of submitting regular reenlistment requests. Effective June 1, 2025, eligible Marines with at least 15 years of service or over two years time in grade and an End of Current Contract date before September 30, 2026, can submit their final reenlistment package to enter the program, which incurs an initial 24-month service obligation.

This MARADMIN provides consolidated guidance for officers transitioning from the Active Component (AC) to the Reserve Component (RC), including the reserve commissioning process and procedures for completing the NAVMC 763 form. Officers separating from active duty before completing their eight-year military service obligation will be automatically transferred to the RC to complete their required service, with the reserve commission approval process requiring a minimum of four months from receipt at HQMC.

This MARADMIN updates policy on Marine Corps Enterprise Network (MCEN) account management for personnel departing active service. It requires commands to establish procedures for timely disabling and archiving inactive accounts to reduce cybersecurity risks and costs, while ensuring compliance with federal records retention requirements. The guidance applies to all Marines, civilians, and contractors with MCEN access on both classified and unclassified networks.

This MARADMIN announces interim changes to the Marine Corps SkillBridge program, which allows transitioning service members to gain civilian workforce training and experience prior to separation. The changes establish a three-tier system limiting participation duration based on rank (120 days for E1-E5, 90 days for mid-grade personnel, and 90 days for senior personnel), clarify approval authorities, and balance transition support with force readiness. These changes take effect on 31 August 2024 and apply to both Active and eligible Reserve Component Marines.

This MARADMIN establishes new interim guidance for submitting retirement and resignation requests across the Total Force. Effective immediately, all requests must be submitted between 18 months and 6 months prior to the desired retirement or resignation date to improve predictability for talent management and assignment planning.

This MARADMIN announces that Captain aviators who have been twice non-selected for promotion to Major are being offered continuation on active duty for 36 months (from June 1, 2024 to June 1, 2027). Affected officers must log into Marine Online (MOL) to check their continuation status and communicate their decision to accept or decline by January 31, 2024, or they will be automatically considered to have accepted continuation.

This MARADMIN provides updates to the FY24 Command Retention Mission (CRM), reducing the First Term Alignment Plan (FTAP) aggregate mission from 36% to 34% of the eligible population and establishing Direct Affiliation Program (DAP) missions for 25 Major Commands. The message emphasizes a Total Force approach to retention, encouraging Active Component leaders to engage Marines separating from active duty about opportunities to continue service in the Reserve Component through direct affiliation.

This MARADMIN updates the Direct Affiliation Program (DAP) policy for Fiscal Year 2024, which allows qualified Active Component Marines to seamlessly transition to the Reserve Component (either SMCR or IMA) following their EAS with no break in service. The program offers significant benefits including extended TRICARE coverage, education benefit transfers, mobilization deferrals, and bonuses up to $25,000 for eligible enlisted Marines, while management transitions from MCRC to MMEA by October 1, 2023.

This MARADMIN announces the FY24 Commandant's Retention Program Reserve (CRP-R) selectees and provides guidance for execution. The program streamlines the reenlistment process for high-performing Reserve Marines by offering conditional approval for reenlistment and retention bonuses. Selected Marines may submit requests for early reenlistment with 60-month contracts and are eligible for the SMCR Retention Bonus on a first-come, first-served basis.

This MARADMIN updates enlisted active duty service limits and high year tenure policy, effective 1 July 2023, to provide greater flexibility in retaining experienced Marines with critical warfighting skills needed for Force Design 2030. The policy establishes new service limits by grade (ranging from 8 years for Corporals to 30 years for SgtMaj/MGySgt), raises the maximum age limit to 59 years old, and authorizes HQMC to approve reenlistments for Marines not selected for promotion twice when it serves Marine Corps readiness needs.