Military-Civilian Conversions

1. PURPOSE. TO ANNOUNCE THE MARINE CORPS PLAN TO
CIVILIANIZE MILTARY BILLETS AND RETURN MARINES TO THE OPERATING
FORCES.
2. BACKGROUND. CONSISTENT WITH DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PROGRAM
BUDGET DECISION 712, THE MARINE CORPS WILL CONVERT 1372 MILITARY
BILLETS TO CIVILIAN-MARINES, OR OUTSOURCE THE FUNCTION, AND RETURN
THE MARINES TO OPERATIONAL FORCES. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE
BILLETS ALREADY PLANNED AND PROGRAMMED FOR CONVERSION IN FY04.
FUNDING WILL BE PROVIDED FOR THE ADDITIONAL CONVERSIONS THAT WILL
COMMENCE IN FY05. CMC HAS DIRECTED DC M&RA TO LEAD MARINE CORPS
EFFORTS TO DEVELOP AND EXECUTE THE PLAN FOR THE CONVERSION OF
BILLETS.
3. COMMANDER'S INTENT. THE MARINE CORPS WILL BE STRUCTURED TO
OPTIMIZE THE USE OF OUR HUMAN RESOURCES (MARINES, CIVILIAN-MARINES,
AND CONTRACTORS) CONSISTENT WITH THE ROLES AND MISSIONS OF THE CORPS
AND SOUND BUSINESS PRACTICES. WE WILL RETURN AS MANY MARINES TO THE
OPERATING FORCES AS LOGICAL AND SUPPORTABLE. WHEREVER POSSIBLE, WE
WILL IDENTIFY MARINE BILLETS FOR CONVERSION. AS THE LEAD, DC M&RA
WILL ESTABLISH A MILITARY-CIVILIAN CONVERSION PLANNING GROUP TO
DEVELOP THE CONVERSION PLAN AND OVERSEE ITS EXECUTION. THE WORKING
GROUP WILL CONSIST OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM DC'S M&RA, CD (TFSD),
AVN, I&L, P&R, PP&O, MARFORPAC, MARFORLANT, MARFORRES, MCCDC,
MARCORSYSCOM, AND MCLC.
4. DURING FEBRUARY 2004 THE WORKING GROUP CHARTER WILL BE PUBLISHED
AND SENT TO ALL REPRESENTATIVES DETAILING THE GROUP'S ACTIONS. THE
G-1 CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR 3-5 FEBRUARY 2004 AT MCB QUANTICO WILL
INCLUDE A BRIEFING ON THIS CONVERSION INITIATIVE AND WILL OUTLINE
THE PROCESS AND TIMELINE TO BE USED. REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE
AFOREMENTIONED COMMANDS AND HQMC DEPARTMENTS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO
ATTEND THE FIRST WORKING GROUP MEETING AT QUANTICO THE END OF MARCH.
5. IN THE INTERIM, DC M&RA WILL RELEASE A MESSAGE TO SOLICIT YOUR
INPUT ON SPECIFIC MARINE BILLETS TO BE CIVILIANIZED. THIS MESSAGE
WILL DETAIL THE DATA REQUIRED AND THE FORMAT AND SUSPENSE FOR
SUBMISSION. CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO ALL FUNCTIONAL AREAS,
AND SHOULD INCLUDE OFFICER AND ENLISTED BILLETS AS WELL AS FLEET
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (FAP) BILLETS.