National Call to Service

1.  KEY PROVISIONS OF THE NCS PROGRAM ARE:
A.  ENLISTMENTS UNDER THIS PROGRAM WILL COMMENCE 1 OCTOBER 2003. 
CMC (M&RA) IN CONJUCTION WITH MCRC WILL ESTABLISH YEARLY QUOTAS FOR
NCS PROGRAM ENLISTEES.  THE QUOTA WILL BE 175 FOR FY04, 250 FOR
FY05, AND 350 IN FY06 AND BEYOND.
B.  ENLISTEES UNDER THE NCS PROGRAM WILL INCUR AN EIGHT-YEAR
MANDATORY SERVICE OBLIGATION (MSO) CONSISTING OF 15 MONTHS OF ACTIVE
DUTY AFTER COMPLETION OF INTITIAL ENTRY TRAINING (TO INCLUDE MOS
TRAINING) FOLLOWED BY EITHER REENLISTMENT/EXTENSION ON ACTIVE DUTY
FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST 24 MONTHS OF ACTIVE DUTY; OR 24 MONTHS OF
SELECTED RESERVE (SELRES) SERVICE IN ANY OF THE SELRES CATEGORIES
(SMCR UNIT, IMA, AR); FOLLOWED BY REMAINDER OF MSO IN SELRES, IRR,
OTHER NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAMS (NSP) AS DESIGNATED BY SECDEF
(AMERICORPS VISTA, AMERICORPS NCCC, OR PEACE CORPS), OR ANY
COMBINATION OF THE ABOVE.  FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE NCS PROGRAM,
COMPLETION OF MOS SCHOOL IS, DEFINED AS COMPLETION OF ALL MOS
SCHOOLS REQUIRED FOR THE AWARDING OF THE MOS THE NCS MARINE IS
RECRUITED FOR.  A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF NCS MARINES WILL BE SELECTED
TO SPEND THEIR ENTIRE ACTIVE DUTY COMMITMENT IN MOS TRAINING IN
ORDER TO ASSIST FILLING CRITICALLY LOW DENSITY HIGH DEMAND MOS IN
THE RESERVE COMPONENT.
C.  NCS PARTICIPATION WILL BE LIMITED TO APPLICANTS WHO MEET ALL OF
THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: NON-PRIOR SERVICE, HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
GRADUATE (TIER I), AND AFQT CATEGORIES I-IIIA.
D.  ANNUALLY, CMC (M&RA) AND MARFORRES WILL DETERMINE THE SPECIFIC
SKILLS AUTHORIZED FOR NCS PARTICIPATION AND PROVIDE THIS LIST TO
SECNAV FOR FORWARDING TO OUSD (P&R).  THE SKILLS SELECTED WILL
FACILITATE NATIONAL SERVICE OBJECTIVES AND SELECTED RESERVE
REQUIREMENTS.
E.  NCS MARINES WILL BE WORLDWIDE DEPLOYABLE WITHIN CURRENT MARINE
CORPS POLICIES.
F. NCS MARINES WILL BE MANAGED THE SAME AS ALL OTHER MARINES WITH
RESPECT TO PROMOTIONS, UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE, ETC.  THEY 
MAY ALSO BE ACCESSED IN ADVANCE PAY GRADES IN ACCORDANCE WITH
CURRENT MARINE CORPS POLICIES.
G.  NCS ENLISTEES WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO ENROLL IN THE MONTGOMERY
GI BILL (MGIB) AT THE TIME OF ACCESSION.  MGIB ENROLLMENT WILL BE
OFFERED IF NCS MARINES EXTEND ON ACTIVE DUTY FOR A PERIOD OF 24
MONTHS.
H.  NCS MARINES WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SELECT ONE OF THE
FOLLOWING INCENTIVE BASED ENLISTMENT OPTIONS:
(1) BONUS OF $5,000 PAYABLE ON COMPLETION OF ACTIVE DUTY OBLIGATION.
(2) REPAYMENT OF QUALIFYING STUDENT LOANS AS DEFINED IN SEC
510(L)(2) OF TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE (PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST)
UP TO $18,000 - PAYABLE UPON COMPLETION OF ACTIVE DUTY OBLIGATION. 
USMC MAY REQUEST TO SECNAV AND THE UNDERSECRETARY OF DEFENSE TO
APPROVE A LOWER LOAN LIMIT FOR A GIVEN FISCAL YEAR.  THIS LIMIT MAY
NOT BE LOWER THAN $10,000 AND MUST BE PAID TO ALL ENLISTEES FOR THAT
YEAR.
(3) EDUCATIONAL ALLOWANCE FOR UP TO 12 MONTHS PAYABLE AT THE MONTHLY
RATE FOR BASIC EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE ALLOWANCES UNDER SEC
3015(A)(1) OF TITLE 38 USC.  SERVICE MEMBERS MAY BEGIN TO USE THE
BENEFIT AT ANY TIME AFTER COMPLETION OF ACTIVE DUTY OBLIGATION. 
BENEFIT WILL CEASE IF NCS MARINE FAILS TO MAINTAIN A SATISFACTORY
SELRES DRILLING STATUS OR FAILS TO COMPLETE THEIR MSO.
(4) EDUCATIONAL ALLOWANCE FOR UP TO 36 MONTHS PAYABLE AT ONE-HALF OF
THE MONTHLY RATE FOR BASIC EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE ALLOWANCES UNDER
SEC 3015(B)(1) OF TITLE 38 USC.  SERVICE MEMBERS MAY BEGIN TO USE
THE BENEFIT AT ANY TIME AFTER COMPLETION OF ACTIVE DUTY OBLIGATION. 
BENEFIT WILL CEASE IF NCS MARINE FAILS TO MAINTAIN A SATISFACTORY
SELRES DRILLING STATUS OR FAILS TO COMPLETE THEIR MSO.
2.  THE DD FORM 2863 (WITH APPROPRIATE STATEMENTS OF UNDERSTANDING
(SOU)) WILL BE USED TO DOCUMENT THE INCENTIVE SELECTION AND WILL
BECOME AN ADDENDUM TO THE INDIVIDUAL'S DD FORM 4,
"ENLISTMENT/REENLISTMENT DOCUMENT, ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED
STATES."  ALTERNATIVELY, INCENTIVE ELECTION MAY BE ACCOMPLISHED
THROUGH OVERPRINTING OF ALL INFORMATION INCLUDED ON THE DD FORM 2863
ON CURRENT SERVICE ENLISTMENT CONTRACTS.
A. SELECTION OF INCENTIVES IS IRREVOCABLE.
B. INITIAL ENTITLEMENT OF ANY OF THE INCENTIVES DESCRIBED IN PAR 1H
IS PREDICATED ON EITHER COMPLETION OF THE REQUIRED ACTIVE DUTY
COMMITMENT OR REENLISTMENT/EXTENSION ON ACTIVE DUTY FOR A PERIOD OF
AT LEAST TWO YEARS.
C.  NCS MARINES WHO FAIL TO COMPLETE THE CONTRACTED MSO SHALL REFUND
A PORTION OF THE INCENTIVE SELECTED BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF COMPLETED
SERVICE.  SECNAV MAY WAIVE SUCH PAYMENT, IN WHOLE OR PART, BASED ON
THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE MARINE CORPS.
D.  NCS MARINES WHO ELECT EITHER EDUCATIONAL OPTION WHO FAIL TO
COMPLETE THE CONTRACTED MSO SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO ANY FURTHER
INCENTIVE BENEFIT BEYOND THOSE ALREADY RECEIVED.  PAYMENTS ALREADY
RECEIVED ARE SUBJECT TO THE SAME REPAYMENT PROVISIONS IN PAR 2C.
E. A NCS MARINE WHO COMPLETES INITIAL ENTRY TRAINING AND IS
DISCHARGED OR RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY PRIOR TO COMPLETION OF THE
ACTIVE DUTY COMMITMENT FOR:
(1) SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITY;
(2) PREEXISTING MEDICAL CONDITION THAT THE SERVICE SECRETARY
CONCERNED DETERMINES IS NOT SERVICE CONNECTED; 
(3) HARDSHIP; 
(4) PHYSICAL OR MENTAL CONDITION THAT DID NOT RESULT FOR THE
INDIVIDUAL'S OWN WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, BUT DID INTERFERE WITH DUTY
PERFORMANCE;
(5) CONVENIENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT; 
(6) INVOLUNTARY SEPARATED FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT AS A
RESULT OF REDUCTION IN FORCE.
IS ENTITLED TO A PRO RATA PORTION OF THE INCENTIVE CALCULATED AS THE
PROPORTION OF THE 8-YEAR MSO (96 MONTHS) DIVIDED BY THE NUMBER OF
MONTHS SERVED. DISCHARGES OR RELEASES FOR REASONS SET FORTH IN THIS
PAR ARE INTENDED TO BE THE SAME AS THE REASONS SET FORTH IN DODD
1322.16, MGIB PROGRAM UNDER WHICH A MEMBER IS ELIGIBLE FOR REDUCED
MGIB BENEFITS.
F.  BONUS AND LOAN REPAYMENT OPTIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED AS TAXABLE
INCOME IN THE YEAR THAT THEY ARE PAID.
3.  NCS MARINES ARE ELIGIBLE TO REENLIST/EXTEND FOR EXTENDED ACTIVE
DUTY PRIOR TO COMPLETION OF THEIR ACTIVE DUTY COMMITMENT PROVIDED
THEY MEET CURRENT SERVICE CRITERIA.  SUCH REENLISTMENT/EXTENSION
MUST BE FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS AND WILL FULFILL THE SELRES
COMMITMENT PORTION OF THE MSO.  NCS MARINES WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR
A SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS FOR THIS INITIAL
REENLISTMENT/EXTENSION.  THOSE NCS MARINES WHO REENLIST/EXTEND ON
ACTIVE DUTY FOR TWO YEARS, THE FOLLOWING DISPOSITION WILL BE TAKEN
IN RESPECT TO THEIR SELECTED INCENTIVE.
A.  IF THE $5,000 WAS SELECTED, THE ENTIRE BONUS WILL BE PAID AT THE
TIME OF REENLISTMENT.  THE NCS MARINE WILL ALSO BE ALLOWED TO ENROLL
IN MGIB BY COMPLETING A DD FORM 2366 AND HAVING THEIR PAY REDUCED
$100 PER MONTH FOR 12 MONTHS.
B.  IF THE LOAN REPAYMENT WAS SELECTED, THE LOAN REPAYMENT WILL BE
MADE AT THE TIME OF REENLISTMENT.  THE NCS MARINE WILL ALSO BE
ALLOWED TO ENROLL IN MGIB BY COMPLETING A DD FORM 2366 AND HAVING
THEIR PAY REDUCED $100 PER MONTH FOR 12 MONTHS.
C.  IF EITHER OF THE EDUCATIONAL INCENTIVES WERE SELECTED, NCS
MARINES WILL RETAIN THAT INCENTIVE AND BE ALLOWED TO ENROLL IN THE
MGIB BY COMPLETING A DD FORM 2366 AND HAVING THEIR PAY REDUCED $100
PER MONTH FOR 12 MONTHS.  NOTE THAT THE TOTAL EDUCATIONAL ALLOWANCE
ENTITLEMENT (NCS + MGIB) CANNOT EXCEED THEIR TOTAL MGIB BENEFITS.
4.  USMC WILL ESTABLISH POLICIES TO FACILITATE SELRES SERVICE FOR
NCS MARINES, WITH THE GOAL OF ESTABLISHING SUCH SERVICE (SMCR UNITS,
IMA, AR), PRIOR TO RELEASE FROM ACTIVE DUTY.
A.  THE MINIMUM DISTANCE A NCS MARINE MAY BE REQUIRED TO TRAVEL
INVOLUNTARILY BETWEEN RESIDENCE AND THEIR INACTIVE DUTY TRAINING
SITE (IDT) IS GOVERNED BY DODI 1215.18.
B.  SOME NCS MARINES LEAVING ACTIVE DUTY WILL RELOCATE TO GEOGRAPHIC
AREAS THAT ARE NOT WITHIN THE AUTHORIZED DISTANCE OF A RESERVE
TRAINING CENTER TO FACILITATE MANDATORY PARTICIPATION.  NCS MARINES
WHO DO NOT VOLUNTARILY ACCEPT ASSIGNMENT TO A SELRES UNIT OUTSIDE OF
THE AUTHORIZED TRAVEL DISTANCE MAY NOT BE INVOLUNTARILY ASSIGNED TO
A SELRES UNIT.  THESE MARINES WILL BE ASSIGNED TO AN IMA BILLET WHEN
PRACTICABLE.
C.  SECNAV MAY GRANT A WAIVER FOR SELRES SERVICE ONLY IN THOSE CASES
WHERE NEITHER UNIT NOR IMA BILLETS ARE AVAILABLE.
D.  NCS MARINES WHO CONTRACT FOR SIX YEARS IN THE SELRES WILL BE
ELIGIBLE FOR THE MGIB-SELRES PROGRAM.
5.  NCS MARINES WHO COMPLETE TWO-YEAR SELRES COMMITMENT WILL HAVE
THE OPTION OF CONTIUNING IN A SELRES STATUS, OR:
A.  TRANSFER TO THE IRR FOR THE REMAINDER OF THEIR MSO.
B.  SERVING ALL OR A PORTION OF THIS TIME IN A NSP (PEACE CORPS OR
AMERICORPS).
C.  NCS MARINES WHO CHOOSE TO SERVE ALL OR A PORTION OF THEIR
FOLLOW-ON SERVICE IN ONE OF THE NSP WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE
STANDBY RESERVE FOR THE DURATION OF SERVICE.  TRANSFER TO THE
STANDBY RESERVE IS CONTINGENT UPON RECEIPT OF AN ACCEPTANCE DOCUMENT
FROM A NSP.
6.  THE TWO EDUCATIONAL ALLOWANCES WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (DVA).  THE DVA WILL USE THE EXISTING
MGIB DATA SYSTEM OPERATED BY THE DEFENSE MANPOWER DATA CENTER, WHICH
WILL PROVIDE ALL DOD DATA AND INFORMATION INTERFACE WITH DVA. 
UTILIZATION OF THE ALLOWANCE WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE EXISTING RULES
OF THE MGIB-SELRES (CHAP 1606, 10 USC AND DVA REGULATIONS) WITH THE
FOLLOWING EXCEPTIONS.
A.  BENEFIT RATES ARE PRESCRIBED IN SEC 3015, 38 USC.
B.  BENEFIT MAY BE USED UP TO 14 YEARS AFTER COMPLETION OF THE
ACTIVE DUTY PHASE OF THE NCS PROGRAM.
C.  BENEFIT MAY BE CONTINUED TO BE USED AFTER THE 2-YEAR SELRES
PHASE OF THE PROGRAM REGARDLESS OF CONTINUED SELRES PARTICIPATION OR
THE INDIVIDUAL MAY CHOOSE A DIFFERENT OPTION FOR COMPLETION OF THE
MSO.
D.  SERVICES WILL FUND THE BENEFIT THROUGH THE DOD EDUCATION FUND
(DOD 7000.14R, VOL 12, CHAP 150).
7.  THE FOLLOWING REPORTS ARE REQUIRED.
A.  EACH MONTH SERVICES WILL REPORT NCS ENLISTMENTS AND ACCESSIONS
TO INCLUDE INCENTIVE SELECTION.  THIS DATA WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO
THE REPORT OF MONTHLY STATISTICS PROVIDED TO OUSD (P&R)/ACCESSION
POLICY DIRECTORATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH DODI 7730.56. MONTHLY REPORTS
WILL BE COMPILED AT DMDC AND COORDINATED WITH THE SERVICES.
B.  ANNUALLY SECNAV WILL PROVIDE OUSD (P&R) A LIST OF SKILLS OPEN TO
NCS MARINES FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, NUMBER OF EXPECTED NCS
ACCESSIONS, AND LIMITATIONS, IF ANY, TO THE $18,000 CAP ON STUDENT
LOAN REPAYMENT INCENTIVE OPTION.  THESE REPORTS ARE DUE NLT 31 JUL.
8.  THE FOLLOWING COORDINATING TASKS ARE ASSIGNED.
A.  M&RA (MPO) IS DESIGNATED THE OVERALL COORDINATING AUTHORITY
WITHIN THE MARINE CORPS FOR THE NCS PROGRAM.
(1) UPDATE REFS C-E TO INCORPORATE USMC NCS IMPLEMENTATION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH GUIDANCE PROVIDED BY DOD AND DON.
(2) IN CONJUNCTION WITH MCRC, MCCDC, PP&O, AND MARFORRES DEVELOP
AND PUBLISH THE ANNUAL RECRUITING PLAN (MEMO 01) AND NCS PROGRAM MOS
LIST.
(3) DEVELOP PROGRAM FOR TRACKING ENLISTMENT CODES FOR MCTFS THAT
WILL ALLOW TRACKING OF NCS MARINES THROUGHOUT THEIR 8-YEAR MSO.
(4) COORDINATE AND SUBMIT MONTHLY AND ANNUAL REPORTS AS PRESCRIBED
IN PAR 7.
(5) COORDINATE WITH TECOM FOR PRIMARY MOS SKILL TRAINING
SCHOOL SEATS.
(6) ASSIGN NCS MARINES IN ACCORDANCE WITH REF D.
(7) COORDINATE WITH P&R FOR FUNDING SUPPORT FOR NCS PROGRAM.
B.  MCRC WILL HAVE PRIMARY STAFF COGNIZANCE FOR DEVELOPING AND
IMPLEMENTING RECRUITING POLICY AND PROCEDURES TO ACCESS NCS MARINES
IN SUPPORT OF THE NCS PROGRAM.
(1) RECRUIT MARINES IN ACCORDANDCE WITH REF C.
(2) COORDINATE WITH M&RA, MCCDC, AND MARFORRES TO INSURE NCS
MARINE ACCESSIONS MEET ANNUAL PLAN DELINEATED IN MEMO 01.
(3) COORDINATE WITH M&RA (MP) APPROPRIATE STATEMENTS OF
UNDERSTANDING (SOU) TO PROPERLY DOCUMENT NCS MARINES SELECTED
PROGRAM INCENTIVES.
C.  MCCDC (TECOM) WILL ENSURE THAT NCS MARINES ARE TRAINED IN AN
EXPEDITIOUS MANNER TO MINIMIZE THEIR TIME IN MARINE COMBAT TRAINING
AND PRIMARY MOS SCHOOL(S).
D.  MARFORRES ASSIGN NCS MARINES IN ACCORDANCE WITH REF E.
E.  P&R WILL COORDINATE WITH M&RA TO ENSURE PROPER
FUNDING IS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THE NCS PROGRAM.