The Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Direct Affiliation Program (DAP)

1.  Purpose.  This MARADMIN updates the Direct Affiliation Program
(DAP) policy, cancels reference (a), and supersedes all previous DAP
MARADMINs.
2.  Background.
2.a.  DAP provides qualified Active Component (AC) Marines a seamless
transition, without a break in service, to the Reserve Component (RC)
through direct affiliation with a Selected Marine Corps Reserve
(SMCR) unit or Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) detachment
upon expiration of active service (EAS).  DAP retains Marine Corps
experience and talent while providing benefits and incentives not
otherwise available through traditional affiliation from the
Individual Ready Reserve (IRR).
2.b.  DAP supports the Marine Corps' "invest and retain" model by
providing Marines who leave the AC an immediate pathway to continued
service in the RC.  Retaining trained and experienced Marines
preserves the Service's investment in its people and strengthens
Total Force readiness.
2.c.  DAP complements AC retention by providing qualified Marines who
leave active service an opportunity to continue serving in the RC.
To better align DAP with RC manpower requirements and Total Force
retention efforts, program management transitioned from Manpower
Management Division, Enlisted Assignments (MMEA) to Reserve Affairs
(RA) and is now managed by Reserve Affairs Careers (RAC-3).
3.  Benefits.
3.a.  Transitioning AC Marines who affiliate with the Selected
Reserve without a break in service are eligible for 180 days of
premium-free transitional health care under the Transitional
Assistance Management Program (TAMP) in accordance with reference
(b).  Upon completion of TAMP, eligible Selected Reserve Marines may
enroll in TRICARE Reserve Select.
3.b.  Transitioning AC Marines may maintain eligibility to transfer
educational benefits upon affiliation with an SMCR unit or IMA
detachment, per reference (c).
3.c.  AC Marines transitioning to an SMCR unit may defer certain
involuntary activations for up to one year from EAS, per
reference (d).
3.d.  Eligible officers and enlisted Marines may receive inactive
duty training travel reimbursement of up to $750 per round trip, in
accordance with reference (e).
3.e.  Additional benefits and opportunities associated with reserve
service include professional military education opportunities,
lateral move opportunities, identification card privileges (including
access to base fitness centers, commissaries, and Marine Corps
Community Services/MWR activities), continued professional
development, local networking, and the opportunity to qualify for a
non-regular (reserve) retirement.
4.  Incentives.
4.a.  Duty Station Incentive: Transitioning Marines may select an
available SMCR or IMA billet at their unit of choice, subject to
availability, in accordance with reference (i).  Upon DAP approval,
assignment to the selected billet is guaranteed.
4.b.  Lateral Move Incentive: Transitioning Marines may request a
lateral move into a billet at their unit of choice, subject to
eligibility and approval requirements contained within reference (f).
4.c.  Affiliation Bonuses:  Marines affiliating with an SMCR unit
through DAP may qualify for monetary incentives in exchange for a
specified service obligation.  Marines and Career Counselors should
review current Reserve incentive MARADMINs and the Total Force
Retention System (TFRS) for available incentives, eligibility
criteria, and service obligation requirements.
5.  Eligibility.
5.a.  All DAP applicants must be released from the AC with a
characterization of service of either honorable or general (under
honorable conditions), and the basis for separation must not be
adverse.
5.b.  Officers may submit a DAP request no earlier than (NET) 180
days prior to EAS and no later than (NLT) 60 calendar days prior to
EAS.  This DAP request window is separate from the Reserve
commissioning process.  Officers must initiate Reserve commissioning
actions sufficiently in advance of EAS to allow for processing and
approval in accordance with reference (g); normally requiring a
minimum of four months from receipt at Headquarters Marine Corps.
Officers who have not initiated the Reserve commissioning process
upon entering the DAP submission window should immediately contact
the appropriate Reserve commissioning authority.  Officers who do not
receive approval for a Reserve commission prior to EAS are not
eligible for DAP.
5.c.  Enlisted Marines requesting direct affiliation may submit a DAP
request NET 180 days prior to EAS and NLT 30 calendar days prior to
EAS.  Requests involving an incentive or lateral move are
additionally subject to applicable submission and processing
requirements.
5.d.  Marines serving overseas are highly encouraged to submit their
DAP request at least 90 calendar days prior to EAS or prior to
beginning terminal leave to allow for timely processing.
5.e.  Retiring Marines (including medical retirement) and Marines
currently serving in the RC are ineligible for DAP.
6.  Coordinating Instructions.
6.a.  Marines interested in DAP should contact their unit Career
Counselor for information regarding SMCR and IMA opportunities,
benefits, incentives, lateral move opportunities, and for assistance
with the submission of a DAP request. Additional information and
resources are located at:  https:(slash)(slash)www.manpower.marines
.mil/Divisions/Reserve-Affairs-Division/Reserve-Affairs-Careers-RAC
/RAC-3/.
6.b.  It is the individual Marine's responsibility to check into the
gaining SMCR unit or IMA detachment within 30 calendar days after
EAS.  Failure to do so may result in a transfer to the IRR and
forfeiture of eligibility for DAP benefits and incentives outlined in
paragraphs 3 and 4.
6.c.  Gaining SMCR units must accept DAP-approved Marines. Units
shall not impose additional screening requirements or local boards to
fill the selected BIC, as assignments are executed in accordance with
reference (i).  This includes interviewing Marines during the DAP
process, except for designated IMA detachments authorized, per
reference (h).
6.d.  Gaining units will report DAP joins on the unit diary effective
the day after the member's EAS. Units may transfer personnel who fail
to report ("no-shows") directly to the IRR. The transfer diary entry
must include a history statement detailing the member's failure to
report.
6.e.  RAC-3 will report the appropriate Marine Corps Total Force
System (MCTFS) diary entries for the future monitored command code
(FMCC) and draw case code (DCC).
6.f.  Marines whose DAP applications are closed or disapproved are
encouraged to pursue affiliation opportunities in the RC through
their local Prior Service Recruiter. Call 1-800-MARINES for local
contact information.
7.  Applicability.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the Marine Corps
Total Force.
8.  Release authorized by Brigadier General Guillermo Rosales Jr.,
Director, Reserve Affairs Division.