MCBUL 5314 Enlisted Career Force Controls (ECFC) Program

1.  PURPOSE.  TO PROVIDE COMMANDERS AND INDIVIDUAL MARINES WITH INFORMATION REGARDING THE ORIGIN, REQUIREMENT FOR, AND PROGRAM ELEMENTS OF THE ECFC PROGRAM.
2. BACKGROUND
A.  THE MARINE CORPS IMPLEMENTED ECFCS IN 1985 TO BETTER MANAGE THE CAREER FORCE.  TO DATE, ECFCS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THE FOLLOWING:
(1) ACTIVELY SHAPE THE INVENTORY OF MARINES BY GRADE AND MOS TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MARINE CORPS.
(2) CONTROL RETENTION IN ORDER TO STANDARDIZE PROMOTION TEMPO ACROSS ALL MOS'S.  THE FOLLOWING ARE THE MARINE CORPS TIME IN SERVICE (TIS) PROMOTION TARGETS:
SGT                     4 YEARS
SSGT                  8.5 YEARS
GYSGT                  13 YEARS
1STSGT/MSGT          17.5 YEARS
SGTMAJ/MGYSGT          22 YEARS
B.  THE ECFC PROGRAM WAS NEVER INTENDED AS A FORCE DRAWDOWN PROGRAM, BUT RATHER A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO BALANCE THE INVENTORY OF MARINES BY GRADE AND MOS TO MEET THE CAREER FORCE REQUIREMENT.  CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE FORCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES WILL HELP ENSURE THAT COMMANDERS ARE PROVIDED THE RIGHT MARINES BY GRADE AND MOS.
3.  INFORMATION.  THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE ECFC POLICIES AND PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTED TO DATE.  AT EACH RESPECTIVE SUBPARAGRAPH IS A SHORT DISCUSSION OF HOW EACH SUPPORTS THE ECFC GOALS.
SUBPARAGRAPH AND ECFC TOPIC:
 A. SELECTION BY MOS
 B. VARIABLE FIRST TIME IN-ZONE SELECTION OPPORTUNITY
 C. ENLISTED GRADE SHAPING
 D. RESTRICTIONS ON PRIOR SERVICE ACCESSIONS
 E. CONTROL OF MERITORIOUS PROMOTIONS
 F. FIRST TERM ALIGNMENT PLAN (FTAP)
 G. SUBSEQUENT TERM ALIGNMENT PLAN (STAP)
 H. SERVICE LIMITS
 I. OTHER SUPPORTING PROGRAMS
A.  SELECTION BY MOS.  MARINES ARE SELECTED TO THE GRADES OF CPL AND ABOVE BY MOS BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE MARINE CORPS.  THIS ENSURES THE SKILLS OF THE INDIVIDUAL MARINES SELECTED FOR PROMOTION ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE VACANCIES IN THE FORCE.
(1) MARINES ARE CONSIDERED FOR PROMOTION TO SSGT AND ABOVE BASED ON PRIMARY MOS HELD THE DAY THE SELECTION BOARD CONVENES, UNLESS THEY HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED AN INTENDED MOS, IN WHICH CASE THEY WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR PROMOTION IN THE INTENDED MOS, NOT THE PRIMARY MOS, ON THE CONVENING DATE OF THE BOARD.
(2) REFS A AND B ANNOUNCED THAT EFFECTIVE 1 JAN 96, SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL NON-RESIDENT PME COURSE WILL BE REQUIRED FOR PROMOTION.  REF B STRESSED THAT ATTENDANCE AT THE RESIDENT PME COURSE IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR THIS REQUIREMENT. THEREFORE, ALL MARINES MUST COMPLETE THE APPROPRIATE NON-RESIDENT PME TO BE FULLY QUALIFIED FOR PROMOTION, UNLESS OTHERWISE WAIVED AS IS THE CASE FOR FY07 SNCO SELECTION BOARDS AS ADDRESSED IN REF C.
B.  VARIABLE FIRST TIME IN-ZONE SELECTION OPPORTUNITY.  THIS CONTROL HELPS ENSURE STANDARDIZED PROMOTION TEMPO ACROSS MOS'S. FIRST TIME IN-ZONE SELECTION OPPORTUNITIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
PROMOTION      MINIMUM           STANDARD        MAXIMUM
TO             OPPORTUNITY       OPPORTUNITY     OPPORTUNITY
SSGT             70%               80%             90%
GYSGT            65%               75%             85%
MSGT             60%               70%             80%
SGTMAJ/MGYSGT    55%               65%             75%
VARIABLE SELECTION OPPORTUNITY IS APPLIED IN ORDER TO STANDARDIZE PROMOTION TEMPO AS FOLLOWS BASED ON THE DEGREE OF PROMOTIONB STAGNATION:
(1) MOS'S THAT ARE PROMOTING WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE AVERAGE TIS TO PROMOTION TO THAT GRADE WILL RECEIVE THE STANDARD OPPORTUNITY.  FOR EXAMPLE, 80% STANDARD OPPORTUNITY TO SSGT MEANS THAT FOR 100 ALLOCATIONS, 125 SGTS WILL BE PLACED IN ZONE.
(2) MOS'S THAT ARE PROMOTING SLOWER THAN ONE YEAR OF THE AVERAGE TIS TO PROMOTION TO THAT GRADE WILL RECEIVE THE MINIMUM OPPORTUNITY. APPLYING THE MINIMUM SELECTION OPPORTUNITY WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MARINES PLACED IN THE PROMOTION ZONE FOR THE FIRST TIME TO COMPETE FOR A GIVEN NUMBER OF PROMOTION ALLOCATIONS.  THIS WILL SPEED UP THE RATE AT WHICH MARINES IN THE SLOWER PROMOTING MOS'S ARE CONSIDERED FOR PROMOTION.  FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE ARE 100 ALLOCATIONS IN A SLOW PROMOTING MOS TO SSGT, 143 SGTS WILL BE PLACED IN ZONE.
(3) MOS'S THAT ARE PROMOTING FASTER THAN ONE YEAR OF THE AVERAGE TIS TO PROMOTION TO THAT GRADE WILL RECEIVE THE MAXIMUM OPPORTUNITY. APPLYING THE MAXIMUM SELECTION OPPORTUNITY WILL DECREASE THE NUMBER OF MARINES PLACED IN-ZONE FOR THE FIRST TIME TO COMPETE FOR A GIVEN NUMBER OF PROMOTION ALLOCATIONS. THIS WILL SLOW THE RATE AT WHICH MARINES IN THE FASTER PROMOTING MOS'S ARE CONSIDERED FOR PROMOTION. ADDITIONALLY, SINCE SUCH MOS'S ARE CHARACTERISTICALLY UNDER STRENGTH, WE CAN ENHANCE RETENTION BY REDUCING THE PERCENTAGE OF NON-SELECTIONS RELATIVE TO OTHER MOS'S.  FOR EXAMPLE, IN A FAST PROMOTING MOS TO SSGT, THE MAXIMUM OPPORTUNITY FOR PROMOTION TO SSGT WOULD BE APPLIED. IF THERE ARE 100 ALLOCATIONS TO SSGT, 111 SGTS WILL BE PLACED IN ZONE.
C.  ENLISTED GRADE SHAPING.  REF D PROVIDES GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE LAST ENLISTED GRADE STRUCTURE REVIEW (EGSR).  ENLISTED GRADE STRUCTURE REVIEWS ARE CONDUCTED TO ENSURE THAT EACH MOS HAS A PYRAMID-SHAPED STRUCTURE REQUIREMENT THAT:
(1) SUPPORTS PROMOTING MARINES AT THE TIS TARGETS FOR EACH GRADE.
(2) DEFINES A LOGICAL CAREER PATH THAT IS ACHIEVABLE THROUGH THE MANPOWER PROCESS.  MOS SPECIALISTS, TOTAL FORCE STRUCTURE DIVISION, AND OCCFLD SPONSORS ARE NOW CHARGED WITH ENSURING THAT T/O CHANGES DO NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT THE GRADE SHAPE OF THEIR MOS'S.
D.  RESTRICTIONS ON PRIOR SERVICE ACCESSIONS.  THIS PROGRAM ENSURES THAT PRIOR SERVICE MARINES ARE NOT BROUGHT BACK INTO OVER STRENGTH MOS'S, THEREBY FURTHER SLOWING PROMOTION TEMPO FOR MARINES WHO HAVE REMAINED ON ACTIVE DUTY.  PER REF E, QUALIFIED PRIOR SERVICE MARINES WHO FIT A CRITICAL MARINE CORPS REQUIREMENT WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR REENLISTMENT ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.
E.  CONTROL OF MERITORIOUS PROMOTIONS.  THE MARINE CORPS CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE PROMOTION OF EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMERS AHEAD OF CONTEMPORARIES. HOWEVER, THE DESIRE FOR SUCH PROMOTIONS MUST BE BALANCED WITH THE NEED TO PROMOTE MARINES IN MOS'S WITH VACANCIES. MERITORIOUS PROMOTIONS TO CPL AND SGT ARE ALLOCATED TO MAJOR COMMANDS.  MERITORIOUS PROMOTIONS TO SSGT AND GYSGT ARE PROVIDED TO MAJOR COMMANDS AND MARINES IN SPECIAL DUTY ASSIGNMENTS (DRILL INSTRUCTOR, MARINE SECURITY GUARD, RECRUITER, AND COMBAT INSTRUCTOR).  REF F CONTAINS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT MERITORIOUS PROMOTIONS.  REF G ANNOUNCED THE EXPANSION OF THE SNCO MERITORIOUS PROMOTION POLICY, NOW PROVIDING ALL SERGEANTS AND STAFF SERGEANTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE MERITORIOUSLY PROMOTED.
F.  FTAP.  THE FTAP IDENTIFIES THE NUMBER OF FIRST TERM MARINES BY PMOS THE MARINE CORPS MUST REENLIST TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CAREER FORCE.  THE NUMBER OF BOATSPACES ARE BASED ON CAREER FORCE STRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS AND PROJECTED INVENTORY.  THIS ENSURES THE REENLISTMENT OF FIRST TERM MARINES IS CONTROLLED AND DOES NOT CAUSE FURTHER PROMOTION STAGNATION IN OVER STRENGTH MOS'S.  THE FTAP ALSO ASSISTS IN ALLEVIATING SHORTAGES IN UNDER-STRENGTH MOS'S BY REQUIRING SOME FIRST TERM MARINES IN OVER STRENGTH MOS'S TO LATERALLY MOVE TO AN UNDER STRENGTH MOS FOR WHICH THERE IS A BOATSPACE AND, IF REQUIRED, A LATERAL MOVE SCHOOL SEAT. TOTAL FORCE RETENTION SYSTEM (TFRS) MESSAGES ANNOUNCING THOSE MOS'S OPEN TO FIRST TERM REENLISTMENTS ARE PROVIDED TO THE FIELD BY THE ENLISTED RETENTION SECTION, CMC (MMEA-6).
G.  STAP.  STAP IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED RETENTION EMPHASIS ON OUR CAREER FORCE NEEDS.  STAP COMPLEMENTS THE FTAP BY REDUCING OUR OVERALL REQUIREMENT FOR FIRST-TERM REENLISTMENTS. STAP SETS REENLISTMENT GOALS FOR ALL MOS'S WITH EMPHASIS ON SHORT MOS'S IN THE CAREER FORCE TO ACHIEVE MORE CAREERIST REENLISTMENTS THAN HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY ACHIEVED.
H.  SERVICE LIMITS.  SERVICE LIMITS ENSURE THAT MARINES WHO HAVE REACHED A CERTAIN YEAR OF SERVICE IN THEIR CURRENT GRADE WITHOUT BEING SELECTED FOR PROMOTION ARE EITHER SEPARATED OR TRANSFERRED TO THE FMCR. ENFORCEMENT OF SERVICE LIMITS IMPROVES PROMOTION OPPORTUNITY FOR MARINES IN JUNIOR GRADES.  FOR SERVICE LIMIT COMPUTATION PURPOSES, MARINES WITH BROKEN SERVICE WILL COUNT ALL ACTIVE DUTY MARINE CORPS TIME IN COMPUTING YEARS OF SERVICE. MARINES WITH PRIOR SERVICE IN ANOTHER MILITARY BRANCH WILL ONLY COUNT ACTIVE DUTY MARINE CORPS SERVICE TOWARD COMPLETED YEARS OF SERVICE.  THE CURRENT SERVICE LIMITS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
CPL              8 YEARS
SGT             13 YEARS
SSGT            20 YEARS
GYSGT           22 YEARS
1STSGT/MSGT     27 YEARS
SGTMAJ/MGYSGT   30 YEARS
GYSGTS AND 1STSGTS/MSGTS WHO HAVE TWICE FAILED SELECTION PRIOR TO REACHING THE ABOVE SERVICE LIMITS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO CONTINUE TO THESE LIMITS. SERVICE LIMIT EXCEPTIONS ARE NOTED BELOW:
(1) CPLS WITH 4 OR MORE YEARS OF SERVICE WHO REENLIST AT THE FTAP MAY BE AUTHORIZED A 4 YEAR REENLISTMENT IF ELIGIBLE FOR A SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS (SRB).
(2) REF H MODIFIED THE "UP OR OUT" POLICY FOR SGTS WHO HAVE TWICE FAILED SELECTION AND REACHED THEIR EAS PRIOR TO COMPLETING 13 YEARS OF MARINE CORPS SERVICE.  EFFECTIVE 1 OCT 01, SGTS MAY REENLIST UP TO THEIR SERVICE LIMIT OF 13 YEARS PROVIDED THEY ARE RECOMMENDED BY THEIR COMMANDING OFFICER AND MEET ALL REENLISTMENT STANDARDS. HOWEVER, BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE MARINE CORPS, CMC (MMEA) HAS FINAL APPROVAL AUTHORITY.
(3) REF I ANNOUNCED THAT SSGTS WHO HAVE TWICE FAILED SELECTION WILL BE SEPARATED AT THEIR EAS.  REF J SUSPENDED THIS POLICY.  SSGTS WHO HAVE TWICE FAILED SELECTION TO GYSGT MAY BE AUTHORIZED REENLISTMENT AND/OR EXTENSION TO CONTINUE SERVICE UP TO 20 YEARS, PROVIDED THEY CONTINUE TO MEET OUR HIGH STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE AND PERSONAL CONDUCT.  HOWEVER, BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE MARINE CORPS, CMC (MMEA) HAS FINAL APPROVAL AUTHORITY.
(4) SSGTS AND GYSGTS WHO HAVE TWICE FAILED SELECTION TO GYSGT OR MSGT ARE REQUIRED TO TRANSFER TO THE FMCR AT 20 YEARS OF SERVICE OR THEIR EAS WHICHEVER IS LATER.  SERVICE BEYOND 20 YEARS WILL NOT BE APPROVED ACCEPT IN EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES AS PROVIDED UNDER REF K.  
(5) 1STSGTS/MSGTS WHO HAVE TWICE FAILED SELECTION TO SGTMAJ/MGYSGT ARE REQUIRED TO TRANSFER TO THE FMCR AT 22 YEARS OF SERVICE OR THEIR EAS WHICHEVER IS LATER.  IF ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSFER TO THE FMCR HAVE BEEN MET PER REF K, 1STSGTS/MSGTS MAY REQUEST TRANSFER PRIOR TO 22 YEARS SERVICE. SERVICE BEYOND 22 YEARS WILL NOT BE APPROVED ACCEPT IN EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES AS PROVIDED UNDER REF K.  
(6) PER REF L, CMC (MMEA-6) MAY GRANT EXTENSIONS FOR GYSGTS, 1STSGTS, AND MSGTS WHO HAVE ONCE FAILED SELECTION FOR PROMOTION IN ORDER TO ALLOW A SECOND CONSIDERATION ONLY.  EXTENSION REQUESTS WILL BE CONSIDERED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, PROVIDED THEY DO NOT EXCEED SERVICE LIMITS.  PER REF K, SSGTS, GYSGTS, 1STSGTS AND MSGTS WHO ARE APPROACHING SERVICE LIMITS, AND ARE REQUIRED TO REQUEST TRANSFER TO THE FMCR, MAY REQUEST PROMOTION CONSIDERATION VIA CORRESPONDENCE TO CMC (MMSR-2) IF THEIR EAS IS AFTER THE SCHEDULED ADJOURNMENT DATE OF THE NEXT PROMOTION BOARD.   
(7) NOTE THAT FOR THE PURPOSES OF SERVICE LIMITS, MARINES FAIL SELECTION FROM THE PROMOTION ZONE AND ABOVE ZONE ONLY; MARINES IN THE BELOW ZONE WHO ARE CONSIDERED BUT NOT SELECTED FOR PROMOTION ARE NOT REGARDED AS HAVING BEEN PASSED FOR PROMOTION. ADDITIONALLY, GYSGTS WHO ARE CONSIDERED FOR 1STSGT, BUT NOT SELECTED FOR 1STSGT, DO NOT INCUR A PASS FOR PROMOTION.
(8) THE DIRECTOR, PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT DIVISION (MM) HAS BEEN GRANTED SERVICE LIMIT WAIVER AUTHORITY FOR REQUESTS LESS THAN ONE YEAR BEYOND SERVICE LIMITS.
(9) DC M&RA WILL RETAIN SERVICE LIMIT WAIVER AUTHORITY, AS GRANTED BY CMC, FOR SGTMAJ/MGYSGT TERM LIMIT WAIVER REQUESTS FOR ONE YEAR OR GREATER IN DURATION. 1STSGTS/MSGTS AND BELOW WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR SERVICE LIMIT EXTENSIONS GREATER THAN ONE YEAR BEYOND SERVICE LIMITS.
I.  OTHER SUPPORTING PROGRAMS.  WHILE NOT FORMALLY CONSIDERED PART OF THE ECFC PROGRAM, THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS SUPPORT THE GOALS OF THE ECFC PROGRAM:
(1) SRB PROGRAM.  THE SRB PROGRAM PROVIDES MARINES WITH CERTAIN SKILLS A MONETARY INCENTIVE TO REENLIST.  THIS HELPS THE MARINE CORPS RETAIN MARINES WITH CRITICALLY NEEDED SKILLS.  REF N IDENTIFIES THOSE MOS'S TARGETED FOR AN SRB DURING FY 2007. THE SRB PROGRAM MAY BE EXTENDED AND OR MODIFIED THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR TO MEET MANPOWER REQUIREMENTS OR FISCAL CONSTRAINTS.
(2) SEPARATION PAY.  FACILITATES TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE FOR THOSE CAREER MARINES WHO HAVE BEEN DENIED FURTHER SERVICE. SEPARATION PAY DOES NOT APPLY TO THOSE MARINES WHO VOLUNTARILY SEPARATE FROM THE MARINE CORPS. REF O STIPULATES THAT ENLISTED MEMBERS WITH MORE THAN 6 YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE IMMEDIATELY BEFORE DISCHARGE, AND WHO ARE DISCHARGED INVOLUNTARILY OR ARE SEPARATED AS A RESULT OF THE DENIAL OF REENLISTMENT, ARE NORMALLY ENTITLED TO SEPARATION PAY.  TWICE PASSED SGTS WITH LESS THAN 13 YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SEPARATION PAY UNLESS DENIED FURTHER SERVICE BY CMC (MMEA-6).  TWICE PASSED SSGTS WITH LESS THAN 20 YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SEPARATION PAY UNLESS DENIED FURTHER SERVICE BY CMC (MMEA-6).  REFS L AND P FURTHER ADDRESS THE CURRENT SEPARATION PAY POLICY AND TO WHOM IT APPLIES.
4.  ACTION.  COMMANDERS AND SERGEANTS MAJOR WILL FAMILIARIZE ALL MARINES WITH THE CONTENTS OF THIS BULLETIN AND INCLUDE DISCUSSION OF ITS CONTENTS WHERE APPLICABLE IN PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION AND CAREER COUNSELING SESSIONS.
5.  RESERVE APPLICABILITY.  THIS BULLETIN IS NOT APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE.
6.  CANCELLATION.  30 SEP 07.