MARADMIN 480/26
FY27 MARINE CORPS FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY BONUS (FLPB) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
R 071446Z OCT 26 MARADMIN 480/26 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC DC I WASHINGTON DC// SUBJ/FY27 MARINE CORPS FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY BONUS (FLPB) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS// REF/A/MSGID:DOC/DODD/YMD:20150821// REF/B/MSGID:DOC/DODI/YMD:20220817// REF/C/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC/YMD:20250110// REF/D/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC/YMD:20140204// REF/E/MSGID:DOC/DOWI/YMD:20220630// REF/F/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC/YMD:20250307// REF/G/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC/YMD:20250311// REF/H/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC/YMD:20251201// REF/I/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC/YMD:20260501// NARR/REF (A) IS THE DOD DIRECTIVE ON THE DEFENSE LANGUAGE, REGIONAL EXPERTISE, AND CULTURE (LREC) PROGRAM, DODD 5160.41E. REF (B) IS THE DOD INSTRUCTION ON MILITARY FOREIGN LANGUAGE SKILL PROFICIENCY BONUSES, DODI 1340.27. REF (C) IS THE MARINE CORPS ORDER ON THE FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY BONUS (FLPB) PROGRAM, MCO 7220.52G. REF (D) IS THE MARINE CORPS ORDER ON CLASSIFICATION TESTING, MCO 1230.5C. REF (E) IS THE DOW INSTRUCTION ON THE DOW LANGUAGE TESTING PROGRAM, DOWI 5160.71. REF (F) IS THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS PUBLICATION ON THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALITIES MANUAL, NAVMC 1200.1L. REF (G) IS THE MARINE CORPS ORDER ON THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS PROGRAM, MCO 1540.33. REF (H) IS THE FY26 MARADMIN FOR MARINE CORPS FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY BONUS (FLPB) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, MARADMIN 574/25. REF (I) IS THE MARINE CORPS TASK LIST (MCTL-2.0), MCO 3500.26B. POC/E. C. WHEELER III/MSGT/HQMC, DC I, IID/-/TEL: 703-614-6561 EMAIL: [email protected]// GENTEXT/REMARKS/ 1. Purpose. Per refs (a) and (b), this MARADMIN promulgates Marine Corps policy for the Foreign Language Proficiency Bonus (FLPB) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 and is effective 1 October 2026. All FLPB eligibility is based upon the fiscal year the Marine certifies their proficiency, e.g., a Marine who tested in FY26 receives FLPB based on FY26 eligibility requirements, and eligibility does not change when FY27 begins. 2. Background. The Marine Corps employs FLPB to meet evolving mission requirements by incentivizing the acquisition, maintenance, and enhancement of critical foreign language skills. In accordance with refs (b) and (c), and in coordination with the Fleet Marine Force and Supporting Establishment, the Marine Corps Senior Language Authority (SLA), under the appointment and executive oversight of the Deputy Commandant for Information (DC I), manages the FLPB program. 3. Validating Proficiency. Per refs (c) and (d), Marines must validate their proficiency via the Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) and/or Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) to maintain FLPB eligibility. These tests measure proficiency in Listening (L), Reading (R), and Speaking (S) using Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scores ranging from 0 to 5. In accordance with ref (e), the minimum time required between attempts per modality is 180 calendar days. If no DLPT exists for a language or dialect, Marines may take the OPI to receive both a listening and a speaking score. 4. FLPB Eligibility. 4.a. Per ref (c), Marines must meet the requirements for one of the following five categories to be eligible for FLPB: Category 1: MOS Language Requirements. Category 2: Host Nation Support Languages. Category 3: Ad hoc Mission Support. Category 4: Strategic Language Oral Fluency Initiative. Category 5: Lump-Sum Bonus for Total Force Capabilities. 4.a.1. Category 1: MOS Language Requirements. The languages in this category satisfy MOS requirements and are reflected in ref (f), (g), and/or unit tables of organization. Per ref (c), in order to be eligible for an MOS-required language, the Marine must: (1) hold the required PMOS and EMOS, or AMOS; and (2) maintain current DLPT scores at minimum ILR proficiency levels in the language required by that MOS or billet. All payments for these languages will be made via the FLPB Payment Table contained in ref (c) and paragraph 5.b.1. The specific MOS requirements under Category 1 can be found in the FY27 FLPB MARADMIN CUI addendum at: https://intelshare.intelink.gov/sites/hqmcintel/SitePages/Sub- Section.aspx?Sub-Section=FLP 4.a.1.a. Suppression. Paragraph 4.a.1.a. of ref(h) is hereby superseded and rescinded. The minimum qualifying score for Foreign Language Proficiency Bonus (FLPB) for PMOS 0370 and 0372 remains Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) level 1 in accordance with ref (c). 4.a.2. Category 2: Host Nation Support Languages. To incentivize LREC capabilities, Marines stationed overseas who demonstrate proficiency (minimum ILR proficiency level 2) in the language of their host nation or specified regional requirement are eligible for FLPB. If eligible, Marines assigned to the approved Monitored Command Codes (MCC) will receive payment for the correlated languages via FLPB Payment Table contained in ref (c) and in paragraph 5.b.1. To request the addition of an MCC or language to the list, commands are encouraged to contact the Foreign Language Program. All requests will be subject to further analysis to determine whether the addition is appropriate. To view the current list of eligible MCCs and the corresponding languages, view the FY27 FLPB MARADMIN CUI addendum at: https://intelshare.intelink.gov/ sites/hqmcintel/SitePages/Sub-Section.aspx?Sub-Section=FLP 4.a.3. Category 3: Ad Hoc Mission Support. Marines who are deployed or in direct support of contingency operations, MAGTF, or Combatant Command requirements; assigned to Foreign Professional Military Education (FPME); or otherwise engaged with partner nation military and/or government personnel may request an ad hoc FLPB payment for any language if they are not normally qualified for automatic payment. Due to budgetary limits, activities not in direct support of MAGTF operations or partner nation mission requirements are subject to adjudication by the Foreign Language Program and may not qualify for FLPB. All payments will be made via FLPB Payment Table contained in ref (c) and paragraph 5.b.1. Instructions for submitting ad hoc requests are outlined in paragraph 6.a.3. and a template can be found on the FLP SharePoint at: https://intelshare.intelink.gov/sites/hqmcintel/SitePages/Sub- Section.aspx?Sub-Section=FLP 4.a.4. Category 4: Strategic Language Oral Fluency Initiative. To support enduring strategic needs, Marines with Professional Working Proficiency (ILR level 3) or higher in Speaking Comprehension for languages listed on the Marine Corps Enduring Strategic Language List (ESLL) may receive FLPB for the Speaking modality. Other modalities (L/R), scores lower than ILR level 3, and languages not included on the ESLL will not be eligible for FLPB. The current ESLL can be found in the FY27 FLPB MARADMIN CUI addendum at: https: //intelshare.intelink.gov/sites/hqmcintel/SitePages/Sub-Section.aspx ?Sub-Section=FLP 4.a.5. Category 5: Lump-Sum Bonus for Service-Wide Capabilities. The USMC, pursuant to ref (b), offers lump-sum bonuses to formally certify self-assessed foreign language proficiency to those Marines who do not otherwise qualify to receive monthly FLPB for specific modalities of a language. All Marines may certify on an annual basis and may be paid a lump-sum equivalent to one month’s worth of FLPB as listed in paragraph 5.b.1, per modality scored at ILR skill level 2 or higher, not to exceed the $12,000 annual cap. Contingent upon inventory levels of capability awareness throughout the Force, the USMC reserves the right to remove eligibility for any language at any time. 4.a.5.a. Spanish (SPA) is excluded from eligibility for the Category 5 Lump-Sum Bonus. 4.a.5.b. Example: A Marine has self-professed Bulgarian skills and takes a DLPT and Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in September 2025, scoring L3/R2+/S2. The Marine will be paid an annual Category 5 Lump-Sum Bonus of $600. This is calculated using the payment table in paragraph 5.b.1 as a one-time equivalent to one month of FLPB ($300 for the listening score of 3, $200 for the reading score of 2+, and $100 for the speaking score of 2). The Marine may be eligible to test and apply for another annual Bulgarian lump-sum bonus in September 2026. 5. Payment. 5.a. The minimum ILR level and eligible modalities required for FLPB vary between the different categories and are as follows: FLPB Category Eligible Modalities Minimum ILR Level Category 1 L/R/S (see par 4.a.1) Category 2 L/R/S 2 Category 3 L/R/S 2 Category 4 S 3 Category 5 L/R/S 2 5.b. Marines eligible to receive FLPB under Categories 1, 2 and 4 (paragraphs 4.a.1, 4.a.2, and 4.a.4) will be paid on a monthly basis according to the FLPB Payment Table in paragraph 5.b.1. Payment for Category 3 and Category 5 are paid in a lump sum at the beginning of the certification period. The Category 5 Lump-Sum Bonus is equivalent to one month’s worth of FLPB per eligible modality, as illustrated in paragraph 5.b.1. 5.b.1. FLPB Pay Table ILR Skill-Level Monthly Payment 1 $50.00 1+ $80.00 2 $100.00 2+ $200.00 3 $300.00 3+ $350.00 4 $400.00 5.c. Per refs (b) and (c), and 37 U.S.C. §353, total FLPB payments may not exceed $12,000 per year, per Marine. Categories 1, 2, and 4, FLPB will be paid on a monthly basis and total FLPB payments may not exceed $1,000 per month. Category 3 is paid as a lump sum after the ad hoc mission is complete. For Categories 1, 2, 3, and 4, payments may be pro-rated to the day based on a 30-day month for partial months of eligibility. Category 5 is paid as a strict lump sum equivalent to one month’s FLPB pay and is not subject to proration. 6. Administration. 6.a. Waivers, Ad Hoc Requests, and Exceptions to Policy. 6.a.1. Early Retest Waiver. In accordance with ref (e), the minimum time required between test attempts per modality is 180 calendar days. Marines may request an early retest waiver via the Headquarters Marine Corps Foreign Language Program based on the completion of a Significant Language Training Event (SLTE), pending deployment, enrollment in a Service-sponsored school, or meeting a requirement for advancement eligibility. No individual may take more than two iterations of the same test within a 12-month period. 6.a.2. Score Extension Waiver. Per ref (c), Marines may request a waiver via the Headquarters Marine Corps Foreign Language Program to extend their test scores past the expiration date when temporarily assigned to a location with no DLPT testing site within 50 miles, when deployed in support of operations, when enrolled in a Service-sponsored school, or when scores expire during an active Significant Language Training Event (SLTE). Marines are expected to retest within 90 days following the conclusion of their training event, deployment, or return to home station. Waiver requests must be submitted prior to the expiration of the current proficiency scores; retroactive waivers will not be considered. 6.a.3. Category 3 Ad Hoc Request Process. 6.a.3.a. Requests must reflect Marine Corps Total Force System (MCTFS) data for language test dates, scores, and geographical location code data, and must include a Marine Corps Task List (MCTL) item from ref (i) that was supported. All periods of performance must be complete at the time of the request. Requests that do not meet these requirements will not be considered. 6.a.3.b. Approval authority for these requests is the first O-5 in the Marine’s chain of command or, in the alternative, any personnel with By Direction signature authority. 6.a.3.c. To initiate a request to receive FLPB by exception, visit: https://intelshare.intelink.gov/sites/hqmcintel/SitePages/Sub- Section.aspx?Sub-Section=FLP. A Common Access Card is required to access the site, and a User’s Guide is provided through a link directly below the widget. Organizations with administrative control of a Marine may submit requests for FLPB payment waivers on their behalf. 6.a.4. MARSOC ETP for Dual-Modality OPI. 6.a.4.a. In order to support the MOS requirements prescribed in refs (c) and (f), an exception to OPI scoring policy is only applicable to Marines with Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 0370 and 0372. Ref (b) authorizes this exception to Department of Defense Foreign Language Proficiency validation testing policy for the assignment of scores in two modalities on the OPI to meet service-specific requirements. 6.a.4.b. When scheduling an OPI for PMOS 0370/0372 Marines via the OPI Authorization Reporting System (OARS), Test Control Officers (TCO) shall select SOCOM in the Reason Code. When selecting this Reason Code, TCOs will verify that the “Dual Modality” radial is automatically checked. Eligibility requirements for OPIs remain in effect IAW the current version of ref (b). 6.b. Per refs (b) and (c), Marines receiving FLPB must sign a Page 11 entry in their service record specifying the amount of proficiency bonus, the period for which the bonus will be paid, and the initial certification or recertification necessary for proficiency bonus payment. Individual commands are responsible for facilitating the written agreement and ensuring it is recorded as a Page 11 entry in the Marine’s Service Record Book or Officer Qualification Record. 6.c. FLPB eligibility and payment rates are governed by the policy directive in effect on the exact date the Marine certifies their proficiency. Marines receiving FLPB under prior FY25 or FY26 guidance will continue to receive those payments under those rules until their current test scores expire. If a Marine recertifies prior to their existing scores' expiration, all payments based on previous guidance will cease, and any subsequent FLPB determinations will be governed by the specific policy in effect on the date of that recertification. 7. Applicability. This MARADMIN is applicable to all active and reserve component Marines. 8. Direct all questions to the MARADMIN POC. 9. Release authorized by Lieutenant General Joseph A. Matos III, Headquarters Marine Corps, Deputy Commandant for Information.//