MARADMIN 488/26
FISCAL YEAR 27 RETURN TO ACTIVE DUTY PROGRAM FOR MARINE CORPS OFFICERS
R 131254Z OCT 26 MARADMIN 488/26 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM// SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 27 RETURN TO ACTIVE DUTY PROGRAM FOR MARINE CORPS OFFICERS// REF/A/MSGID: MCO/CMC/20210203// NARR/ REF A IS MCO 1001.65A, OFFICER RETENTION AND PRIOR SERVICE ACCESSIONS.// POC 1/M.E ALDRED/MAJ/MMOA-3/USMC/TEL: (703) 784-9284/ EMAIL: [email protected]/ POC 2/S. K. HERLIHY/MAJ/RAM-2/USMCR/TEL: (703) 784-9149/ EMAIL: [email protected].// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. In accordance with the Commandant of the Marine Corps’ Talent Management 2030 focus on permeability and due to the success of the Fiscal Year (FY) 26 Return to Active Duty (RAD) process, this MARADMIN is released to inform the force of FY27 requirements. This MARADMIN clarifies changes to MCO 1001.65A until it is updated. 2. The FY26 RAD program allowed more than 50 officers, ranging from first lieutenant to colonel, to return to the active component (AC). To continue bolstering the strength of the officer corps, Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) will continue to execute the updated RAD program in FY27. 2.a. The RAD program will continue to be announced via MARADMIN each FY by Manpower Management Officer Assignments-3 (MMOA-3). While the deadline for FY27 submissions is 30 September 2027, applications to RAD may be submitted at any point during the FY and will be accepted on a monthly rolling basis. 2.b. Eligibility 2.b.1. Officers in the grades first lieutenant to colonel are eligible to apply. Applicants who apply will undergo screening to ensure senior Reserve Component (RC) officers are within their Mandatory Retirement Date and Mandatory Service Date. 2.b.2. Reserve officers affiliated with the Ready Reserves (Selected Marine Corps Reserves (SMCR), Individual Mobilization Augmentees (IMA), Active Reserves (AR), and Individual Ready Reserves (IRR)) are eligible to apply. 2.b.3. Retired officers in the Retired Reserves are not eligible for the RAD program. 2.c. Process 2.c.1. All applicants in the SMCR, IMA, and AR will apply via NAVMC 10274 Administrative Action (AA) Form to CMC (MMOA-3). Applicants in the grades of first lieutenant to major will submit via the first O-5 commander in their current reserve chain of command. Applicants in the grade of lieutenant colonel will submit via the first O-6 commander in their current reserve chain of command. Applicants in the grade of colonel will submit via the first general officer in their current reserve chain of command. 2.c.2. Applicants in the IRR will submit their AA Form requesting to RAD directly to CMC (MMOA-3) using the SMB box provided in para 4.d of this MARADMIN. Officers in the IRR are not required to have an O-5 commander’s endorsement on their AA Form and may send their package directly to MMOA-3. 2.c.3. All applicants must be within 180 days from their Mandatory Drill Participation Stop Date at the time of application. If beyond 180 days, applicants must address this in the AA Form and request an exception to policy (ETP) waiver with concurrence from their reserve chain of command. Director, Reserve Affairs (RA) is the approving or disapproving authority for this requirement. MMOA-3 will not accept packages without an endorsed ETP from RA. It is the responsibility of the applicant to route the ETP to RA. Once ETP is endorsed, the Marine will submit the completed RAD package with ETP to CMC (MMOA-3). 2.c.4. Reserve officers in the grades of second lieutenant to captain who commissioned through the Reserve Officer Commissioning Program (ROCP), and who do not meet the obligation requirements set forth in paragraph 2.c.3 will require an endorsed ETP from Director, RA. MMOA-3 will not process packages without the inclusion of a required and approved ETP. Reserve officers seeking an ETP should submit all pertinent enclosures and endorsements directed in this MARADMIN to the ROCP mailbox at [email protected]. 2.c.5. Applicants affiliated with the AR program are required to include an approved DD Form 368 Conditional Release Form with their application. DD Form 368 will be submitted via AA form to point of contact 2 (RAM-2) including reason and desired timeline to EAS from the AR program. The DD Form 368 must be approved by the Branch Head, Reserve Affairs Manpower Management (RAM). RAM will provide MMOA-3 a letter indicating the no earlier than date for an AR officer’s EAS date and the no earlier than date for the Scheduled Estimated Departure Date of an officer’s future WebMass orders to their RAD assignment. There will be no exceptions to this requirement. 2.c.6. Applicants will provide a current Physical Fitness Test (PFT), Combat Fitness Test (CFT) and Waist to Height Ratio (WHtR) scoresheet. PFT and CFT must be certified via the current NAVMC 11622 if the applicant does not have a current PFT or CFT in Marine Corps Total Force System (MCTFS). Utilize the WHtR evaluation worksheet template on https://www.fitness.marines.mil/ BCP_Standards/ to submit current WHtR. 2.c.7. Applicants will apply to RAD in their current primary military occupational specialty (PMOS). Applicants may also request a PMOS lateral move as a part of their RAD and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants who are approved for a lateral move will incur an additional service obligation following the completion of their PMOS school. Applicants should reach out to point of contact 1 above for more information. 2.c.8. Per reference (a), all applicants will include a completed DD Form 2807-1 and 2808 in their application which must include the following statement by a competent medical authority: “Applicant has been found fit or unfit for an Active Duty military obligation.” 3. Coordinating Instructions 3.a. All first lieutenants and captains who have been approved to RAD and have not been previously screened for career designation (CD) will be offered CD. 3.b. Applicants who have been approved to RAD will serve a minimum of 24 months on active duty, with the start date being the date joined to the AC. Existing Military Service Obligation (MSO) will run concurrently with any RAD obligations assigned. When AC service expires, the Marine will fulfill any remaining obligated service within the RC as required by their MSO. Upon requesting separation from the AC, officers without remaining MSO must request a Reserve Commission in order to continue service in the RC following their service within the AC. 3.c. Each Marine Corps RC officer recommended and approved for transfer to the AC shall be appointed as an AC officer in the same grade and with the same date of rank as the grade and date of rank (DOR) that the officer would have held had the officer been serving on the active duty list as an AC officer on the date of regular appointment. Officer Promotions (MMPB-10) will provide a DOR and Lineal Control Number (LCN) in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Questions regarding assignment of DOR or LCN may be directed to MMPB-10 once an estimated return date is established. MMPB-10 may be contacted at [email protected] or at 703-784-9705. 3.d. Officers may use the Reserve Service Calculator to determine their active duty time at https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Divisions /Manpower-Management/Separation-and-Retirements-Branch/. 3.e. Applicants can discuss available duty stations and billet assignments with their gaining active duty monitor. Officers should anticipate a post-RAD assignment to valid active duty structure based on the needs of the Marine Corps, billet vacancies, and, as able, personal preference. 4. Application Procedures 4.a. RAD applications must be submitted via AA Form in accordance with paragraph 2.c.1 and 2.c.2. 4.a.1. All RAD applications will include at least one, but no more than three, letter(s) of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s leadership, technical skills, abilities, and overall performance. 4.a.2. All RAD applications will include a personal statement in naval letter format explaining why the applicant desires to RAD. 4.b. All RAD applications must include a signed statement from their Special Security Officer (SSO) attesting to the current security clearance level and date of adjudication, to include eligibility for TS/SCI, if applicable to their MOS. MMOA-3 will not provide an SSO letter template. SSO letter templates are SSO-specific and must include a letterhead and signature (digital signature is acceptable) of the SSO. 4.c. Applications will include all forms and letters specified in para 2.c. 4.d. All RAD applications must be submitted as a single .PDF file to the MMOA-3 Organizational Mailbox at [email protected] and labeled as “EDIPI_LastName_RAD”. Failure to do so will result in the RAD application being returned with no action taken. All submissions will receive a notification of receipt. 4.d.1. MMOA-3 will staff packages monthly with the appropriate HQMC stakeholders. Prepared packages will be sent to Deputy Commandant (DC), M&RA for recommendation. 4.d.2. Applicants who are recommended for RAD by DC, M&RA will be forwarded to the Secretary of War or the Senate, as appropriate, for AC appointments through the scrolling process. MMOA-3 will notify applicants once their package is forwarded to the Secretary of War or Senate. 4.d.3. Applicants whose package is denied will be notified by MMOA-3. 4.d.3. The RAD application process may take 180 days or more. This includes the application screening within Manpower Management Division, M&RA, and the scrolling process to the Secretary of War or Senate. 4.d.4. RAD decisions, requests for information, or coordination will be communicated to the applicant via separate e-mail correspondence and may include MMOA, RA, and MPP in the message traffic. 5. This MARADMIN cancels on 30 September 2027. 6. Release authorized by MajGen Fridrik Fridriksson, Director, Manpower Management Division.//