MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. irginia— Marine leaders are on a mission to keep good sergeants, and they're offering more re-up bonuses to noncommissioned officers in order to get them to stay in the Corps.
The Corps has committed $63 million to retain 6,185 first-term and 9,452 career Marines in the coming year, and officials look to increase that amount annually over the next five years "to keep the right people in the right places."
This year, special operators, cyber, explosive ordnance disposal EOD technicians, and air traffic controllers will see the biggest bonuses, which were announced Friday in Marine administrative message 354/16.
The $63 million slated for Selective Retention Bonuses in fiscal 2017 will is aimed to help shape the future force. It's a $6 million — or 11 percent — increase over 2014 totals, which marked the lowest amount in more than a decade.
Officials look to add nearly $11 million to that total next year, and top out at $78.1 million in fiscal 2022. That plan must be approved in the five-year Program Objective Memorandum, or POM, which will be worked out next year.
But it's not all good news. The Marine Corps has emerged from a drawdown with its steady-state end strength, and that means two dozen first-term specialties that had bonuses last year will get nothing this year.
Those include everything from geographic intelligence specialists and three artillery specialties, to linguists and various mechanics. Outside of reconnaissance Marines and Raiders MARSOC, bonuses for most infantry military occupational specialties Marines were cut by two-thirds compared to last year's numbers.
More Zone B Marines with six to 10 years in uniform will be eligible for bonuses in 2017 compared to 2016.
Photo Credit: Lance Cpl. Christopher Johns/Marine Corps
Here's a look at Marines' shot at picking up a re-enlistment bonus in 2017.
Cashing in
Fifty-five MOSs offer bonuses to sergeants on their second enlistment.
While one fewer than last year, the majority have marked increases — $6,000 for field artillery radar operators, $12,000 for TOW gunners, $18,000 for a telecommunications systems chiefs, and $25,000 for the infantry squad leaders.
As manpower officials look not just for quantity, but quality, their recommendation was simple: Put in your package now. There are no set dates for boards since they are conducted as an MOSs fill, but they are typically held after the submission deadline of Oct 31.
Top 6 payouts for Zone A Marines
These MOSs offer payouts of $30,000 or more for corporals and above. All six require lateral moves.
- 0211 Counterintelligence/human intelligence specialist: $47,750 - $52,750
- 0321 Reconnaissance Marine: $47,750 - $52,250
- 0372 Critical skills operator: $52,500 - $57,500
- 0651 Cyber network operator: $33,250 - $36,500
- 0689 Information assurance technician: $42,750 - $47,000
- 2336 Explosive ordnance disposal technician: $42,750 - $47,000
When the boat spaces are filled, a Marine's shot at a bonus is chances at a bonus are gone, and staying in uniform becomes will be far more difficult. Here's the catch: Officials have no way to know what MOSs will be quick to fill.
Historically, 11 key MOSs have provided key indicators of overall progress: 0311, 0321, 0331, 0341, 0351, 0352, 0651, 0811, 0861, 3521 and 3531. But the infantry rifleman MOS was painfully slow to fill up in the first two quarters of last year, only to see submission rates spike in the third quarter.
A Marine with 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion prepares to move inland during a training mission at Onslow Beach, N.C. Marines who move into recon in 2017 will be eligible for top re-up bonuses.
Photo Credit: Sgt. Paul Peterson/Marine Corps
First-term Marines in roughly two-thirds of MOSs had to compete to stay in last year, according to retention data. Marines in 28 percent of MOSs were able to re-up without competition. Seven percent of MOSs failed to hit goals for first-term re-enlistments, but those small communities er MOSs include just dozens of Marines.
"We made goal over 99 percent in each bracket in the recent past, but sometimes it is not always the mix we want," said Col. Gaines Ward, head of Plans, Programs and Budget here.
Top 5 payouts for Zone B Marines
These MOSs offer payouts of $40,000 or more for those in uniform for six to 10 years. All require lateral moves.
- 0211 Counterintelligence/human intelligence specialist : $47,750 - $52,750
- 0321 Reconnaissance Marine: $47,750 - $52,250
- 0372 Critical skills operator: $53,750 - $59,500
- 0689 Information assurance technician: $41,750 - $46,250
- 2336 Explosive ordnance disposal technician: $47,750 - $52,750
Career planners have also been ordered to screen every first-term Marine by Oct. 1. This is not a new approach, but one that had little need during the drawdown when the Corps had far more Marines than it could keep, said Col. Rudy Janiczek, head of Enlisted Assignments.
"There are some MOSs, good luck turning those people away," he said. "They fill up very quickly, and that's good because then you have a competitive cohort and select the best from among them. And there are some that are a little more stubborn, and you want to communicate that to the commanders so they can be a little more active in seeking those folks out and encouraging them to stay."
The goal to retain 6,185 first-termers means the Corps must re-enlist 23 percent of Marines scheduled to leave service between Oct. 1 and Sept. 30, 2017. To ensure the necessary cushion, officials want 35 percent of eligible Marines to submit a package.
The goal of 9,452 career Marines means the Corps needs to re-enlist 60 percent of those slated to leave in fiscal 2017, and manpower officials are taking no chances. Guidance provided to all commanders urges a universal submission rate of 100 percent of the eligible population.
Top 5 payouts for Zone C Marines
These MOSs offer payouts of $20,000 or more for those in uniform for 10-14 years. Totals are for staff sergeants and above.
- 0211 Counterintelligence/human intelligence specialist : $21,750 - $24,000
- 0321 Reconnaissance Marine: $21,750 - $24,000
- 0372 Critical skills operator: $21,750 - $24,000
- 0659 Cyber network systems chief : $29,000 - $32,000
- 2336 Explosive ordnance disposal technician: $21,750 - $24,000
Options remain for Marines who don't make the first cut but hope to stay desire to remain in uniform.
The most popular is a lateral move into another MOS. In addition, the Quality Marine Identification program allows a commanding general to keep a Marine even after boat spaces are filled. This is especially beneficial for Marines who fall short when competing for a space because of mistakes early in a career, but has turned around and proved their worth.
"We never say no to that," Ward said. "The key is you have to get the commanding general to sign off."
