MARADMINs 358/12, 357/12 detail bonuses, loss of incentive for FY13

II Marine Expeditionary Force
Story by Cpl. Glen Santy

Date: 07.09.2012
Posted: 07.09.2012 17:08
News ID: 91293

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - New regulations published in June could be good and bad news for Marines trying to reenlist in fiscal year 2013.

Administrative messages from Headquarters Marine Corps spell out detailed incentives for all those extending their careers, by cutting reenlistment points and offering bonuses to Marines renewing their contracts.

The first message, 357/12, applies to first-term and career Marines whose contracts end between Oct. 1, 2012, and Sept. 30, 2013.

In short, it lists by occupational specialty, the amounts each Marine approved for reenlistment will receive and how soon they will get it.
The bonuses will be paid at a flat rate over a period of 48 months. For Marines reenlisting for a longer period, the bonuses will still be paid in the four-year period. Marines who reenlist for less than 48 months of obligated service will be approved on a case-by-case basis.

The pre-tax selective reenlistment bonus amounts are authorized based on the Marines reenlistment zone, their rank on the date of their reenlistment and military occupation.

Due to caps, no reenlistment bonus will exceed $90,000.

An example given in the message is a sergeant, with 17 months to six years of military service, laterally moves from his current military occupational specialty into the 0372 critical skills operator MOS and reenlists for 60 months additional obligated service as required by current fiscal year retention guidelines. The enlistment bonus authorized will be limited to the full bonus amount of $69,750.

The second message, 358/12, states that effective June 30, Marines will no longer receive reenlistment points toward promotion composite scores.

Marines who currently rate or are awarded the points prior to July 1 will maintain the points until promoted to the next grade or until they leave active duty.

The message explains the program of awarding points was an incentive for reenlisting during the Corps’ period of increasing active duty end strength, which is now no longer required.

For more information about these and other Marine Administrative Messages visit http://www.marines.mil.