March 26, 2014, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort – The minimum years of commissioned service required for selected officers to retire has been temporarily reduced from 10 to eight years, according to Marine Corps Administrative Message 100/14.
This change mainly affects prior-enlisted officers who with prior service and active commissioned service will satisfy their minimum payback towards 20 or more active duty years needed for retirement. This temporary change will help the Marine Corps reach desired end-strength goals and allow the Corps to meet budgetary constraints.
“Officers must have a minimum of eight years of commissioned service by their requested retirement date,” said Staff Sgt. Edward McGee, the career planner for Marine Wing Support Squadron 273. “They must also meet their years of active duty service requirements for retirement. This program does not exempt Marines from having to complete reserve or ready reserve contracts.”
Years of service as a commissioned officer are computed by adding all active service in the armed forces under permanent or temporary appointments in all ranks above warrant officer.
“A few situations disqualify Marines from early retirement,” McGee said. “Marines with certain military occupational specialties, or those undergoing treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury can be disqualified.”
Marines serving as counterintelligence or human intelligence specialists, reconnaissance, critical skills operators, cyber security technicians, explosive ordnance disposal technicians, unmanned aerial vehicle avionics technicians, air traffic controllers and unmanned aerial vehicle internal operators are exempt from the program.
For more information, see MARADMIN 100/14.