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UNCLAS //N01040//
MARADMIN 277/01
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MP/MPP-30//
SUBJ/BACCALAUREATE DEGREE REQUIREMENT FOR RESERVE OFFICERS//
RMKS/1. PER 10 U.S.C. 12205, EFFECTIVE 1 OCTOBER 1995, NO PERSON
MAY BE APPOINTED TO A GRADE ABOVE THE GRADE OF FIRST LIEUTENANT
IN THE U.S. MARINE CORPS RESERVE UNLESS THAT PERSON HAS BEEN
AWARDED A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE BY A QUALIFYING EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTION. OFFICERS COMMISSIONED THROUGH THE MERITORIOUS
COMMISSIONING PROGRAM ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED BY THIS
REQUIREMENT. THE MARINE CORPS IS CURRENTLY TAKING CORRECTIVE ACTION.
A PENDING FY02 OMNIBUS PROPOSAL SEEKS A STATUTORY EXCEPTION FROM THIS
REQUIREMENT FOR MARINES COMMISSIONED THROUGH THE MERITORIOUS
COMMISSIONING PROGRAM.
2. THE LAW AS WRITTEN ALLOWS A RESERVE FIRST LIEUTENANT WHO LACKS A
BACCALAUREATE DEGREE TO BE SELECTED FOR PROMOTION BUT DOES NOT ALLOW
APPOINTMENT TO THE GRADE OF CAPTAIN IN THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE UNTIL
COMPLETION OF A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE. APPOINTMENTS TENDERED TO RESERVE
OFFICERS TO THE GRADE OF CAPTAIN SINCE 1 OCTOBER 1995 WHO LACKED THE
REQUIRED DEGREE ARE VIEWED AS VALID. HOWEVER, FURTHER APPOINTMENT TO
THE GRADE OF MAJOR WILL NOT OCCUR UNLESS THE AFFECTED RESERVE OFFICERS
COMPLETE A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE. OFFICERS CURRENTLY AND SUBSEQUENTLY
SELECTED FOR PROMOTION TO CAPTAIN IN THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE WILL
HAVE THEIR APPOINTMENT FOR PROMOTION DELAYED UNTIL THEY ESTABLISH THAT
A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE HAS BEEN COMPLETED. THE PERIOD OF DELAY WILL
NOT EXCEED 18 MONTHS. RESERVE OFFICERS WHO CANNOT ACHIEVE A
BACCALAUREATE DEGREE WITHIN THIS 18-MONTH DELAY PERIOD WILL HAVE THEIR
NAMES REMOVED FROM THE SELECTION LIST. OFFICERS WHOSE NAMES ARE
REMOVED FROM A PROMOTION LIST WILL BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE FAILED
SELECTION.
3. RESERVE OFFICERS WHO ARE COMMISSIONED THROUGH THE MERITORIOUS
COMMISSIONING PROGRAM AND SELECTED FOR PROMOTION TO THE GRADE OF
CAPTAIN BY AN ACTIVE DUTY SELECTION BOARD ARE CURRENTLY PLACED UNDER A
DIFFERENT SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES UNTIL THE PROPOSED CORRECTED ACTION
STATED ABOVE IS RESOLVED. GIVEN THE PROMOTION TIMING FOR CAPTAINS AND
INITIAL ASSIGNMENT PATTERNS AS LIEUTENANTS, THESE OFFICERS HAVE LITTLE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLETE THEIR COLLEGE DEGREE REQUIREMENT BEFORE
PROMOTION TO CAPTAIN. ADDITIONALLY, ALL OFFICERS ARE OFFERED
AUGMENTATION AS REGULAR OFFICERS UPON SELECTION TO CAPTAIN UNDER
RECENT CHANGES TO THE MARINE CORPS AUGMENTATION PROCESS AND FORCE
MANAGEMENT POLICIES. LAWS GOVERNING PROMOTION OF REGULAR OFFICERS DO
NOT SPECIFICALLY PRESCRIBE A COLLEGE DEGREE REQUIREMENT FOR PROMOTION
TO THE GRADE OF CAPTAIN. THEREFORE, THE SMALL NUMBERS OF RESERVE
OFFICERS SELECTED FOR AUGMENTATION, NOT POSSESSING A BACCALAUREATE
DEGREE, MAY BE PROMOTED ONCE THEY HAVE EXECUTED THEIR NAVMC 763
INDICATING REDESIGNATION AS REGULAR OFFICERS. HOWEVER, ANY OFFICERS
WHO DO NOT ACCEPT AUGMENTATION MUST COMPLETE THEIR COLLEGE DEGREE
REQUIREMENT BEFORE THEIR PROMOTION TO CAPTAIN IN THE MARINE CORPS
RESERVE MAY BE EFFECTED. THE SAME PROVISIONS FOR PROMOTION DELAY
AND REMOVAL FROM THE SELECTION LIST STATED ABOVE WILL APPLY.
4. ACTION. TO PRECLUDE DELAY OF RESERVE APPOINTMENTS, AFFECTED
OFFICERS MUST ENSURE THEIR DEGREE COMPLETION IS PROPERLY DOCUMENTED
IN THEIR OFFICIAL MILITARY PERSONNEL FILE (OMPF). IF A COPY OF THIS
COLLEGE DIPLOMA IS NOT CONTAINED IN THE OMPF, FORWARD THE DIPLOMA PER
MCO P1070.12K (IRAM) TO CMC (MMSB-20), 2008 ELLIOT ROAD, ROOM 114,
QUANTICO, VA 22134-5030. OFFICERS ARE FURTHER DIRECTED TO ENSURE
THEIR EDUCATION CODE IN THE MARINE CORPS TOTAL FORCE SYSTEM (MCTFS)
IS CORRECT. IF THE EDUCATION CODE IS NOT CORRECT IN MCTFS, OFFICERS
SHOULD PROVIDE A COPY OF THE DEGREE TO THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
AND ENSURE THE APPROPRIATE DIARY ENTRY IS RUN IN MCTFS WITH THE
APPROPRIATE EDUCATION CODE.
5. POC CONCERNING THIS MATTER IS MAJOR GREG BRANIGAN AT 703/784-9365,
DSN 278-9365 OR E-MAIL AT BRANIGANGA@MANPOWER.USMC.MIL//
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