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.//