R 161230Z DEC 22
MARADMIN 659/22
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA RA//
SUBJ/OPT OUT OF CONSIDERATION FOR THE RESERVE FISCAL YEAR 2025 (FY25) MAJOR, LIEUTENANT COLONEL, AND COLONEL PROMOTION SELECTION BOARDS//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/CONGRESS/8AUG2018//
REF/B/MSGID: DOC/DOD/16DEC2020//
REF/C/MSGID: DOC/SECNAV/28MAR2019//
REF/D/MSGID: DOC/SECNAV MEMO/5JAN2022//
NARR/REF (A) IS TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE. REF (B) IS DOD INSTRUCTION 1320.14, COMMISSIONED OFFICER PROMOTION PROGRAM PROCEDURES. REF (C) IS SECNAVINST 1420.3, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY COMMISSIONED OFFICERS PROMOTION PROGRAM. REF (D) IS THE SECNAV MEMO WHICH DELEGATES OPT OUT AUTHORITY TO THE MARINE CORPS.//
POC/R. LIU/MAJ/RAP-1/TEL: (703) 784-9138//
POC/T. A. DEMPSEY/MAJ/RAP-2/TEL: (703) 784-0533//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  PURPOSE.  This MARADMIN communicates the process to opt out of consideration for promotion, and provides background information in advance of execution of the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Active Reserve and Reserve Major, Lieutenant Colonel, and Colonel Promotion Boards.
2.  The Defense Officer Personnel Management Act (DOPMA) as part of the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act provides a statutory authority that allows an eligible officer to request to opt out of promotion in a given year without penalty.
3.  Opt out of consideration for promotion.  Section 14301 of reference (a) is the statutory authority granting the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) the discretion to authorize eligible officers to opt out of consideration for promotion by a promotion selection board (PSB).  Reference (d) delegates approval authority to the Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs (DC M&RA).  DC M&RA may approve a request only if all three of the following criteria are met:
    (a) The basis for the request is to allow an officer to complete a broadening assignment, advanced education, another assignment of significant value to the Marine Corps, or a career progression requirement delayed by the assignment of education.
    (b) The opt out of consideration is in the best interest of the Marine Corps based on the statutory guidelines, MOS strengths, and the needs of the service.
    (c) The officer has not previously failed selection for promotion to the grade for which the officer requests the exclusion from consideration.
4.  The following categories of officers may be eligible to opt out.
    (a) Examples of broadening assignments include, but are not limited to:  Foreign Professional Military Education, Congressional Fellowship, and Commandant’s National Fellows.
    (b) Examples of qualifying advanced education include, but are not limited to:  Non-resident Professional Military Education, full- time resident Career Level School, Intermediate Level School, or Top Level School, and equivalent service institutions and/or resident civilian education programs.
    (c) Examples of other assignments of significant value include, but are not limited to:  Foreign or Regional Area Affairs, Personnel Exchange Program, and assignments of primary military occupational specialties (PMOSs) of significant value.
    (d) Examples of extended service in the Individual Ready Reserve include, but are not limited to:  Pursuing advanced education opportunities, civilian or federal job requirements, or other extraordinary circumstances.
5.  Eligibility.  All RC unrestricted officers, to include AR, who are eligible for consideration as in-zone or above-zone not previously considered eligible for promotion to Major, Lieutenant Colonel, or Colonel in FY25, and who meet the following requirements are eligible.
    (a) Must not have previously failed selection for promotion to the grade requesting exclusion.
    (b) Must be within height and weight standards.
    (c) Must have no outstanding investigations, pending legal matters, or in-grade adverse material.
6.  Officers who meet the criteria in paragraphs 4 and 5 may submit a request to opt out of consideration for promotion.
    (a) Requests shall include the officer's justification for the request to opt out of consideration for promotion, current assignment, PMOS, eligibility requirements, and endorsements from the chain of command.
    (b) Applications must be endorsed by the first general officer in the applicant’s chain of command.
    (c) Requests must be submitted to HQMC via a NAVMC 10274 Administrative Action (AA) request form no later than 31 March 2023.  Submit endorsed AA forms to the Reserve Affairs Personnel Policy, Plans, and Programming (RAP-2) email address:  [email protected], or the following mailing address:  Commandant of the Marine Corps (RAP- 2) (Attn:  RC Opt Out of Consideration for Promotion) 3280 Russell Road Quantico, VA 22134-5103.
7.  Coordinating instructions.  O5 and O6 Commanders will endorse the applicant’s request to opt out of consideration for promotion.  The first general officer in the chain of command will provide a recommendation to DC M&RA for all requests.  Reserve Affairs Plans (RAP-2) and Reserve Affairs Management (RAM-2) will review all requests and provide appropriate recommendation to DC M&RA for final determination.  RAP-2 will ensure that approved officers are removed from the eligible population for consideration for promotion, appropriately update the history of lineal establishment database to memorialize that the officer opted out of consideration for promotion, and update post-board reports in accordance with references (b-d).
8.  RAP-2 will notify officers by letter via e-mail of their approval or disapproval after DC M&RA has made final determination.  A copy will be placed in the officer’s official military personnel file.
9.  AR Officers approved for opt out are not precluded from receiving PCS orders.
10.  Officers considering opt out of consideration for promotion are advised to consult with their respective monitor, executive officer, or commanding officer for guidance on career progression and eligibility.
11.  To consult with a Career Counselor via the Career Management Team (CMT), Reserve Affairs Division, please call commercial 703-784-0524, DSN 278-0524, or e-mail:  [email protected].  CMT can be found on the Manpower and Reserve Affairs webpage at www.manpower.usmc.mil.  From the homepage, click on “Reserve Marine,” “Career Management Team (CMT).”
12.  Applicability.  This MARADMIN is applicable only to the Reserve Component.
13.  This MARADMIN cancels after the results of the FY25 Active Reserve and Reserve Marine Corps Major through Colonel Selections are made public via ALNAV or approximately 31 Jan 2024.
14.  Release authorized by Major General M. S. Martin, Director, Reserve Affairs Division.//