Establishment of the Marine Corps Enlisted Career Designation Program Pilot

1.  Purpose. To announce the Marine Corps Enlisted Career 
Designation Program (ECDP) pilot for senior enlisted Marines.

2.  Background 
2.a.  The Commandant's guidance on Talent Management directed a 
paradigm shift from our legacy high turnover "recruit and replace"
personnel model toward a greater emphasis on investment in and 
retention of our most capable Marines.  Currently, enlisted Marines
must submit retention requests at regular intervals that may not 
align with their duty assignments or career aspirations.  This 
requirement can create uncertainty for our most experienced and 
skilled Marines and their families as they await determination on
their continued service, adding an unnecessary administrative burden
to Marines, commanders, assignment monitors, and Career Counselors. 
2.b.  The implementation of an ECDP pilot allows Staff 
Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) in the grades of E-8 and E-9 to
voluntarily enter the ECDP upon their next reenlistment to serve to
current Enlisted Career Force Controls (ECFC). 

3.  Program Overview  
3.a.  Eligibility. Effective 1 June 2025, Marines in the grades of
E-8 and E-9 with an End of Current Contract (ECC) date before 
30 September 2026 and at least 15 years of service or over two years
time in grade will be eligible to submit their final reenlistment 
package to the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC), Manpower 
Management Enlisted Assignments (MMEA) to enter the ECDP.  Marines
electing not to enter ECDP will be required to submit for 
reenlistment upon future ECC dates to continue their service.  An
additional option will be made available for a Marine to enter into
ECDP at the time of the next reenlistment.  Marines must submit for
reenlistment in accordance with reference (b).  
3.b.  Incurred Obligated Service.  Initial reenlistment into ECDP 
incurs an additional 24-month service obligation starting at the end
of their current contract.  Enlisted career designated Marines will
incur additional service obligations for, but not limited to, 
promotion, assignment, Selective Retention Bonus (SRB) payment, and
Transfer of Education Benefits as appropriate in accordance with 
applicable corresponding guidance.
3.c. Assignments. Marines are required to obligate service in 
accordance with Joint Travel Regulations when executing a permanent
change of station or permanent change of assignment orders. Marines
who choose not to fulfill this obligation must submit a resignation
as specified in reference (d) or request for retirement to Manpower
Management Enlisted Assignments (MMEA) and Manpower Management
Separations and Retirement (MMSR).

4.  Separations
4.a.  Retirement and Resignation. Individuals on the ECDP must 
request separation or retirement between 6 and 18 months of their 
Planned Retirement/Resignation (PRR) date. The requested PRR date
will be no earlier than the date from which all obligations are
satisfactorily fulfilled. 
4.b.  ECDP Marines who desire to resign instead of complying with
assignment instructions must request separation within 30 days of
receipt of orders.  Upon CMC (MMSR) approval, Marines who are 
retirement eligible will receive a PRR date no later than the last
day of the month following the estimated arrival date to the new 
duty station.  Marines who are not retirement-eligible will receive
a reenlistment code (RE) of RE-3O with a separation date six months
from the Marine's RE-3O acknowledgement.  

5.  Selective Retention Bonus Program 
5.a.  Marines entering career designation and those already career
designated may be eligible for an SRB based on military occupational
specialty (MOS) requirements.  To receive an SRB once in the ECDP,
the Marine must complete a statement of understanding in 
coordination with the Marine's Career Counselor.
5.b.  Marines receiving an SRB must commit to the requisite 
additional service outlined in the SRB MARADMIN.  This obligation
does not run concurrently with their initial entry into ECDP.

6.  Reduction in Rank 
6.a.  Marines serving on the ECDP who are reduced in grade may
exceed the applicable retention control point.  If a Marine's
reduction in rank exceeds their ECFC for that grade, the Marine
will subsequently have an expiration of active service (EAS)
modified not earlier than 4 months or later than 6 months after
the effective date of the reduction in rank or removal of select
grade as determined by CMC (MM). 
6.b.  Marines between 18 and 20 years of active service will be
permitted to retire on the last day of the month following the month
they reach 20 years of active service, unless administratively
separated in accordance with reference (d). 
6.c.  Marines with at least 20 of years active service who exceed 
the service limitation for their current rank because of a reduction
in rank or revocation of promotion selection must retire within 
6 months after the effective date of the reduction in grade or 
revocation of promotion selection.
6.d.  Marines can be involuntarily removed from the ECDP through
administrative separation in accordance with reference (d). Career 
Marines who enter the ECDP will still be required to maintain all 
Marine Corps standards in accordance with applicable orders.

7.  Administration 
7.a.  The establishment of the ECDP and the above policy and 
procedure refinements will be codified into all relevant Marine 
Corps Orders as they are revised. 
7.b.  Service-wide education of the ECDP will be provided to all
general officer-level commands, Installation Personnel 
Administrative Centers, Enlisted Staff Academy, and the CMC's
Cornerstone Commander's course. 
7.c.  A Marine entering the ECDP will have their final opportunity
to sell back lump sum leave in conjunction with their reenlistment,
per reference (b).  Once in ECDP, Marines are unable to sell back 
leave unless they are executing separation or retirement. 

8.  This MARADMIN is not applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve.

9.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General Michael J. Borgschulte,
Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.