Cancellation of Obsolete Promotion MARADMINs and Upcoming Changes to MCO P1400.32D
This MARADMIN cancels five obsolete promotion-related MARADMINs that have been superseded by policy updates or incorporated into existing orders. It clarifies current time-in-grade and time-in-service requirements for enlisted promotions, eliminates the requirement for promotion panels prior to NCO recommendations, and establishes that all Marines selected for promotion to Staff Sergeant through Sergeant Major must have 24 months of obligated service remaining on their contract at the date of promotion.
Issued: April 7, 2025
1. The Marine Corps continues to update procedures
and guidance to ensure clarity and alignment with promotion
policies. Over time, various Marine Administrative Messages
(MARADMINs) have introduced incremental changes, some of which are
now obsolete due to policy updates, including release of Marine
Corps Order 1616.1, Junior Enlisted Performance Evaluation System
(JEPES), in 2020. To eliminate outdated guidance and provide
Marines with clear and relevant policies, five MARADMINs require
cancellation. These MARADMINs have either been incorporated into
existing orders or superseded by more recent changes, such as
updates to time-in-grade (TIG) and time-in-service (TIS)
requirements, JEPES score calculations, and board submission
processes. Canceling these obsolete MARADMINs will prevent confusion
and reinforce a streamlined, up-to-date promotion policy framework.
The following five MARADMINs are canceled:
1.a. MARADMIN 285/05. Guidance has been incorporated into
reference (a).
1.b. MARADMIN 055/16. Superseding messages made the MARADMIN
obsolete. The following minimum TIG and TIS requirements apply for
promotion and will be incorporated into reference (a).
Regular Promotion Meritorious Promotion
Grade Promoted To TIG TIS TIG TIS
SgtMaj/MGySgt 3 YRS 10 YRS N/A N/A
1stSgt/MSgt 4 YRS 8 YRS N/A N/A
GySgt 3 YRS 6 YRS N/A 6 YRS
SSgt 3 YRS 5 YRS N/A 4 YRS
Sgt 12 MOS 4 YRS (Note 1) N/A 18 MOS
Cpl 12 MOS 12 MOS N/A 6 MOS
LCpl 8 MOS 9 MOS N/A N/A
PFC 6 MOS 6 MOS N/A N/A
Note 1: Cpls who meet the conditions outlined in reference (b) are
authorized promotion to Sgt with a TIS of three years.
1.c. MARADMIN 200/16. There is no requirement to conduct promotion
panels prior to recommending a Marine for promotion.
1.c.1. It is still incumbent upon commanders to personally invest
themselves in the process of noncommissioned officer (NCO)
promotions to ensure Marines not only meet the Commandant's intent,
but to ensure the integrity of our valued NCO Corps for today and
into the future.
1.c.2. To ensure Marines are not left in a prolonged
NOT RECOMMENDED (non-rec) status, Commanders will establish internal
control measures to review Marines. At a minimum, commanders will
review non-rec status during the semiannual junior enlisted
performance evaluation occasion. Commanders may establish stricter
procedures as promotions scores occur monthly. These internal
control measures are inspectable by the Marine Corps Administrative
Analysis Team and justification for Marines left in a non-rec status
for longer than three months is required.
1.d. MARADMIN 077/18. Superseding messages and incorporation of
policy in reference (c) made the MARADMIN obsolete.
1.e. MARADMIN 329/18. Superseding messages and incorporation of
policy in reference (c) made the MARADMIN obsolete.
2. Until reference (a) is updated, this MARADMIN will be used as
the official source to signify that all Marines, active and reserve,
selected to the ranks of Staff Sergeant through Sergeant Major
either for regular or meritorious promotion shall have 24 months
obligated service remaining on contract on the date of promotion.
3. For Marine enlisted promotion matters, call (703) 784-3962 or
DSN 278-3962. E-mail inquiries to enlistedpromotions@usmc.mil.
4. This MARADMIN is applicable to the Marine Corps Total Force.
5. Release authorized by MajGen Ryan S. Rideout, Director,
Manpower Management Division.