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MARADMIN 466/04

MCBUL 5314. Enlisted Career Force Controls (ECFC) Program

This MARADMIN announces MCBUL 5314 concerning the Enlisted Career Force Controls (ECFC) Program, which has managed enlisted career progression since 1985. The program shapes Marine inventory by grade and MOS while standardizing promotion tempo across all occupational fields, with specific Time in Service targets ranging from 4 years for Sergeant to 22 years for Sergeant Major/Master Gunnery Sergeant.

Issued: October 25, 2004
1.  PURPOSE.  TO PROVIDE COMMANDERS AND INDIVIDUAL
MARINES WITH INFORMATION REGARDING THE ORIGIN, REQUIREMENT FOR, AND 
PROGRAM ELEMENTS OF THE ECFC PROGRAM.
2. BACKGROUND
A.  THE MARINE CORPS IMPLEMENTED ECFCS IN 1985 TO BETTER MANAGE THE 
CAREER FORCE.  TO DATE, ECFCS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THE 
FOLLOWING:  
(1) ACTIVELY SHAPE THE INVENTORY OF MARINES BY GRADE AND MOS
TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MARINE CORPS.
(2) CONTROL RETENTION IN ORDER TO STANDARDIZE PROMOTION TEMPO
ACROSS ALL MOS'S.  THE FOLLOWING ARE OUR TIME IN SERVICE (TIS) 
PROMOTION TARGETS:
SGT                     4 YEARS
SSGT                  8.5 YEARS
GYSGT                  13 YEARS
1STSGT/MSGT          17.5 YEARS
SGTMAJ/MGYSGT          22 YEARS