MCBUL 7220. Fiscal Year 2007 (FY07) Broken Service Selective Reenlistment Bonus (BSSRB) Program

1. PURPOSE. TO ANNOUNCE THE FY07 BSSRB PROGRAM
THAT WILL PROVIDE PRIOR SERVICE MARINES WHO POSSESS CRITICAL SKILLS
A MONETARY INCENTIVE TO RESUME THEIR CAREERS IN THE MARINE CORPS.
2. BACKGROUND. ANNUALLY ABOUT 25,000 MARINES LEAVE THE ACTIVE
COMPONENT OF THE MARINE CORPS. THE MAJORITY OF THESE MARINES WERE
QUALIFIED AND ELIGIBLE FOR REENLISTMENT BUT CHOSE TO SEPARATE AT THE END
OF THEIR ACTIVE OBLIGATED SERVICE. REENLISTING THESE MARINES VIA THE
BSSRB PROGRAM WILL HELP GROW THE MARINE CORPS AND STRENGTHEN OUR
ENLISTED CAREER FORCE EXPERIENCE.
A. THE FY07 BSSRB PROGRAM INCLUDES MAJOR CHANGES IN ELIGIBILITY AND
ENTITLEMENTS OVER FY06'S PROGRAM. THESE CHANGES INCLUDE EXPANDING THE
PROGRAM TO INCLUDE STAP MARINES, INCREASING THE ACCEPTABLE BREAK IN
ACTIVE SERVICE FROM 365 DAYS TO 4 YEARS, AND INCREASING THE PERCENTAGE
OF SRB OFFERED FOR MARINES WHOSE BREAK IN SERVICE IS BETWEEN 91 AND 365
DAYS.
B. THE BSSRB PROGRAM IS OPEN FOR ANY SRBP-ELIGIBLE FTAP OR STAP PMOS
THAT HAS NOT REACHED THE FY07 REQUIREMENT. CMC (MMEA-6) HAS THE FINAL
APPROVAL ON REENLISTMENT AUTHORITY. ONCE A PMOS IS CLOSED, OR SRB FUNDS
HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED, THE BSSRB WILL NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE.
C. PRIOR SERVICE MARINES REENLISTING UNDER THIS PROGRAM WILL RETAIN THE
GRADE HELD AT THE TIME OF DISCHARGE. DATE OF RANK WILL BE GRANTED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH REF A. HOWEVER, IT MAY BE DEEMED NECESSARY TO ADJUST
THE DATE OF RANK TO ENSURE ADEQUATE OBSERVED TIME TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH
PEERS IN THE PROMOTION PROCESS.
3. ACTION. MARINE CORPS RECRUITING COMMAND (MCRC), COMMANDING
OFFICERS, AND DISBURSING OFFICERS WILL BE GUIDED BY THE PROVISIONS OF
THIS MESSAGE IN THE COMPUTATION OF BSSRB AWARDS FOR ELIGIBLE PRIOR
SERVICE MARINES WITH A DATE OF REENLISTMENT ON OR AFTER 28 DEC 06.
A. ELIGIBILITY. BSSRB REENLISTMENTS ARE LIMITED TO PRIOR SERVICE
MARINES WHO MEET THE FOLLOWING ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
(1) SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED AT LEAST ONE MARINE CORPS ACTIVE COMPONENT
CONTRACT WITH A REENLISTMENT CODE OF RE-1A.
(2) HAVE NO LESS THAN A 91 DAY AND NO MORE THAN A 4 YEAR BREAK IN ACTIVE
DUTY SERVICE ON THE DATE OF REENLISTMENT.
APPLICANTS WITH 90 DAYS OR LESS OF BROKEN SERVICE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A
CONTINUOUS REENLISTMENT CONTRACT AND THE FULL SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT
BONUS PER REF B.
(3) COMPLETED AT LEAST 17 MONTHS BUT LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO
14 YEARS OF ACTIVE MARINE CORPS SERVICE. PRIOR SERVICE MARINES WITH
14 YEARS AND 1 DAY COMPLETED ACTIVE SERVICE ON THE DATE OF REENLISTMENT
ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE BSSRB PROGRAM.
(4) MEET THE REENLISTMENT REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED IN REF A AND REF C.
(5) REENLIST IN THE REGULAR MARINE CORPS FOR 4 YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE.
ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS, BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE MARINE CORPS, CMC
(MMEA-6) MAY ENTERTAIN A 3 YEAR REENLISTMENT.
(6) MUST NOT BE IN A RESERVE COMPONENT CODE STATUS OF K4, K8, K9, KF,
B1, B2, B3, B4, OR B5. INDIVIDUAL READY RESERVE (IRR) PRIOR SERVICE
MARINES ARE ELIGIBLE.
(7) REENLIST IN THEIR PRIMARY MOS OR LATERAL MOVE INTO AN MOS IDENTIFIED
IN REF B AS ELIGIBLE FOR AN SRB.
(8) REENLIST IN THE GRADE OF LANCE CORPORAL OR ABOVE.
(9) HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED AN SRB IN THE ZONE UNDER WHICH
REENLISTMENT OCCURS.
B. COMPUTATION AND PAYMENT. DUE TO CHANGES IN THE BSSRB PROGRAM
AUTOMATED PRECOMPUTATION, OPTION 4 IN 3270, OF THE PAYMENT AMOUNT WILL
NOT BE VALID. COMPUTATIONS MUST BE MADE BY HAND PER REF D, THE
AUTOMATED PAY SYSTEMS MANUAL, CHAPTER 1, PART C, SECTION 010403.D.2.C,
AND THE FOLLOWING PERCENTAGES AND PAYMENT CAPS AUTHORIZED.
(1) MARINES IN AN SRB ELIGIBLE MOS WITH A 90 DAY OR LESS BREAK IN
SERVICE WILL BE PAID A FULL SRB BASED ON THE ZONE MULTIPLE IN EFFECT ON
THE DATE OF REENLISTMENT.
(2) MARINES IN AN SRB ELIGIBLE MOS WITH A 91 TO 365 DAY BREAK IN SERVICE
WILL BE PAID 80 PERCENT OF THE AUTHORIZED SRB BASED ON THE MULTIPLE IN
EFFECT ON THE DATE OF REENLISTMENT.
(3) MARINES IN AN SRB ELIGIBLE MOS WITH A 366 DAY TO 4 YEAR BREAK IN
SERVICE WILL BE PAID 60 PERCENT OF THE AUTHORIZED SRB BASED ON THE
MULTIPLE IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF REENLISTMENT.
(4) THE AMOUNT OF THE BSSRB PAYMENT IS DETERMINED BELOW:
BSSRB = MBP X YR X M X % AUTH, WHERE;
MBP = MONTHLY BASIC PAY ON THE DATE OF DISCHARGE
YR = LENGTH OF REENLISTMENT CONTRACT (IN YEARS)
M = CURRENT SRB MULTIPLE FOUND IN MCBUL 7220
% AUTH = 100%, 80%, OR 60% (DEPENDING ON LENGTH OF BREAK IN ACTIVE
SERVICE)
(5) BSSRB PAYMENTS ARE CAPPED AS FOLLOWS:
ZONE A - $40K FOR 100%, $32K FOR 80%, AND $24K FOR 60% ZONE B - $45K FOR
100%, $36K FOR 80%, AND $27K FOR 60% ZONE C - $45K FOR 100%, $36K FOR
80%, AND $27K FOR 60%
(6) BSSRB PAYMENT CAPS FOR MARINES IN ZONE B AND C WITH THE PMOS'S 0211,
0231, 0321, 2336, AND 2671 ARE AS FOLLOWS:
ZONE B - $60K FOR 100%, $48K FOR 80%, AND $36K FOR 60% ZONE C - $60K FOR
100%, $48K FOR 80%, AND $36K FOR 60%
(7) A LUMP SUM PAYMENT OF THE BONUS ENTITLEMENT, LESS TAXES, WILL BE
PAID NO EARLIER THAN 30 DAYS AFTER MARINE'S ARRIVAL AT THE FIRST
PERMANENT DUTY STATION FOLLOWING REENLISTMENT. IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE
PAYMENT CRITERIA, MARINES REENLISTING FOR A LATERAL MOVE INTO AN SRB
AUTHORIZED MOS MUST SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE ALL REQUIREMENTS OF THE
LATERAL MOVE MOS PRIOR TO PAYMENT OF BSSRB.
LATMOVE MARINES FAILING TO COMPLETE REQUIRED LATERAL MOVE MOS TRAINING
WILL BE REDESIGNATED ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND WILL
NOT RECEIVE THE BSSRB.
C. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
(1) PRIOR TO REENLISTMENT, THE FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS
MUST BE COMPLETED TO PROPERLY SCREEN MARINES FOR POTENTIAL BSSRB PROGRAM
ELIGIBILITY:
(A) A BSSRB PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY CHECKLIST WILL BE PREPARED BY THE
RECRUITING STATION. ONCE COMPLETED, IT WILL BE REVIEWED FOR ACCURACY,
DATED AND SIGNED BY THE RECRUITING STATION COMMANDING OFFICER OR
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE PRIOR TO REENLISTMENT, AND BY THE DISBURSING
OFFICER PRIOR TO BONUS PAYMENT.
THE BSSRB PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY CHECKLIST MAY BE OBTAINED FROM MCRC G-3.
LOCAL REPRODUCTION OF THE CHECKLIST IS AUTHORIZED.
(B) AFTER IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE PROSPECTIVE REENLISTEE IS
ELIGIBLE FOR THE BSSRB PROGRAM, AND PRIOR TO REENLISTMENT, THE MARINE
REENLISTING MUST SIGN AND DATE AN ORIGINAL AND AT LEAST ONE COPY OF THE
BSSRB PROGRAM STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING (SOU). DUE TO CHANGES IN THE
BSSRB PROGRAM, COMPUTATIONS OF BSSRB PAYMENTS MUST BE MADE BY HAND -
AUTOMATED PRECOMPUTATION IN 3270, OPTION 4, OF THE BSSRB PAYMENT WILL
NOT BE VALID. THE RECRUITING STATION COMMANDING OFFICER OR AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE MUST WITNESS THE SIGNING. THE BSSRB PROGRAM SOU MAY BE
OBTAINED FROM MCRC G-3. LOCAL REPRODUCTION OF THE BSSRB SOU IS
AUTHORIZED.
(2) UPON REENLISTMENT, THE FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS MUST BE
COMPLETED:
(A) THE RECRUITING STATION WILL FILE THE ORIGINAL REENLISTMENT CONTRACT
AND THE ORIGINAL BSSRB SOU IN THE MARINE'S SERVICE RECORD BOOK. THE
SERVICE RECORD BOOK WILL ACCOMPANY THE MARINE TO HIS/HER FIRST PERMANENT
DUTY STATION. A COPY OF THE REENLISTMENT CONTRACT AND BSSRB SOU WILL BE
PROVIDED TO THE MARINE FOR HIS/HER PERSONAL RECORDS. ADDITIONALLY, A
COPY OF THE REENLISTMENT CONTRACT AND A COPY OF THE BSSRB SOU WILL BE
SENT TO CMC (MMSB-20) FOR INCLUSION IN THE MARINE'S OMPF PER REF E.
(B) THE GAINING COMMAND, AT THE MARINE'S FIRST PERMANENT DUTY STATION
WILL SUBMIT A COPY OF THE REENLISTMENT CONTRACT, A COPY OF THE BSSRB SOU
AND ELIGIBILITY CHECKLIST, AND AN SRB PRECOMPUTATION TO THE SERVING
DISBURSING OFFICE FOR PAYMENT OF THE BSSRB PER REF D.
(C) DISBURSING OFFICERS WILL ENSURE ALL BSSRB PROGRAM PAYMENT
TRANSACTIONS ARE ENTERED INTO THE MARINE CORPS TOTAL FORCE SYSTEM. DUE
TO CHANGES IN THE BSSRB PROGRAM, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT DISBURSING
OFFICES VALIDATE COMPUTATION OF BSSRB PAYMENTS.
AUTOMATED PRECOMPUTATION IN 3270, OPTION 4, WILL NOT BE VALID FOR
FY07 BSSRB PAYMENT AMOUNTS.
D. ASSIGNMENT OF BSSRB MARINES. MARINES AWARDED A BSSRB WILL SERVE IN
THE SKILL FOR WHICH THE BONUS WAS PAID AND CMC (MMEA) WILL ASSIGN BSSRB
APPROVED MARINES TO THE OPERATING FORCES FOR A MINIMUM OF 2 YEARS TO
ENSURE THE MARINE REMAINS MOS PROFICIENT FOR FUTURE PROMOTION
OPPORTUNITIES. COMMANDERS WILL ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THIS INTENT.
AFTER THE MINIMUM 2 YEARS, NEEDS OF THE SERVICE MAY DICTATE THAT MARINES
WILL BE ASSIGNED TO OUT-OF-SKILL ASSIGNMENTS. COMMANDERS ARE GUIDED BY
THESE REQUIREMENTS UNDER REF F.
E. RECOUPMENT. THE UNEARNED PORTION OF THE BSSRB MAY BE RECOUPED IN
CASES OF EARLY DISCHARGE, LOSS OF QUALIFICATIONS, AND/OR FAILURE TO
SERVE IN THE SKILL FOR WHICH THE BONUS WAS PAID.
BSSRB RECIPIENTS WILL FOLLOW THE RECOUPMENT GUIDELINES OUTLINED FOR SRB
RECIPIENTS IN REF B.
4. THIS BULLETIN IS NOT APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE.
5. THIS BULLETIN CANCELS ON 30 SEP 07.