A new MARADMIN message was released detailing that long term staff sergeants will be involuntarily separated from the Marine Corps. Prior to 2013, staff sergeants could continue in service until they reached 20 years, but with the drawdown of the Corps, that plan is no longer seen as feasible.
According to the Marine Corps Times,
“As with last year, staff sergeants with between 15 and 18 years of service who’ve been passed over for promotion at least twice are on the chopping block. During the board’s first audit of veteran staff sergeants, 233 of the 798 reviewed were cut from the service.
The number of staff sergeants who will go before the retention board will depend on how many E-6s are selected for promotion to gunnery sergeant, said Yvonne Carlock, a spokeswoman for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. And because the number of Marines up for review will determine how long the retention board meets, there is no fixed date for it to adjourn, she added.”
There are still incentives to leave the Corps, one of which is TERA which is the voluntary separation program, but it doesn’t offer near the same benefits as a 20 year traditional retirement. For more information, check out the MARADMIN.
Hello just wanted to clarify that the early separation program is VSP not TERA both voluntary but very different. TERA requires Marine to be eligible for reenlistment and qualifies for retirement benefits and VSP pays off lump sum and that is all.