The Marine Corps extended its Voluntary Separation Pay program for another year Wednesday, while also revising the specialties that which Marines are eligible for the buyout for the program in fiscal 2015 and 2016.
The A new administrative message released Feb. 3 added 21 military occupational specialties that will be eligible for VSP, a carefully targeted incentive offered to Marines in overpopulated ranks and communities. The message also dropped 20 MOSs, making Marines in those communities ineligible for VSP.
Those added include 0481 landing support specialist, 5959 air traffic control systems maintenance officer, and 6336 aircraft electrical systems technician for the KC-130, among others. Some of the jobs dropped from the program include Among those dropped include 0231 intelligence specialist, 0511 Marine air-ground task force MAGTF planning specialist, and 6287 fixed-wing aircraft safety equipment mechanic for the F/A-18, to name a few.
Marines can see the full list of changes in For the full list refer to the MARADMIN 050/15. online.
Active duty staff sergeants, gunnery sergeants and master sergeants with between six 6 and 20 years of service are eligible for VSP. Previously, 69 MOSs were ineligible for VSP. That number increased by one since the Corps dropped 20 from the program, but added 21 new specialties now eligible for the buyout in the new message. confused by this graph — can we clarify a bit? GH]]
As before, all first sergeants remain eligible for VSP. Staff sergeants, gunnery sergeants and master sergeants in all MOSs are also eligible regardless of MOS if they have failed selection for promotion at least once.
The changes in the new MARADMIN go into effect on March 5 — 30 days from the release of the new MARADMIN Marine administrative message 050/15, signed Feb. 3. To qualify for the program, Marines must agree to separate no later than Aug. 31, 2016.
Revisions to VSP reflect fluctuating manpower needs as Marines stay in or leave the service whether of their own accord or under one of the Corps’ force shaping measures used to reduce the force to 182,000 by the end of fiscal 2017. As an MOS hits or drops below desired manning levels, they are added to the list of MOSs communities ineligible for VSP.
“The VSP program supports service-wide force shaping efforts, is not an individual entitlement, and each request will be considered based on the needs of the Marine Corps,” the message states. reads.
Desired manning levels are a moving target, officials have said. As such, VSP eligibility will likely be tweaked again in the months to come.
VSP is calculated based on rank and years of service. An eligible gunnery sergeant with 16 years of service would receive $161,291 before taxes under VSP.
Those who have served 15 or more years, however, should consider the Temporary Early Retirement Authority program. While a six figure payout may be appealing, it can end up being far less than a Marine might receive under TERA during the entire course of their retirement. The same gunnery sergeant would receive $199,440 in just 10 years under TERA, a gain of more than $38,000. The exact formula is available in the MARADMIN online.
