From stop-loss to VEERP. lol I would be very curious as to how many Marines are willing to actually use this option? The Marines are also trying to shed surplus officers. Here is the quote:
The Marine Corps is preparing to shed what it calls a “surplus” of senior field-grade officers with 20 or more years of service by forcing as many as 111 to retire. About 60 of those will be selected by a lieutenant colonel Selective Early Retirement Board and about 51 by a colonel SERB.
Both of these moves are part of the force reduction goals of the Marines and of the services. Here is a quote that talks about how many Marines they plan on cutting specifically.(Jan. 26, 2012)
The Marine Corps will slash 20,000 Marines as part of Defense Department-wide budget cuts, reducing its end strength to about 182,000, top Pentagon officials announced Thursday.
The thing here is how will this impact our industry? Well for one, we will see an increase in interest from unemployed veterans. The reason here is the guys will want to get out of the service to go to school or whatever, and get away from ‘all things military’. But once the reality of a lack of jobs sinks in, that they will be defaulting to work they know they will be qualified for–and that is contracting. Which is great, and this industry has a lot of areas for veterans to get into.
Also, I am seeing an increase of emails from unemployed veterans, seeking advice about how to get into the contracting world. Matter of fact, I am seeing an increase world wide from folks interested in this type of work.
The other thing that needs to be mentioned is that this sea of unemployed veterans is a battle hardened and younger group. Doom on those companies who fail to recognize this demographic, or fail to reach out and understand how to work with them. These guys are the wartime generation, where all they have known is war in the services. They have some incredible experiences, both in combat and in leadership, and companies need to recognize the value of this.
I would also guess that most are Generation Y types or millennials, mixed with a few retirees of the Generation X group. Who knows, but from my personal experience working in the industry, this is what I am starting to see.
Interesting stuff and good luck to all of them with their job search. –Matt
VEERP allows Marines to exit service early
8/7/2012
By Lance Cpl. Derrick K. Irions
Officials from Manpower and Reserve Affairs recently released a revised Voluntary Enlisted Early Release Program that provides eligible applicants an opportunity to exit military service up to one year ahead of their scheduled separation date.
Marine Administrative Message 371/12 promotes force shaping measures in accordance with budget cutbacks and personnel reduction plans.
Marines with an end of active service date within fiscal year 2013 (Oct. 1, 2012 through Sept. 30, 2013) are eligible to utilize VEERP from 90 to 365 days before their original EAS, said Sgt. Cassandra Espinoza, a career planner with Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
Some eligibility requirements include the completion of the transition readiness seminar, not being stabilized for a deployment and being eligible for honorable or general (under honorable conditions) discharge.
“I’m using VEERP because I want to relax and let the transitional impact set in,” said Cpl. Kayla M. Hermann, a combat photographer with H&S Bn., here.
Hermann is studying radiology at a local college and chose to take advantage of the early exit program to focus more of her time and effort on her studies.
Education is one of the main reasons Marines are taking advantage of VEERP rather than applying to other programs.
“School is the big reason,” said Espinoza. “Even though there is already a program for that, the early release for education, Marines see (VEERP) as an easy, no hassle way to get out early.”
Unfortunately, not every Marine can take advantage of VEERP. Marines that are already on terminal leave, scheduled for transfer to the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve or retired list, indebted to the Marine Corps through pay or leave, or are engaged in the National Call To Service Program are ineligible for the program.
As a precaution, Marines experiencing symptoms from post traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injuries or are receiving a post deployment health evaluation are also ineligible for VEERP until that process is complete or a waiver of treatment evaluation is executed.
Fiscal year separations are not authorized, therefore, only those Marines with the EAS date of Sept. 30, 2013 can be granted the full one year early release. Marines hoping to participate in the program are encouraged to submit a request as soon as possible, keeping in mind that any request for separation more than 90 days early must be endorsed by the first general officer in the chain of command.
Marines separated under the authority of MARADMIN 371/12 will be considered as having completed their full active service enlistment and won’t have enlistment bonuses recouped.
“If a Marine has (served active-duty) for more than six years and rates severance pay this early out program doesn’t mean that he can’t submit for separations pay,” said Espinoza. “If he rates it, he is entitled to it.”
Story here.