Promotion & Demotion Policy
Promotions are awarded to Marines for their hard work and dedication to the United States Department of Defense. Promotions are based off merit and hard work, and not off the time in grade of an individual. In order for an individual to be eligible for a promotion, they must have met the time and grade outlined in this policy. For promotion from W-5 to O-1 a review must be conducted through the OSD Senior Staff and the individual's current commanding officer in order to become eligible for a commissioning. This promotion may only be conducted by the Secretary of Defense or the Deputy Secretary of Defense. Promotions of personnel O-1 through O-6 must be approved by any member of the OSD Senior Staff before they are able to take place. Promotions from O-7 to O-10 may only be completed with the consent of the Secretary of Defense. Section I, Sub-Section I of this policy indicates the promotion and demotion scale for all service members in the Department of Defense. Promotional and demotional authority of individuals belonging to the Office of the Secretary of Defense are governed by their Legislative Authority.
This range reflects the promotion and demotion authority of a Commissioned Officer at the given pay grade.
SgtMajMC --------------------------------- W-1
O-1 --------------------------------- E-6
O-2 --------------------------------- E-7
O-3 --------------------------------- E-8
O-4 --------------------------------- W-1
O-5 --------------------------------- W-3
O-6 --------------------------------- W-4
O-7 --------------------------------- O-2
O-8 --------------------------------- O-3
O-9 --------------------------------- O-4
O-10 --------------------------------- O-5
HQMC --------------------------------- +1
CMC/ACMC --------------------------------- O-6
Marines of the pay grade of W-1+ must be in a Military Occupational Specialty in order to be promoted. Personnel W-3+ may only be promoted by their commanding officer (Headquarters, Department of the Marine Corps or Office of the Secretary of Defense), however recommendations can be made both internally and externally to these commanding officers for a promotion. This promotion restriction may be nullified by any member of the OSD Senior Staff.
Article A - E-1
First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Dishonorable Discharge
Article B - E-2 to O-10
First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Temporary Demotion (1, 2 or 3 Days)
Third Offense: Permanent Demotion
Fourth Offense: Dishonorable Discharge
Certain offenses may bypass the system. Officers may only demote within their range. All offenses outside of range require screen shot evidence and submission to an officer who can demote them or the IGMC/IG. All demotions are subject to reversal by the the OSD Senior Staff as well as the leadership of the Office of the Inspector General.
All demotions must follow the protocols of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and sufficient evidence must be provided at any time by the demoting officer if the demotion goes under review. Commanding Officers hold the right to demote any of their personnel within their promotion range for failure to follow through with their duties.
To receive an honorable discharge, you must be at least the rank of E-3, and post a resignation thread on the resignations board. A service member must also leave on honorable terms to receive an honorable discharge. This means you cannot leave to avoid disciplinary action. Personnel who have been demoted must wait a minimum of 2 weeks after the issued demotion, or advance up one rank in order to be eligible for an honorable discharge. If you have resigned more than three times in the course of one year, the OSD Senior Staff reserves the right to enlist you as a recruit the next time you wish to reinstate. If you wish to be reinstated the; SECDEF, DEPSECDEF, CMC, ACMC, USD PR, or DCMRA hold the power to reinstate you. You must wait a minimum of one month or you will receive a one rank demotion. If you have left and joined another organization and then came back, you will receive a two rank demotion.
There are many reasons to receive a dishonorable discharge, but any personnel that have been dishonorably discharged are not permitted back without a pardon. Officers may dishonorably discharge any personnel within their range with sufficient reason. Only the SECDEF/DEPSECDEF may fire personnel O-1+ for rights removal. Personnel may only be able to return if the discharge is overturned or pardoned by the SECDEF, DEPSECDEF, CMC, ACMC, IG, or IGMC. Reinstatement to ranks vary depending on the severity and at the discretion of those individuals.
Promotions are awarded to Marines for their hard work and dedication to the United States Department of Defense. Promotions are based off merit and hard work, and not off the time in grade of an individual. In order for an individual to be eligible for a promotion, they must have met the time and grade outlined in this policy. For promotion from W-5 to O-1 a review must be conducted through the OSD Senior Staff and the individual's current commanding officer in order to become eligible for a commissioning. This promotion may only be conducted by the Secretary of Defense or the Deputy Secretary of Defense. Promotions of personnel O-1 through O-6 must be approved by any member of the OSD Senior Staff before they are able to take place. Promotions from O-7 to O-10 may only be completed with the consent of the Secretary of Defense. Section I, Sub-Section I of this policy indicates the promotion and demotion scale for all service members in the Department of Defense. Promotional and demotional authority of individuals belonging to the Office of the Secretary of Defense are governed by their Legislative Authority.
This range reflects the promotion and demotion authority of a Commissioned Officer at the given pay grade.
SgtMajMC --------------------------------- W-1
O-1 --------------------------------- E-6
O-2 --------------------------------- E-7
O-3 --------------------------------- E-8
O-4 --------------------------------- W-1
O-5 --------------------------------- W-3
O-6 --------------------------------- W-4
O-7 --------------------------------- O-2
O-8 --------------------------------- O-3
O-9 --------------------------------- O-4
O-10 --------------------------------- O-5
HQMC --------------------------------- +1
CMC/ACMC --------------------------------- O-6
Marines of the pay grade of W-1+ must be in a Military Occupational Specialty in order to be promoted. Personnel W-3+ may only be promoted by their commanding officer (Headquarters, Department of the Marine Corps or Office of the Secretary of Defense), however recommendations can be made both internally and externally to these commanding officers for a promotion. This promotion restriction may be nullified by any member of the OSD Senior Staff.
- Only the SECDEF/DEPSECDEF may promote to O-1 as rights must be given. The O-1 must have passed the Department of Defense Review.
- When an E-1 receives two or more Military Occupational Specialty Trainings tags that E-1 is required to automatically be promoted to the pay grade of E-2 regardless of their enlistment date by the trainer of the MOST.
- All E-3's must have received Sentry Training from a CMO member before being promoted to E-4. Likewise, all E-5's must receive USMC Basic Procedure Training from a CMO member before being promoted to E-6.
- A 1stSgt/SgtMaj must serve for a six week term upon being promoted to a higher rank. If the individual needs to remove himself/herself before their set tenure is up they are able to receive the rank of E-8/E-9 dependent on their current position.
- A 1stSgt/SgtMaj may only be removed from their position by their Commanding Officer or by a member of the OSD upon receiving three consecutive infractions. Exceptions can be made if the individual is receiving a dishonorable discharge.
- OSD may promote personnel who have served their 1stSgt/SgtMaj term up to the pay grade of W-4. SECDEF/DEPSECDEF permission is required for advancement to W-5.
- If an individual has only served one term of 1stSgt or SgtMaj the individual may only be promoted to the maximum pay grade of W-3. In order to be eligible for a promotion to the pay grade of W-4 or W-5 the individual must have served both as the 1stSgt and SgtMaj.
- Selectees can only be promoted to a rank by the OSD Senior Staff or the leadership of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel & Readiness (USD PR).
- Individuals may only be promoted to the pay grade of O-7 if at the time of the promotion they are a part of HQMC. The SECDEF/DEPSECDEF reserves the right to nullify this rule for personnel who go above and beyond the call of duty.
- Indviduals may only be promoted to the pay grade of O-10 if at the time of the promotion they are CMC or ACMC. The SECDEF/DEPSECDEF reserves the right to nullify this rule for personnel who go above and beyond the call of duty.
Article A - E-1
First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Dishonorable Discharge
Article B - E-2 to O-10
First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Temporary Demotion (1, 2 or 3 Days)
Third Offense: Permanent Demotion
Fourth Offense: Dishonorable Discharge
Certain offenses may bypass the system. Officers may only demote within their range. All offenses outside of range require screen shot evidence and submission to an officer who can demote them or the IGMC/IG. All demotions are subject to reversal by the the OSD Senior Staff as well as the leadership of the Office of the Inspector General.
All demotions must follow the protocols of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and sufficient evidence must be provided at any time by the demoting officer if the demotion goes under review. Commanding Officers hold the right to demote any of their personnel within their promotion range for failure to follow through with their duties.
To receive an honorable discharge, you must be at least the rank of E-3, and post a resignation thread on the resignations board. A service member must also leave on honorable terms to receive an honorable discharge. This means you cannot leave to avoid disciplinary action. Personnel who have been demoted must wait a minimum of 2 weeks after the issued demotion, or advance up one rank in order to be eligible for an honorable discharge. If you have resigned more than three times in the course of one year, the OSD Senior Staff reserves the right to enlist you as a recruit the next time you wish to reinstate. If you wish to be reinstated the; SECDEF, DEPSECDEF, CMC, ACMC, USD PR, or DCMRA hold the power to reinstate you. You must wait a minimum of one month or you will receive a one rank demotion. If you have left and joined another organization and then came back, you will receive a two rank demotion.
There are many reasons to receive a dishonorable discharge, but any personnel that have been dishonorably discharged are not permitted back without a pardon. Officers may dishonorably discharge any personnel within their range with sufficient reason. Only the SECDEF/DEPSECDEF may fire personnel O-1+ for rights removal. Personnel may only be able to return if the discharge is overturned or pardoned by the SECDEF, DEPSECDEF, CMC, ACMC, IG, or IGMC. Reinstatement to ranks vary depending on the severity and at the discretion of those individuals.