Photo By Lance Cpl. Joaquin Carlos Dela Torre | U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Sean LeClaire, an Oregon native and combat videographer, left,...... read more read more
QUANTICO, Va. – In an era where retaining talent is the new battlefield, the Marine Corps is embracing changes to its manpower model. Transitioning from an industrial-age model to a modern, integrated system, the Marine Corps remains focused on retaining its most critical asset—its Marines. With the launch of Talent Management, this transformation goes beyond enduring in a competitive retention landscape; it postures the Marine Corps as a thriving force that values career development, individual talents, and operational readiness.
Traditionally, the Marine Corps operated under a rigid manpower model. This previous approach resulted in planned attrition, particularly Marines completing their first enlistment. Talent Management introduced a new model, which shifted the focus from a “recruit and replace” mentality, to one of “invest and retain.” This strategy emphasizes adaptable career paths, family support, and professional flexibility, ensuring Marines are not only recruited but developed into long-term warfighters.
“As warfare continues to change, our personnel models are also changing,” stated Gen. Eric M. Smith, the 39th Commandant of the Marine Corps. “We are no longer ‘recruiting and replacing’ but ‘investing in and retaining’ the talented Marines within our formations.”
The success of this initiative is reflected in the Marine Corps' record-breaking retention rates for Fiscal Year 2024. The service exceeded its first-term reenlistment goal by 114%, the highest in over a decade, while also achieving 106% of its overall reenlistment goal. This resulted in the retention of more than 13,700 Marines.
Retention is a collective effort that extends across all formations within the Marine Corps and is not solely the responsibility of career planners and monitors. Leaders of every rank and position throughout the force play a critical role of promoting the benefits of continued service and encouraging Marines to explore the wide array of career development opportunities.
"Retaining the best Marines is an all-hands effort,” said Sgt. Maj. Carlos A. Ruiz, the 20th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps. “These combined efforts allowed the Marine Corps to exceed its end strength goal.”
A cornerstone element of the service’s retention efforts is a robust career growth framework that allows Marines to exercise more agency in their careers and better align their strengths to the Marine Corps’ needs. Programs such as the Direct Affiliation Program and the Career Intermission Program allow Marines to further enhance their professional skills while maintaining their military commitments. Additionally, initiatives like the Commandant’s Retention Program streamline the reenlistment process, providing greater flexibility for first-term Marines and incentivizing career progression at earlier stages than before.
These programs not only give Marines more control over their trajectories but also reflect the Marine Corps' commitment to provide transparency and predictability for Marines and their families.
Recognizing family considerations plays a significant role in retention; the Marine Corps has introduced several initiatives aimed at supporting Marines and their families. For Marine families with both partners in uniform, the creation of the Dual Military Coordinator assists those couples in reducing family separation by helping members remain geo-located and competitive with each new set of orders. Additionally, programs such as the Family Member Employment Assistance Program are designed to provide support and resources to family members, including spouses of service members, to help them pursue and sustain meaningful employment despite the challenges of the military lifestyle.
Family readiness remains a top priority, and the Marine Corps continues to implement programs that keep faith with Marine families, spouses, and their children, ensuring that their needs are met. As a service, the Marine Corps understands that it recruits the Marine, but retains the family.
“We’re taking into account that these are not just Marines, these are spouses and mothers and fathers,” said Col. Matthew Markham, the Manpower Management Enlisted Assignments branch head. “We're doing more to find ways to keep the efficacy of our force while maintaining the family dynamic.”
The Marine Corps’ retention efforts expand beyond its active-duty component to include the reserve component, offering expanded service opportunities for Marines who wish to continue serving while pursuing civilian careers. Programs such as the Reserve Continuation and Transition Program allow Marines to seamlessly transition from active duty to the Marine Corps Reserve, maintaining certain benefits while adapting to civilian life. The Direct Affiliation Program provides additional incentives and bonuses, making the Marine Corps Reserve an attractive option for those nearing the end of their active service.
By promoting reserve opportunities, the Marine Corps retains experienced personnel and ensures continued readiness across its reserve units, further enhancing total force capabilities.
The successes of the Marine Corps’ retention efforts lay the foundation for a more mature and experienced Marine Corps. However, challenges remain. The retention environment will still be competitive as Marines continue to develop their skillsets, requiring ongoing innovation and a sustained focus on personnel investment.
“Although this is a huge accomplishment, we have more work to do and cannot rest on our past successes,” said Lt. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte, Deputy Commandant for Manpower & Reserve Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps. “We must maintain the momentum into Fiscal Year 2025 and continue to prioritize our Marine Corps’ most valuable and lethal asset—its people.”
As the Marine Corps looks to the future, its enduring commitment to its people and their families remains vital to maintaining the efficacy of the force. By continuing to nurture talent, encourage career development, and make retention a collective effort, the Marine Corps is well-positioned to meet the evolving challenges of tomorrow and continue its legacy of winning battles when called upon by the nation.
| Date Taken: | 10.22.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 10.22.2024 12:00 |
| Story ID: | 482664 |
| Location: | QUANTICO, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 313 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Navigating the Future: Marine Corps achieves retention success, improves talent management, by 1LT Ryan Tobin, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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