R 221947Z OCT 24 MARADMIN 503/24 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP// SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2025 JUDGE ADVOCATE CONTINUATION PAY  PROGRAM// REF/A/DOC/TITLE 37 U.S.C. SEC 321// REF/B/DOC/TITLE 37 U.S.C. SEC 332// REF/C/DOC/DOD/DODI 1304.34/11JUL16// REF/D/DOC/DOD FMR 7000.14-R/JUN20// NARR/ REF A IS THE UNITED STATES CODE THAT AUTHORIZES THE USE  OF JUDGE ADVOCATE CONTINUATION PAY.  REF B IS THE UNITED STATES CODE  THAT AUTHORIZES GENERAL BONUSES FOR OFFICERS.  REF C IS DOD  INSTRUCTION  1304.34, GENERAL BONUS AUTHORITY FOR OFFICERS.  REF D IS VOLUME 14 OF THE DOD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REGULATION// POC/G. M. PARHAM/MAJ/HQMC/JAD/JPI/TEL:  703-955-1424// POC/J. M. ORTIZ/CAPT/HQMC/JAD/JPI/TEL:  703-614-2847// POC/M. A. HAYNES/MAJ/DC MRA/MP/MPP-30/TEL:  703-784-9365// POC/N. M. MATTHAI/MAJ/DC MRA/MM/MMOA-1/TEL:  703-784-9272// POC/N. C. ROGERS/CAPT/DC MRA/MM/MMOA-1/TEL:  703-784-9277// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  The purpose of this MARADMIN is to  provide information on the Judge Advocate Continuation Pay (JACP)  Program for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25).  Reference (a) provides the  legal authority for the JACP Program.    2.  Background.  JACP is a special pay offered to judge advocates to retain high-performing and experienced counsel.  This Program  provides a proactive, short-term incentive for judge advocates in  certain grades experiencing shortfalls.  JACP consists of a maximum  of $110,000 per officer, paid in three phases throughout a judge  advocate’s career as outlined in paragraph 5.  Contract lengths and  monetary amounts are based on current and forecasted community  shortfalls to improve the health of the judge advocate community and  will be offered to Marine judge advocates who meet eligibility  requirements outlined in paragraph 3. 3.  Eligibility Requirements.  To receive JACP, officers must meet  the following non-waivable criteria during the effective dates of  the FY25 JACP Program (1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025):  3.a.  Must be a captain or major; 3.b.  Must be in the active component; 3.c.  Must have completed all initial active duty service obligation  incurred through the officer’s original commissioning program; 3.d.  Must be qualified and certified as a judge advocate as defined  in Section 801 of Title 10 U.S. Code; 3.e.  Must have been selected for and accepted Career Designation  (CD); 3.f.  Must have served more than four and fewer than 12 years of  active commissioned service, to include time spent in the active  reserve or on active duty operational support orders, as measured  from the officer’s Armed Forces Active Duty Base Date (AFADBD), or  Date of Rank First Commissioning (DORFC) in the case of  prior-enlisted judge advocates; and, 3.g.  Must agree to continue serving as a Marine Corps judge  advocate in the active component for the defined JACP contract term.  3.h.  Judge advocates who are uncertain of their eligibility status,  or believe they are eligible despite a non-qualifying AFADBD, are  encouraged to contact the Judge Advocate Division (JAD) and Manpower  Plans and Policy (MPP-30) points of contact listed in this MARADMIN. 4.  Ineligible Categories   4.a.  Officers accessed into the Marine Corps judge advocate  community through the Marine Corps-sponsored Funded Law Education  Program under MCO 1524.1 are not eligible.  This criteria does not  apply to otherwise eligible officers accessed into the Marine Corps  judge advocate community through the Marine Corps-sponsored Excess  Leave Program (ELP) under MCO 1524.1.  Officers accessed through the  ELP are eligible after completing the attendant service obligation. 4.b.  Officers passed for promotion are not eligible for JACP.   Officers previously passed for promotion who have been subsequently  selected for promotion and meet remaining eligibility criteria are  eligible to apply for JACP. 5.  Payment Provisions.  The FY25 JACP Program consists of three  phases based on grade and years of active commissioned service as  measured from the officer’s AFADBD or DORFC in the case of  prior-enlisted judge advocates. 5.a.  Phase I:  Captains upon acceptance of CD and completion of  four and no more than seven years of active commissioned service. 5.a.1. Three annual payments of $10,000 (total $30,000). 5.b.  Phase II:  Upon promotion to major and completion of 7 and no  more than 10 years of active commissioned service. 5.b.1. Three annual payments:  $20,000 for the first installment and  $10,000 for both the second and third installments (total $40,000). 5.b.2. Any Phase I obligated service must be fulfilled prior to the  Phase II contract start date.  5.c.  Phase III:  Majors, including lieutenant colonel-selects, upon  completion of 10 and no more than 12 years of active commissioned  service. 5.c.1. Three annual payments:  $20,000 for the first installment and  $10,000 for both the second and third installments (total $40,000). 5.c.2. Any Phase II obligated service must be fulfilled prior to the  Phase III contract start date. 5.d.  Judge advocates will be paid the first installment no later  than 30 days after the contract start date as defined in the  following paragraph.  Second and third installment payments will be  made on the anniversary date of the officer’s JACP contract start  date.   5.e.  Contract start date is defined as the date the application is  approved by the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) (MPP-30) or the  completion of any existing service obligation that cannot run  concurrently with JACP service obligation per reference (c),  whichever occurs later. 6.  Active Duty Service Obligation.  Officers approved for JACP will  incur an active duty service obligation of three years from the  contract start date. 6.a.  No JACP payments will be issued prior to the commencement of  the officer’s JACP service obligation. 6.b.  JACP service obligation shall be served consecutively with  existing service obligations except where reference (c) authorizes  concurrent service obligations.   6.c.  Judge advocates with existing service obligations who are  approved for JACP may request to withdraw from JACP participation no  less than 90 days prior to their contract start date.  Such requests  will be submitted via NAVMC 10274 to [email protected]. 6.d.  Judge advocates receiving JACP who are offered continuation on  active duty after being twice passed for promotion may elect to  refuse continuation on active duty but may be subject to the  recoupment of any unearned JACP payments if they are separated prior  to fulfilling their JACP service obligation, per paragraph 7.a of  this message. 6.e.  Incomplete application packages, packages requiring  resubmission, or submission of excess information beyond the  requirements may delay the processing of the package and could  result in a delay of contract start date. 6.f.  An officer may only be released from their JACP service  obligation upon approval by CMC (MP). 7.  Recoupment and Repayment Provisions 7.a.  Termination and Repayment Required.  Judge advocates who are  unable to complete the service obligation specified in the JACP  agreement may be subject to termination of any unpaid bonus amount  and repayment of the unearned portion of prepaid amounts on a  pro-rated basis in the following circumstances: 7.a.1. Voluntary or involuntary separation from active duty or  discharge within the related contract extension time; 7.a.2. Loss of certification under Article 27(b), UCMJ, or  suspension from practice as a judge advocate for one year or longer,  subsequent to acceptance of JACP; 7.a.3. Medical incapacitation or physical disability resulting from  misconduct, gross negligence, or incurred during a period of  unauthorized absence; 7.a.4. Separation or dismissal for cause, resignation in lieu of  court martial, or resignation in lieu of processing for  administrative separation; or 7.a.5. Involuntary separation from military service by operation of  law, or involuntary separation by operation of military service or  policy. 7.b.  Recoupment and Repayment Not Required.  Officers will not be  required to repay the unearned portion of prepaid amounts of JACP,  and any remaining JACP service obligation will be terminated under  the following circumstances:  7.b.1. Before completion of the JACP service obligation, the judge  advocate dies, is retired or separated with a combat-related  disability that was not the result of his or her misconduct, or  receives a sole survivorship discharge; or 7.b.2. The Secretary of the Navy determines that, under the  circumstances, recoupment or repayment of unearned JACP would be  contrary to a personnel policy or management objective, would be  against equity or good conscience, or would be contrary to the best  interests of the United States. 8.  Application Procedures 8.a.  Applicants must submit their JACP application package to CMC  (JAD).  Package must include: 8.a.1. Application form (as defined in paragraph 9); and 8.a.2. Endorsements (as defined in paragraph 9).  8.b.  The documentation needed for processing is a scanned  electronic copy, with appropriate signatures, sent via unencrypted  email to [email protected]. 8.c.  Applications will be reviewed for eligibility by CMC (JAD) and  CMC (MMOA-1) and approved by CMC (MPP-30).  Applicants can expect a  confirmation of receipt of the application via email from CMC (JAD)  within 10 business days. Processing and approval may take up to  eight weeks.  If approved, the effective date of JACP contracts will be the contract start date, as defined in paragraph 5e.  Payments  will start no earlier than an individual’s contract start date. 8.d.  Officers applying for JACP must apply within the eligibility  timeframe for each phase as outlined in paragraph 3 of this MARADMIN  and must agree to accept the associated contract for any phase for  which approved prior to receiving JACP pay. 9.  Application Form.  Applicants will submit a Standard Naval  Letter in the following format: From:  (Applying Officer’s Grade, Name, EDIPI/MOS) To:    Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs (MPP-30) Via:   (1) First O-5 Commander or O-5 SJA in applicant’s chain of             command        (2) Commandant of the Marine Corps (JAD)        (3) Commandant of the Marine Corps (MMOA-1) Subj:  Request for FY25 Judge Advocate Continuation Pay Phase ___ Ref:   (Cite Subject MARADMIN)

1.  Per the reference, I hereby apply for FY25 Judge Advocate  Continuation Pay (JACP) Phase___.  Contingent on approval of my  application for this special pay, I agree to accept an officer  service obligation to complete three additional years of active  service beginning the effective date of my JACP contract, (in  exchange for $10,000 annually for each full year of service) or (in  exchange for $20,000 for the first year and $10,000 for each of  years two and three for each full year of service) for a total of  $__.  I agree not to tender a resignation that would be effective  during this JACP service obligation.  I understand that, upon  receipt by JAD/MPP-30, this application becomes a binding contract  and service obligation for the duration of the contract period upon  approval.    
2.  I have read, understand, and agree to be bound by the provisions  of the reference and this MARADMIN, including all provisions  relating to termination of payments to be made pursuant to this  agreement, termination of the service obligation, and the  circumstances under which recoupment by the government of sums paid  may be required.
3.  I affirm that I meet the eligibility requirements and understand  CMC (JAD/MMOA-1/MPP-30) must validate my eligibility for JACP.  In  the event it is determined I am not eligible for JACP, this  application will be returned with no action taken, and I may  re-apply at a later date if my eligibility changes.
4.  I am not currently obligated under a judge advocate bonus  program and am eligible per paragraph 5 of the reference.
5.  The following information is provided and certified to be true  and accurate: Date Accepted First Commission: YYYY/MM/DD Armed Forces Active Duty Base Date: YYYY/MM/DD Current Years of Commissioned Service: XX yrs XX mos Date Completed Initial Active Duty Service Obligation: YYYY/MM/DD Length of Initial Law Contract: XX mos Date Accepted Career Designation into the Regular Marine Corps:   YYYY/MM/DD Work Phone Number: E-Mail Address: I certify that I am not currently pending any legal action.  [Signature]
6.  Approval.  Using the format prescribed in paragraph 9 above,  eligible judge advocates may apply for JACP via their senior judge  advocate or commanding officer (O-5 and above and/or SJA billet).   Reviewing officers need only to endorse with the following:   “Forwarded recommending approval” or “Forwarded not recommending  approval.”  CMC (JAD/MPP-30) will review all applications.  Once the  application is approved by CMC (MPP-30), the judge advocate will be  eligible to receive JACP as authorized by this MARADMIN.  The only  documentation needed for processing is an electronic copy of the  application package with appropriate enclosures and signatures.
7.  Authority.  CMC (JAD/MMOA-1/MPP-30) is delegated authority to  evaluate, administer, and verify eligibility of candidates for the  JACP Program pursuant to reference (a) and this MARADMIN.  
8.  Individuals who are not eligible for Phase I payments based  upon AFADBD may still apply for, and receive, Phase II payments if  otherwise eligible in accordance with paragraph 3 of this MARADMIN.   Similarly, individuals who are not eligible for either Phase I or  Phase II payments based upon AFADBD may still apply for, and  receive, Phase III payments if otherwise eligible in accordance  with paragraph 3 of this MARADMIN.
9.  Upon confirmation of eligibility and JACP approval, MPP-30 will  send an e-mail detailing the applicant’s JACP start date.  MPP-30  will send an official letter detailing the applicant’s service  obligation and monetary amounts to the officer upon the contract  start date.  Selection for JACP is not intended to be a career  enhancement and shall not be annotated in a Marine’s fitness report.
10.  JACP payments will be taxed as per Department of Defense  Financial Management Regulation, except for those identified in  Volume 7A, Chapter 44, Paragraph 440202, reference (d).
11.  Financial Planning Consideration.  Resources are available  aboard each installation to discuss the significant financial  decisions associated with the receipt of bonuses such as changing  tax brackets, savings, investments, and retirement planning.  Local  resources available include Personal Financial Managers, contracted  Personal Financial Counselors, and unit Command Financial  Specialists.
12.  This MARADMIN is not applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve.
13.  This MARADMIN cancels on 30 September 2025.
14.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General Michael J.  Borgschulte, Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.//