The Marine Corps has set new standards for high-year tenure, which limits the number of years individual junior enlisted Marines can serve after being passed over for promotion. The new ruling, outlined in a Dec. 18 service-wide announcement, also included more strict high-year guidelines for sergeants. Here are the service limits and high-year tenure for pay grades E-4 through E-9:
* Corporal — eight years of active service.
* Sergeant: 12 years.
* Staff sergeant: 20 years.
* Gunnery sergeant: 22 years.
* First sergeant/master sergeant: 27 years.
* Sergeant major/Master gunnery sergeant: 30 years.
The regulation contains a host of guidelines that would allow for exceptions. Otherwise, Marines who are passed over for promotion twice are likely to be separated from service or transferred to the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve.
