The Marine Corps is offering Marines with between six and 20 years’ active service in certain military occupational specialties the chance to accept Voluntary Separation Pay (VSP) and leave the service, in order to bring the ranks within strength levels as set by law. The VSP also is being offered to staff sergeants who have failed selection for promotion to E-7 at least once. Certain conditions apply. Marines who asked for non-consideration for promotion are not eligible. Nor are those who face disciplinary action, mandatory separation, administrative separation, or other legal actions. The pay also is not authorized for those with pending disability-severance discharges, or who are on the temporary or permanent disability retired list. Those who elected to transfer their Post 9/11 GI Bill education benefits would be eligible with no effect on the benefits. But Marines cannot transfer of those benefits after requesting VSP. The pay is calculated as 20 percent of their annual base pay, multiplied by years of service, and is subject to taxes. It is important to note that Marines who elect VSP and later qualify for disability benefits or compensation face the prospect of having the amount of VSP they get deducted from their disability checks until the government recoups the entire VSP. Likewise, those who elect VSP and later qualify for retired or retainer pay will see those monthly checks reduced until the VSP is recouped. More information is available in MARADMIN 519/13, online at www.marines.mil.
