1. Legacy Road Map Message Aviation Manpower and Support Branch (ASM) August 2019

2. References Title 10 United States Code (USC)
DoDI Continuation of Commissioned Officers on Active Duty and on the Reserve Active-Status List
DoDI Procedures for Military Personnel Assignments
MCO Marine Corps Personnel Assignment Policy
MCO Separation and Retirement Manual (MARCORSEPMAN)
USMC F-35B Squadron Transition Policy Letter (30 Jul 2017)
FY19 AVPLAN and TACAIR Transition Plan
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3. Table of Contents 1 – General Considerations
2 – MOS Specific Considerations for O-5 Command and Beyond
3 – MOS Specific Considerations for Retiring at O-5
4 – General Considerations for Retiring at O-4
5 – Summary
*Following slides are based on current projections (As of FY19)*
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4. Table of Contents 1 – General Considerations
2 – MOS Specific Considerations for O-5 Command and Beyond
3 – MOS Specific Considerations for Retiring at O-5
4 – General Considerations for Retiring at O-4
5 – Summary
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5. General Career Timing Considerations
A higher statistical probability exists for getting F-35 and UAS command over F/A-18 or AV-8B commands.
Low inventory of eligible F-35 and UAS commanders (MOS community health) versus high number of eligible commands.
Average USMC time-in-service (TIS) at pinning:
O-6: 22 years, 9 months TIS
O-5: 16 years, 10 months TIS
O-4: 9 years, 11 months TIS
Officer in-zone data (average time-in-grade (TIG)):
O-5 Board: 3 years and 11 months to 5 years TIG
O-4 Board: 4 years to 5 years and 2 months TIG
O-5 selects and O-5s compete for command every year on the Command Screening Board (CSB) until passed for O-6.
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6. Example of Calculating Personal Career Timing
Maj Jim Rat checks the manpower website and finds the current promotion zones under MPP-30 / MP / M&RA.
Maj Jim Rat sees he is in zone for the CY19 (FY21) O-5 Promotion Board (PB). His board will take place in August 2019, and he will see the results via ALNAV around December 2019.
If selected for O-5, Maj Jim Rat will first screen for O-5 command on the FY21 O-5 CSB, which will take place in July 2020 with results publishing around early August 2020.
If selected, Maj Jim Rat can expect to take command between summer 2021 and summer 2022.
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7. Table of Contents 1 – General Considerations
2 – MOS Specific Considerations for O-5 Command and Beyond
3 – MOS Specific Considerations for Retiring at O-5
4 – General Considerations for Retiring at O-4
5 – Summary
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8. Career Goals for Competing for O-5 Command
As long as a legacy PMOS Officer makes O-5, they will have the opportunity to compete for command even if squadrons for their PMOS no longer exist.
Example: Current O prowler ECMOs are eligible to compete for H&HS commands, and 7543 prowler pilots are eligible to compete for FW Training (VTs) and H&HS commands.
While there is no set career path to be selected to O-5 command, there are certain wickets that if met provide an officer’s career the greatest probability for selection to O-5 command. This assumes consistent above average performance throughout one’s career and a current, complete, and accurate record.
Completing a key department head (DH) billet in a squadron is still looked upon favorably for selection to O-5 command.
The following slides focus on career timing considerations for only PMOS squadron command.
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9. O-5 Squadron Command Considerations 7525 (F/A-18D WSO)
Last Legacy Command Opportunity: VMFA(AW)-224
Expected assumption of command ~summer 2023
Selected on FY23 O-5 CSB (~Aug 2022)
Need to be selected for O-5 NLT CY21 (FY23) PB (~Dec 2021)
Need to be promoted to O-4 NLT ~early 2017
Transition Opportunities:
Annual Transition/Conversion (TC) Board
UAS – This is the strongest need of HQMC for WSOs (72 month obligation)
NFO to SNA (~1-5 selects per year / 96 month obligation)
Ground PMOS (not eligible until total FW MOS health improves)
Note: “~” means approximately
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10. O-5 Squadron Command Considerations 7509 (AV-8B Harrier Pilot)
Last Legacy Command Opportunity: VMA-223
Expected assumption of command ~summer 2025
Selected on FY25 O-5 CSB (~Aug 2024)
Need to be selected for O-5 NLT CY23 (FY25) PB (~Dec 2023)
Need to be promoted to O-4 NLT ~early 2019
Transition Opportunities:
F-35:
Annual TC Board (60 month obligation)
Field Conversion via MMOA-2 (60 month obligation)
Direct transition of squadron to F-35 (possible in future years)
Note: “~” means approximately
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11. O-5 Squadron Command Considerations 7523 (F/A-18 Hornet Pilot)
Last Legacy Command Opportunity: VMFA-323
Expected assumption of command ~summer 2027
Selected on FY27 O-5 CSB (~Aug 2026)
Need to be selected for O-5 NLT CY25 (FY27) PB (~Dec 2025)
Need to be promoted to O-4 NLT ~early 2021
Transition Opportunities:
F-35:
Annual TC Board (60 month obligation)
Field Conversion via MMOA-2 (60 month obligation)
Direct transition of squadron to F-35 (possible in future years)
Note: “~” means approximately
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12. Table of Contents 1 – General Considerations
2 – MOS Specific Considerations for O-5 Command and Beyond
3 – MOS Specific Considerations for Retiring at O-5
4 – General Considerations for Retiring at O-4
5 – Summary
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13. Career Goals for Retiring at O-5 (No Command)
For some officers, the career goal maybe to simply retire at the grade of O-5.
While there is no set career path to higher ranks as an aviator, there are certain wickets that if met provide an officer’s career the greatest probability for selection to O-5. This assumes consistent above average performance throughout one’s career and a current, complete, and accurate record.
Completing a key department head (DH) billet in a squadron is still looked upon favorably for promotion to O-5.
If an officer’s career timing will not support completing a DH tour in their legacy platform, this officer should consider transitioning to a new PMOS sooner rather than later in their career.
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14. Considerations for Retiring at O-5 7525 (F/A-18D WSO)
DH Tour
Last Chance for DH Tour: VMFA(AW)-224
VMFA(AW)-224 will start their transition to F-35 on 1 Oct In order to have a fair chance of completing a DH tour, a WSO would need to report to VMFA(AW)-224 NLT fall 2022.
This would give an officer at least two years to complete their XO, OPSO, and/or AMO billets as an O-4.
O-3 WSOs will need to be selected to O-4 by December 2021 (CY21, FY23 PB) IOT be an O-4 in time for these possible billets.
No official plan for composite squadrons in the future.
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15. Considerations for Retiring at O-5 7509 (AV-8B Harrier Pilot)
DH Tour
Last Chance for DH Tour: VMA-223
VMA-223 will start their transition to F-35 on 1 Oct In order to have a fair chance of completing a DH tour, a pilot would need to report to VMA-223 NLT fall 2024.
This would give an officer at least two years to complete their XO, OPSO, and/or AMO billets as an O-4.
O-3 pilots will need to be selected to O-4 by December 2023 (CY23, FY25 PB) IOT be an O-4 in time for these possible billets.
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16. Considerations for Retiring at O-5 7523 (F/A-18 Hornet Pilot)
DH Tour
Last Chance for DH Tour: VMFA-323
VMFA-323 will start their transition to F-35 on 1 Oct In order to have a fair chance of completing a DH tour, a pilot would need to report to VMFA-323 NLT fall 2026.
This would give an officer at least two years to complete their XO, OPSO, and/or AMO billets as an O-4.
O-3 pilots will need to be selected to O-4 by December 2025 (CY25, FY27 PB) IOT be an O-4 in time for these possible billets.
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17. Table of Contents 1 – General Considerations
2 – MOS Specific Considerations for O-5 Command and Beyond
3 – MOS Specific Considerations for Retiring at O-5
4 – General Considerations for Retiring at O-4
5 – Summary
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18. Career Goals for Retiring at O-4
For officers without prior enlisted service, it is possible to retire at the grade of O-4 as long as continuation is offered when they are twice passed (2P) for O-5. Most officers without prior enlisted service will not have (18) years TIS upon being 2P for O-5.
Continuation is NOT guaranteed. Per Title 10 United States Code (USC), Section 632, sanctuary for retirement is (18) years TIS. Additionally, per DoDI , “For officers within (4) years of qualifying for retirement, continuation will normally be supported unless skill requirements of quality indictors dictate otherwise.”
The decision to offer continuation each year is based on current and projected MOS health. While it is projected that FW manning will remain below desired levels, it cannot be guaranteed how long this will last.
FY19 and FY20 LtCol Continuation Boards offered continuation to 100% of qualifying 2P O-4s. Current promotion plans continuation guidance authorizes selection up to 100% and no less than 95% of 2P O-4s.
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19. Table of Contents 1 – General Considerations
2 – MOS Specific Considerations for O-5 Command and Beyond
3 – MOS Specific Considerations for Retiring at O-5
4 – General Considerations for Retiring at O-4
5 – Summary
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20. “So What is the Plan?”
The AVPLAN and TACAIR Transition Plan outline how and when HQMC will transition USMC squadrons from legacy to F-35 aircraft. Per Title 10 USC, HQMC can’t force an officer to transition to a new PMOS unless they have sufficient obligated service remaining.
After reviewing the slides in this presentation an officer may determine it is in his or her best interest to transition to a new PMOS.
Depending on the length of training involved for a new PMOS, a transition will incur additional obligated service. If an officer is past their initial service obligation, a transition must be voluntary.
HQMC will provide options, availability, and general information on how to transition to new PMOSs for legacy aircrew, but the decision is on the individual officer and their personal career timing.
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21. Review
Options for transition were covered in the presentation slides, but to review, officers currently serving as F/A-18 pilots and WSOs or AV-8B pilots can choose among the following options:
Remain in their current PMOS
Transition to the F-35 (legacy pilots / 60 month obligation)
Execute NFO to SNA (option for a few WSOs / 96 month obligation)
Transition to UAS (WSOs / 72 month obligation)
Execute a lateral move to a ground PMOS (contact MMOA-3)
Options for executing a transition:
Annual Transition/Conversion (TC) Board
Field Conversions via MMOA-2 (new as of FY19)
Lateral move via MMOA-3 (ground PMOS)
Direct Transition of entire squadrons (possible in future years)
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22. Final Considerations
All officers with less than 14 years commissioned service (YCS) are strongly encouraged to critically evaluate their own career timing, career goals, current T/M/S career opportunities, and personal desires IOT decide whether or not to transition to a new PMOS.
The TACAIR transition will continue for fifteen (15) more active duty fleet squadrons for over another decade.
In keeping faith with Marines, HQMC will continue to update this brief as further iterations of the AVPLAN and TACAIR Transition Plan are released.
Please contact your monitor or MMRP for personal career counseling. Please contact your monitor or ASM for any questions on the AVPLAN, TACAIR transition, transition opportunities, and/or this brief.
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23. POCs
ASM-32: Maj Thane Norman (FW & UAS Occ Field Sponsor) /
MMOA-2: Maj Casey Gilliam (FW Majors Monitor) / /8/ Capt Kyle Bookhout (FW Company Grade Monitor) / /8/
MMRP-50 Career Counselling: /
MMOA-3 Lateral Moves: Maj Craig Zoellner
/ /
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