New Orleans --
Shortly after being introduced in planning meetings, many armed forces abbreviations are morphed into new, four-letter words, which eventually take hold in our common military vocabulary. For Marines, the newly coined acronyms will replace the abbreviation from which they spawned and take on a life of their own. The Marine Corps Recruiting Command became “Mick Rick”, International Security Assistance Force transformed into “Eye Saff,” and Non-combatant Evacuation Operations took on new identities as “Knee Ohs.” There are countless other examples, sometimes used in conjunction with each other; almost forming an alternate language.
Not to be outdone by its predecessors, one recently added abbreviation is gaining ground lately, this time with the Marine Corps Reserve. The new four-letter action term is an abbreviation for the Force Structure Review Group, more affectionately known to Marines as “Fizz Rig.”
Last year, the Commandant of the Marine Corps released a report that outlined the Secretary of Defense-mandated review of our Force structure. The intent of the report was to promote an understanding of how the Corps plans to meet the ever-changing demands levied on it, as America’s expeditionary force in readiness.
In simple terms, the continually adjusting restructuring plan brings change to various aspects of the Corps, ranging from fine-tuning of occupational specialties to tweaking unit sizes and locations, or even shifting entire command structures.
For the Reserve Force, the effects of FSRG may seem even more accentuated due to the location of Reserve units spread across 47 of the United States, close to Marines’ hometowns; having a different type of significant impact on Reserve Marines than the periodic relocation their active duty counterparts experience every few years.
For Reserve Marines, though, they could express less concern for the heavy details of the FSRG plan, such as the stated “dual demands of sustained forward presence and sufficient lift.” and may focus more on their personal question of “what effect will FSRG have on me and my future in the Corps?”
To begin to answer some of the basic personal questions, it’s important to note, for the Corps’ Reserve, changes and career shifts resulting from FSRG are already underway.
To get at the heart of FSRG basics, let’s outline what’s taking place right now.
Before any change to our Force becomes official, Headquarters Marine Corps will first release a 5400 Bulletin, which is an official document that outlines the activation, deactivation or significant change to a unit or command structure. So far, the FSRG has resulted in the 26 such bulletins, with plans in the works to release several more. These announcements will affect Reserve Inspector-Instructor staff, the permanent locations of some Home Training Centers, and potential shifts in Marines’ local units or their own occupational specialties.
As with any change, it is better to know what’s coming so you can better understand the adjustments needed. For Reservists, the adjustment comes to their home units in the form of Personnel Transition Teams. The teams are visiting several Reserve units across the U.S. that are affected by FSRG, to help the Marines and staff there make the smoothest transition possible.
To avoid potential surprises for career or duty assignments, Erik Cook, Manpower Deputy Branch Head for Marine Forces Reserve outlines some of the key points for Marines to keep in mind so they can be prepared when a PTT is headed their way:
Personnel Transition Team's Top Ten for FizzRigged Marines
- The Personnel Transition Team is authorized to solve problems.
The PTT is comprised of Marines and civilians from Marine Corps Headquarters, Marine Forces Reserve and others who are Subject Matter Experts in Reserve Marine requirements and issues. If you have a question, comment or concern about the affects of FSRG and all the options available to you, the PTT folks are the exact resource to get the bottom line scoop.
- Your Reserve unit is changing.
In some cases your unit will become a new type of unit under a different type of Command. For example, a 4th Marine Division rifle company could be changed to a 4th Marine Logistic Group bridge company. This means there will be new types of jobs to fill in the new unit, which may require a different MOS than you currently have. And, in a few cases, your unit may be leaving the area with no unit to replace it.
- Transition teams really want to help you.
The PTT's mission is to help you understand the changes and the opportunities available to you: to potentially fill a new requirement in the new unit. The team members can help identify opportunities that may be available to you in other units or at other locations as well.
- Remember that contract you signed?
Obligated Marines, or Obligors, are SMCR Marines who have not reached their Mandatory Drill Participation Stop Date. This means, if you are an obligor, there is still more Reserve duty required on your enlistment contract. Even with FSRG changes, obligors are still required to continue to attend drill and active training periods until the MDSD.
- You might get a new skill, or a longer contract.
Obligors will be offered the opportunity to re-classify, otherwise known as a Lateral Move, to a new Primary MOS required by the unit. To LatMove, Marines must be qualified for the new PMOS they decide to train for. These qualifications can include specific test scores, medical or dental readiness, etc. If you decide to LatMove you may also have more service time added to your contract.
- There will be no bus waiting to take you to school.
Those who qualify for a new Primary MOS will attend the full length training and will receive all pay and benefits for the time they are on active duty attending school. Attendance at MOS school is voluntary. Transition team members will help figure out the schedule of available school seats and arrange the next steps to get the training ball rolling.
- Consider joining the 1st Sgt's "broom platoon?"
Obligors are not required to re-classify to a new PMOS. If they choose to stay in an MOS the new unit won't need, they will still be required to continue to attend drill and annual training until their MDSD. This means, complying with the new unit's senior enlisted, drill-weekend training plan.
- You have nine months before the clock runs out.
Non-Obligors are prior-Active duty Marines or those who have passed their MDSD in the Reserve. If you are a non-obligor and your unit is changing, there are a few options:
1) You can transfer to a different unit if they have an opening for your rank and MOS,
2) You can stay with the new unit if it has an open billet for your rank and MOS,
3) You might be able to LatMove to a new MOS and move to an opening that matches your new skill,
4) You can voluntarily transfer to the Individual Ready Reserve, or
5) If you meet the criteria, you can request to retire.
Non-Obligors can continue to drill with the new unit for up to nine months. After the nine months, if you don't choose one of the five options, you'll be transferred to the IRR.
- In the IRR you will lose Reserve healthcare, the GI Bill and bonuses.
If you transfer to the IRR, either voluntarily or involuntarily, you will lose your TRICARE Reserve Select coverage. If you voluntarily transfer to the IRR, you will also lose your Montgomery GI Bill benefits. However, if the Corps involuntarily transfers you to the IRR, you can keep your MGIB benefits including any benefits you may have already used. Keep in mind, though, if you voluntarily transfer to the IRR or the IMA or Active Reserve, any incentives you may have received, such as a re-enlistment bonus, could be recouped.
- If you move to a different unit, you might get reimbursed for travel and meals.
Depending on your rank and the billet you are assigned to, you may be eligible for inactive duty training, travel reimbursement if you choose to transfer to another unit. MARADMIN 191/12 outlines all the qualifications for this option. http://www.marines.mil/news/messages/Pages/MARADMIN191-12.aspx/
As the Marine Corps rolls out the widespread changes, manpower and personnel experts will provide detailed guidance on the next steps for the units and Marines that will be affected.
The bottom line is that adjusting the Corps' structure through FSRG is a fairly complex beast, and will take some time to put in place. Although some changes have already occurred, the overall adjustments to the Corps structure won’t be totally complete until 2017.
Related FSRG Resources: