MCP-R is an enlisted to officer commissioning program designed to provide outstanding enlisted Marines the opportunity to serve as Marine Corps officers in the SMCR. The MCP-R program affords exceptionally
qualified enlisted Reserve Marines who possess an associates degree or 75 semester hours to attend OCS and commission without a baccalaureate degree. Newly commissioned Second Lieutenants must possess a degree prior to being promoted to Captain.

Every attempt will be made for MCP-R commissioned officers to remain on active duty throughout the duration of the time they execute orders to OCS, complete their MOS school, and return to their reserve unit. Only when there is a significant gap between TBS graduation and the convening date of MOS schools will a MCP-R second lieutenant be transferred back to SMCR status while awaiting training. Failure to successfully complete an MOS producing school within one year after completing TBS will result in the officer being processed for involuntary separation.

Selected Marines will be eligible to receive a commission after successful completion of OCS and will be ordered to attend TBS.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
a. General Qualifications
(1) MCP-R allows COs to nominate highly qualified Marines, RC and AC, who do not posses a baccalaureate degree but who have demonstrated exceptional leadership potential, for assignment to OCS and subsequent commissioning in the Marine Corps Reserve.
(2) Must be at least 20 years of age and less than 30 years of age on date of appointment to commissioned grade. The law requires an applicant to be able to complete 20 years of active commissioned service before their 62nd birthday. Waivers may be considered by CG MCRC up to the age of 35 for ground officers.
(3) RC applicants must have completed 12 months of reserve service in the Selected Reserves of the Marine Corps Ready Reserve and have at least 12 months remaining on their current reserve enlistment or extension from the date of the selection board convening. Prior service enlisted Marines must have completed a minimum of 12 months of reserve service in the Selected Reserve or active duty service in the AC with 12 months remaining on their current reserve enlistment or extension from the date of the selection board convening. AR Marines who apply and are selected will be transferred to the IRR prior to assignment to active duty for training at OCS and will be assigned to an SMCR unit upon completion of their commitment to their respective SMCR units and competitive selection by an AR officer accession board.
(4) AC applicants must have completed a minimum of 12 months of active duty service before applying for a reserve commission via MCP-R. AC applicants must have an EAS date within one year of the selection board convening. Marines may seek a conditional release via their AC chain of command if the desired OCC convening date occurs prior to the Marine’s active duty EAS.
b. Education. MCP-R applicants must have satisfactorily earned an associate level degree or completed 75 semester hours or more of college work at a regionally or nationally accredited college or university prior to applying for the program. Courses will not be counted more than once towards the cumulative total requirement minimum (multiple course hours will not be counted for courses that are repeated).
c. Obligated Service
(1) RC must have completed 12 months TIS. AR Marines who apply and are selected will be transferred to the IRR prior to assignment to active duty for training at OCS and will be assigned to a SMCR unit upon completion of all training. Former AR Marines may return to an AR status upon completion of their commitment to their respective SMCR units and competitive selection by an AR officer accession board.
(2) AC applicants must have completed a minimum of 12 months of active duty service before applying for a reserve commission via MCP-R. AC applicants must have a EAS date within one-year of the selection board convening. Marines may seek a conditional release DD 368 via their AC chain of command if the desired OCC convening date occurs prior to the Marine’s active duty EAS.
d. Physical Requirements. Must be found physically qualified for appointment to commissioned grade in the USMC per the standards set forth in the references. Medical waivers may be considered under the policy described in the references.
e. Service Requirements. At the time of application, the applicant must meet the following requirements.
(1) Hold the rank of corporal or above.
(2) Have a record of excellent to outstanding service.
(3) Have at least 36 months continuous service in the SMCR; or have
served on active duty for a period of three years or more, and be currently
serving in a drilling unit of the SMCR not on active duty.

APPLICATION PROCESS
a. MARFORRES Endorsement. RC Marines who are members of SMCR units do not require endorsement by the CO MARFORRES prior to submission to MCRC; unless they are a member of the MARFORRES staff or a MARFORRES level unit.
b. Individual Mobilizaton Augmentees (IMAs). IMA Marines will submit applications via their sponsor’s chain of command.
c. Inactive Ready Reserve. IRR Marines will submit applications via MARFORRES.
d. MOS Assignment. MOS assignment for reserve officers will be completed at TBS.
e. Additional Instructions. Refer to the checklist and sample application for all items to be submitted; along with instructions.

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
Marines selected for MCP-R will be assigned to OCS in Quantico, VA to attend the appropriate OCC. Upon successful completion of OCS, an MCP-R participant will be commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve and assigned to the next available course of instruction at TBS. Upon graduation from TBS, reserve Second Lieutenants will be assigned to their appropriate MOS school based on MOS designation.

MOS ASSIGNMENT. CMC (RA), in coordination with TBS, will assign reserve Second Lieutenants their MOS based on input taken from the application, interviews with and observations of the second lieutenant during training, and final verification of unit/billet requirements.

SMCR UNIT ASSIGNMENT. CMC (RA), in coordination with TBS, will assign reserve second lieutenants to their initial SMCR unit based on the same criteria identified in paragraph five of this chapter.

SELECTED RESERVES SERVICE OBLIGATION. The selected reserve service obligation is four years (48 months) of commissioned service. The time spent in training at TBS and MOS school will count toward the 48 month requirement.