MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- A newly released Marine Administrative Message, which goes into effect Oct. 21, announces a two-fold change to calculating composite scores.
Because of considerable input via senior-enlisted leadership and Marine mail, the commandant of the Marine Corps has increased the maximum number of self-education bonus points that can be applied to a composite score from 75 to 100.
Also under MARADMIN 246/03, Marine Corps Institute courses completed as a private and private first class can now be applied to a lance corporal?s composite score, effecting the January through March 2004 promotion quarter.
According to the message, self-education bonus points will automatically update in the Marine Corps Total Force System to allow a 100-point maximum. If a Marine has already completed more than 75 points worth of self-education, the Marine's bonus points will be updated automatically.
The increase is going to be an incentive for Marines to do MCIs because you can get more points and gain the knowledge for your military occupational specialty, said Lance
Cpl. Larissa Karlina, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron administrative clerk.
Under the current policy on MCIs, those courses completed as a private or private first class are not credited to the Marine?s composite score. As an incentive to Marines of those grades to complete MCIs, the points they can earn will now be put toward their score as a lance corporal. Lance corporal?s composite scores as of the effective date will be adjusted to reflect any completed MCI courses completed a private or private first class.
The message also states that upon promotion to corporal, self-education points will reset to zero.
Gunnery Sgt. John Ideland, H&HS squadron gunnery sergeant, said this is just another great opportunity for Marines to excel and be promoted.
MCI courses are a great way to learn, and completing more MCIs makes smarter Marines. Those who want to excel will do the extra MCIs and get promoted, and those who don?t want to excel won?t do them anyways and not get promoted, he added.
For more information visit www.mci.usmc.mil or contact Capt. Scott E. Vasquez, enlisted promotion officer, at vasquezse@manpower.usmc.mil.