Career Sea Pay and Submarine Duty - S-1 Procedural Page

Role and responsibility

The IPAC pay clerk cuts Career Sea Pay (CSP) and Submarine Duty Pay transactions per DoDFMR Vol 7ADODFMR Vol 7A Chapter 18 (CSP) and Chapter 23 (Submarine Duty Pay). The S-1 chief tracks sea-duty creditable time and the CSP rate ladder. The S-1 officer signs by direction on the routing. The gaining sea-duty unit confirms the duty is creditable under Chapter 18. The HQMC Manpower (M&RA) Marine Aviation or Ground Monitor coordinates sea-duty assignments. Submarine Duty Pay applies to the rare Marine Corps Marine assigned to submarine duty, typically through HQMC or HHQ specialized assignments.

Source documents flow from the sea-duty assignment order, the gaining unit identification as a creditable sea-duty assignment per Chapter 18, the prior sea-duty creditable time record from MCTFS, the CSP rate ladder per Chapter 18, and the submarine duty assignment when applicable. CSP and Submarine Duty outputs include the MCTFS pay start at the appropriate CSP rate, the documented sea-duty creditable time, the verified LES, the rate increase as creditable time accumulates, the pay stop on transfer off sea duty, and the audit trail.

Per DoDFMR Vol 7A Chapter 18, CSP applies to Marines assigned to ships, ship-based units, and other sea-duty creditable assignments per DoD policy. The rate increases as creditable sea-duty time accumulates over a career. Per Chapter 23, Submarine Duty Pay applies to Marines on submarine duty (rare for Marines, typically with the Navy through specialized assignments).

Trigger events

• Marine reports to a sea-duty creditable assignment.
• Marine reaches a new CSP rate tier from accumulated creditable time.
• Marine transfers off sea duty triggering CSP stop.
• Marine assigned to submarine duty triggering Submarine Duty Pay (rare).
• Annual sea-duty creditable time audit.
• LES surfaces unexpected CSP rate.

Processing workflow

1. Receive the sea-duty assignment order. The IPAC pay clerk receives from the chain of command or the gaining unit.
2. Confirm the assignment qualifies. Per DoDFMR Vol 7ADODFMR Vol 7A Chapter 18, the gaining unit appears on the DoD sea-duty creditable list. Shore units do not qualify. Some MEU and embarked positions qualify per the assignment.
3. Identify the creditable sea-duty time. Pull from MCTFS the prior creditable sea-duty time. The total cumulative time drives the CSP rate.
4. Determine the CSP rate. Per Chapter 18 rate table, the rate ties to grade and accumulated creditable sea-duty time. The rate ladder increases with years of creditable time.
5. Build the KSD packet. Stage the sea-duty assignment order, the gaining unit confirmation as creditable, the prior creditable time record, and the CSP rate authority.
6. Cut the CSP pay start in UD-MIPS. Per Appendix E and MCTFSPRIUMMCTFSPRIUM, submit the CSP transaction at the rate code.
7. Process Submarine Duty Pay when applicable. Per Chapter 23, the rare submarine-duty Marine receives the pay at the rate per Chapter 23 ladder.
8. Verify LES. The next LES carries CSP at the correct rate.
9. Track sea-duty creditable time. The unit IPAC tracks the time. At each anniversary of creditable time accumulation, the rate updates per the ladder.
10. Stop the pay. On transfer off sea duty, cut the pay stop. The accumulated creditable time records in MCTFS for future sea-duty assignments.

Systems of record and forms

Systems

• Marine Corps Total Force System (MCTFS). Holds CSP and Submarine Duty Pay records and the cumulative creditable sea-duty time.
• UD-MIPS. Cuts CSP and Submarine Duty Pay transactions per Appendix E.
• DoD Sea-Duty Creditable List. Per Chapter 18.
• LES. Validates pay rate.

Forms

• Sea-Duty Assignment Order. Per Chapter 18 and the Monitor.
• Creditable Sea-Duty Time Record. Per MCTFS.
• CSP Rate Authority Memorandum. Per Chapter 18 rate table.
• KSD Packet. Local format documenting eligibility.

Common pitfalls

• CSP cut for a non-creditable assignment. Per DoDFMR Vol 7ADODFMR Vol 7A Chapter 18, only DoD-creditable sea-duty assignments draw CSP.
• Wrong CSP rate tier applied. Per Chapter 18, grade and creditable time drive the rate.
• Creditable time accumulation not updated. The MCTFS record reflects the running total. The S-1 audits.
• Pay continued past transfer. The unit cuts the pay stop on transfer.
• Submarine Duty Pay applied for non-submarine assignment. Per Chapter 23, only actual submarine duty draws the pay.
• LES discrepancy not surfaced. Routine LES review catches CSP rate errors.

Decision points

• Sea-duty creditable assignment. Per Chapter 18 and DoD policy, the gaining unit's status drives eligibility.
• CSP rate ladder. The grade and the cumulative creditable time drive the rate. Marines re-entering sea duty after time on shore restart the ladder at the level corresponding to their cumulative creditable time.
• Submarine Duty Pay versus CSP. Per Chapters 18 and 23, submarine duty draws Submarine Duty Pay rather than CSP for the same period.
• Embarked versus assigned status. Per Chapter 18, the assignment record (beyond embarked time alone) drives CSP eligibility for some MEU and embarked positions.

Authority

This sub-page sits under DoDFMR Vol 7ADODFMR Vol 7A Chapter 18 (Career Sea Pay) and Chapter 23 (Submarine Duty Pay). 37 U.S.C. 305b sets CSP statutory authority. 37 U.S.C. 301c sets Submarine Duty Incentive Pay statutory authority. MCTFSPRIUMMCTFSPRIUM covers MCTFS transactions.

Related references

• DoDFMR Vol 7A Chapters 18 and 23. CSP and Submarine Duty Pay framework.
• 37 U.S.C. 305b and 301c. Statutory authority.
• MCTFSPRIUM. MCTFS transactions.