MCO 1741.11D - Survivor Annuity Program - Survivor Benefit Plans (Sbp)

Scope

MCO 1741.11D publishes policies and procedures for the Survivor Annuity Program, comprised of the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) and the Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RC-SBP). The order governs pre-retirement SBP training, election documentation on DD Form 2656, spousal concurrence, and submission to DFAS. Signed 2012-10-02. Source PDF on file from the 2026-04-29 archive snapshot.

Stated purpose

This order publishes the policies and procedures per reference (a) for the administration of the Survivor Annuity Program, which is comprised of the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) and the Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RC-SBP) .

Quoted from the document's opening section. The repo evidence does not name reference (a).

Audience

• Commanders verifying SBP training and election processing.
• Separations and retirement clerks preparing DD Form 2656 packages.
• Retiring Marines and spouses making SBP elections.
• Reserve admin handling RC-SBP at reserve retirements.

Content scope

Repo evidence names paragraph-level content, not chapters or enclosures. Cited paragraphs cover SBP training (4.a(2), 4.b(1)(a), 4.b(1)(c)), spousal concurrence (4.b(1)(b)), and DD Form 2656 routing to DFAS (5.b).

Operative content

• MarineNet SBP training is required for all Marines prior to retirement. Paragraph 4.a(2).
• All retiring Marines receive SBP training regardless of marital status. MarineNet reports completion automatically using the existing training event code for table 32. Paragraph 4.b(1)(a).
• Commanders verify the SBP counseling code SP has posted in MCTFS before retirement. IGMC FA 1900.16 checklist item 0201.
• A spouse's notarized written concurrence on DD Form 2656 is required when a Marine declines coverage, elects less than maximum spouse coverage, or elects child-only coverage in place of spouse coverage. Declining SBP bars the Marine from any future open enrollment period. Paragraph 4.b(1)(b).
• Marines without MarineNet access complete the tutorial, receive a Page 11 entry per IRAM paragraph 4006.3V, and report training event code SP via MOL/UDMIPS. Paragraph 4.b(1)(c).
• The completed DD Form 2656 goes to DFAS at least 30 days before retirement, transfer to the FMCR, or transfer to TDRL or PDRL. TTC training code ZW in MCTFS records the submission. Paragraph 5.b, with MCO 1900.16 w/CH 2 paragraph 1406.1 and Appendix E item E007.4.

Connection to higher policy

• DODI 1332.42 of 2020-12-30. Parent DoD SBP instruction, cited beside paragraph 4.b(1)(b) in the IGMC checklist.

Connection to Marine Corps doctrine and lower policy

• MCO 1900.16, Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual. Paragraph 1406.1 and Appendix E item E007.4 govern the retirement-side DD Form 2656 workflow.
• MCO P1070.12 IRAM, paragraph 4006.3V. Page 11 entry for tutorial-based SBP training.
• MCO 3040.4 Chapter 7. HQMC Casualty Section coordinates SBP routing in casualty cases.
• IGMC FA 1900.16 checklist items 0201-0203. Audit baseline for this order.

Status

Signed 2012-10-02. MCPEL lists the order as Current. The external link opens the official landing page for the current version. The order predates DODI 1332.42 of 2020-12-30, so verify election mechanics against the DODI and the current IGMC checklist before citing paragraph-level rules.