Career Coaching Overview

Five Career Conversations

The leader runs five conversations with every Marine across a career.

• Reenlistment. Reup or transition decision at the end of each contract.
• Lateral move. MOS change to support career growth or Corps need.
• Transition. EAS approach planning at the 24, 12, and 6 month marks.
• Education. TA, GI Bill, MarineNet, MCU planning.
• Credential matching. Civilian-side qualifications the Marine should pursue.

Each conversation has a window. Miss the window and the Marine loses the leverage of the timing.

Career Phase Awareness

Section leaders read each Marine's career phase and run the right conversation.

Coordinate, Do Not Replicate

Career coaching coordinates with the unit Career Planner, the TRP, and education services.

• Career Planner owns the formal reenlistment conversation.
• TRP owns the formal transition counseling at 365 days from EAS.
• Education services own the TA and GI Bill mechanics.

Your role pulls the Marine into those conversations at the right time and supports the Marine's decision-making with the personal relationship the formal channels do not have.

Career Intent in the Notebook

For each Marine, document.

• Stated career goal.
• Reenlistment intent if known.
• Education plan if articulated.
• Lateral move interest.
• EAS intent and post-Corps plan.

Update at every counseling cycle. The intent shifts as the Marine grows.

When the Marine Has No Plan

A Marine without an articulated career plan is the Marine you spend the most time with.

• Counseling sessions surface goals through questioning.
• The six functional areas Future leaf provides the framework.
• The SMART goals leaf provides the structure.

Walk the Marine through the question of where they want to be in 5 years. Build the plan from there.

When the Marine's Plan Diverges From the Section's Need

Sometimes the Marine wants a path the section or the Corps cannot support.

• Lateral move to an over-strength MOS.
• Education plan that conflicts with deployment cycle.
• Transition timeline that conflicts with billet need.

Surface the conflict early. Coordinate alternatives. Some conflicts resolve. Some require the Marine to choose.

Common Career Coaching Failures

• Reenlistment conversation deferred until 30 days from EAS. Marine has no leverage.
• Transition counseling skipped or delegated entirely to TRP.
• Education plan not surfaced until the Marine is at the Education Office alone.
• Lateral move opportunities missed because no one asked.
• Marine retires or separates without a documented plan.

Where to Go Next

• Reenlistment conversation for the FTAP and STAP windows.
• Lateral move advising for the MOS change path.
• Transition timeline for the EAS approach.
• Education planning for the TA and GI Bill use.
• Civilian credential matching for the post-service preparation.