Continuation Pay (CP)

Start Here If You Are New to Continuation Pay

Continuation Pay is the BRS-only mid-career bonus. If you are under the Blended Retirement System, you are eligible at the 8-12 YOS window for a one-time bonus in exchange for at least 3 additional years of obligated service. The bonus ranges from 2.5x to 13x your monthly basic pay for AC Marines and 0.5x to 6x for RC Marines.

This page walks you through CP from your seat as a General Marine. By the end you will know.

• The BRS-only eligibility (legacy High-Three Marines are not eligible)
• The 8-12 YOS window
• The bonus multiplier ranges (AC vs. RC)
• The minimum 3-year additional service obligation
• Payment methods (lump sum or up to 4 annual installments)
• The YOS rate tiers used in the calculation

Every fact on this page comes from DoD 7000.14-R Volume 7ADoD 7000.14-R Volume 7A Chapter 66 (February 2024), Title 37 U.S.C. section 356Title 37 U.S.C. section 356, and Public Law 114-92 as amended.

What CP Is

Per Chapter 66 paragraph 2.1, Public Law 114-92 (as amended by Public Law 114-328 section 633) established CP as a bonus payable on or after 1 January 2018. CP is a one-time, mid-career bonus payment for Service Members of the Uniformed Services covered by the Blended Retirement System (BRS), in exchange for an agreement to perform additional obligated service.

CP is in addition to any other career-field-specific incentives or retention bonuses.

CP Is BRS-Only

CP is only payable to Marines under the BRS. Marines under the legacy High-Three retirement system are NOT eligible.

The BRS applies to Marines who.

• Entered service on or after 1 January 2018, OR
• Were grandfathered (entered service before 1 January 2018, had less than 12 YOS as of 31 December 2017, AND voluntarily opted into BRS during the 2018 election period).

Marines who entered service before 1 January 2018 with 12 or more YOS at that date are under the High-Three system and are not eligible for CP.

Eligibility (Active Component)

Per Chapter 66 paragraph 2.2.1, an Active Component Marine is eligible for CP if all of these apply.

• Covered under the BRS.
• Has completed not less than 8 and not more than 12 Years of Service (YOS) computed from the PEBD.
• Eligible to enter into an agreement to serve at least 3 additional years in the AC.

Eligibility (Reserve Component)

Per Chapter 66 paragraph 2.2.2, an RC Marine is eligible if.

• Covered under the BRS.
• Has 8-12 YOS computed from the PEBD.
• Is in the SELRES (Selected Reserve, what most Marines call SMCR or the Reserves), OR otherwise in the Ready Reserve in a status eligible for basic pay or inactive duty pay.
• Eligible per Marine Corps criteria.
• Eligible to enter into an agreement to serve at least 3 additional years in the SELRES.

Amount

Per Chapter 66 paragraph 2.3.

AC Member

CP is not less than 2.5 times and not more than 13 times the monthly basic pay of an AC Marine based on the current pay grade and YOS.

RC Member

CP is not less than 0.5 times and not more than 6 times the monthly basic pay of an AC Marine of the same grade and YOS.

RC Member on Active Guard and Reserve Service

An RC Marine performing Active Guard and Reserve service per Title 10 U.S.C. section 101Title 10 U.S.C. section 101(d)(6) is paid CP at the rate of an AC member, subject to agreement to serve at least 3 additional years in active service per Title 10 U.S.C. section 101Title 10 U.S.C. section 101(d)(3).

The Marine Corps determines the specific multiplier within the range based on retention objectives. Verify the current Marine Corps CP multiplier through the Manpower and Reserve Affairs office.

Obligated Service

Per Chapter 66 paragraph 2.4.

• The Marine serves not less than 3 years of additional service.
• Length of mandatory service is determined by the Secretary in the component the Marine is serving in at the time of agreement.
• Obligated service commences upon acceptance by the Secretary of the agreement to continue serving.
• Obligated service runs concurrently with other service obligations unless other service obligations specifically preclude concurrent obligation.
• RC Marines perform obligated service in the SELRES.
• RC Marines performing AGR service who receive CP at the AC rate perform obligated service on AD.

Payment Method

Per Chapter 66 paragraph 2.5, a Marine who qualifies for CP is allowed to elect.

• Single lump sum, OR
• Series of equal installment payments, not to exceed four annual payments over 4 consecutive years.

YOS Rate Tier for Calculation

Per Chapter 66 paragraph 2.6.3.

• 8 to less than 10 YOS pays at the over-8-YOS rate.
• 10 to less than 12 YOS pays at the over-10-YOS rate.
• Exactly 12 YOS pays at the over-12-YOS rate.

The CP multiplier is the actual pay grade and YOS of the Marine on the day CP is authorized.

Full Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Members

Per Chapter 66 paragraph 2.6.1 and Title 37 U.S.C. section 356Title 37 U.S.C. section 356, the Secretary pays CP to full TSP members (as defined in Title 5 U.S.C. section 8440Title 5 U.S.C. section 8440e(a)) who meet the eligibility requirements and have completed not less than 8 and not more than 12 YOS.

Verifying CP on the LES

CP shows on the LES at the time of authorization (lump sum) or across the installment period.

Step 1. Pull Your LES

Through MyPay each payday around the CP authorization period.

Step 2. Verify the CP Line

The LES shows CP as a line item under Entitlements. The amount matches the negotiated multiplier of monthly basic pay.

Step 3. Resolve Discrepancies

Coordinate with your S-1. Standard correction routes through the reporting unit (I&I S-1 with direct UD/MIPS access, or a battalion S-1 routing through their PAC) to DFAS Marine Corps Pay.

Common Questions Marines Ask

I joined the Marine Corps in 2015. Am I eligible for CP?

You are eligible if you opted into BRS during the 2018 election period. Marines who joined before 1 January 2018 and did not opt in remain under the High-Three system and are not eligible for CP. Verify your retirement system through your S-1.

I am at 11 YOS in the BRS. The Marine Corps is offering CP at 5x monthly basic pay. Should I take it?

The decision is personal. The 5x multiplier on monthly basic pay produces a meaningful lump sum. The 3-year additional obligation locks you in for that period with recoupment risk if you fail to complete. Talk to your career planner about the math relative to your retention plan.

What happens to my CP if I separate at 13 YOS instead of completing the obligation?

Per Volume 7A Chapter 2 (recoupment), if you fail to complete the 3-year additional obligated service, the unearned portion is subject to recoupment unless one of the Chapter 2 exceptions applies (combat-zone disability, hardship separation, etc.). The Pay Problems and Fixes page covers the framework.

I am a BRS Marine at 13 YOS. Did I miss the CP window?

Per Chapter 66 paragraph 2.2.1, eligibility ends at 12 YOS. At 13 YOS, you are past the window unless the Service offers a specific waiver. Verify with your career planner.

Can I take CP and another retention bonus in the same year?

Per Chapter 66 paragraph 2.1, CP is in addition to any other career-field-specific incentives or retention bonuses. CP and SRB are allowed concurrently if you qualify for both independently.

Where to Go for Help

Routing by Issue

• CP eligibility verification. Your career planner with the Marine Corps Manpower and Reserve Affairs office.
• BRS opt-in verification (for pre-2018 Marines). Your S-1 with the BRS records.
• CP multiplier rate. The Marine Corps Manpower and Reserve Affairs office sets the current multiplier.
• LES corrections for CP. Your S-1 routes through DFAS Marine Corps Pay.
• DFAS Marine Corps Pay direct contact. Phone 1-888-332-7411 (DSN 312-571-9450 from overseas).

Where to Go Next on This Site

• Pay and Entitlements landing page lists all the pay topics.
• Enlisted Bonuses cover SRB, CSRB, and other retention-related bonuses.
• Officer Bonuses cover the parallel officer retention framework.
• Pay Problems and Fixes covers the recoupment framework.

Related Roles

• Leaders coach BRS Marines on the CP decision during the 8-12 YOS window.
• Admin at S-1 processes CP agreements through DFAS Marine Corps Pay.
• Commanders endorse CP commitments and exercise judgment on retention objectives.

CP is the BRS retention pay at the 8-12 YOS midpoint. The math is straightforward. The 3-year obligation is real. Take it only if you plan to stay through the obligation.