Commander’s Blended Retirement System (BRS) Smart Pack

Commander's Blended Retirement System (BRS) Smart Pack

What:

The new Blended Retirement System combines the legacy 20 year military retirement system (the defined annuity), with a defined contribution plan, known as the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). BRS is a new retirement system that goes into effect on 1 January 2018. The opt-in eligible population will be able to elect into BRS or remain grandfathered under the current retirement system. Marines who enter the Marine Corps on or after 1 January 2018 will automatically be enrolled into the BRS.

Who:

Who is eligible? 1. Active Duty ? Any Marine who has less than 12 years of active service as of 31 December 2017 will have the opportunity to enroll into BRS. Marines who have served more than 12 years as of 31 December 2017 will remain under the current retirement system. 2. Reserve Component - Any Marine who has accumulated less than 4,320 retirement points as of 31 December 2017 will have the opportunity to enroll into BRS, if they are in a paid status (e.g., on active duty or affiliated as an Active Reserve, Select Marine Corps Reserve or Individual Mobilization Augmentee). Marines affiliated with the reserve component who have 4,320 or more retirement points as of 31 December 2017 will remain under the current retirement system.

When:

1. Notification Phase: 9 December 2016 ? 1 March 2017 2. Training Phase: 1 March 2017 ? 31 December 2017 3. Election Phase: 1 January 2018 ? 31 December 2018

Where: N/A.

Why:

The BRS will provide retirement benefits to approximately 85% of the force, rather than the 19% who receive benefits under the legacy system. We are taking care of our Marines by ensuring that they are properly informed before making a major life decision.

How:

1. Training and Education utilizing the Commander's BRS Smart Pack. 2. Commander's BRS Smart Pack, Phases 1-3 and Appendixes, describe how the three phases of

BRS implementation will be executed.

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Table of Contents

Phase 1: Notification..................................................................................................................................... 3 Phase 2: Training........................................................................................................................................... 4 Phase 3: Election ........................................................................................................................................... 5 Appendix A: Timeline ................................................................................................................................ A-1 Appendix B: Command Profile ...................................................................................................................B-1 Appendix C: Resources...............................................................................................................................C-1 Appendix D: Commander's Responsibilities ............................................................................................. D-1 Appendix E: Talking Points ......................................................................................................................... E-1 Appendix F: Glossary..................................................................................................................................F-1

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Phase 1: Notification

1. The BRS notification phase will occur between 9 December 2016 and 1 March 2017. 2. Eligible Marines will be notified by the following:

a. MARADMIN published on USMC website. b. Electronic notification from HQMC via email for those Marines that have provided their

email in address in MCTFS. c. Electronic notification from HQMC via Marine Online (MOL). d. RUC- level commander notification of 100% of their opt-in eligible Marines. Appendix E

includes talking points for your use when notifying your Marines. 3. Notification responsibility can be delegated but compliance will be tracked at the Reported Unit

Code (RUC)-level. 4. Compliance will be measured weekly by M&RA via Command Profile.

a. Command Profile is the application for the RUC-level commander to track and manage required RUC-level notification and education.

b. See Appendix B for more information. 5. To properly account for Marines who have been notified, report Training Event Code BS via

MCTIMS/UTM (Marine Corps Training Information Management System / Unit Training Module). Reported data will automatically update Command Profile upon a MCTFS cycle.

a. Units without MCTIMS/UTM capability must upload attendance roster with Names, EDIPI, and date of notification for unit diary reporting using training event code BS.

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Phase 2: Training

1. The BRS Opt-in training phase begins on 1 March 2017 and continues through 31 December 2017. a. Note that some Marines might need training through calendar year 2018.

2. Opt-in training is mandatory for all opt-in eligible Marines. Opt-in training must be completed in order for the Marine to make an election decision to either opt-into BRS or remain grandfathered under the current retirement system.

3. Modes of Opt-in Training a. Online Training via Joint Knowledge Online (JKO). The online method is the primary method of opt-in training. b. Group Training. Marines are authorized to receive opt-in training as a group by a qualified instructor: Personal Financial Manager, Command Financial Specialist, or contracted Personal Financial Counselor. See Appendix F (Glossary). i. Qualified Instructor. This method requires a signed roster (by the Marines and the qualified instructor) to be uploaded in MCTIMS/UTM using training code BT.

4. Additional guidance on opt-in training will be provided in early 2017.

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Phase 3: Election

1. The election phase begins on 1 January 2018 and ends 31 December 2018. 2. During the election phase, opt-in eligible Marines must either opt-into BRS or remain

grandfathered under the current retirement system. Further, eligible Marines who want to remain grandfathered under the current retirement system must record their election decision. Eligible Marines must complete opt-in training before making an election decision.

a. Modes of election i. Marine Online (MOL) will be the primary means for Marines to make their election decision. MOL can be accessed via computer and mobile devices. Once this action is taken, the RUC-level commander will be able to view their unit's completion in command profile. ii. Marines who do not have access to MOL may fill out an administrative form to make their election decision. This completed form will be processed by the unit administrative section. The form and administrative process to report the election decision is in development.

3. Opt-in eligible Marines have the entire calendar year 2018 to make an election decision. 4. Opt-in decisions into the BRS are irrevocable. 5. Additional guidance on the election phase will be provided in late 2017.

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