NEW ORLEANS -- Marine administrative message 021/17 provides guidance and procedures for execution of the Reserve Officer Commissioning Program, one year experience tour program.
In 2007, the ROCP was created to correct staffing deficiencies in the Selected Marine Corps Reserve company grade officer ranks. ROCP helps bridge the gap in company grade officer shortages, by commissioning more than 1,100 reserve officers, greatly improving the SMCR staffing levels.
In addition to filling shortages, the program provides a one year operational tour to new reserve officers, allowing them to gain leadership and technical experience within their primary military occupational specialty.
Lieutenants can accept or deny an experience tour while attending The Basic School. Lieutenants will be provided their MOS classification, SMCR unit assignment, and one year experience tour assignment all prior to leaving TBS. Lieutenants who did not accept an experience tour while at TBS may do so while at PMOS school by submitting an administrative action form to the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
At the completion of their one year experience tour, ROCP lieutenants return to their assigned SMCR unit with a stable foundation to build their career.
For more information on the program, refer to MARADMIN 021/17.