Manpower Plans Programs and Budget Branch (MPP)

Who we are

Enlisted Plans is responsible for assisting the Director MP Division with implementing the Commandant’s policies and decisions by formulating manpower plans for the active component, enlisted force. These plans include enlisted end strength, career force, enlisted inventory, first term inventory, and promotions. The Enlisted Plans Section also chairs the Street to Fleet (STF) Working Group, which consists of action officer level personnel from MCRC, M&RA, TECOM, and TRNGCMD. The mission of the STF Working Group is to provide stakeholders a greater understanding of the broader accessions process and oversee execution of the accession plans to develop efficiencies and better manage the manpower life cycle.

Officer Plans assists the Director, Manpower Plans and Policy Division with implementing the Commandant’s policies and decisions by formulating manpower plans for the active component officer force. These plans include restricted, unrestricted, and aviation officer accessions, production, promotion, and retention. In addition, Officer Plans conducts policy analysis and develops force shaping solutions in support of Service initiatives.

Current Zones Chart

The zones chart is updated twice per year around January/February and September/October after Total Force Structure Division (TFSD) publishes the bi-annual Authorized Strength Report (ASR) and we in turn receive the Grade Adjusted Recapitulation (GAR) report. The most recent version will be posted here. 

The Programs and Budget Section is responsible for developing, integrating and implementing Marine Corps manpower programs and budgets to support the Marine Corps Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE) process as reflected in the Program Objective Memorandum (POM), Future Year Defense Plan (FYDP), Military Personnel Marine Corps (MPMC), and Operation and Maintenance Marine Corps (O&MMC) budgets.

The Programs and Budget Section coordinates, validates, and authorizes the release of all active duty manpower strength statistics and related reports to external agencies. They prepare backup material for use by Marine Corps witnesses during congressional testimony/appearance and maintain retention and loss data for use in budget preparation submissions.

The Human Resources Development Process (HRDP) Assessments Cell is responsible for planning, integrating, and refining detailed analytical models and assessments of the HRDP for Manpower and Reserve Affairs’ long-term planning horizon. Assessments entail the analysis and interpretation of various data elements to gauge the effectiveness of a manpower strategy.  These data elements, or measures, serve as benchmarks against predetermined criteria.  HRDP Assessments are a larger process designed to assist HRDP stakeholders in enhancing their analytical framework. The Cell captures human capital data to gain insights on manpower behaviors in order to influence policy, planning, production, and assignment processes across the Total Force. 

Talent Management Section (MPP-12) provides insight and information to inform strategic talent management guidance; assess and recommend changes to policy and programs; and propose talent management initiatives that enable our ability to attract, develop, employ, and retain the talent necessary to achieve our institutional and strategic objectives.

Areas of Responsibility

• Provide insights to guide Total Force talent management decisions

• ​Collaborate with key Marine Corps stakeholders, academia, and industry to facilitate Service-level approaches to talent management

• Identify opportunities, sponsor research, and develop initiatives that promote opportunities for the Marine Corps to source talent

>>talent management frequently asked questions (faq

The All-Volunteer Force (AVF)

Since its inception in 1973, the All-Volunteer Force (AVF) has succeeded in defending the United States, and its interests abroad. In ensuring the AVF is successful in the future, it is not safe to assume that society, or the people who fill its ranks operate or behave in the same way they did over 50 years ago.  Therefore, the Marine Corps has charted a path in building an understanding of our Total Force, and if our governing policies in place today achieve the behaviors we want and need to for today's force, and that of the future. Below you will find the synopses of three Marine Corps hosted symposia which fostered a forum for these discussions with leading personnel policy experts and senior representatives from across the Department of Defense. 
 

MARINE CORPS TALENT MANAGEMENT SYMPOSIUM (FEBRUARY 2025)

Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) hosted military and civilian representatives from across the Marine Corps—including the Fleet Marine Force, Supporting Establishment, Marine Forces Reserve, and HQMC, to discuss Service-level talent management. The purpose was to provide a forum for leadership to assess and discuss the trajectory of talent management across the Total Force— including informing participants on current efforts, gathering feedback regarding ongoing initiatives, and developing future expectations, including ways to improve the policies, programs, and tools available to all Marine Corps leaders.
 

TOTAL FORCE TALENT MANAGEMENT SYMPOSIUM (fEBRUARY 2024)

In the wake of major force modernization efforts across the Department of Defense, the Marine Corps hosted the Total Force Talent Management (TFTM) Symposium to broaden the talent management conversation from what historically has been focused on Active Component initiatives, to the Total Force, including the Reserve Component, the National Guard, and civilian workforce.
 

Symposium on the opportunities and implications of the
blended retirement system (JUNE 2023)

This Marine Corps hosted a select group of scholars, civilian defense leaders and policymakers, and leaders from all six uniformed services for a symposium on the opportunities and implications of the Blended Retirement System (BRS). Participants were also asked to make recommendations to improve BRS awareness, effectiveness, and messaging to the force, potential recruits, and the American People.
 

Annapolis Symposium on the future of the avf (JANUARY 2023)

This symposium was intended as an initial discussion as part of a wider national dialogue among a broad range of experts, policymakers, and practitioners on the future of America's all-recruited, all-volunteer military forces.

Links

For more information on Marine Corps Talent Management click here 
 

Talent Management Update November 2024	Talent Management 2030 Update March 2023
Talent Management Campaign Plan 2023 - 2025	Report - MC Talent Management Symposium April 2025
Active / Reserve Component Permeability Placemat July 2024	Report - Total Force Talent Management Symposium  August 2024
Blended Retirement System Infographic September 2024	Blended Retirement System Symposium Executive Summary Placemat September 2023
Report - Symposium on the Opportunities and Implications of the Blended Retirement System September 2023	Report - Annapolis Symposium on the Future of the AVF November 2023​

Col Ryan E. Scott
Branch Head
SMB: mpp_mpdiv_mra@usmc.mil
Phone: 703-432-7958

Headquarters Marine Corps,
Manpower Plans & Policy Division,
Manpower, Plans, Programs & Budget Branch (MPP)
3280 Russell Rd
Quantico, VA 22134-5103
SMB: mpp_mpdiv_mra@usmc.mil
Phone: (703) 784-1574