"...The Marine Corps has altered its longstanding policy of allowing non-promotable officers to serve 20 years in uniform and receive a full military retirement.
“Effective immediately, Marine Corps policy is to select for continuation only those twice-passed majors and twice-passed captains [with more than 15 years of service] whose continued service is in the best interests of the Marine Corps based on the needs of the Marine Corps,” according to Marine administrative message 401/13, signed Tuesday. “... This policy change may result in some officers not being selected for continuation and subject to involuntary separation.”
The change comes as the Marine Corps reduces its active-duty force from a wartime high of 202,100 down to 182,100..."