P 260800Z APR 01
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//CMC//
TO ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS //N01000//
ALMAR 015/01
MSGID/GENADMIN//CMC WASHINGTON DC/CMC//
SUBJ/ANTITERRORISM FORCE PROTECTION (AT/FP) UPDATE//
REF/A/DOC/MCDP 1-2/1AUG97//
REF/B/DOC/MCO 3302.1C/25AUG98//
REF/C/DOC/NAVMC 2927/9MAR98//
REF/D/DOC/MCO 3500.27/3APR97//
NARR/REF A IS THE CURRENT MARINE CORPS ORDER ON ANTITERRORISM.
REF B IS THE ANTITERRORISM CAMPAIGN PLAN. REF C PROVIDES GUIDANCE
FOR OPERATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT (ORM). REF D IS THE MARINE CORPS
DOCTRINAL PUBLICATION ON CAMPAIGNING.//
POC/D. L. MARTIN/CAPT/PRIPHN: (703) 614-4177/DSN 224-4177//
RMKS/1. THIS ALMAR PROVIDES AN UPDATE ON PENDING CHANGES TO
CURRENT POLICIES AND TO REITERATE OUR AT/FP POLICIES, PROGRAMS,
AND COMMANDERS' RESPONSIBILITIES. FORCE PROTECTION IS A
WARFIGHTING FUNCTION THAT INVOLVES ALL FIVE ELEMENTS OF THE
MAGTF. AS STATED IN REF A, "BY SAFEGUARDING CENTERS OF GRAVITY,
PROTECTING OUR TROOPS AND EQUIPMENT, AND ENSURING THE SECURITY
OF OUR INSTALLATIONS AND FACILITIES, WE CONSERVE OUR COMBAT POWER
SO THAT IT CAN BE APPLIED AT A DECISIVE TIME AND PLACE."
2. POLICIES. THE MARINE CORPS HAS AN EFFECTIVE AT/FP PROGRAM.
HOWEVER, THE DOD-WIDE AT/FP CHANGES EMANATING FROM THE ATTACK ON
THE USS COLE WILL RESULT IN REVISIONS TO REFS B AND C. OUR HQMC
AT/FP WORKING GROUP, WORKING IN CONCERT WITH OUR OPERATING FORCES
AND OUR NAVY PARTNERS, CONDUCTED A THOROUGH AT/FP REVIEW. THIS
REVIEW IDENTIFIED SOME AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT, AND WE PLAN TO
INCORPORATE THESE IMPROVEMENTS AS PART OF AN OVERALL POLICY AND
DOCTRINE REVISION. COMMANDERS MUST QUICKLY RESPOND TO THESE
REVISIONS TO ENSURE OUR AT/FP PROGRAM REMAINS EFFECTIVE.
3. PROGRAM. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CJCS DESIGNATION OF CY2000
AS THE YEAR OF THE PLAN, ALL MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS REPORTED
THEY HAVE EXECUTABLE AND RECENTLY EXERCISED (AT) PLANS. WE MUST
CONTINUE TO REFINE OUR PROGRAMS AND PLANS APPLYING APPROPRIATE
LESSONS LEARNED AND CORRECTING IDENTIFIED DEFICIENCIES.
ADDITIONALLY, STARTING WITH COMMANDERS, WE MUST ENSURE THAT OUR
MARINES ARE ADEQUATELY TRAINED IN ALL ASPECTS OF AT/FP. ALL
COMMANDERS SLATED FOR COMMAND MUST COMPLETE LEVEL III AT/FP
TRAINING PRIOR TO ASSUMING COMMAND. LEVEL III IS CURRENTLY
OFFERED DURING THE SEMIANNUAL COMMANDERS COURSE SPONSORED BY MARINE
CORPS UNIVERSITY. COMMANDERS WILL THEN ENSURE AT/FP IS AN INTEGRAL
PART OF THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL DAILY ROUTINE.
4. RESPONSIBILITY. SERVICE CHIEFS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FORCE
PROTECTION OF OUR CONUS INSTALLATIONS; CINCS ARE CURRENTLY CHARGED
WITH THE FORCE PROTECTION RESPONSIBILITY FOR OCONUS FORCES AND
INSTALLATIONS HOWEVER, OUR RESPONSIBILITY EXTENDS TO ALL MARINES,
THEIR DEPENDENTS, CIVILIANS, AND ALL OF OUR INSTALLATIONS. ALL
COMMANDERS MUST FIRST IDENTIFY THOSE AT/FP VULNERABILITIES THEY
CONSIDER CRITICAL TO THE PROTECTION OF OUR MARINES AND FAMILIES.
SECONDLY, USING ORM GUIDANCE CONTAINED IN REF D, IDENTIFY THOSE
RISKS THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT. THESE VULNERABILITIES MUST
BE REPORTED TO THE NEXT GENERAL OFFICER IN THEIR CHAIN OF COMMAND.
MARFOR COMMANDERS, CG MATCOM, CG MCRC, AND CG MCB QUANTICO WILL
COORDINATE WITH THEIR HQMC ADVOCATES TO PRIORITIZE THE REQUIREMENTS
GENERATED BY THESE VULNERABILITIES TO ENSURE THE MOST SERIOUS
DEFICIENCIES ARE ADDRESSED FIRST WITHIN THE LIMITED RESOURCES
AVAILABLE.
5. AT/FP AWARENESS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL MARINES. COMMANDERS,
OFFICERS, SNCOS, AND NCOS MUST ASSERT THEIR LEADERSHIP TO RAISE AT/FP
AWARENESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO ENSURE THAT IT REMAINS A FUNDAMENTAL
TENET OF OUR ETHOS.
6. SEMPER FIDELIS, J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//
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