R 240022Z FEB 06
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL ALMAR(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 010/06
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MRA/FEB/AMP//
SUBJ/CLARIFICATION OF COMBAT ACTION RIBBON (CAR)
/ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA//
REF/A/DOC/SECNAV/07JAN2002//
POC/J. R. TAYLOR/LTCOL/CMC (MMMA)/-/TEL:703-784-9206/-//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THIS ALMAR PROVIDES CLARIFICATION OF THE
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE CAR.
2.  PER REFERENCE (A), THE TWO ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE CAR ARE:
(1) THE INDIVIDUAL MUST HAVE PARTICIPATED IN A BONA FIDE GROUND OR
SURFACE COMBAT FIRE-FIGHT OR ACTION DURING WHICH HE/SHE WAS UNDER
ENEMY FIRE AND (2) HIS/HER PERFORMANCE WHILE UNDER FIRE WAS
SATISFACTORY. 
3.  USING THIS DEFINITION AS A BASELINE, THE FOLLOWING GUIDANCE IS
PROVIDED:
A.  THE EVOLUTION IN WARFARE THAT HAS OCCURRED DURING COMBAT
OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ, ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO THE
THREAT POSED BY IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES (IED), CAUSES
CONSIDERATION TO BE GIVEN TO ELIGIBILITY FOR THE CAR. 
B.  THE USE OF THE WORD "OR" IN THE PHRASE "FIRE-FIGHT OR ACTION"
CLEARLY ALLOWS A COMMANDER CONSIDERABLE LEEWAY IN DETERMINING
ELIGIBILITY BEYOND THE SCOPE OF A FIRE-FIGHT ENGAGEMENT ONLY.
C.  PURSUANT TO THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CAR, I CONSIDER
EXPOSURE TO A DETONATED IED AS BEING UNDER ENEMY FIRE.  THEREFORE,
MARINES WHO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS DURING SUCH AN ENGAGEMENT MEET
BOTH CAR ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
4.  THIS GUIDANCE IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.  IT IS ALSO RETROACTIVE
TO 7 OCTOBER 2001.  U.S. MARINE CORPS FORCES CENTRAL COMMAND WILL BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING A REVIEW OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL CASES
PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED BUT NOT APPROVED FOR THE CAR.  FURTHER
AMPLIFYING GUIDANCE ON RETROACTIVITY WILL BE PUBLISHED VIA SEPARATE
CORRESPONDENCE.
5.  AS WITH ALL INDIVIDUAL AWARDS, THIS GUIDANCE REQUIRES JUDGMENT
IN APPLICATION AND WILL REQUIRE THE PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT OF
COMMANDERS AT ALL LEVELS.
6.  KEEP ATTACKING, M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//