R 191555Z JAN 07
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL ALMAR(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 002/07
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/EVERY MARINE INTO THE FIGHT-COMMANDANT'S INTENT//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. PURPOSE TO PROVIDE DEPLOYMENT AND
ASSIGNMENT GUIDANCE IN SUPPORT OF CURRENT COMBAT OPERATIONS.
2. BACKGROUND/INTENT
A. THE MARINE CORPS REMAINS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN COMBAT
OPERATIONS IN THE CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY.
MARINES, BY THEIR PERFORMANCE IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, HAVE
ADDED NOTABLY TO THE LEGACY OF OUR COLORS.  FREQUENT
DEPLOYMENTS AND SHORT DWELL PERIODS HAVE BEEN THE NORM, YET
OUR MARINES HAVE RESPONDED MAGNIFICENTLY WITH UNWAVERING
DETERMINATION AND COMMITMENT TO WIN THE LONG WAR FROM THE VERY
OUTSET.  WHEN THEY JOIN OUR CORPS, MARINES EXPECT TO TRAIN,
DEPLOY, AND FIGHT.  THAT'S WHO WE ARE; THAT'S WHAT WE DO; AND
WE MUST ALLOW EVERY MARINE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
B. AS OUR CORPS' POSTURES FOR THE LONG WAR, AND IN ORDER TO HELP
MEET THE CHALLENGES OF FREQUENT DEPLOYMENTS, I WANT OUR CORPS'
LEADERSHIP TO INITIATE POLICIES TO ENSURE ALL MARINES, FIRST
TERMERS AND CAREER MARINES ALIKE, ARE PROVIDED THE ABILITY TO
DEPLOY TO A COMBAT ZONE.
3. ACTION
A. CMC (DC M&RA).  REVIEW CURRENT PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICIES
TO ENSURE MAXIMUM ASSIGNMENT FLEXIBILITY WITH AN ORIENTATION
TOWARDS GETTING ALL MARINES TO THE FIGHT.
SPECIFICALLY,
(1) AS FEASIBLE, REASSIGN MARINES THAT HAVE YET TO DEPLOY TO
ROTATIONAL UNITS, BUT LIMIT THE IMPACT ON UNIT COHESION.
(2) INCREASED TIME-ON-STATION WAIVERS ARE AUTHORIZED IN ORDER TO
EFFECTIVELY REDISTRIBUTE MARINES AFFECTED BY THIS GUIDANCE.
(3) AS REQUIRED, MODIFY THE III MEF ASSIGNMENT POLICY.
B.COMMANDERS
(1) REVIEW INTERNAL COMMAND ASSIGNMENTS TO IDENTIFY MARINES WHO
HAVE NOT YET DEPLOYED TO A COMBAT ZONE AND FACILITATE THEIR
REASSIGNMENT TO ROTATIONAL UNITS.
(2) COORDINATE, AS NECESSARY, WITH CMC (M&RA) TO ENSURE
DEPLOYMENT ASSIGNMENT EQUITY AMONG ALL MARINES.
(3) SUPPORT A MARINE'S REQUEST TO DEPLOY.
4. COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS
A. THIS ALMAR APPLIES TO THE TOTAL FORCE MARINE CORPS.
B. ENSURE ALL MARINES ARE COGNIZANT OF MY INTENT. 
5. SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S.
MARINE CORPS' COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS//