III MEF AND MCBJ ASSIGNMENT POLICY
Date Signed: 11/19/2003 | MARADMINS Number: 529/03
MARADMINS : 529/03
R 191600Z NOV 03
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL MARADMIN(uc)
MARADMIN
BT
UNCLASSIFIED
MARADMIN 529/03
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/III MEF AND MCBJ ASSIGNMENT POLICY//
REF/A/DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP/04OCT1994//
REF/B/DOC/DODD/09JAN1987//
POC/L. BAUER/MAJ/CMC (MPO-40)/-/TEL:DSN 278-9386/TEL:COM 703-784-9386
//
NARR/REF A IS MCO 1300.8R.  REF B IS DODD 1315.7.//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  PURPOSE.  TO ANNOUNCE AN ASSIGNMENT POLICY CHANGE
AFFECTING FUTURE PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION ORDERS TO III MEF AND
MCBJ.
2.  DISCUSSION
A.  TO DATE, PER REF A, MARINE CORPS POLICY FOR ASSIGNMENTS TO
OKINAWA AND IWAKUNI, JAPAN HAS STOOD APART FROM THE OTHER SERVICES
BY UTILIZING A SHORTER 12-MONTH DEPENDENT-RESTRICTED TOUR OPTION
FOR BOTH SINGLE AND UNACCOMPANIED MARINES.  DEPENDENT-RESTRICTED
TOURS ARE NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH HARDSHIP DUTY LOCATIONS.
B.  REF B PUBLISHED IN 1987, GRANTED THE MARINE CORPS AN EXCEPTION
TO POLICY THAT ALLOWED FOR THE SHORTER ASSIGNMENT OPTION TO THESE
LOCATIONS, IN ORDER TO MANAGE OPTEMPO AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE
FOR MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES.  AT THE TIME, OKINAWA WAS LESS
DEVELOPED AND PERSONNEL FACED ISOLATION AND HARDSHIPS DUE TO A
LIMITED SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE.
C.  OVER THE PAST 16 YEARS, HOWEVER, LIVING CONDITIONS IN OKINAWA
AND BOTH INTER AND INTRA-THEATER TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES HAVE IMPROVED
DRAMATICALLY.  IN ADDITION, THE COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE (COLA)
PROVIDED TO MEMBERS ON ACCOMPANIED TOURS BETTER COMPENSATES
FOR THE ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL BURDENS INCURRED WHILE LIVING OVERSEAS.
D.  IN FEB 2003, CG III MEF SOLICITED A REVALIDATION OF CURRENT
ASSIGNMENT PRACTICES.  HE STRESSED THAT 12 MONTH ASSIGNMENTS WERE
CAUSING A HIGH ANNUAL TURNOVER RATE AND PROPOSED INCREASING TOUR
LENGTHS FOR GREATER OPERATIONAL STABILITY AND CONTINUITY.  AFTER
SEVEN MONTHS OF REVIEW AND FURTHER DISCUSSION AMONG THE CORPS'
SENIOR LEADERSHIP, THE CMC APPROVED THE PROPOSAL TO CHANGE THE TOUR
LENGTHS FOR III MEF AND MCBJ BACK TO THE DOD STANDARD.
3.  ACTION
A.  THE MARINE CORPS WILL BEGIN THE TRANSITION IN FY04 TO THE DOD
STANDARD FOR PCS ASSIGNMENTS TO OKINAWA AND IWAKUNI, JAPAN, WHICH IS
36-MONTH TOURS FOR THOSE ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY MEMBERS AND 24-MONTH
TOURS FOR ALL OTHERS.
B.  IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW ASSIGNMENT POLICY WILL BE PHASED-IN
OVER A 5 YEAR PERIOD.  THE FULL DETAILS ARE UNDER DEVELOPMENT, BUT
IMPLEMENTATION WILL COMMENCE WITH ASSIGNMENT OF SOME COLONELS,
LIEUTENANT COLONELS, SERGEANT'S MAJOR, MASTER GUNNERY SERGEANTS,
FIRST SERGEANTS, AND MASTER SERGEANTS.
C.  THE ROTATION DATES FOR THOSE MARINES CURRENTLY SERVING WITH III
MEF OR MCBJ WILL NOT BE AFFECTED.  HOWEVER, THE CURRENT TOUR
EXTENSION INCENTIVES WILL CONTINUE TO BE OFFERED.
D.  FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICY CHANGE SHOULD BE COMPLETE BY
2008, AND IS EXPECTED TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE III MEF AND MCBJ
OPERATIONAL STABILITY, CONTINUITY, AND WAR-FIGHTING CAPABILITY.
4.  THIS BULLETIN IS APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE
PERSONNEL IN ACTIVE RESERVE STATUS.
5.  THIS BULLETIN IS CANCELLED 30 SEP 2004.//