R 201754Z NOV 12   
UNCLASSIFIED/
ALMAR 045/12
MSGID/GENADMIN CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS//
SUBJ/WINTER HOLIDAY 2012//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  AS THE YEAR DRAWS TO A CLOSE AND THE HOLIDAYS RAPIDLY APPROACH, I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW PROUD I AM OF YOUR DEDICATION, SACRIFICE AND WILLINGNESS TO SERVE OUR NATION IN UNCERTAIN TIMES.  IT IS THESE QUALITIES THAT ENABLE OUR FELLOW AMERICANS TO OBSERVE THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN PEACE AND SECURITY.  DURING THIS SEASON OF CELEBRATION, TAKE TIME TO REFLECT UPON THE BLESSINGS 2012 HAS BROUGHT YOU PERSONALLY, AND US AS A CORPS, AND MAKE TIME TO SAFEGUARD YOUR MARINES AND SAILORS AGAINST POTENTIAL MISHAPS.
2.  AS MARINES AND SAILORS, WE NEVER TAKE RISK WITHOUT EVALUATING AND MITIGATING IT FIRST.  UNDERSTANDING THAT THE WINTER HOLIDAY PERIOD IS THE MOST TRAVELED TIME OF YEAR, TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE RISKS OF TRAVELING IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.  PRACTICE CAUTION, AND PLAN TO REDUCE RISKS AND AVOID ACCIDENTS.  WHILE ATTENDING HOLIDAY EVENTS WHERE ALCOHOL IS SERVED HAVE A PLAN AND MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR A DESIGNATED DRIVER BEFORE THE EVENT.  LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS MUST USE SOUND JUDGMENT AND APPLY COMMON SENSE AND SUPERVISION TO ENSURE THEIR MARINES AND SAILORS ARE MITIGATING RISK WHILE ENJOYING THE HOLIDAYS.  YOUR INVOLVED LEADERSHIP CAN MAKE THE LIFE-OR-DEATH DIFFERENCE HERE AT HOME JUST AS IT DOES ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
3.  BONNIE AND I EXTEND OUR HOLIDAY WISHES TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES.  THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, WE ASK THAT YOU KEEP FELLOW MARINES AND SAILORS WHO ARE DEPLOYED AND THEIR FAMILIES IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.  TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER AND ENJOY THIS SEASON SAFELY AND RESPONSIBLY.
4.  SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES F. AMOS, GENERAL, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//