R 151831Z MAR 19
MARADMIN 164/19
MSGID/GENADMIN/CG TECOM QUANTICO VA//
SUBJ/COMMANDANT’S INNOVATION CHALLENGE//
REF/A/MARADMIN 617/18//
AMPN/REF A IS MARADMIN 617/18 COMMANDANT’S FY19 INNOVATION CHALLENGES.//
POC/D. L. KINNEY/GS-13/TECOM, G-3/5/7/ TEL: (703) 864-9550/EMAIL: DESIREE.L.KINNEY@USMC.MIL//
POC/T. J. JACKSON/GS-14/TECOM, G-3/5/7/ TEL: (703) 784-0052/EMAIL: TIM.JACKSON@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  This message announces the third quarter Fiscal Year 2019 Commandant’s Innovation Challenge titled “Enhance Training to Mission” led by Training and Education Command (TECOM) and hosted by the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL)/Futures Directorate.
2.  TECOM Force Fitness Division (FFD) is pleased to announce this quarter’s challenge which focuses on maintaining physical fitness.  This MARADMIN provides the challenge question, eligibility and evaluation criteria, schedule, and instructions for submitting ideas.  The challenge winner will have the opportunity to meet and partner with FFD and MCWL for further concept development and implementation.
3.  Context for the Challenge.  Success in combat relies on the strength, stamina, agility, coordination, and mental fortitude of our Marines.  For prolonged periods of time with sometimes little to no rest, Marines travel long distances, negotiate obstacles, and fight under heavy loads, often in extreme weather conditions.  Marines are warrior athletes.
3a.  In 2017, FFD was established as the service-level agency responsible for enabling a professional, service-wide approach to enhancing Marine individual and unit physical conditioning.  
3b.  As stewards of the Marine Corps Physical Fitness Program, FFD coordinates with other related programs within and outside the Marine Corps to include the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery for injury prevention and Marine Corps Installations and Logistics for nutrition.  FFD meets with force fitness instructors, members of the Sports Medicine and Injury Prevention program, and Marines to discuss related issues and solutions.  The underlying theme of many issues is a lack of awareness about fitness programs and standards already available to them.
3c.  These challenges have prompted the FFD to redouble its efforts to raise awareness about fitness programs to include presentations (Senior Enlisted Professional Military Education, Cornerstone, Senior Non-commissioned Officer Association, and Marine Expo), messaging through Marine Corps-sanctioned social media venues, and articles in the Marine Corps Times.  Despite promotion efforts, we need to do more.  FFD is looking for Marines to contribute their experience, objectivity, and creativity to this challenge.
4.  The Challenge.  How can the Marine Corps utilize existing technologies to increase awareness of physical fitness and injury prevention programs across the force in order to optimize general and occupational fitness and minimize the effects of illness, injury, and other conditions?
5.  Evaluation Criteria.  TECOM will judge ideas according to the following evaluation criteria in descending order of priority:
5a.  Relevance:  Idea pertains to Marine general or occupational fitness and applies technologies already employed by the Marine Corps.
5b.  Applicability:  Submission specifies the population to which this idea would apply.
5c.  Creativity:  Idea applies existing technologies in a new way.
5d.  Feasibility:  Submission includes brief description of how the idea could realistically be implemented.
5e.  Collaboration:  The submitter can demonstrate having consulted with others on their idea (list names and titles/commands).
6.  Eligibility Criteria.  For purposes of this MARADMIN, this competition is open to the Marine Corps Total Force (military and civilian).  For further details on eligibility, visit the challenge website (see instructions below).
7.  Timeline.  This competition is open from 1-30 April 2019 to receive submissions.  Any submission received after midnight on 30 April will be ineligible.  A panel of judges led by FFD will review submissions and the author of the winning submission will be notified no later than 30 June.
8.  Instructions.  Submit ideas electronically by first registering as a user on the splash page at www.marines.mil/innovate which will then lead to the challenge site.  Once registered, users may access the challenge site directly at www.cmcchallenge.md5.net to submit ideas.  Those not registering from a .mil or .gov email domain (or submit via other traceable means) must include their 10-digit Electronic Data Interchange Personal Identifier also referred to as the Department of Defense Identification Number (on the back of common access cards), name, rank, and unit for validation.  If unable to access the site, entries may be submitted via other traceable means such as email to the point of contact (POC) or certified mail addressed to TECOM Headquarters, TECOM G-3/5/7 Innovation Challenge POC, 2079 Barnett Avenue, #200, Quantico, VA 22134.
9.  Temporary assignment duty travel funding to Quantico, VA for the winner will be provided by MCWL.
10.  Release authorized by Major General William F. Mullen III, Commanding General, TECOM.//