R 211527Z NOV 16
MARADMIN 595/16
MSGID/GENADMIN/ CMC L LP WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/CHALLENGES WITH SHIPPING PETS (DEFINED AS A CAT OR A DOG) ON COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT AND ON THE AIR MOBILITY COMMAND - PATRIOT EXPRESS (AMC-PE) CHANNEL MISSION FLIGHTS//
REF/A/MCO 4600.7//
REF/B/DODI 4515.13//
REF/C/AMCI 24-101, VOLUME 14//
REF/D/JTR//
NARR/. REF A IS THE PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM MARINE CORPS ORDER. REF B IS THE DOD AIR TRANSPORTATION ELIGIBILITY INSTRUCTION. REF C IS THE AIR MOBILITY COMMAND INSTRUCTION. REF D IS THE JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS (JTR) FOR UNIFORMED SERVICE MEMBERS AND DOD CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES//
POC/M.A. EDWARDS/CIV/LPD-2/TEL: (703)695-7765/EMAIL: MARK.A.EDWARDS5(AT)USMC.MIL//
POC/J.A. BARNES/MAJ/MMIB-3/TEL: (703)784-9236/EMAIL: JASON.BARNES(AT)USMC.MIL//
POC/K.A. CERNY/CIV/MPO/TEL: (703)784-9387/EMAIL: KERRY.CERNY(AT)USMC.MIL//
POC/I.P. ANTHONY/CW05/MIQ/TEL: (703)432-9316/EMAIL: IAN.ANTHONY(AT)USMC.MIL//
POC/M.M. DELMEDICO/CIV/MPO/TEL: (703)784-9385/EMAIL: DAWN.DELMEDICO(AT)USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  This is a Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics (DC, IL) and Deputy Commandant, Manpower and Reserve Affairs (DC, MRA) coordinated MARADMIN.  The purpose of this MARADMIN is to provide Marines, Civilian Marines, and their families, important information on shipping pets (defined as a cat or a dog) on commercial aircraft and on the Air Mobility Command - Patriot Express (AMC-PE) channel mission flights.  Ref (a) provides passenger movement guidance applicable to Marine Corps total force, while refs (b) and (c) contain instructions regarding the AMC-PE channel rotator flights.
2.  Household pets (dogs and cats) are important members of marine families.  The shipment of pets during a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move, particularly overseas, can be very expensive and a stressful event if not properly planned well in advance.  Shipping a pet is considered a benefit and not an entitlement therefore, the Marine/Civilian Marine is ultimately responsible for all aspects of transporting and paying for transporting the pet during a PCS move (except in cases of evacuation from foreign PDS locations).  Ref (d) provides unique and limited circumstances in which Service members and Civilian employees can be eligible for reimbursement of expenses associated with moving and quarantining of pets.
3.  Key to a successful pet move is early planning and constant follow through.  The government contracted AMC-PE rotator flights offer a discounted cost (ranging from 125 to 375 depending on pet weight), however, the number of pet spaces per flight is very limited and subject to a first come, first serve basis for all DoD Uniformed Service Members and Civilian employees.  In accordance with the passenger movement directive, MCO 4600.7, port call requests should be submitted to the Distribution Management Office (DMO) at the earliest possible time, so that reservations can be made exactly 90 days prior to departure allowing the Marine Corps to compete for a limited number of pet spaces.  In locations like Okinawa, Japan, the nine (9) allocated pet spaces per flight are in extremely high demand and book very quickly.  Currently, the Deputy Commandant, Manpower and Reserve Affairs (DC, MRA) issues PCS orders with a six month (180 days) lead-time for Marines on normal rotations (to, from, and between OCONUS locations) and an average lead-time of at least five months (150 days) for Marines separating from OCONUS.  Therefore, it is imperative Marines obtain their PCS orders and submit port call requests to the DMO in advance of 90 days when possible to compete for pet spaces on the AMC-PE flights.  Alternatively, shipping pets via commercial means is a more expensive option, with costs and pet space availability varying widely depending on location, size of the pet and the airline.
4.  Executing a PCS is a challenging event for Marines, Civilian Marines, and their families.  With the high cost of shipping a pet via commercial means versus the AMC-PE, it is important that the Marine Corps total force understands their entitlements, allowances, and individual responsibilities.  Engagement with the local Installation Personnel Administration Center (IPAC), the DMO and the commercial travel office throughout the entire moving process is critical.
5.  In order to make sure total force marines are aware of the challenges of moving pets, the DC, MRA will include a statement of emphasis in the new outbound interview module to engage the IPAC and DMO early on in the PCS process regarding pet movements, and the DC, IL will do the same in the annual spring release of the household goods peak season MARADMIN.
6.  Additionally, direct any questions regarding pet movements to the Headquarters Marine Corps functional advocates for Passenger Travel at usmcpassengertravel(at)usmc.mil.
7.  Release authorized by LtGen M. G. Dana, Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics.//