11–15 FEBRUARY 2019 COMMUNICATION STRATEGY AND OPERATIONS (COMMSTRAT) POST OPERATIONAL ADVISORY GROUP (OAG) MESSAGE
Date Signed: 7/3/2019 | MARADMINS Number: 374/19
MARADMINS : 374/19

R 031258Z JUL 19
MARADMIN 374/19
MSGID/MARADMIN/CMC CD WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/11–15 FEBRUARY 2019 COMMUNICATION STRATEGY AND OPERATIONS (COMMSTRAT) POST OPERATIONAL ADVISORY GROUP (OAG) MESSAGE//
REF/A/COMMAND ELEMENT ADVOCATE BOARD (CEAB) CHARTER/28 AUG 2014//
REF/B/COMMSTRAT OAG CHARTER/05 SEP 2017//
REF/C/MCO 5311.6 ADVOCATE AND PROPONENT ASSIGNMENTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES/2 DEC 2013//
REF/D/MARADMIN 028/19 11–15 FEBRUARY 2019 COMMUNICATION STRATEGY AND OPERATIONS (COMMSTRAT) OPERATIONAL ADVISORY GROUP (OAG) CALLING MESSAGE/11 JAN 2019//
NARR/REF A PROVIDES AUTHORITY FOR CONDUCT OF CEAB-SPONSORED OAG(S). REF B PROVIDES AUTHORITY FOR THE 45XX COMMSTRAT OCCFLD TO ESTABLISH AND HOST AN OAG. REF C IDENTIFIES ADVOCATE AND PROPONENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND GUIDANCE. REF D SERVES AS THE COMMSTRAT OAG CALLING MESSAGE TO THE MARINE CORPS FOR CHARTERED MEMBER PARTICIPATION.//
POC//ANDRIOUS/AJ/MAJ/SECTION HEAD/FDR/CD/ TEL: (703) 693-4906/EMAIL: HQMC_45XX_PROPONENT@USMC.MIL
POC//VOUGHT/JM/MSGT/BRANCH CHIEF/FDR/CD/ TEL: (703) 614-1494/EMAIL: JEREMY.VOUGHT@USMC.MIL
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  This message provides results information for the COMMSTRAT OAG held 11 – 14 February 2019.
2.  The COMMSTRAT OAG was hosted by the Director, Communication Directorate (CD) who serves as the proponent of the 45XX COMMSTRAT Occupational Field (OccFld).  The COMMSTRAT OAG took place at the MITRE facility in the Quantico Corporate Center located at 925 Corporate Drive, Stafford, VA 22554.
3.  Purpose.  The COMMSTRAT OAG is the Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration-directed forum for interface, planning and decision between Headquarters Marine Corps, the operating forces and the supporting establishment concerning issues that affect the 45XX COMMSTRAT OccFld.  The OAG strives to increase COMMSTRAT capabilities, employability, development and readiness in support of the Marine Corps’ operational and institutional missions.  It provides a critical forum for the OccFld to provide input to the COMMSTRAT proponent and advocate based on their current operational perspectives.
4.  Per Ref D, a list of participants from the OPFOR and SE organizations is available.
5.  OccFld priorities and concerns:
5.A.  Doctrine and Policy
5.A.1.  Complete and publish the COMMSTRAT Functional Concept by Q4, FY19 [OPR:  IWID.  OCR:  CD].
5.A.2.  Complete draft COMMSTRAT Concept of Employment for the COMMSTRAT OccFld [OPR:  IWID.  OCR:  CD].  Suspense date by Q4, FY19.
5.A.3.  Submit COMMSTRAT Company 9 Paragraph Order Mission Statement for GO-level staffing [OPR:  CD.  OCR:  TFSD].  Suspense date by Q4, FY19.
5.A.4.  Establish the Digital Engagement (DE) Strategy Working Group.  The WG will address the following problem:  In the evolving digital/social information environment, the Marine Corps presents itself in a fragmented, often competing manner to increasingly ambivalent domestic publics and is arguably squelched by peer competitors globally.  The Marine Corps does not possess the enterprise-level COMMSTRAT digital engagement policy and strategy necessary to ensure mutually supporting and branded communication activities, or a dedicated process to inform DE DOTMLPF considerations in a MAGTF/SE/HQMC-collaborative and responsive manner [OPR:  CD.  OCR:  CD].
5.B.  Organization and Personnel
5.B.1.  COMMSTRAT Officer Personnel inventory through all ranks, specifically Lieutenant Colonel, must increase over the next four years.  The current Authorized Structure of 23 Lieutenant Colonels is at a current inventory of 10 with only 6 assignable as a 4502.  This puts the O5 inventory at a 74 percent critical shortfall.  In an effort to fix this critical shortfall, and meet the demands of Force 2025, the OAG determined that close coordination and collaboration with the Human Resource Development Process (HRDP), the COMMSTRAT OccFld Advocate - working with DC M&RA, to establish a deliberate strategy to reach target inventory for Lieutenant Colonels.  Additionally, determine the opportunities within the 2018 Congressional Law that overhauls the officer promotion system across the Department of Defense to determine how this authorizes the Marine Corps to increase 4502 officer inventory, specifically Lieutenant Colonel Officer inventory, and retain and develop the Officers throughout the Community of Interest (COI) in order to develop the Marine Corps ability to fight in complex and contested information environment [OPR:  DC M&RA.  OCR:  CD and DC I].
5.B.2.  Continue working with the HRDP stakeholders to develop a Lateral Move program for the COMMSTRAT 4502 MOS.  This includes a panel to vet and approve prospective lateral movers, establish the criteria for lateral moves which includes, but is not limited to, career potential, longevity of service, and identified skill sets as per the MOS manual.
5.B.3.  The re-designation of the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 4602 Legacy Combat Camera, Limited Duty Officers (LDO) to apply for the MOS 4502 Communication Strategy and Operations unrestricted officer MOS will close September 30, 2019.
5.B.4.  TS/SCI security clearance issue requires multi-pronged effort, given that personnel who are not appropriately cleared cannot fully support the mission [OPR:  CD and DC I. OCR:  CD&I (TFSD), M&RA].
5.B.5.  100 percent verify all TS/SCI billets, per BIC, are identified and reflected in Total Force Structure Management System (TFSMS) [OPR:  CD&I (TFSD).  OCR:  DC I].
5.B.6.  Determine strategy to maximize potential that all TS/SCI billets will be filled by appropriately cleared personnel, who will arrive with fully activated clearances upon execution of orders, and also determine strategies to mitigate delays by determining population of those qualified to fill these billets in perpetuity [OPR:  DC I.  OCR:  M&RA].
5.C.  Training and Leadership / Education.
5.C.1.  Officer and Enlisted OccFld Road Map is required to formalize and professionalize the OccFld.  Completion of the MOS road map is scheduled for Q4 FY19 [OPR:  CD.  OCR M&RA].
5.C.2.  The Defense Information School (DINFOS) is the joint school granting the MOSs within the COMMSTRAT OccFld.  DINFOS is unable to meet the TECOM-validated Marine Corps requirements.  Additionally, the joint school house can only accommodate approximately 52 percent of the current Marine Corps training requirement.  This training shortfall directly impacts the COMMSTRAT OccFld’s officer inventory growth.  The joint school house is also unable to meet the service unique requirements to the Marine Corps.  The OccFld proponent will continue working with TECOM to validate the training gaps [OPR:  CD.  OCR:  TECOM].
5.C.3.  Current COMMSTRAT training may not meet the operational requirements for COMMSTRAT support to Psychological Operations (PSYOP), specifically, the AMOS 4313 Broadcast Journalist.  CD will work with TECOM to identify the appropriate training requirements IOT provide the commensurate support to the PSYOP OccFld [OPR:  CD.  OCR:  DC I, MCIOC].
5.C.4.  Obtain and execute HRDP-encouraged (MPP-20 and Training Command) and OAG-approved sub-classification authority at the DINFOS Marine Detachment commanding officer-level in order to properly assign PMOS to enlisted accessioning students during the two-phase Mass Communication Foundations (MCF) Course in which all 45XX enlisted Marines will train together for 108 training days (Phase 1) and then split up into short concentration courses (Phase 2) to earn their specific PMOS.  MCF begins Q1, FY20 and first Phase 1 students will graduate 25 March 2020 [OPR: MPP-20.  OCR:  CD, MARDET, and TECOM].  Suspense date by Q1, FY20.
5.D.  Materiel
5.D.1.  Unfettered Internet access continues to manifest as a systemic issue across the enterprise.  C4 must find an enterprise solution if the Marine Corps is going to fight in contested and complex information environments.  CD will continue to work with and through DC I [OPR:  C4.  OCR:  Community of Interest (COI) of Information Capabilities].
5.D.2.  OccFld registered recommendations and required updates to the COMMSTRAT Hub, with follow-on notification and development by Marine Corps Systems Command Public Affairs Systems program office.
6.  Other topics discussed:
6.A.  The Chief Warrant Officer MOS 4503 (Visual Information Officer) MOS Manual and Training and Readiness Manual will be updated to reflect the changes to the VIOs [OPR:  CD.  OCR:  TECOM].
7.  The following OPFOR and SE organizations were represented:
7.A.  Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration.
7.B.  Marine Corps Combat Development Command.
7.C.  Deputy Commandant for Information.
7.D.  Marine Forces Pacific.
7.E.  Marine Forces Command.
7.F.  Marine Forces Reserve/North.
7.G.  Marine Forces Central Command.
7.H.  Marine Forces Europe/Africa.
7.I.  I Marine Expeditionary Force.
7.J.  I MIG COMMSTRAT Company.
7.K.  II Marine Expeditionary Force.
7.L.  II MIG COMMSTRAT Company
7.M.  III Marine Expeditionary Force.
7.N.  III MIG COMMSTRAT Company.
7.O.  Marine Corps Systems Command.
7.P.  Marine Corps Installations West.
7.Q.  Marine Corps Installations East.
7.R.  Marine Corps Installations Pacific.
7.S.  Marine Forces Special Operations Command.
7.T.  Marine Forces Cyber Command.
7.U.  Marine Forces South Command.
7.V.  Marine Corps Recruiting Command.
7.W.  Marine Detachment, Defense Information School.
7.X.  Defense Media Activity.
7.Y.  Marine Corps Information Operations Center.
7.Z.  U.S. Army Public Affairs Center (APAC).
7.AA.  U.S. Navy Chief of Information (CHINFO).
7.AB.  And other COMMSTRAT units at bases and stations
8.  Administration
8.A.  Reporting costs.  As sponsor of the COMMSTRAT OAG, CD is required to collect and submit actual cost information.  It is mandatory for attending organizations and respective representatives to report total liquidation costs for their respective attendees via email to:  M_HQMC_CD_ADMIN@usmc.mil no later than 1 August 2019.
9.  Release authorized by Colonel Ricardo Player, Acting Director of Communication and 45XX Communication Strategy and Operations Occupational Field Proponent.//