UPDATE #5: U.S MARINE CORPS DISEASE CONTAINMENT PREPAREDNESS PLANNING GUIDANCE FOR 2019 NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19): MARINE CORPS GUIDANCE ON THE USE OF CLOTH FACE COVERINGS
Date Signed: 4/6/2020 | MARADMINS Number: 218/20
MARADMINS : 218/20

R 062151Z APR 20
MARADMIN 218/20
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS//
SUBJ/UPDATE #5: U.S MARINE CORPS DISEASE CONTAINMENT PREPAREDNESS PLANNING GUIDANCE FOR 2019 NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19): MARINE CORPS GUIDANCE ON THE USE OF CLOTH FACE COVERINGS//
REF/A/MSGID: MSG/DTG: 242300ZMAR20//
REF/B/MSGID: MEMO: SECDEF: 20200311//
REF/C/MSGID: MEMO: DEPSECDEF: 20200313//
REF/D/MSGID: DOC/YMD: 20200312//
REF/E/MSGID: DOC/YMD: 20200314//
REF/F/MSGID: DOC/YMD: 20200326//
REF/G/MSGID: DOC: OUSD (P&R): 20200311 FHP#4//
REF/H/MSGID: MEMO: SECDEF: 20200405//
NARR/REF A IS A SECDEF ORDER TO THE DEPARTMENT STOPPING ALL DOD INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019.  REF B IS A SECDEF MEMORANDUM RESTRICTING DOD TRAVEL IN RESPONSE TO CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019. REF C IS A DEPSECDEF MEMORANDUM DIRECTING STOP MOVEMENT FOR ALL DOMESTIC TRAVEL. REF D IS MARADMIN 162/20 UPDATE #2 US MARINE CORPS DISEASE CONTAINMENT PREPAREDNESS PLANNING GUIDANCE FOR 2019 NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19); TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AND PERSONNEL GUIDANCE FOR TRAVEL. REF E IS MARADMIN 167/20 UPDATE #3: U.S. MARINE CORPS DISEASE CONTAINMENT PREPAREDNESS PLANNING GUIDANCE FOR 2019 NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19): STOP MOVEMENT. REF F IS MARADMIN 193/20 UPDATE #4: U.S. MARINE CORPS DISEASE CONTAINMENT PREPAREDNESS PLANNING GUIDANCE FOR 2019 NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19): STOP MOVEMENT. REF G IS OUSD (P&R) FORCE HEATLH PROTECTION GUIDANCE (SUPPLEMENT 4) DOD GUIDANCE FOR PERSONNEL TRAVELING DURING THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK. REF H IS THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MEMO DIRECTING THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS ON DOD PROPERTY, INSTALLATIONS, AND FACILITIES WILL WEAR CLOTH FACE COVERINGS WHEN THEY CANNOT MAINTAIN SIX FEET OF SOCIAL DISTANCE IN PUBLIC AREAS OR WORK CENTERS.//
POC1/HQMC MCCAT/UNIT: PP&O POC/F/TEL: (703) 692-4304/4302/NIPR EMAIL: SMB_HQMC_MCCAT@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  This MARADMIN provides initial guidance on the use of face coverings for the Total Force.
1.A.  Background.
1.A.1.  The United States Marine Corps is committed to taking every precaution to ensure the health and well-being of our people and the nation in response to the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.  The Marine Corps supports, and will continue to implement, all measures necessary to mitigate risks to the force, to our mission and to the spread of the disease.  The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its guidance and now recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.
1.A.2.  Per reference H, on 5 April 2020, the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) directed that all individuals on DoD property, installations, and facilities wear cloth face coverings when they cannot maintain six feet of social distance in public areas or work centers (this does not include in a Service member's or Service family member's personal residence on a military installation).
2.  Mission.  The Marine Corps will implement the guidance provided in reference H to implement force protective measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 to our total force and their families while continuing the mission of the Corps.
3.A.  Commander’s Intent.
3.A.1.  Purpose.  Promulgate initial guidance to the force for the use of individual face coverings.
3.A.2.  Method.  The Commandant has identified COVID-19 as a threat to the health and well-being of the Marine Corps.  The Marine Corps will take measured steps to protect all Marines, Sailors, dependents, government civilians, and contract worker personnel.  Informed by Office of the Secretary of Defense and Department of the Navy (DON) guidance and actions, the intent of this message is to protect the force and preserve our capability to accomplish the mission of the Marine Corps.
3.A.3.  End State.  The U.S. Marine Corps is postured to mitigate, contain, respond to, and recover from the effects of this public health challenge, and is capable of continued execution of assigned missions.
3.B.  Concept of Operations.  The Marine Corps will institute the guidance contained in this MARADMIN and comply with face covering guidance contained herein.
3.C.  Tasks.
3.C.1.  Effective immediately, to the extent practical, all individuals on Marine Corps property, installations, and facilities are required to wear cloth face coverings when they cannot maintain six feet of social distance in public areas or duty locations.  This includes all military personnel, civilian employees, family members, DoD contractors, and all other individuals on Marine Corps property, installations, and facilities.  To the extent practical, Marines and their family members are encouraged to wear cloth face coverings in their barracks, family housing, or other shared residence locations.  Face coverings worn on Marine Corps property by any individual shall be conservative in appearance, not offensive, and conform to CDC guidance.
3.C.2.  Any face covering that is conservative in appearance, not offensive, and conforms to the below CDC guidance is acceptable to be worn in uniform.  Marines are encouraged to construct face coverings, but they are not allowed to procure or wear surgical masks or N95 masks, which are reserved for appropriate personnel.  Marines may use other types of coverings so long as they cover the prescribed area from nose to chin and present a neat and professional military appearance.  The Consolidated Issue Facility (CIF)-issued balaclava and neck gaiter are authorized for wear for Marines who possess those items.  A uniform green t-shirt also meets the requirement.  Face coverings with demeaning or derogatory logos, profanity, racist, sexist, printed wording, eccentric designs, offensive script, wrongful drug abuse, dissident or protest activity, or imagery, are not authorized.  Marines may fashion their own face coverings so long as the design presents a neat and professional military appearance.  Full masks (e.g., surgical masks, N-95 respirators, field protective masks, ski masks) are not authorized.  Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
3.C.3.  A cloth face cover should extend above the nose without interfering with eyewear, and below the chin to completely cover the mouth and nostrils.  It should fit snugly but comfortably against the sides of the face and be secured (e.g. with tying or ear-loops).  It should be laundered regularly to maintain good hygiene.  Cloth face covers shall NOT be substituted with surgical masks or N-95 respirators.  Surgical masks and N-95 respirators are personal protective equipment (PPE) and must be reserved for use in medical settings.
3.C.4.  Face coverings may be removed in work spaces if six feet of social distancing is feasible.
3.C.5.  Exceptions to this requirement may be granted by local commands, who may further delegate this authority no lower than individuals occupying supervisory positions.  Exceptions authorized will be submitted to the first General Officer or Senior Executive in the chain of command for awareness.  Security personnel may require the lowering of face covers to verify identification.
3.C.6.  Cloth face covers and PPE are integrated into a larger system of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to limit transmission of infection.  Further CDC information on NPIs may be found here:
https:(slash)(slash)www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html.  The following NPIs shall continue to be consistently practiced.
3.C.6.1.  Frequent hand sanitation using soap and water, or hand sanitizer.
3.C.6.2.  Properly covering coughs and sneezes.
3.C.6.3.  Social distancing, staying home when sick, and use of telecommunications in place of face-to-face interactions.
3.C.6.4.  Frequent cleaning and disinfection of common touch points, including gym equipment, keyboards, laptops, door handles, etc.
4.  Administration and Logistics.
4.A.  Administration.
4.A.1.  The Marine Corps will continue to implement force protective measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 to our total force and their families and the American people.  The latest DOD policies can be found at: https:(slash)(slash)www.defense.gov/explore/spotlight/coronavirus.
4.B.  Logistics.
4.B.1.  Per reference H, refer to the CDC website for method to make face coverings: https:(slash)(slash)www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html
4.B.2.  Commanders with additive manufacturing and sewing capabilities may utilize locally procurable resources and designs available from the CDC to produce masks for organizational requirements consistent with the guidance contained in this MARADMIN.
5.  Command and Signal.
5.A.  Command.  This MARADMIN applies to the Total Force.
5.B.  Signal.  This MARADMIN is effective upon release.  Ensure widest dissemination.
6.  Released by Lieutenant General John J. Broadmeadow, Director Marine Corps Staff//