R 251500Z APR 23
MARADMIN 220/23
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/ADVANCE NOTIFICATION OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BEREAVEMENT LEAVE//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC MPO/19MAY2009//
REF/B/MSGID: MEMO/OSD WASHINGTON DC/29MAR2023//
REF/C/MSGID: MEMO/ASN WASHINGTON DC/14APR2023//
REF/D/MSGID: DOC/PUBLIC LAW 117-81/27DEC2021//
AMPN/REF A IS MCO 1050.3J REGULATIONS FOR LEAVE, LIBERTY AND ADMINISTRATIVE ABSENCE. REF B IS THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PERSONNEL AND READINESS DIRECTIVE-TYPE MEMORANDUM, BEREAVEMENT LEAVE FOR SERVICE MEMBERS. REF C IS THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE NAVY (MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS) DIRECTIVE-TYPE MEMORANDUM, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY GUIDANCE FOR MILITARY BEREAVEMENT LEAVE. REF D IS PUBLIC LAW 117-81, SECTION 622//
POC/MANPOWER MILITARY POLICY (MPO)/EMAIL: MPO@USMC.MIL/TEL: (703) 784-9360//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  To provide advance notification of changes to reference (a), as directed in references (b) and (c).  These changes will be incorporated in reference (a) during its next revision.
2.  Background.  The establishment of bereavement leave was implemented into law with the enactment reference (d).  This includes the provisions and specifications that bereavement leave is only authorized in the event of a death of a spouse or child and the leave balance criteria listed below.
3.  Definitions
    a.  Spouse.  An individual, to include Service members, lawfully married to a Marine, as recognized by any State, possession, or territory of the United States.
    b.  Child.  Is a person born alive who is:
        (1) A biological, adopted, step, or foster son or daughter of the Marine;
        (2) A person who is a legal ward of the Marine or was a legal ward of the Marine when the person was a minor or otherwise required a legal guardian;
        (3) A person for whom the Marine stands in loco parentis or stood in loco parentis when the person was a minor or otherwise required someone to stand in loco parentis.
    c.  Bereavement leave.  Is a period of non-chargeable paid leave, up to 14 consecutive days, to make arrangements required by the death of a member’s spouse or child and to attend the funeral, burial, or memorial service of the spouse or child.
    d.  Period of bereavement.  Is the timeframe in which a Marine may take bereavement leave.  It begins on the date of death of the spouse or child and ends on the date that is no later than 14 consecutive days after the deceased person’s funeral, burial, or memorial service.  This period will vary based on an individual Marine’s culture and beliefs.
4.  Action.  Effective immediately, commanders are authorized to approve bereavement leave to eligible Marines.
5.  Eligibility
    a.  A Marine is eligible for bereavement leave if they meet all of the following criteria:
        (1) Have a spouse or child who dies on or after 25 June 2022.
        (2) Has fewer than 30 days of accrued annual leave on the date that they begin bereavement leave.
    b.  If a Marine has 30 or more days of accrued annual leave, they may be authorized chargeable leave (e.g., emergency leave and annual leave) until such point that their leave balance is below 30 days.  Then the Marine may be approved for bereavement leave.
    c.  Bereavement leave must be taken during the period of bereavement.
6.  Coordinating Instructions
    a.  Commander’s Authority
        (1) The commander may authorize bereavement leave, to an eligible Marine, outside of their period of bereavement if operational requirements or other extenuating circumstances prevented the Marine from executing bereavement leave during their period of bereavement.
        (2) Commanders may authorize bereavement leave in combination with chargeable leave and other types of non-chargeable leave (e.g. convalescent leave).  No sequence of taking such leave types is required and leave taken in conjunction with bereavement leave may be taken on both ends of the bereavement leave period.  Leave taken in conjunction with bereavement may not be used to break up the continuous bereavement leave period.
        (3) Commanders may consider a Marine’s self-certification of the death of their spouse or child to approve a request for bereavement leave.  Commanders will require the Marine to provide administratively acceptable documentation (e.g. including but not limited to death certificate, Red Cross message, etc.), as determined by the commander, within 30 calendar days after returning to duty.  If the Marine fails to provide the required documentation, the commander will direct that their accrued leave account be reduced by the number of days of bereavement leave taken.
        (4) Commanders are encouraged to provide maximum allowable flexibility in the execution of bereavement leave and annual leave in conjunction with a qualifying death as operationally possible.  Proof of death is not a requirement to initiate bereavement leave and it is the requesting Marine’s responsibility to provide documentation to prevent annual leave deductions.
    b.  Bereavement leave, once initiated, must be taken in one continuous increment in connection with the death of a spouse or child and is counted in calendar days.  Any unused bereavement leave at the end of the bereavement leave period is forfeited.  An eligible Marine may request and be approved for fewer than 14 consecutive days of bereavement leave and request an extension to the original leave request for up to the 14 day period due to individual circumstances with the commander's approval via the command’s normal leave request procedures and policies.
    c.  Multiple Qualifying Events.  In the instance of multiple qualifying events, a Marine is authorized bereavement leave for each event.
7.  Limitations
    a.  A Marine will not be authorized bereavement leave in connection with the death of a person who is not their spouse or child, but may be authorized other forms of leave, as appropriate, in accordance with reference (a).
    b.  A Marine will not be authorized bereavement leave in connection with a stillbirth or miscarriage, but may be authorized other forms of leave, as appropriate, in accordance with reference (a).
    c.  A Marine whose misconduct resulted in the death of their spouse or child is not authorized bereavement leave.
    d.  Any unused bereavement leave that is not taken by the time the Marine is released from active service will be forfeited.  A Marine will not be extended on, or recalled back to, active service solely to permit the Marine to be authorized bereavement leave.
8.  Retroactive Period.  Bereavement leave is retroactive to 25 Jun 22.  Marines whose situation during the period between 25 Jun 22 and the publication of this MARADMIN who used chargeable leave and would have been eligible for bereavement leave in accordance with paragraph 5 of this MARDAMIN, may request such leave be restored.  Commanders will certify the number of days, up to 14, that the Marine would have been eligible for.  The certification will be submitted to the servicing Installation Personnel Administration Center (IPAC) for processing.  This retroactive period does not apply to members who have been separated (including those who have been transferred to the Fleet Reserve or Fleet Marine Corps Reserve) or retired from active service.
9.  Bereavement leave is applicable to all active component Marines and those reserve component Marines who perform active duties or are mobilized or called to active duty for more than 12 consecutive months.
10.  Point of Contact.  All questions concerning bereavement leave should be directed to their administration section and local IPAC prior to contacting Manpower Military Policy (MPO).
11.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General James F. Glynn, Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.//