R 101840Z APR 24
MARADMIN 170/24
SUBJ/INTERIM PRELIMINARY ASSAULT AMPHIBIAN TRAINING AND OPERATING PROCEDURES STANDARDIZATION MANUAL WAIVER POLICY//
REF/A/MSG/DC PP&O/ IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRELIMINARY AATOPS MANUAL/5 JAN 2024//
REF/B/DOC/CG TECOM/PRELIMINARY AATOPS 01-ACV-1/12 DEC 23//
REF/C/DOC/CG TECOM/MCBUL 1501/3 MAR 23//
NARR/REF A IS THE PLANS, POLICIES, AND OPERATIONS (PP&O) MESSAGE ESTABLISHING THE AATOPS AND EGRESS PROCEDURES AS SERVICE POLICY. REF B IS THE TRAINING AND EDUCATION COMMAND (TECOM) PRELIMINARY AATOPS MANUAL. REF C IS THE MARINE CORPS BULLETIN ESTABLISHING UNDERWATER EGRESS TRAINING SERVICE-LEVEL POLICY.//
POC/MISTY POSEY/COL/ACS G3/TECOM/TEL: 703-784-4004/E-MAIL: MISTY.J.POSEY.MIL@USMC.MIL//
POC/JOHN CRITZ/LTCOL/G3 CAPABILITIES BRANCH/TECOM/TEL: 703-784-0331/E-MAIL: JOHN.CRITZ@USMC.MIL//
POC/FREDERICK MONDAY/LTCOL/TTU/AAS/TRNGCMD/TEL: 760-725-0545/E-MAIL: REDERICK.MONDAY@USMC.MIL//
POC/ERIC BENJAMIN/LTCOL/AA OCC FLD SPONSOR/PPO/TEL: 703-692-4311/E-MAIL: ERIC.BENJAMIN@USMC.MIL//
POC/CHRISTOPHER MEYER/MGYSGT/AA OCC FLD SPECIALIST/PPO/TEL: 703-614-3736/EMAIL: CHRISTOPHER.MEYER@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. This message provides interim policy for Assault Amphibian Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (AATOPS) waiver process for requirements prescribed within Preliminary AATOPS manual during the Preliminary AATOPS manual implementation period and subsequent Promulgated AATOPS and AATOPS program development.
2. Ref B established some Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) requirements that will entail implementation phases prior to full compliance. During the initial implementation period, and in cases where an AATOPS requirement jeopardizes essential training in support of global force management requirements, the first General Officer in the chain-of-command is authorized to assess the training risk, accept the training risk if appropriately mitigated, and grant an interim/temporary waiver for requirements prescribed within Preliminary AATOPS manual. For training requirements covered by an existing waiver process within any other Marine Corps Order or Policy, a Preliminary AATOPS waiver is still required to ensure adequate cognizance of all waivers involving ACV operations. See ref c for waiver templates and routing instructions.
2.a. Waivers should be used sparingly and only after all other options to comply with the Preliminary AATOPS manual have been exhausted. Consecutive waivers from the same unit for the same AATOPS requirement are not authorized. Waivers are only valid for the duration of the training event or exercise that required an exception.
2.b. The first General Officer in the chain-of-command will retain the waiver authority until the Promulgated AATOPS manual is approved. The Promulgated AATOPS manual will delineate waiver policy roles, responsibilities, and authorities. CG TECOM retains the authority to adjudicate any approved waivers.
2.c. Digital copies of all authorized waivers will be submitted to TECOM and HQMC Plans, Policies and Operations (PPO) via ETMS2 at “USMC TECOM ACS G3” and “USMC DC PPO” for review and retention.
2.d. All questions or recommendations concerning the contents of this message may be forwarded to CG TECOM via the appropriate chain-of-command.
3. Release authorized by Lieutenant General Kevin M. Iiams, Commanding General, Training and Education Command.//