R 131600Z MAR 25
MARADMIN 124/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/UNIFORM AND GROOMING STANDARDS FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS//
REF/A/MSGID/MSG/R211430ZJAN22//
REF/B/MSGID/DOC/MCUB/MCO 1020.34H/01MAY2018//
REF/C/MSGID/DOC/MP/MCO 6310.1C/09OCT2012//
NARR/REF A IS MARADMIN 019/22/REF B IS MCO 1020.34H/REF C IS MCO
6310.1C//
POC/MPO/EMAIL: SMB_HQMC_MPO@USMC.MIL/TEL: 703-784-9371/9372/
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. Purpose. This MARADMIN provides interim
guidance and announces upcoming policy changes regarding exceptions
to policy (ETP) for uniform and grooming standards based on a
medical condition. The strength of the Marine Corps has always
been its people. Ensuring the health, resilience, and discipline
of our Marines and Sailors is essential to sustaining our
warfighting capability and maintaining the high standards required
to remain ready for any challenge. These standards ensure we remain
the world’s premier fighting force, ready to fight and win with
unwavering readiness, discipline, and lethality.
2. Background. All personnel authorized to wear the Marine Corps
uniform must comply with Marine Corps uniform and grooming standards
per reference (b). Medical conditions may necessitate temporary
modifications. Examples include a Service member recovering from
surgery requiring a brace or sling, a Service member diagnosed with
Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) or other facial skin conditions/
wounds needing to temporarily refrain from clean-shaving, or an
injured Service member requiring alternative footwear.
3. Immediate Action:
3.a. Military Medical Officers (MO): When a medical procedure or
condition necessitates modifying a Service member’s uniform or
grooming standards, as defined by reference (b), the MO will provide
a written waiver recommendation for the specific modification(s).
3.b. Commanding Officers (CO): COs will review the MO's
recommendations and, in consultation with the MO, approve or
disapprove the ETP.
3.c. Service members with approved ETPs: Affected personnel must
retain and readily produce a copy of their approved ETP whenever
deviating from the standards outlined in reference (b). This ETP may
be presented in either hard copy or digital format.
4. Amplifying Information on PFB.
4.a. PFB is a medical condition that may require modified facial
grooming, education, and treatment time. This interim guidance
reaffirms existing treatment plans and clarifies commanders'
responsibilities in supporting those protocols, with the ultimate
goal of returning Service members to grooming standards and ensuring
maximum warfighting readiness.
4.b. Interim Guidance for Facial Grooming Modifications:
4.b.1. PFB has a four-phase treatment approach outlined in detail
in reference (c). During these phases, a MO may recommend modifying
grooming standards and endorse the use of clippers. The following
is a summary of each phase:
4.b.1.a. Phase I, Control of mild cases: Avoid shaving for up to
4 weeks until all lesions have subsided while undergoing medical
treatment.
4.b.1.b. Phase II, Control of moderate to severe cases or those
cases unresponsive to Phase I: Avoid shaving for up to 8 weeks
if initially starting Phase II or up to an additional 4 weeks if
continuing from Phase I, with hair removal by depilatory treatment
according to treatment plan.
4.b.1.c. Phase III, Cases Unresponsive to Phase II Treatment:
Continue Phase II protocols for up to an additional 4 weeks;
the MO may then recommend continued treatment based on the patient's
response and, if necessary, a further period of modified grooming
standards.
4.b.1.d. Phase IV (Optional), Control of cases unresponsive to
Phase III or recurring frequently: Referral to dermatology for
possible laser treatment. This treatment is government-funded,
but a Service member is not required to undergo laser treatment.
4.b.2. Medical Evaluations: As with other medical conditions
requiring modified uniform and or grooming standards, MOs will
recommend, and COs will approve or disapprove the modification.
This change replaces the previous guidance in reference (a).
4.b.3. Documentation: When modified facial grooming standards
are authorized, NAVMC 11830(02-25) will be used to document the ETP.
The new NAVMC aims to improve communication between the member,
medical providers, and command teams throughout the four-phase
treatment plan.
4.b.4. Command Monitoring: COs with Service members diagnosed
with PFB must actively monitor the four-phase treatment plan,
as outlined in reference (c), to assist the Service member in
returning to compliance as defined in reference (b).
5. Administration.
5.a. NAVMC Form 11830 (02-25). This form is not yet available
through standard channel at forms.documentservices.dla.mil.
In the interim, download the draft form from the Manpower &
Reserve Affairs, Manpower Plans & Policy Division, Manpower
Military Policy Branch (MPO) website at https:(slash)(slash)
www.manpower.marines.mil/Plans-and-Policies/Manpower-Plans-and-
Policy/Manpower-Military-Policy-MPO/Uniform-Grooming-Mods-Related
-to-Medical-Conditions/.
5.b. Administrative Separation. Marines needing a uniform or
grooming ETP based on a medical condition for over one year
may be considered for administrative separation due to
incompatibility with Service.
6. Coordinating Instructions:
6.a. Within 90 days of this MARADMIN's release, all Service members
with a current PFB diagnosis must be re-evaluated by a Medical
Officer. Re-evaluation will assess the Service member's current
treatment protocol and determine the need for further treatment.
If the MO determines that the Service member's condition warrants
an ETP, the MO will use the revised NAVMC to facilitate
communication between the Service member, medical, and COs.
6.b. Effective immediately, this MARADMIN supersedes reference
(a) and aligns the treatment of PFB with all other medical
conditions impacting modifications to uniform and/or grooming
standards.
7. The changes in this MARADMIN will be incorporated into a
forthcoming Marine Corps Order.
8. This message applies to the Marine Corps Total Force.
9. Release authorized by Brigadier General David R. Everly,
Director, Manpower Plans and Policy Division.//