R 201730Z AUG 25
MARADMIN 389/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS//
SUBJ/2025 GENERAL OFFICERS, SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE MEMBERS, AND
SERGEANTS MAJOR PARTICIPATION IN MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY BALLS//
REF/A/DOC/USMC/13MAY13//
REF/B/DOC/USMC/04AUG08//
REF/C/DOC/DOD/03APR19//
REF/D/DOC/DOD/15MAY24//
REF/E/DOC/DOD/01OCT24//
NARR/REF A IS CMC GREEN LETTER 2-13, SENIOR OFFICIAL SPOUSAL TRAVEL.
REF B IS MCO 7040.11A, MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY BALL FUNDING.  REF C IS
DOD DIRECTIVE 4500.56, DOD POLICY ON THE USE OF GOVERNMENT AIRCRAFT 
AND AIR TRAVEL.  REF D IS THE DOD JOINT ETHICS REGULATION (JER).  
REF E IS THE JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS.//
POC/B. HIPP/CAPTAIN/DMCS ASST OPSO/TEL: 703-614-2828/E-MAIL: 
BRANDON.HIPP@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  This MARADMIN provides guidance 
regarding travel of Marine Corps general officers (GOs), senior 
executives, sergeants major (SgtMaj), and any other Marines serving
in an active-duty capacity, to act as the guest of honor (GOH) or 
guest speaker for 2025 Marine Corps birthday ball celebrations per 
the references.  This MARADMIN does not apply to GOH or guest 
speakers who are not employed by the government or are not serving 
in an active-duty capacity.
2.  Guidance.  As responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, the 
Marine Corps will minimize the use of government funds to support 
travel expenses incurred by active-duty guests of honor or guest 
speakers.
2.a.  Commands, units, or organizations requesting active-duty GOHs
to attend Marine Corps birthday balls must demonstrate that local 
GOs and/or SgtMaj are unavailable to support the date specified.
2.b.  Units are strongly encouraged to consider leaders of local 
veteran organizations and local retired community leaders as 
primary GOH options to reduce costs and maintain our Marine for 
Life commitment. 
3.  Approval.  GOH travel outside the local area requires approval 
and determination of mission criticality from the Director, Marine 
Corps Staff (DMCS).
3.a.  Requests for GOHs from units/organizations which fall within 
the GOH's purview/command responsibilities (e.g., subordinate unit),
and/or at the traveler’s own expense do not require separate 
approval from DMCS. 
3.b.  Requests for GOHs to attend a ball at which an active-duty GO,
senior executive, or SgtMaj is already in attendance, or at which a
local GO, senior executive, or SgtMaj is available to attend as the
GOH, will not normally receive a favorable endorsement.
3.c.  Stewardship of resources extends to the use of support staff 
and transportation resources.  As such, attendance approval for a 
GOH at an outside ball authorizes travel for the attending GOH and 
no other travelers.  Requests for additional travelers inside CONUS
will not be considered.  Additional travelers for OCONUS travel 
will be considered on a case-be-case basis provided there is a 
substantiating travel agenda that supports such a requirement. 
4.  Funding.  HQMC will not fund GOs, senior executives, SgtMaj, or
any other Marine to travel to balls.
4.a.  Per ref (b), GOH travel expenses (transportation, lodging, 
meals, and incidentals) will be exclusively funded with appropriated
funds, from either the requesting unit's or the GOH's unit funds in
accordance with the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR), reference (e).
4.b.  Non-appropriated funds, including funds raised by the ball 
committee or unit fundraising, shall not be used to pay for a GOH's
travel expenses.
5.  Spousal travel.  Government-funded spousal travel will not be
endorsed.  GOHs are welcome to pay for their spouse's travel 
expenses at their own expense.  
6.  Gifts.  
6.a.  Units shall consult with their local staff judge advocate 
prior to presenting any gifts to a GOH/guest speaker as there have 
been significant updates to the JER, reference (d). 
6.b.  Active-duty Marines who are authorized to serve as GOH/guest 
speaker pursuant to DMCS approval are on official orders and 
receiving travel entitlements in accordance with reference (e). 
GOH/guest speaker will consult with their local staff judge advocate
prior to accepting any gifts or travel benefits to ensure compliance
with reference (d) and paragraphs 4.a. and 4.b. above.  
7.  Requests.  Requests for non-local, active-duty, GOHs to 
participate in a ball should be routed directly to the DMCS POC 
identified in this MARADMIN no later than 10 business days prior to 
the date of event. 
7.a.  Requests will be in standard naval letter format and sent 
directly, via e-mail, to the listed POC.  Requests will address the 
following:
7.a.1.  Unit hosting ball.
7.a.2.  Date & location of ball.
7.a.3.  Identify if there are travel restrictions to and from ball 
location.
7.a.4.  Role of GO, senior executive, or SgtMaj at ball (e.g., GOH, 
guest speaker, attendee, etc) and reason why they are exceptionally 
unique to the hosting unit’s ceremony.
7.a.5.  Identify all active-duty GOs, senior executives, and SgtMaj
in attendance, and all local GOs, senior executives, and SgtMaj 
available but not attending.
7.a.6.  Estimated TAD costs (travel, per diem, and expenses), and
how costs are to be funded. 
7.a.7.  Detailed travel itinerary beginning and ending at the GOH’s 
home station. 
7.a.8.  Anticipated number of attendees.
8.  Cancellation.  This MARADMIN is canceled 31 December 2025.
9.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General Paul J. Rock, Jr., 
Director, Marine Corps Staff.//