R 211338Z AUG 26
MARADMIN 384/26
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC PPO WASHINGTON DC
SUBJ/IMPLEMENTATION OF MANDATORY ANNUAL MASK FIT TESTING//
REF/A/DOC/SECWAR/30SEP25//
REF/B/DOC/USW(PR)/07JUL26//
REF/C/DOC/MCO 3400.3H/07MAR19//
REF/D/DOC/NAVMC 3500.18D/16MAY23//
REF/E/DOC/MCO 4400.201-V-13/21MAY25//
REF/F/DOC/ TM 09204G/09205G-OI/1//
REF/G/DOC/MARADMIN 352/26//
REF/H/MEMO/ASN/12AUG26//
REF/I/DOC/MCO 1500.63A//
NARR/REF A IS SECRETARY OF WAR MEMORANDUM, GROOMING STANDARDS FOR
FACIAL HAIR IMPLEMENTATION.//
REF B IS UNDER SECRETARY OF WAR FOR PERSONNEL AND READINESS
MEMORANDUM, MASK TRAINING IMPLEMENTATION.//
REF C IS MCO 3400.3H, CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL, AND
NUCLEAR DEFENSE (CBRND) POLICY AND TRAINING.//
REF D IS NAVMC 3500.18D, MARINE CORPS COMMON SKILLS TRAINING &
READINESS MANUAL.//
REF E IS MCO 4400.201-V-13, MANAGEMENT OF PROPERTY IN THE POSSESSION
OF THE MARINE CORPS, VOLUME 13, CHAPTER 9, CONSOLIDATED STORAGE
PROGRAM (CSP).//
REF F IS TM 09204G/09205G-OI/1 TECHNICAL MANUAL OPERATOR AND FIELD
MAINTENANCE MANUAL FOR MASK, CHEMICAL-BIOLOGICAL: JOINT SERVICE
GENERAL PURPOSE, FIELD, M50.//
REF G IS MARADMIN 352/26, UPDATE TO INTERIM GUIDANCE FOR CHEMICAL,
BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL, AND NUCLEAR DEFENSE READINESS REPORTING,
TRAINING, EQUIPPING, AND EXERCISE CERTIFICATION.//
REF H IS ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE NAVY MEMORANDUM, DEPARTMENT OF
THE NAVY ANNUAL CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL, AND NUCLEAR
PROTECTIVE MASK FIT TRAINING AND RESPIRATORY PROTECTION
REQUIREMENTS.//
REF I IS MCO 1500.63A MARINE CORPS COMMON MILITARY TRAINING
REQUIREMENTS.//
POC/SMITH, ANDREW P./GS14/HQMC/PP&O/CBRND SECTION HEAD/TEL:
703-545-9177/EMAIL: ANDREW.P.SMITH.CIV@USMC.MIL//
POC/GRAY, TERRY L./CWO5/HQMC/PP&O/CBRND OFFICER/TEL:
703-692-2576/EMAIL: TERRY.GRAY@USMC.MIL//
POC/DENSFORD, SETH/MGYSGT/HQMC/PP&O/CBRND CHIEF/TEL:
703-545-9177/EMAIL: SETH.DENSFORD@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. Purpose. Pursuant to references (a) through (i),
this MARADMIN provides guidance for the implementation of mandatory
annual Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) mask
fit and seal testing for all Marine Corps personnel. This training
supports individual readiness and validates the effective employment
of respiratory protective equipment, supporting survivability,
interoperability, and mission execution.
2. Background.
2.a. Reference (a) established uniform grooming standards across the
force to ensure operational readiness and compatibility with
protective equipment. Reference (a) further directed annual training
to validate mask fit and reinforce grooming compliance.
2.b. Reference (b) denied requested exemptions to the annual mask
training requirement and directed the military departments to
resource the minimum requirements necessary to conduct annual
training. At a minimum, training shall include a negative pressure
seal check for each service member using an appropriately sized
protective mask. A successful negative pressure seal check requires
the mask to maintain an airtight seal during inhalation in
accordance with reference (f).
2.c. Reference (c) establishes annual individual CBRN training and
Individual Protective Equipment Confidence Exercise (IPECE)
requirements for Marines. These requirements include training on the
proper donning, fit, seal verification, and employment of the field
protective mask, with completion reported in the Marine Corps
Training Information Management System (MCTIMS).
2.d. Reference (d), the Marine Corps Common Skills (MCCS) Training
and Readiness (T&R) Manual, establishes individual training
standards, performance criteria, evaluation requirements, and
sustainment intervals for MCCS. Successful completion of an IPECE
(CS chamber or open-air exposure), in accordance with references (c)
and (d), satisfies the annual training requirement directed in
references (c) and (i) and satisfies the annual mask fit and seal
test requirement established by this MARADMIN.
2.e. The Marine Corps employs Joint Service General Purpose Masks
(JSGPM) for respiratory and ocular CBRN protection and training.
The currently approved negative pressure JSGPMs are the M50 and the
M53A1.
2.f. Reference (e) establishes policies for the management and issue
of CBRN protection equipment and Individual Protective Equipment
(IPE) within the Marine Corps Consolidated Storage Program (CSP). In
commands where CBRN IPE is not in the standard individual issue, an
IPE training allotment shall be issued to the unit. Government
civilians, contractors, linguists, law enforcement program
personnel, and other authorized personnel requiring protective
equipment shall be supported in accordance with reference (e) and
applicable Marine Corps supply and CSP policies.
3. Action.
3.a. Policy Requirements.
3.a.1. All Marines, active and reserve component, shall complete
annual mask fit and seal testing to validate the ability to achieve
an effective seal on approved respiratory protective equipment in
accordance with references (a), (b) and (h). This MARADMIN does not
change the annual IPECE requirement directed in references (c) and
(i).
3.a.2. Per reference (h), all tight-fitting respiratory equipment
requires an unobstructed seal between the facepiece and skin.
Personnel shall be clean shaven at the respirator seal surface when
undergoing required annual CBRN testing or training.
3.a.3. Per reference (h), Marine Corps Training and Education
Command (TECOM) shall create a Service Directed training requirement
for annual mask fit training. This new requirement shall be titled
“Annual Mask Fit Training.” Reporting will be tracked using the
following statuses: TRAINED, UNTRAINED and FAILED. A TRAINED status
indicates successful completion of the mask fit and seal test or
IPECE annual training during the current annual period. An UNTRAINED
status indicates the mask fit and seal test or IPECE annual training
has yet to be completed during the current annual period. A separate
FAILED status will be applied when training performance standards
are not met, or if the mask fit and seal test or IPECE annual
training was not executed during the previous annual period.
3.a.4. Entry level training commands shall record completion of
Annual Mask Fit Training using established entry-level training
codes for recruit training and basic officer training. These codes
shall distinguish initial entry-level training, annual mask fit and
seal test compliance, and IPECE completion for readiness reporting.
3.b. Training Requirements.
3.b.1. Commands with an authorized allowance of JSGPMs shall
continue to conduct IPECE annually in accordance with references
(c) and (i).
3.b.2. Commands without an authorized allowance of JSGPMs shall
complete annual mask fit and seal testing using a negative pressure
seal check. A negative pressure seal check, operator level
maintenance, and sanitary practices shall be conducted in accordance
with reference (e) and constitute the minimum training standard for
validating mask fit and seal.
3.b.3. Commanders shall ensure all Marines complete annual mask fit
and seal testing each fiscal year, consistent with the annual
requirement period prescribed in reference (c).
3.b.4. In accordance with references (a), (b), and (h), annual mask
fit and seal testing may be accomplished using an approved
protective mask or firefighting respiratory equipment.
3.c. Reporting Requirements.
3.c.1. Commanders shall report completion of annual mask fit and
seal testing in MCTIMS under the “Annual Mask Fit Training” training
requirement.
3.c.2. No later than 31 August 2026, commanders shall validate the
Annual Mask Fit Training status in MCTIMS for all assigned
personnel, and update as required.
3.c.3. No later than 30 September 2026 for the active component and
31 December 2026 for the reserve component, O-6 commanders of units
with untrained personnel shall submit a comprehensive plan to their
commanding general to ensure full compliance with annual mask fit
and seal testing. These plans must detail resource shortfalls,
specific requirements, execution timelines with clear milestones,
and a strategy for integrating this testing into routine unit
training.
3.c.4 When directed, TECOM shall report the Annual Mask Fit Training
completion status for the total force, in accordance with reference
(h).
3.d. Resourcing Requirements.
3.d.1. DC CD&I, in coordination with DC PP&O and Marine Corps
Logistics Command, will review JSGPM allowances and authorized
inventories supporting the annual training requirement established
by this MARADMIN.
3.d.2. Commanders shall utilize the CSP and other authorized sources
of supply, as required, to obtain JSGPMs to execute the training
requirement established by this MARADMIN.
4. Endstate. Annual mask fit and seal testing shall be incorporated
into all unit training programs across the Marine Corps total force,
with training completion, and compliance tracked in accordance with
this MARADMIN.
5. Release authorized by Lieutenant General Jay M. Bargeron, Deputy
Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations.//