FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL ALMAR(uc)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLASSIFIED
ALMAR 032/03
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRZ//
SUBJ/POLICY FOR RETURN AND REUNION OF MARINES//
POC/CHRIS SHARP/LTCOL/MRZ/-/TEL:DSN 278-0295
/EMAIL:SHARPCA@MANPOWER.USMC.MIL//
RMKS/1.  BACKGROUND.  DEPLOYMENTS ARE A CONSTANT REALITY
FOR MARINES, SAILORS, AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.  RETURN AND REUNION
AT THE END OF DEPLOYMENT IS A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE FOR ALL,
REGARDLESS OF EXPERIENCE AND LENGTH OF SERVICE.  AS A RESULT OF
RECENT DEPLOYMENTS IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF)
AND OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF), THE RETURN OF MARINES AND THE
REUNION WITH LOVED ONES IS MARKED BY SIGNIFICANT COMBAT EXPERIENCE.  
COMBAT EXPERIENCE RAISES THE INTENSITY OF POSSIBLE DIFFICULTIES
REINTEGRATING INTO DAILY LIVING WITH LOVED ONES.  AS MARINES RETURN
AND REUNITE WITH THEIR FAMILIES, THEY REQUIRE ADEQUATE PREPARATION
AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO EASE THE TRANSITION FROM THE BATTLEFIELD
TO THE HOME.  
2.  POLICY.  UNIT COMMANDERS, OFFICERS-IN-CHARGE, AND RECEPTION AND
DEMOBILIZATION CENTERS SHALL ENSURE THAT ALL SERVICE MEMBERS
RETURNING FROM OEF/OIF DEPLOYMENTS RECEIVE COMPREHENSIVE RETURN AND
REUNION SERVICES.  THESE SERVICES SHALL INCLUDE:
A.  FIRST, IN-THEATER TRAINING TAILORED TO UNIT COMMANDERS AND
OFFICERS-IN-CHARGE ON COMBAT STRESS CONTROL PROGRAMS, FOCUSING ON
THE SYMPTOMS AND RISKS OF UNTREATED COMBAT STRESS, HOW TO SCREEN FOR
IT, AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ASSIST IN TREATING IT BOTH IN-THEATER
AND AT HOME.
B.  SECOND, IN-THEATER COMMAND BRIEFS FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE UNIT,
WHETHER THEY RETURN WITH THEIR UNIT OR INDIVIDUALLY.
(1) THE STANDARD 60 MINUTE BRIEF TO BE USED BY CHAPLAINS, OR IF
UNAVAILABLE, BY UNIT COMMANDERS OR APPROPRIATE COMMAND LEADERS, IS
FOUND ON THE HTTP://WWW.USMC-MCCS.ORG WEBSITE UNDER "RETURN AND REUNION".
THE BRIEF, TITLED "WARRIOR TRANSITION" COVERS THREE REUNION
COMPONENTS:  "WHERE I'VE BEEN"; "WHERE I'M ABOUT TO BE (HOME)"; AND
"WHERE I'D LIKE TO BE".  THE BRIEF HAS BEEN USED WITH VARIOUS
RETURNING MARINE UNITS OVER THE PAST YEAR AND RECEIVED HIGH MARKS
FOR HELPING MARINES RETURN HOME.
(2) CHAPLAIN AND MEDICAL CORPS PERSONNEL SHOULD BE ON HAND AND
AVAILABLE TO OBSERVE THE "WARRIOR TRANSITION" COMMAND BRIEF AND TO
OFFER ADDITIONAL SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AS NEEDED.
(3) IF, AFTER THE BRIEFING, COMMANDERS ARE CONCERNED THAT A UNIT OR
INDIVIDUAL MAY STILL BE AT RISK AND IN NEED OF FURTHER COMBAT STRESS
MANAGEMENT, THEY SHOULD ARRANGE FOR MORE IN-DEPTH CRITICAL
INCIDENT STRESS DEBRIEFING (CISD) PRIOR TO RETURN THROUGH THEIR IN-
THEATER CHAPLAINS.  MORE SERIOUS CASES SHALL BE REFERRED TO MENTAL
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS FOR EVALUATION PRIOR TO RETURN.
C.  THIRD, UPON ARRIVAL AT THE HOME LOCATION, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
(RECEIVING INSTALLATIONS AND DEMOBILIZATION PROCESSING CENTERS).
COMMANDERS SHOULD ENSURE THAT ALL MARINES ARE AWARE OF THE
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AVAILABLE THAT CAN HELP WITH RETURN AND REUNION
CHALLENGES.

(1) BASE-LEVEL COUNSELING PROFESSIONALS ARE AVAILABLE, THROUGH THE
CHAPLAINS AND MARINE CORPS COMMUNITY SERVICES (MCCS) FOR SERVICE
MEMBERS THAT DESIRE TO TALK ABOUT THEIR COMBAT EXPERIENCE USING THE
CISD PROCESS.  COUNSELING PROFESSIONALS SHOULD ARRANGE REFERRAL OF
MARINES TO THE CLOSEST MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITY (MTF) FOR MORE
SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS.
(2) TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE, MARINES SHOULD BE AFFORDED TIME
TO DECOMPRESS AND REINTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY. THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED
PRIOR TO RETURN AND VIA HALF DAY WORK SCHEDULES FOR THE FIRST WEEK
AFTER RETURN TO HOME LOCATIONS.  
(3) AN OPERATIONAL PAUSE FOR AT LEAST FOUR HOURS SHALL BE HELD BY
UNITS WITHIN ONE WEEK OF RETURN TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF RISK
MANAGEMENT IN ALL ACTIVITIES TO INCLUDE THOSE OFF-DUTY.  MARINES
HAVE NOT DRIVEN THEIR PMVS FOR MONTHS, AND THEY NEED TO
RE-FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH THEIR VEHICLES AND LOCAL TRAFFIC
LAWS.  NOT WEARING SEATBELTS, SPEEDING, FATIGUE (ADJUSTING TO CONUS
TIMEZONES), AND DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED LEAD TO MISHAPS, INJURIES,
AND FATALITIES. UNITS MAY USE BRIEFS AND/OR LECTURES TO ENSURE THE
MESSAGE IS DELIVERED TO ALL MARINES.
(4) COMMANDERS AND SNCOS SHOULD ALSO BE COGNIZANT OF POST TRAUMATIC
STRESS DISORDER WARNING SIGNS, WHICH MAY TAKE MONTHS TO MANIFEST.
THEY SHOULD AGGRESSIVELY SEEK PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR MARINES
EXHIBITING THESE SIGNS.          
D.  FOURTH, RETURN AND REUNION PRESENTATIONS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS.  
RETURN AND REUNION PRESENTATIONS MUST BE ABUNDANTLY AVAILABLE AND
MARKETED TO FAMILY MEMBERS (SPOUSES, CHILDREN, AND SIGNIFICANT
OTHERS) ABOARD RECEIVING INSTALLATIONS AND AT APPROPRIATE RESERVE
LOCATIONS AS EARLY AS 30 DAYS PRIOR TO RETURN OF UNITS OR NON-
CASUALTY INDIVIDUALS.
(1) THE STANDARD BRIEF TO BE USED BY COMMAND LEADERS, FAMILY
READINESS OFFICERS, AND MARINE CORPS FAMILY TEAM BUILDING STAFF IS
POSTED ON THE HTTP://WWW.USMC-MCCS.ORG WEBSITE UNDER "RETURN AND REUNION".
THE BRIEF, "RETURN AND REUNION FOR SPOUSES", COVERS RETURN AS A
PROCESS REQUIRING TIME AND EFFORT.  IT DISCUSSES MANAGING
EXPECTATIONS AND STAYING FLEXIBLE, REUNION AS A SINGLE PARENT,
REUNION AND MARRIAGE, CHILDREN, AND WORK.  TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL
HOMECOMING ARE ALSO INCLUDED.  A NARRATED VERSION OF THIS
PRESENTATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE HTTP://WWW.LIFELINES2000.ORG WEBSITE FOR
THOSE FAMILY MEMBERS NOT NEAR AN INSTALLATION.
(2) KEY VOLUNTEER NETWORKS WILL BE CRITICAL IN PASSING THE WORD
REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY AND SCHEDULING OF RETURN AND REUNION
BRIEFINGS, IDENTIFICATION OF SUPPORTIVE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES,
AND HELPING IN REFERRALS FOR FAMILIES FOR FOLLOW-ON SUPPORT AS
NEEDED.  
(3) A STANDARD RETURN AND REUNION GUIDE IS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD
AND REPRODUCTION ON THE HTTP://WWW.USMC-MCCS.ORG WEBSITE UNDER "RETURN AND
REUNION".  THIS GUIDE SHOULD BE WIDELY DISTRIBUTED.
(4) A SAFETY BRIEF IS AVAILABLE FOR UNITS TO USE ON THE
HTTP://WWW.HQMC.USMC.MIL/SAFETY.NSF WEBSITE.  OTHER INFORMATION IS
AVAILABLE ON THIS SITE TO INCLUDE SUMMER SAFETY REMINDERS.
E.  LASTLY, INFORMATION ON MARINE CORPS COMMUNITY SERVICES (MCCS)
ONE SOURCE.  MCCS ONE SOURCE PROVIDES 24-7-365 INFORMATION, REFERRAL,
AND CONSULTATION WITH MASTERS-LEVEL CONSULTANTS VIA PHONE, EMAIL,
OR THE WEB.  MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES MAY REQUEST MATERIALS TO BE
MAILED TO THEIR HOME, SUCH AS CDS OR INFORMATIONAL BOOKLETS.
SAMPLE RETURN AND REUNION INFORMATION AVAILABLE INCLUDES A TIP
SHEET TITLED "RETURNING TO FAMILY LIFE AFTER MILITARY DEPLOYMENT"
AND AN AUDIOTAPE/CD TITLED "FINDING STRENGTH IN FAMILY AND
COMMUNITY."  MCCS ONE SOURCE MAY BE PARTICULARLY USEFUL FOR SMCR
RESERVISTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AS POSSIBLE RETURN AND REUNION
DIFFICULTIES MAY NOT SURFACE UNTIL AFTER DEMOBILIZATION.  MCCS ONE
SOURCE CAN BE REACHED AT 1-800-433-6868 IN THE UNITED STATES,
1-800-237-42374 OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES, COLLECT FROM OUTSIDE
THE UNITED STATES AT 1-484-530-5888 OR ONLINE AT
HTTPS://WWW.MCCSONESOURCE.COM. THE USER ID IS MARINES, THE PASSWORD IS
SEMPER FI.
3.  ACTION.
A.  UNIT COMMANDERS, OFFICERS-IN-CHARGE, AND RECEPTION AND
DEMOBILIZATION CENTERS SHALL ENSURE THAT ALL SERVICE MEMBERS
RETURNING FROM OEF/OIF DEPLOYMENT RECEIVE COMPREHENSIVE RETURN AND
REUNION SERVICES AND CONDUCT AN OPERATIONAL PAUSE AS DETAILED ABOVE.
B.  ALL INSTALLATION COMMANDERS AND COMMARFORRES SHALL ENSURE THAT
RETURN AND REUNION PRESENTATIONS ARE ABUNDANTLY AVAILABLE AND
MARKETED TO FAMILY MEMBERS.
C.  COMMANDERS OF MTFS SHALL ENSURE THAT MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
ARE READILY AVAILABLE FOR MARINES.
D.  THE POLICY CONTAINED IN THIS ALMAR WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE
FUTURE REVISION OF MCO 1754.6.
4.  TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN IS ONE OF OUR CORPS' ABIDING PRINCIPLES.
COMMANDERS MUST ENSURE THEIR MARINES ARE PREPARED TO ADJUST TO NORMAL
ROUTINES, TO REUNITE WITH THEIR LOVED ONES, AND TO REINTEGRATE
SUCCESSFULLY INTO SOCIETY.
5. SEMPER FIDELIS, M.W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS
//