P 141514Z MAR 01
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//CMC//
TO ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS //N05000//
ALMAR 010/01
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/USMC POLICY ON THE SAFETY OF CIVILIAN GUESTS//
REF/A/DOC/SECDEF MEMO OF 22 FEB 01/NOTAL//
REF/B/DOC/SECNAV MEMO OF 7 MAR 01/NOTAL//
NARR/REF A IS SECDEF MEMO ADDRESSING CIVILIAN VISITORS OPERATING
MILITARY EQUIPMENT.  REF B IS SECNAV MEMO DIRECTING SERVICES TO
DEVELOP POLICY ON CIVILIAN VISITORS OPERATING MILITARY
EQUIPMENT.
POC/L. LARSEN/COL/CMC SD/-/TEL:COM (703)614-2423/TEL:DSN 224-
2423/K. BRICKHOUSE/COL/CMC POC/-/TEL:COM (703)614-1617/TEL:DSN
224-1617//
RMKS/1.  IN THE WAKE OF RECENT EVENTS, SECDEF ISSUED GUIDANCE IN
REF A DIRECTING AN IMMEDIATE DOD-WIDE MORATORIUM ON PERMITTING
CIVILIAN VISITORS TO OPERATE ANY ITEM OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT WHEN
SUCH OPERATION COULD CAUSE, OR BE REASONABLY PERCEIVED AS
CAUSING, AN INCREASED SAFETY RISK.  THIS MORATORIUM SPECIFICALLY
INCLUDES ANY ASPECT OF THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF MILITARY VESSELS,
AIRCRAFT, VEHICLES, AND CREW-SERVED WEAPONS SYSTEMS.  REF A ALSO
DIRECTED THE SECRETARIES OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS TO ISSUE
IMPLEMENTING GUIDANCE REGARDING OTHER ITEMS OF EQUIPMENT, IF
OPERATED BY CIVILIANS, THAT ENSURES THAT SUCH EQUIPMENT IS
OPERATED SAFELY AND UNDER DIRECT SUPERVISION OF DOD EMPLOYEES OR
MILITARY PERSONNEL.  REF B DIRECTS THIS ACTION TO THE SERVICES.  
ACCORDINGLY, THIS MESSAGE PROVIDES FURTHER GUIDANCE AND
RESTRICTIONS.  
2.  HOSTING CIVILIANS ABOARD MARINE CORPS BASES/STATIONS AND
PROVIDING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS TRAINING, INTERACT WITH
MARINES, AND GAIN HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH CERTAIN ITEMS OF
EQUIPMENT IN THE CORPS' INVENTORY, ARE KEY ELEMENTS TO OUR VITAL
AND SUCCESSFUL "GRASS ROOTS" COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAMS.  THEY
PROVIDE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE THE OUTSTANDING YOUNG MEN
AND WOMEN THAT FILL OUR RANKS, AND TO EDUCATE OUR MARINE
FAMILIES AND INFLUENTIAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON THE CRITICAL
ISSUES FACING THE CORPS, SUCH AS MANNING, FUNDING, AND
MODERNIZATION.  THESE VISITS ALSO SERVE AS VALUABLE RECRUITING
TOOLS WITH EDUCATORS AND FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN APPROACHING
ELIGIBLE AGE, AND AS AN EMPHATIC REMINDER TO EMPLOYERS OF THE
VALUE MILITARY TRAINING HAS TO THEIR PRIOR-SERVICE AND MILITARY
RESERVE EMPLOYEES.  
3.  PER REFS A AND B, IN ADDITION TO ACTUAL OPERATION OF
MILITARY VESSELS, AIRCRAFT, VEHICLES, AND CREW-SERVED WEAPONS
SYSTEMS, CIVILIAN VISITOR PARTICIPATION IN THE FOLLOWING
ACTIVITIES IS PROHIBITED:
A)  THROWING LIVE HAND GRENADES.
B)  USING DIVERSIONARY DEVICES, (I.E., FLASH
BANGS/PYROTECHNICS).
C)  PARTICIPATING IN LIVE-FIRE IN A SHOOTING HOUSE (CLOSE
QUARTER BATTLE).
D)  PARTICIPATING IN LIVE-FIRE ON MANEUVER RANGES WHILE UNITS
ARE MANEUVERING.
E)  FAST ROPE/RAPPELLING FROM HELICOPTERS/SPIE RIGGING.
F)  PARACHUTING.
G)  OTHER ACTIVITIES, AS DETERMINED BY A COMMANDER THAT COULD
CAUSE, OR REASONABLY BE PERCEIVED AS CAUSING, AN INCREASED
SAFETY RISK.
4.  WHEN PLANNING AND EXECUTING EVOLUTIONS WITH CIVILIAN
VISITORS, COMMANDERS WILL APPLY THE PRINCIPLES OF OPERATIONAL
RISK MANAGEMENT (ORM) AND ESTABLISH CONTROL MEASURES THAT ENSURE
CIVILIAN ACTIVITIES ARE CONDUCTED SAFELY.  EXAMPLES THAT DO NOT
FALL STRICTLY INTO THE "MILITARY EQUIPMENT" CATEGORY INCLUDE:
VISITS TO ANY MILITARY OPERATIONAL FACILITY, USE OF OBSTACLE AND
CONFIDENCE COURSES, ORGANIZED PT AND ATHLETIC EVENTS, AND "JANE
WAYNE" DAYS.  COMMANDERS MUST ENSURE THAT THE PRESENCE OF
CIVILIAN VISITORS DOES NOT HINDER OR DETRACT FROM SERVICE
MEMBER, CONTRACTOR, OR CIVIL SERVANT'S ABILITY TO SAFELY PERFORM
THE MISSION OR TASK AT HAND.  
5.  CIVILIAN GUESTS SHALL RECEIVE PROPER BRIEFINGS ON SAFETY AND
REGULATIONS THAT APPLY TO THE SITUATION.  NON-MILITARY GUESTS
WILL SIGN A "HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT" FOR LEGAL PURPOSES.  ALL
CIVILIAN VISITORS WILL BE ESCORTED INTO AND OUT OF THE TRAINING
AREA AND COMMANDERS SHALL ENSURE THAT GUESTS RECEIVE AND WEAR
APPROPRIATE SAFETY EQUIPMENT AT ALL TIMES (I.E. HELMET,
PROTECTIVE BODY ARMOR, HEARING PROTECTION, ETC.).  HANDS ON
EXPERIENCE WILL ALWAYS BE UNDER CLOSE SUPERVISION AND APPROVED
BY THE LOCAL COMMANDER.
6.  CIVILIAN AND CONTRACT EMPLOYEES WHO MUST OPERATE MILITARY
EQUIPMENT AS PART OF THEIR DUTIES ARE NOT CONSIDERED CIVILIAN
VISITORS FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ALMAR AND ARE NOT COVERED BY
THIS MORATORIUM.  HOWEVER, COMMANDERS WHO HAVE OVERSIGHT OF
CIVILIAN AND CONTRACT EMPLOYEES WILL ENSURE ADEQUATE TRAINING
AND SAFETY MEASURES ARE IN PLACE PRIOR TO THE OPERATION OF
MILITARY EQUIPMENT.
7.  FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ALMAR, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
AND THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF ARE CONSIDERED CIVILIAN
GUESTS.  
8.  WAIVER AUTHORITY WILL BE DETERMINED BY CMC.  REQUESTS FOR
WAIVERS WILL BE SUBMITTED TO DC, PP&O FOR PROPER DISPOSITION.  
9.  PROPER PLANNING, SOUND EXECUTION, AND A COMMON SENSE
APPROACH IS KEY TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ALMAR.
10.  SEMPER FIDELIS, J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//
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