R 091800Z DEC 02
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(n)
TO ML ALMAR(n)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS
ALMAR 068/02
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/CMC//
SUBJ/MARINE FOR LIFE (M4L) PROGRAM/EXPANDED TRANSITION ASSISTANCE
POC/LTCOL L. DANCIU/-/RAP/COML (703)784-9137/38/40//
RMKS/1.  SITUATION.  THROUGHOUT HISTORY, OUR LEGACY AND OUR PUBLIC
REPUTATION HAVE BEEN EARNED BY THE ACTIONS AND EXAMPLE OF THE
MARINES WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US.  EVERY YEAR, WE RETURN NEARLY
27,000 MARINES TO SOCIETY AS FIRST CLASS CITIZENS.  THESE MARINES
CONTINUE TO SERVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR CORPS.  THEY CONNECT US
TO THE SOCIETY ON WHICH WE DEPEND FOR OUR SUPPORT, SUSTAINMENT,
AND FUTURE POTENTIAL.  THEY ALSO PROVIDE AN UNTAPPED RESOURCE TO
PROVIDE IMPROVED TRANSITION ASSISTANCE TO OUR MARINES LEAVING
ACTIVE SERVICE.  THE LACK OF AN ORGANIZED METHOD OF CAPITALIZING
ON THEIR RESOURCES, ABILITIES, AND CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT HAS
RESULTED IN THE PRACTICAL LOSS OF SEVERAL GENERATIONS OF MARINES
WHO HAVE ASSIMILATED BACK INTO LOCAL COMMUNITIES WITH NO
COORDINATED, FORMAL MECHANISM FOR STAYING CONNECTED TO OUR MARINE
CORPS FAMILY. 
A.  ALTHOUGH WE RETURN OUR TRANSITIONING MARINES TO SOCIETY WITH
THE LEADERSHIP SKILLS,  CORPS  VALUES, AND PROVEN ABILITIES
NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS, THEY FACE SIGNIFICANT RELOCATION ISSUES
SUCH AS EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, AND EDUCATION AS THEY REESTABLISH
THEMSELVES IN THE CIVILIAN WORKFORCE.  WHILE OUR EXISTING
TRANSITION ASSISTANCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (TAMP) HELPS PROVIDE THE
BASIC TOOLS TO MAKE THE TRANSITION, THERE REMAINS A VOID IN OUR
MARINES' ABILITY TO CAPITALIZE ON EXISTING NETWORKS OF MARINE
VETERANS, MARINE-FRIENDLY EMPLOYERS, AND MARINE-AFFILIATED
ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT AMERICA.  CURRENTLY, THESE RESOURCES
ARE NOT COORDINATED IN A MANNER THAT CAN BE FOCUSED TO PROVIDE
TRANSITION ASSISTANCE TO OUR MARINES.
B.  FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED HONORABLY, OUR DEBT OF GRATITUDE
EXTENDS WELL BEYOND THEIR LAST DAY OF ACTIVE SERVICE.   TAKING
CARE OF OUR OWN  MEANS WE MUST NOT ONLY PROVIDE THE APPROPRIATE
RECOGNITION AND SUPPORT AS OUR MARINES PREPARE TO LEAVE ACTIVE
SERVICE, BUT WE MUST ALSO INVEST THE RESOURCES, EFFORT, AND
INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED TO AID IN THEIR CONTINUED SUCCESS AS THEY
TRANSITION TO FOLLOW-ON CAREERS.  THE M4L PROGRAM WILL HARNESS
THE CIVILIAN SKILLS, BUSINESS CONTACTS, AND PERSONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS OF VETERAN MARINES INTO A SELF-PERPETUATING
RESOURCE FOR SPONSORING MARINES AS THEY RETURN HOME.
2.  MISSION.  PROVIDE SPONSORSHIP FOR OUR MARINES WHO HONORABLY
LEAVE ACTIVE SERVICE AND RETURN TO CIVILIAN LIFE IN ORDER TO
NURTURE AND SUSTAIN THE POSITIVE, MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL
RELATIONSHIPS INHERENT IN OUR ETHOS  ONCE A MARINE, ALWAYS A
MARINE. 
3.  EXECUTION.  IN RECOGNIZING THE CRITICAL ROLE THAT MARINE
VETERANS PLAY IN SUSTAINING OUR MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL CONNECTION
WITH THE PUBLIC WE SERVE, I DIRECTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE M4L
PROGRAM UNDER THE INITIAL COGNIZANCE OF THE MANPOWER AND RESERVE
AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AT HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS.
A.  COMMANDANT S INTENT.  THE M4L PROGRAM WILL ENSURE THAT NO
MARINE WHO HONORABLY WORE THE EAGLE, GLOBE AND ANCHOR IS LOST
FROM THE MARINE CORPS FAMILY.  THE M4L PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE
VALUABLE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE, A METHOD FOR CONTINUED
AFFILIATION, AND A MEANS OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE MARINE CORPS
AFTER LEAVING ACTIVE SERVICE.
B.  CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS.  THE M4L PROGRAM WILL EXPAND
CURRENTLY EXISTING BUT UNCONNECTED PERSONAL, BUSINESS, AND
PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS OF VETERAN MARINES, MARINE-AFFILIATED
ORGANIZATIONS, AND MARINE-FRIENDLY EMPLOYERS INTERESTED IN THE
PROVEN LEADERSHIP ABILITIES AND DEMONSTRATED PERFORMANCE OF
TRANSITIONING MARINES.  THESE NETWORKS WILL CORRESPOND TO MAJOR
GEOGRAPHIC AREAS OF OUR CURRENT MARINE CORPS RESERVE SITES
AND RECRUITING INFRASTRUCTURE.  THE PROGRAM ACHIEVED INITIAL
OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY AS SCHEDULED IN FY02 WITH 46 HOMETOWN
LINK SITES.  THE PROGRAM WILL ACHIEVE FULL OPERATIONAL
CAPABILITY IN FY03 WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AND LAUNCHING OF A
FULL-SCALE WEB DATABASE AND THE EXPANSION TO 125 HOMETOWN LINKS. 
IN FY04 THE PROGRAM WILL BE FULLY IMPLEMENTED WITH 200 HOMETOWN
LINKS ESTABLISHED.  THERE ARE TWO CRITICAL COMPONENTS OF THE
PROGRAM:
(1)  HOMETOWN LINKS.  FOR EACH GEOGRAPHIC AREA, A RESERVE MARINE
WILL SERVE AS THE HOMETOWN LINK.  THE HOMETOWN LINK BILLETS WILL
BE STAFFED BY COMBINING THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH FUNCTIONS OF
CURRENTLY EXISTING PEACETIME WARTIME SUPPORT TEAMS (PWST) WITH
THE NEW REQUIREMENTS OF THE M4L PROGRAM.  THE HOMETOWN LINKS
WILL DEVELOP THE LOCAL HUMAN NETWORK, FOCUS THE EFFORTS OF
MARINE ALUMNI IN THE AREA, AND COORDINATE ASSISTANCE FOR THE
TRANSITIONING MARINES AS THEY RELOCATE.  DURING INITIAL STANDUP
OF THE LOCAL NETWORK, HOMETOWN LINK DUTIES WILL REQUIRE
FULL-TIME ATTENTION.  AS THESE NETWORKS MATURE, THE USE OF A
CADRE OF LOCAL VOLUNTEERS WILL GREATLY INCREASE THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM AND OUR ABILITY TO SUPPORT THE
TRANSITIONING MARINE.
(2) ELECTRONIC NETWORK.  THE PRIMARY TOOL IN MANAGING THE LOCAL
NETWORK AND CONNECTING THE HOMETOWN LINKS WILL BE A NATIONWIDE,
WEB-BASED ELECTRONIC NETWORK.  THIS ELECTRONIC BACKBONE WILL
PROVIDE ACCESS TO EMPLOYERS SEEKING PROVEN ABILITIES;
ASSISTANCE IN GAINING ADMISSION TO EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND
LOCAL RELOCATION RESOURCES; AND AFFILIATION WITH LOCAL MARINE
ORGANIZATIONS (MARINE CORPS ASSOCIATION, COORDINATING COUNCILS,
MARINE CORPS LEAGUE, TOYS FOR TOTS) AND VETERANS GROUPS.  THIS
ELECTRONIC NETWORK WILL ALSO CONNECT HOMETOWN LINKS, TAMP
CENTERS, AND PROGRAM MANAGERS WORLDWIDE. 
C.  TASKS
(1) DEPUTY COMMANDANT, MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS (DC M&RA) 
(A) MAINTAIN COGNIZANCE AND CONTROL OF THE M4L PROGRAM.
(B) CHAIR THE MARINE CORPS M4L EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE.
(C) CONTINUE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HUMAN NETWORKS REQUIRED FOR THE
PROGRAM S SUCCESS AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR 200 HOMETOWN LINKS
FROM RPMC ACCOUNTS.
(D) CONTINUE CLOSE COORDINATION WITH COMMARCORSYSCOM IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE ELECTRONIC NETWORK THROUGH THE FORMAL
ACQUISITION PROCESS.
(2) COMMANDING GENERAL, MARINE CORPS RECRUITING COMMAND (MCRC)
(A) CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION AND REFINEMENT OF THE
OVERALL PROGRAM.
(B) INCORPORATE M4L AND ITS COMMITMENT TO OUR MOTTO, "ONCE A
MARINE, ALWAYS A MARINE," INTO RECRUITING APPROACHES AND
ADVERTISING AS APPROPRIATE.
(C) WHERE FEASIBLE AND WHERE SPACE PERMITS, PROVIDE FACILITY
SUPPORT AT DESIGNATED RECRUITING STATIONS (RS) FOR HOMETOWN
LINK SITES WHEN A RESERVE I-I SITE CANNOT ADEQUATELY SUPPORT
THE SITE.
(D) SERVE AS MEMBER OF THE M4L EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE.
(3) COMMANDER, MARINE FORCES RESERVE (MARFORRES)
(A) CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND BE INVOLVED IN THE IMPLEMENTATION
AND REFINEMENT OF THE OVERALL PROGRAM.
(B) SUPPORT MARFORRES HOMETOWN LINK SITES.
(C) IN COORDINATION WITH DC, M&RA, FACILITATE THE USE OF
APPROPRIATE PWST BILLETS (T/O AND T/E) TO PERFORM HOMETOWN LINK
FUNCTIONS.
(4) COMMANDER, MARINE CORPS SYSTEMS COMMAND
(A) MAINTAIN COGNIZANCE AND MILESTONE DECISION AUTHORITY OVER
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AUTOMATED INFORMATION SYSTEM (AIS)/INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY (IT) SOLUTION WHICH WILL PROVIDE THE ELECTRONIC
NETWORK FOR THE PROGRAM S SUSTAINED SUCCESS.
(B) SERVE AS MEMBER OF THE M4L EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE.
(5) COUNSEL TO THE COMMANDANT (CL); LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE
COMMANDANT (OLA); DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS (PA); AND DIRECTOR,
SPECIAL PROJECTS DIRECTORATE (SPD) WILL SERVE AS MEMBERS OF THE M4L
EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE.
(6) DIRECTOR, PA
(A) FAMILIARIZE PA OFFICERS WITH THE M4L PROGRAM AND ITS BENEFITS
TO INDIVIDUAL MARINES AND THE MARINE CORPS AS A WHOLE.
(B) INCORPORATE M4L INTO PA S EFFORTS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES
ACROSS OUR NATION.
(7) SPD.  ENSURE MARINE-AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS ARE FAMILIAR
WITH THE M4L PROGRAM AND HAVE THE NECESSARY CONTACTS AND
COORDINATION TO PROVIDE SUPPORT.
D.  COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS.  THE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT WE MAKE
IN RECRUITING AND TRAINING MANDATES THAT EVERY LEADER HELP CREATE
A COMMAND CLIMATE THAT MAKES OUR QUALITY MARINES WANT TO REMAIN ON
ACTIVE DUTY AND IN THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE.  M4L WILL HELP
ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL BY PROVIDING THE LONG-TERM SECURITY OF A
FORMAL TRANSITION NETWORK.  PARTICIPATION IN THE M4L PROGRAM BY
TRANSITIONING MARINES AND THE DEVELOPED NETWORK RESOURCES IS
VOLUNTARY. 
(1) TRANSITION VICE SEPARATION.  IN FORMAL MARINE CORPS
PUBLICATIONS, WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE, AND DAILY VOCABULARY, THE
TERM  TRANSITION  WILL REPLACE THE TERM  SEPARATION  WHEN
REFERRING TO MARINES WHO LEAVE UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS.  THERE
WILL BE TIMES WHEN THE TERM SEPARATION IS STILL REQUIRED AS A
LEGAL BASIS IN COMPLIANCE WITH TITLE 10, DOD AND SECNAV
INSTRUCTIONS.  WHERE APPROPRIATE, CHANGES TO DIRECTIVES WILL BE
UPDATED AS PERIODIC REVISIONS ARE REQUIRED.  
(2) COMMANDER S ROLE.  LEADERS ACROSS THE MARINE CORPS WILL
IMPROVE THE TRANSITION PROCESS BY ACCOMPLISHING THE FOLLOWING:
(A) CHANGE THE WAY WE VIEW MARINES WHO CHOOSE TO TRANSITION.
(B) PLACE PERSONAL EMPHASIS ON THE VALUE, SENSE OF PRIDE, AND
DIGNITY THAT COMES FROM SERVING HONORABLY.
(C) ASSESS ALL ELEMENTS OF THE COMMAND S RETENTION AND TRANSITION
PROCESS, FROM A MARINE S FIRST CONTACT WITH THE CAREER RETENTION
SPECIALIST (CRS), TO THE CHECK-OUT PROCESS ON THE LAST DAY OF
DUTY.
(D) ENSURE MANDATORY ATTENDANCE AT ESTABLISHED TAMP SEMINARS BY
ALL MARINES 90 DAYS PRIOR TO THEIR EAS.
(E) ENSURE ALL TRANSITIONING MARINES RECEIVE THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL
OF RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TOWARD
THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF OUR CORPS. 
(F) ENSURE ALL HONORABLY TRANSITIONING MARINES ARE OFFERED A
PERSONALIZED LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION THAT PROVIDES A SYNOPSIS OF
THE MARINE S SERVICE, ATTESTS TO HIS OR HER CHARACTER AND
CAPABILITIES, AND ENCOURAGES CONSIDERATION BY FUTURE EMPLOYERS OR
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. 
(G) ENSURE OUR CRS MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO STEER OUR TRANSITIONING
MARINES TOWARD CONTINUED SERVICE, MARINE CORPS RESERVE
OPPORTUNITIES, AND THE BENEFITS OF CONTINUED AFFILIATION THROUGH
THE M4L PROGRAM.
(3) CRS WILL PROVIDE CRITICAL EXPOSURE TO THE M4L PROGRAM DURING
THE REQUIRED EAS INTERVIEW BETWEEN SIX AND NINE MONTHS FROM EAS. 
BY THIS TIME, THE CRS WILL HAVE MADE EVERY ATTEMPT TO RETAIN THE
MARINE ON ACTIVE DUTY OR ENSURE THE MARINE HAS ATTENDED OR IS
SCHEDULED TO ATTEND THE TAMP/TAP BRIEF AT LEAST 90 DAYS BEFORE
THE MARINE S LAST DAY OF ACTIVE DUTY. 
(A) ONCE A MARINE HAS MADE THE DECISION TO LEAVE ACTIVE SERVICE,
THE CRS WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE MARINE BY ENTERING THE
MARINE'S POST-SERVICE RELOCATION INFORMATION INTO THE M4L DATABASE
AT HTTPS://WWW.MARINEFORLIFE.COM/DROPBOX.
(B) THE CRS WILL ALSO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM, THE WEB
ADDRESS THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO ACCESS ASSISTANCE ONCE THEY
RELOCATE, AND A PERSONAL EMAIL ACCOUNT THAT WILL FACILITATE
COMMUNICATION AND ASSISTANCE ONCE THE MARINE ARRIVES AT HIS
TRANSITION DESTINATION.
(C) HOMETOWN LINKS WILL USE THE VOLUNTEER HUMAN NETWORK IN THE
LOCAL AREA TO COORDINATE SPONSORSHIP ASSISTANCE BASED ON A
MARINE'S PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
(4) ACCESS TO AND A LIST OF ACTIVE HOMETOWN LINK SITES CAN BE
OBTAINED THROUGH THE M4L WEBSITE AT WWW.MARINEFORLIFE.COM. 
MARINES WHO DO NOT KNOW WHERE THEIR ULTIMATE DESTINATION WILL BE
AS THEY START THE TRANSITION PROCESS CAN STILL ACCESS THE
HOMETOWN LINK ONCE THEY RELOCATE VIA THE WEBSITE.
(5) PERSONNEL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONDUCT OF TAMP WILL ENSURE
TRAINING COVERS THE BENEFITS OF THE M4L PROGRAM AND THAT ACCURATE
CONTACT INFORMATION IS PROVIDED TO HOMETOWN LINKS.
4.  ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS
A.  ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES AND LOGISTICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE
M4L PROGRAM WILL BE COORDINATED BY DIRECTOR, RA AS DC, M&RA S
EXECUTIVE AGENT DURING INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM.
B.  THERE ARE CURRENTLY 46 HOMETOWN LINKS ON ADSW.  DURING FY03
AND FY04 THE HOMETOWN LINK TEAM WILL INCREASE TO 125 AND 200,
RESPECTIVELY.  THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION, RUNNING THROUGH FY04,
HOMETOWN LINKS WILL REMAIN LOCATED AT THE SITES SELECTED BY
COMMARFORRES AND CG, MCRC AND AS DIRECTED BY THE DC, M&RA. 
THE FOLLOWING WILL APPLY:
(1) THE HOMETOWN LINKS WILL BE JOINED TO PWST LINE NUMBERS AT
RESERVE SITES OR JOINED AS OVERSTAFFS AT RS SITES.
(2) FUNDING AND ORDERS FOR THE HOMETOWN LINKS WILL BE PROVIDED
BY HQMC (RESERVE AFFAIRS [RA] DIVISION).
(3) THE HOMETOWN LINKS ARE ADCON TO THEIR RESPECTIVE I-I/RS SITE.
(4) ALL OTHER CONTROL, TO INCLUDE OPCON, REMAINS WITH RA.  AFTER
THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE, HOMETOWN LINKS WILL TRANSITION TO A
DRILLING STATUS AS MEMBERS OF PWSTS AND THE COMMANDER, MARFORRES
WILL ASSUME OPCON.  THE DC M&RA WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE
RELATIVE TO THE M4L MISSION. 
(5) CONTINUED CLOSE COORDINATION BETWEEN RA, MARFORRES, MCRC,
AND THE INDIVIDUAL I-I/RS SITES IS REQUIRED FOR SUCCESSFUL
IMPLEMENTATION.  DIRLAUTH BETWEEN RA AND THE INDIVIDUAL I-I/RS
SITES IS RECOMMENDED.
(6) THE EFFORTS EXPENDED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO ENSURE SUCCESSFUL
STAND-UP OF THESE HOMETOWN LINK SITES WILL PAY OFF IN THE LOCAL
COMMANDER S COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND PA EFFORTS, RECRUITING AND
RETENTION, AND SPHERE OF INFLUENCE IN THE COMMUNITY.
5.  COMMAND AND SIGNAL 
A.  THIS ALMAR IS APPLICABLE TO ALL MARINES.
B.  SUBSEQUENT UPDATES TO THIS ALMAR WILL BE REQUIRED AS THE M4L
PROGRAM UNDERGOES FINAL DEVELOPMENT.  UPDATES WILL BE PUBLISHED
AS MARADMINS.  A MARINE CORPS ORDER FINALIZING THE PROGRAM WILL
BE PUBLISHED ONCE THE SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES OF DEVELOPMENT HAVE
BEEN FINALIZED.
C.  QUESTIONS MAY BE REFERRED TO THE FOLLOWING POINTS OF CONTACT:
(1) LIEUTENANT COLONEL L. DANCIU, DANCIULE@MANPOWER.USMC.MIL;
MAJOR G. DEAN, DEANGD@MANPOWER.USMC.MIL; OR MAJOR S. MCGRAW,
MCGRAWSS@MANPOWER.USMC.MIL, (703) 784-9140, DSN: 278-9140.
(2) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED AT
WWW.MARINEFORLIFE.COM ON THE INTERNET.
6.  SEMPER FIDELIS, J. L. JONES, GENERAL, COMMANDANT OF THE
MARINE CORPS.//