R 181335Z JUL 03
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL ALMAR(uc)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLASSIFIED
ALMAR 045/03
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CMC//
SUBJ/TREATMENT OF MARINES - HAZING//
REF/A/DOC/MCO 1700.28//
AMPN/REF A IS THE MARINE CORPS POLICY ON HAZING//
POC/A. J. DYER/LTCOL/CMC (MPO-40)/-/TEL:COM 703-784-9386
/TEL:DSN 278-9386//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  SEVERAL MARINES WERE RECENTLY PUNISHED BY
COURT MARTIAL FOR HAZING RELATED OFFENSES.  SOME CHARACTERIZE
INCIDENTS OF HAZING AS PRANKS, JOKES, OR INNOCENT FUN.  THEY
ARE WRONG.  OUR CORE VALUES DEMAND THAT WE TREAT ALL MARINES
WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT AT ALL TIMES.
2.  MARINES ARE OUR MOST PRECIOUS ASSET.  I WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY
INSTANCE WHERE ONE MARINE INFLICTS ANY FORM OF PHYSICAL OR
PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE THAT DEGRADES, INSULTS, DEHUMANIZES OR INJURES
ANOTHER MARINE.  WE WILL PROTECT OUR MARINES THROUGH FAIR,
SCRUPULOUS, AND UNBIASED TREATMENT AS INDIVIDUALS - CARING FOR THEM,
TEACHING THEM AND LEADING THEM.  IT IS THE OBLIGATION OF EACH MEMBER
IN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND TO ENSURE THAT HAZING IN ANY FORM IS NOT
ALLOWED AND THAT MARINES ARE TREATED, AT ALL TIMES, WITH GENUINE
DIGNITY, FAIRNESS AND RESPECT.
3.  COMMANDING OFFICERS AND OFFICERS-IN-CHARGE ARE DIRECTED TO
REVIEW THE REFERENCE AND ENSURE STRICT COMPLIANCE.
4.  SEMPER FIDELIS, M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//