R 111956Z JUN 12
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 307/12
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC PPO PL//
SUBJ/UPDATED MARINE CORPS POLICY FOR ASSESSMENTS OF FOREIGN SECURITY FORCES//
REF/A/MSG/CMC/021653ZJUN11//
REF/B/DOC/CMC/240CT11(S)//
NARR/REF A IS MCBUL 5400 MARINE CORPS TRAINING AND ADVISORY GROUP (MCTAG) REORGANIZATION AND REDESIGNATION AND THE DISESTABLISHMENT OF SECURITY COOPERATION EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTER (SCETC).  REF B IS MARINE CORPS CAMPAIGN SUPPORT PLAN.//
POC/RICE/LTCOL/PLU-7/COMM: 703-692-4341/EMAIL: ROBERT.C.RICE(AT) USMC.MIL//
RMKS/1. PURPOSE. TO UPDATE POLICY AND TERMINOLOGY REGARDING USMC ASSESSMENTS OF FOREIGN SECURITY FORCES (FSF) AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SECURITY COOPERATION ENGAGEMENT PLANS (SCEP).  A FORMAL USMC ASSESSMENT OF A FOREIGN SECURITY FORCE IS NOW DEFINED AS A FOREIGN SECURITY FORCE-CAPABILITY BASED ASSESSMENT (FSF-CBA). DEFINITION OF FSF-CBA IS AT PARA 3.C.  THIS POLICY IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE STANDARDIZATION TO THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS; IT IS NOT INTENDED TO LIMIT A MARINE COMPONENT COMMANDER'S (COMMARFOR) ABILITY TO CONDUCT FOCUSED ASSESSMENTS WITH INTERNALLY SOURCED SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.  COMMARFORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO UTILIZE THE EXPERTISE RESIDENT WITHIN THE MARINE CORPS SECURITY COOPERATION GROUP (MCSCG).
2. BACKGROUND.
2.A. PER REF A, IN 2011 THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS DIRECTED THE MERGER OF MCTAG AND SCETC FUNCTIONS INTO THE MCSCG.
2.B. MCSCG WAS DIRECTED TO MAINTAIN THE CAPABILITY TO CONDUCT SCETC -DEVELOPED SERVICE LEVEL (DOTMLPF) ASSESSMENTS, THE SCETC-DEVELOPED SCEP PROCESS, AND THE MCTAG-DEVELOPED UNIT LEVEL (WARFIGHTING FUNCTIONS) ASSESSMENTS.
2.C. MCSCG MAINTAINS THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND RESPONSIBILITY TO CONDUCT OR SUPPORT THESE ASSESSMENTS AND SCEPS.
2.D. MCSCG'S STANDING COORDINATION, LIAISON, AND ASSESSMENT TEAMS (CLATS), ALIGNED TO GEOGRAPHIC COMBATANT COMMAND (GCC) AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY, CONDUCT THE FSF-CBAS AND DEVELOP SCEPS IN SUPPORT OF REGIONAL MARFORS.
3. APPROACH AND DEFINITIONS.
3.A. THE MARINE CORPS SUPPORTS GCC THEATER CAMPAIGN PLANS BY CONDUCTING DETAILED FSF-CBAS, ENABLING COMMARFORS TO PLAN AND CONDUCT SECURITY COOPERATION ACTIVITIES ON A DELIBERATE AND PERSISTENT BASIS.
3.B. BEFORE ALLOCATING RESOURCES IN SUPPORT OF PRIORITY PARTNER NATION DEVELOPMENTAL ACTIVITIES, COMMARFORS SHOULD OBTAIN AN ASSESSMENT OF THE FOREIGN SECURITY FORCE. A FSF-CBA PROVIDES THE BASELINE NEEDED TO IDENTIFY CAPABILITY GAPS AND FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF MULTI-YEAR SCEPS CUSTOMIZED TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC DEFICIENCIES AT THE INSTITUTIONAL AND (OR) TACTICAL LEVELS. 
3.C. A FSF-CBA IS DEFINED AS A TAILORED ANALYSIS OF A FSF'S CAPABILITIES BASED ON MISSION AND TASKS, RELEVANT TO MARFOR OBJECTIVES AND THE DESIRED FSF SECURITY ROLE.
3.D. EACH FSF-CBA WILL VALIDATE CAPABILITY STANDARDS, IDENTIFY GAPS, DETERMINE OPERATIONAL RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE GAPS, AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COMMARFOR FOR ADDRESSING THE GAPS.
3.E. THE FSF-CBA IS INTENDED TO LEAD TO A SCEP THAT PROVIDES A CLEAR, RESOURCE-INFORMED PATH FOR DEVELOPING FSF CAPABILITIES.
4. ASSESSMENT COORDINATION. 
4.A. IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE FSF-CBA AND SCEP MEET SUPPORTED COMMARFOR OBJECTIVES, CLOSE COORDINATION BETWEEN THE SUPPORTING CLAT  AND SUPPORTED MARFOR IS ESSENTIAL.
4.B. NLT 70 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ASSESSMENT TRIP, THE SUPPORTING CLAT AND THE SUPPORTED MARFOR'S PLANNERS WILL CONDUCT A PROBLEM FRAMING  MEETING TO SCOPE THE ASSESSMENT.
4.C. IN PREPARATION FOR THE PROBLEM FRAMING MEETING, THE SUPPORTED MARFOR IS TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
4.C.1. PURPOSE OF THE ASSESSMENT.
4.C.2. CAPABILITIES TO BE ASSESSED AND DESIRED ENDSTATES.
4.C.3. OBJECTIVES FOR THE RELEVANT PARTNER NATION SERVICE.
4.C.4. OBJECTIVES FOR THE ASSESSED ORGANIZATION.
4.C.5. MISSION, TASKS OF THE ASSESSED ORGANIZATION. 
4.C.6  ASSESSMENT TIMELINE.
4.C.7. ASSESSMENT LOCATIONS.
5. PRODUCTS.
5.A. THE INITIAL OUTPUT OF THE FSF-CBA IS AN ANALYTICAL REPORT SPECIFIC TO THOSE CAPABILITIES THAT WERE ASSESSED. THE REPORT WILL BE DELIVERED AND BRIEFED BY THE FSF-CBA TEAM LEADER TO THE SUPPORTED COMMARFOR OR COMMARFOR'S DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE. 
5.B. BASED ON THE REPORT'S FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, THE COMMARFOR WILL PROVIDE PLANNING GUIDANCE PRIOR TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCEP.
5.C. THE SCEP IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO PRIORITIZED GAPS IDENTIFIED IN THE REPORT AND DETAILED EVENT-LEVEL DATA WHICH IS EASILY TRANSFERABLE TO VARIOUS GCC AND USMC FORCE SOURCING AND RESOURCING SYSTEMS.
5.D. AN IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE WILL BE INCLUDED WITH EACH SCEP TO ASSIST THE MARFOR PLANNER IN EXECUTION AND EVALUATION OF THE SCEP.
6. COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS.
6.A. FUNDING. RESPONSIBILITY FOR TRAVEL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH CONDUCTING A FSF-CBA AND SCEP DEPEND UPON THE REQUESTOR OF THE FSF -CBA.
6.A.1. COMMARFOR-REQUESTED FSF-CBA. IF THE COMMARFOR REQUESTS AN FSF -CBA TO SUPPORT GCC OBJECTIVES, IT IS THE MARFOR'S RESPONSIBILITY TO OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FUNDING FOR THE FSF-CBA.
6.A.2. PARTNER NATION-REQUESTED FSF-CBA. IF A PARTNER NATION REQUESTS  A FSF-CBA, THE FSF-CBA WILL BE EXECUTED THROUGH THE FOREIGN MILITARY  SALES (FMS) PROCESS. FOR DETAILS, CONTACT MCSCG'S SECURITY ASSISTANCE BRANCH.  FSF-CBAS IN THIS CATEGORY ARE PRIMARILY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PARTNER NATION.
6.A.2.A. A FSF-CBA CONDUCTED AT THE DIRECT REQUEST OF A PARTNER NATION MAY BE PROCESSED UNDER A FMS CASE AND SHOULD BE FUNDED AS PART OF THE CASE.
6.A.2.B. MARFORS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO COORDINATE WITH THE SECURITY COOPERATION OFFICER (SCO), LOCATED IN THE PARTNER NATION, AND MCSCG'S SECURITY ASSISTANCE BRANCH TO ENSURE THE FSF-CBA REQUIREMENT IS IDENTIFIED IN THE FMS CASE.
6.B. ASSESSMENT REQUESTS.
6.B.1. INFORMAL COORDINATION BETWEEN A COMMARFOR AND THE SUPPORTING CLAT MAY COMMENCE AT ANY TIME.
6.B.2. GCC REQUESTS THAT INCLUDE THE USMC AS PART OF A JOINT ASSESSMENT TEAM REQUIRE REGISTRATION AND SOURCING THROUGH THE GLOBAL  FORCE MANAGEMENT PROCESS.
6.B.3. COMMARFOR REQUESTS FOR USMC-ONLY FSF-CBAS ARE TO BE SOURCED INTERNAL TO THE USMC WITHOUT THE USE OF THE GFM PROCESS.  TEAMS WILL TRAVEL ON SERVICE TAD ORDERS ONLY; NO DEPLOYMENT ORDERS WILL BE PUBLISHED.  COMMARFORS INITIATE THE PROCESS BY SUBMITTING A FEASIBILITY OF SUPPORT (FOS) REQUEST TO CMC (DC PPO-PLU).
6.B.3.A. FOS REQUESTS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED NO LESS THAN 60 DAYS PRIOR  TO THE PLANNED ASSESSMENT TRIP TO ALLOW FOR APPROPRIATE RESEARCH AND  TO COMPLETE ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS REQUIRED FOR FOREIGN TRAVEL.
6.B.3.B. CMC (DC PPO-PLU) WILL REVIEW FOS REQUESTS TO ENSURE THE ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITY MEETS CMC INTENT AS SPECIFIED IN REF B.
6.B.3.C. CMC (DC PPO-PLU) WILL FORWARD REQUESTS TO CMC (DC PPO-POC) FOR FORCE MANAGEMENT REVIEW AND SOURCING APPROVAL.
6.B.3.D. CMC (DC PPO-POC) WILL TASK COMMARFORCOM TO DETERMINE FEASIBILITY, SUPPORTABILITY, AND ASSOCIATED RISK TO SOURCE.
6.B.3.E. COMMARFORCOM WILL FORWARD SOURCING RECOMMENDATION TO CMC (DC PPO-POC).
6.B.3.F. CMC (DC PPO-POC) WILL RELEASE A TASKING MESSAGE TO SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION(S).
6.C. USMC FORCE SYNCHRONIZATION (SYNCH) CONFERENCE AND PLAYBOOK.
6.C.1. FSF-CBA REQUIREMENTS SHOULD, WHEN TIMING PERMITS, BE IDENTIFIED AND VERIFIED AT USMC FORCE SYNCH CONFERENCES.
6.C.2. COMMARFORCOM (G-3,5,7 REGIONAL OPERATIONS) IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENTERING HQMC APPROVED ASSESSMENTS IN THE USMC FORCE SYNCH PLAYBOOK.
6.D. MCSCG IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENTERING ASSESSMENTS IN THE MARINE CORPS-THEATER SECURITY COOPERATION MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (MC-TSCMIS).
7. TIMELINE.
7.A. THE FOLLOWING PROVIDES GENERAL TIMELINE GUIDANCE; SPECIFIC TIMELINES WILL BE COORDINATED WITH THE SUPPORTED COMMARFOR.
7.A.1. NLT D-70 PROBLEM FRAMING MEETING (IN PERSON OR SVTC).
7.A.2. NLT D-60 FOS REQUEST MSG WILL BE SENT FROM COMMARFOR TO CMC (DC PPO- PLU), COPY TO CMC (DC PPO-POC).
7.A.3. NLT D-40 CMC (DC PPO-POC) WILL RELEASE A TASKING MESSAGE TO THE SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS.
7.A.4. D-14 MCSCG CONDUCTS A CONFIRMATION BRIEF TO THE SUPPORTED COMMARFOR.
7.A.5. D - D PLUS 7 MCSCG CONDUCTS THE FSF-CBA.
7.A.6. NET D PLUS 21 ASSESSMENT REPORT DELIVERED TO THE SUPPORTED COMMARFOR.
7.A.7. NET D PLUS 35 SCEP DELIVERED TO THE SUPPORTED COMMARFOR.
8. MCSCG CONTACT INFO.
8.A. PRIMARY POINTS OF CONTACT FOR FSF-CBA REQUESTS ARE THE OICS OF EACH OF THE CLATS. MCSCG S-3 CAN BE REACHED AT COMM 757-962-4430, EXTENSION 2262.
8.A.1. AFRICOM COMM 757-962-4124,DSN 438-4124.
8.A.2. EUCOM COMM 757-962-4120, DSN 438-4120.
8.A.3. SOUTHCOM AND NORTHCOM COMM 757-962-4134, DSN 438-4134.
8.A.4. PACOM COMM 757-962-4157, DSN 438-4157.
8.A.5. CENTCOM COMM 757-962-4153, DSN 438-4153.
8.B.  ADDITIONAL POINTS OF CONTACT WITHIN THE MCSCG SECURITY ASSISTANCE BRANCH ARE THE REGIONAL PROGRAM MANAGERS.
8.B.1.  SOUTHCOM-NORTHCOM COMM 757-962-4430, DSN 438-4430 EXT 2256 8.B.2.  EUCOM-AFRICOM COMM 757-962-4430, DSN 438-4430 EXT 2253 8.B.3.  PACOM-CENTCOM COMM 757-962-4430, DSN 438-4430 EXT 2254.
9. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY BGEN MICHAEL ROCCO, DIRECTOR, STRATEGY AND PLANS DIVISION, PLANS, POLICIES, AND OPERATIONS, HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.//