R 071647Z OCT 11
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 597/11
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MF(UC)//
SUBJ/OPERATIONAL STRESS CONTROL AND READINESS TRAINING GUIDANCE//
POC/C. A. STRADER/LTCOL/UNIT:MFC1/-/TEL:703-432-9563//
POC/M. P. OBRIEN/MSGT/UNIT:MFC-1/-/TEL:703-432-9563//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  PURPOSE.  THIS MARADMIN PROVIDES GUIDANCE ON OPERATIONAL STRESS CONTROL AND READINESS (OSCAR) REQUIREMENTS, TEAM COMPOSITION, OSCAR TEAM ROLES, TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND REPORTING. 
2.  BACKGROUND.  OSCAR IS MARINE-LED TRAINING THAT BUILDS TEAMS OF MARINE LEADERS, MEDICAL, AND RELIGIOUS MINISTRY PERSONNEL WITHIN EACH BATTALION-SIZED UNIT.  THIS TRAINING ASSISTS COMMANDERS IN MAINTAINING THEIR WARFIGHTING CAPABILITIES BY IDENTIFYING, MANAGING, AND PREVENTING COMBAT AND OPERATIONAL STRESS ISSUES AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.
3.  IMPLEMENTATION OF OSCAR TEAMS
A.  ALL BATTALION-LEVEL OR EQUIVALENT COMMANDS ACROSS THE TOTAL FORCE SHALL ESTABLISH, TRAIN AND MAINTAIN OSCAR TEAMS BY 31 JAN 2012.  COMMANDS AT HIGHER LEVELS MAY ALSO TRAIN OSCAR TEAMS AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO DO SO.
    (1) EACH BATTALION OR EQUIVALENT COMMAND SHALL TRAIN AND MAINTAIN AN OSCAR TEAM.  THIS CORE OSCAR TEAM SHALL CONSIST OF AT LEAST FIVE PERCENT OF THE UNIT'S PERSONNEL OR A MINUMUM OF 20 MARINES AND SAILORS, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.  THESE TEAMS ARE COMPRISED OF "OSCAR MENTORS" (TRAINED UNIT MARINE LEADERS), "EXTENDERS" (UNIT MEDICAL AND RELIGIOUS MINISTRY PERSONNEL), AND "MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS" (MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS AND TECHNICIANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE UNIT).  THE COMMANDING OFFICER OR DESIGNEE SHALL PROVIDE OVERSIGHT OF THE OSCAR TEAM.
    (2) THE BATTALION-LEVEL HEADQUARTERS ELEMENT TEAM WILL TYPICALLY INCLUDE THE COMMANDING OFFICER, EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SERGEANT MAJOR, MEDICAL OFFICER, CHAPLAIN, SENIOR CORPSMAN, RELIGIOUS PROGRAMS SPECIALIST, AND OTHER SENIOR MARINES (APPROXIMATELY 10 TOTAL).
    (3) EACH COMPANY-LEVEL TEAM WILL TYPICALLY INCLUDE THE COMMANDING OFFICER, EXECUTIVE OFFICER, FIRST SERGEANT, COMPANY GUNNERY SERGEANT, PLATOON COMMANDERS, PLATOON SERGEANTS, SQUAD LEADERS, AND CORPSMEN (APPROXIMATELY 15-20 FROM EACH COMPANY).
    (4) NOT ALL UNITS ARE ORGANIZED ON A BATTALION-COMPANY STRUCTURE AND SO IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE UNIT COMMANDER TO BE FAMILIAR WITH OSCAR, UNDERSTAND HOW THE OSCAR TEAM IS UTILIZED AND USE A COMMON-SENSE APPROACH TO BUILD AN OSCAR TEAM ACROSS THE UNIT THAT PROVIDES SUPPORT WHETHER DEPLOYED OR IN GARRISON.
B.  COMMANDERS WILL APPOINT OSCAR MENTORS WHO ARE STRONG ROLE MODELS, WILLING TO ASSIST AND MENTOR OTHER MARINES WITH COMBAT OR OPERATIONAL STRESS ISSUES.  IDEALLY, THESE TEAM MEMBERS SHALL HAVE COMBAT EXPERIENCE.
    (1) OSCAR TEAMS ASSIST COMMANDERS IN PREVENTING, IDENTIFYING, AND MANAGING COMBAT AND OPERATIONAL STRESS ISSUES.  THESE TEAM MEMBERS PROVIDE LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE, MENTOR, AND HELP REDUCE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH SEEKING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE.  WHEN OSCAR MENTORS ENCOUNTER MARINES WITH STRESS ISSUES BEYOND THEIR ABILITY TO ASSIST, THEY REFER MARINES TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF SUPPORT, USUALLY THE TEAM'S OSCAR EXTENDERS.
    (2) AFTER INITIAL TRAINING, OSCAR MENTORS WILL REGULARLY REVIEW COMMAND ORDERS AND UNIT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES ENSURING OSCAR OBJECTIVES ARE INCLUDED IN DAILY PROCESSES AND TRAINING.  FOR UNITS DEPLOYING, SUCH REVIEW SHOULD BE PART OF THE PREDEPLOYMENT TRAINING PROGRAM AND REDEPLOYMENT/RETURN PROCESSES INCLUDING DEPLOYMENT CYCLE TRAINING (MARINE OPERATIONAL STRESS TRAINING OR MOST).
C.  OSCAR EXTENDERS ARE MEDICAL OFFICERS AND CORPSMEN, CHAPLAINS AND RELIGIOUS PROGRAM SPECIALISTS WHO "EXTEND" THE CAPABILITIES OF OSCAR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS BY BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN MARINE OSCAR MENTORS AND OSCAR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.  OSCAR EXTENDERS WILL CONTINUE THEIR DUTIES WHILE EXAMINING AND REVIEWING MARINES REFERRED TO THEM BY OSCAR MENTORS AND ASSISTING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THEIR PRACTICE AND EXPERTISE.  THEY WILL MAKE FURTHER REFERRAL TO OSCAR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IF THE MARINE'S STRESS INJURIES ARE BEYOND THEIR ABILITY TO ASSIST.
D.  EACH ACTIVE MARINE DIVISION AND REGIMENT HAS OSCAR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ON THEIR TABLE OF ORGANIZATION.  THESE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE EXPECTED TO SPEND A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THEIR TIME EMBEDDED WITH THEIR UNIT BOTH IN GARRISON AND FIELD TRAINING EVOLUTIONS, PROVIDING A VARIETY OF NON-CLINICAL SUPPORT INCLUDING PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH SURVEILLANCE, COMMAND LIAISON, PREVENTIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH TRAINING, AND COORDINATION WITH EXTERNAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.  THIS INTERACTION WITH THE UNITS ENHANCES PREVENTION EFFORTS BY FAMILIARIZING MARINES WITH OSCAR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AS WELL AS THE OSCAR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS BUILDING AN UNDERSTANDING OF MISSION REQUIREMENTS THROUGHOUT THE DEPLOYMENT CYCLE.  UNIT-SUPPORT IS THE PRIMARY DUTY FOR OSCAR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ALONG WITH PROVIDING DIRECT CLINICAL SERVICES.
    (1) EXTENDERS AND OSCAR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WILL ATTEND OSCAR TEAM TRAINING WITH THEIR UNIT(S).  OSCAR FAMILIARIZATION TRAINING IS PROVIDED BY FIELD MEDICAL TRAINING BATTALIONS AND CHAPLAIN AND RELIGIOUS PROGRAM SPECIALIST EXPEDITIONARY SKILLS TRAINING.  THE NAVY BUREAU OF MEDICINE, NAVY CHIEF OF CHAPLAINS, AND HQMC WILL CONTINUE DEVELOPING OTHER RELATED TRAINING INITIATIVES.
    (2) NON-INFANTRY COMMANDS MUST GENERALLY RELY ON EXTERNAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES SUCH AS INSTALLATION MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES OR COMBAT STRESS TEAMS FOR SUPPORT.  SUCH COMMANDS ARE ADVISED TO INVITE SUPPORTING EXTERNAL MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS TO OBSERVE TRAINING AND OTHER FUNCTIONS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE OPERATIONAL IMPACT OF CLINICAL DECISIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.  BY BUILDING A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP ON AN INFORMAL BASIS THROUGH FAMILIARIZATION AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF MISSIONS, THE EXTERNAL MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WILL BECOME AD-HOC MEMBERS OF THE COMMAND'S OSCAR TEAM.
4.  OSCAR DUTIES AND ROLES
A.  INDIVIDUAL MARINES AND SAILORS WILL BE CERTIFIED IN OSCAR DUTIES AS DETAILED BELOW.  UNITS WILL ENTER CERTIFICATION INTO THE MARINE CORPS TOTAL FORCE SYSTEM VIA THE UNIT DIARY.
    (1) OSCAR MENTORS PROVIDE PEER SUPPORT AND INITIAL STRESS INJURY IDENTIFICATION, AND REFERRAL.
    (2) ADVANCED OSCAR TEAM MEMBERS MAY ASSIST CERTIFIED TEAM TRAINERS IN CONDUCTING TEAM TRAINING.  THEY CAN ALSO PROVIDE SMALL-UNIT LEVEL CLASSES IN ADDITION TO THEIR TEAM MEMBER DUTIES.
    (3) OSCAR TRAINERS ARE AUTHORIZED TO CERTIFY OSCAR TEAM MEMBERS/MENTORS.  OSCAR TRAINER CANDIDATES SHOULD BE EXPERIENCED AND COMPELLING MARINES ABLE TO TAKE THE LEADING ROLE IN TRAINING.
    (4) OSCAR MASTER TRAINER.  MASTER TRAINERS ARE THE ONLY TRAINERS TO CERTIFY OSCAR TRAINERS.  COMMANDS WILL USE MASTER TRAINER INPUT TO NOMINATE EXPERIENCED AND COMPELLING OSCAR TRAINERS AS MASTER TRAINER CANDIDATES.
B.  OSCAR CERTIFICATIONS ARE PORTABLE ACROSS COMMANDS.
5.  TRAINING CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
A.  OSCAR TEAM CERTIFICATION IS CONDUCTED BY AN OSCAR TRAINER AND REQUIRES SIX HOURS.  IT COVERS BASIC OSCAR KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ATTITUDES REQUIRED TO FUNCTION AS EFFECTIVE OSCAR MENTORS, EXTENDERS, AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ON THE BATTALION-LEVEL TEAM.
B.  ADVANCED OSCAR TEAM MEMBER CERTIFICATION REQUIRES FOUR DAYS.  IT IS THE OSCAR TRAINING CERTIFICATION WITH THE TEACH-BACK QUALIFICATION DELAYED FOR STUDENTS REQUIRING MORE EXPERIENCE AS APPRENTICE TRAINERS ASSISTING IN OSCAR TEAM TRAINING CONDUCTED BY CERTIFIED TEAM TRAINERS.  THEY WILL BE CERTIFIED AS OSCAR TRAINERS ONCE QUALIFIED BY A MASTER TRAINER.
C.  OSCAR TRAINER CERTIFICATION IS CONDUCTED BY A MASTER TRAINER AND REQUIRES FIVE DAYS.  IT INCLUDES OSCAR TEAM TRAINING, ADVANCED OSCAR CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AND PRACTICE SESSIONS FOR CANDIDATES TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR ABILITY TO LEAD DISCUSSION, FACILITATE DISCUSSION, ROLE-PLAYING, LEADERSHIP PANELS, AS WELL AS TRAINING LOGISTICS, GENERAL OSCAR KNOWLEDGE AND TRAINING TAILORED TO THEIR SPECIFIC COMMUNITY AND COMMAND.  MASTER TRAINERS SUPERVISE HANDS-ON TRAINING OF AN ACTUAL UNIT OSCAR TEAM AS THE TRAINER TEACH-BACK QUALIFICATION.
D.  OSCAR MASTER TRAINER CERTIFICATION IS CONDUCTED BY HQMC COMBAT AND OPERATIONAL STRESS CONTROL (COSC) AND REQUIRES SEVEN DAYS.  IT IS INSTRUCTION OF HOW TO TRAIN TRAINERS, INCLUDING CLASS PREPARATION, LOGISTICS AND HANDS-ON TRAINING OF NEW TRAINER CANDIDATES UNDER HQMC SUPERVISION.  MASTER TRAINERS MAY ONLY BE TRAINED AND CERTIFIED BY HQMC COSC (MFC-1).
    (1) OSCAR MASTER TRAINERS WILL CERTIFY OSCAR TRAINERS AT EACH MEF WHO CAN TRAIN OSCAR TEAMS AT ANY UNIT.  COMMANDS SHOULD SCHEDULE TRAINING WITH THE THEIR LOCAL COSC REGIONAL TRAINING COORDINATOR (RTC) OR MEF MASTER TRAINERS.
    (2) HQMC COSC WILL PERIODICALLY CONDUCT OSCAR MASTER TRAINER TRAINING COURSES AT EACH MEF TO SUSTAIN THE MASTER TRAINER POOL.
E.  ALL OSCAR TRAINERS MUST USE THE COMPLETE CURRICULUM AND THE APPROVED SET OF TRAINING MATERIALS WHEN PROVIDING OSCAR TEAM TRAINING IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN INTEGRITY OF THE COURSE AND ENSURE CONSISTENCY OF TRAINING ACROSS THE MARINE CORPS.
    (1) ONLY HQMC (MFC-1) MAY AUTHORIZE ALTERATION OR ABBREVIATION OF THE COURSE CURRICULUM OR MATERIALS.  REQUESTS TO DO SO WILL ONLY BE CONSIDERED IN ISOLATED, CAREFULLY REVIEWED CASES.
    (2) OSCAR TRAINERS SHOULD TAILOR THEIR TRAINING TO THEIR AUDIENCE: INCORPORATE THE UNIT MISSION, USE EXAMPLES RELEVANT TO THE AUDIENCE AND PERSONALIZE SLIDES FOR THE LOCAL COMMAND (THE COMMAND LOGO AND THE LOCAL OSCAR STRUCTURE).
F.  CERTIFIED OSCAR TRAINERS AND MASTER TRAINERS SHALL ORDER OSCAR TEAM TRAINING MATERIALS ONLINE AT THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INFORMATION NETWORK (BHIN): HTTP:(SLASH)(SLASH)BHIN.USMC-MCCS.ORG/ OR THROUGH THEIR REGIONAL TRAINING COORDINATOR (RTC).  ALLOW MINIMUM THREE WEEKS FOR SHIPPING WHEN ORDERING FROM THE BHIN.
6.  REPORTING.  UNIT TRAINING OFFICERS SHALL MONITOR COMPLIANCE WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS.
A.  TRAINING COMPLETION AND LEVELS OF CERTIFICATION FOR EACH OSCAR-TRAINED MARINE AND SAILOR SHALL BE ENTERED INTO MCTFS VIA THE UNIT DIARY.  REPORT AS FOLLOWS:
    TTC 483 000    TRAINING EVENT (A) ED (B) WHERE (A) IS THE 2-BYTE ALPHA-NUMERIC (A/N) CODE (PER PARAGRAPH 51201 OF ON-LINE MCTFSPRIUM), AND (B) IS THE 8-BYTE EFFECTIVE DATE (FORMAT YYYYMMDD).  TWO-BYTE A/N CODES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
    (1) O1-OSCAR TEAM MEMBER (COMPLETED 1-DAY OSCAR TEAM TRAINING COURSE)
    (2) O2-OSCAR TEAM MEMBER - ADVANCED (COMPLETED FOUR OF FIVE DAYS OF THE OSCAR TRAIN-THE-TRAINER COURSE)
    (3) O3-OSCAR TRAINER (COMPLETED THE FIVE DAY OSCAR TRAIN-THE-TRAINER COURSE.  CERTIFIED AND AUTHORIZED BY AN OSCAR MASTER TRAINER TO LEAD OSCAR TEAM TRAINING)
    (4) O4-OSCAR MASTER TRAINER (AUTHORIZED BY HQMC TO TRAIN AND CERTIFY OSCAR TRAINERS)
B.  TRAINERS SHALL REPORT CERTIFICATION EVENTS TO THEIR CHAIN OF COMMAND, COSC RTC AND TO THE HQMC OSCAR TRAINING COORDINATOR AT HQMC COSC, ATTN: OSCAR TRAINING COORDINATOR, MRA MFC-1, 3280 RUSSELL RD, QUANTICO, VA 22134; COSC(AT)USMC.MIL.  REPORTS WILL INCLUDE DETAILED ROSTERS OF STUDENTS AND INSTRUCTORS WITH SUMMARY OF ALL EVALUATIONS AS OUTLINED IN THE OSCAR TRAINER BINDER.
C.  HQMC COSC SHALL PERIODICALLY PROVIDE REPORTS OF OSCAR TRAINING COMPLIANCE THROUGH THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.
7.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY LTGEN R. E. MILSTEAD JR, DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS.//