R 091030Z Jun 10
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 328/10
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//
SUBJ/REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAL EVALUATION OF MARINES BEFORE INVOLUNTARY ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATION//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/MCO P1900.16F /-//
REF/B/MSGID:DOC/NAVMED P-117, CHAPTER 15/-//
REF/C/MSGID:DOC/MARADMIN 283-06 /-//
NARR/REF A IS THE MARCORSEPMAN AND GUIDANCE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATIONS.  REF B IS MANUAL OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT GUIDANCE FOR MEDICAL EVALUATION. REF C PROVIDES GUIDANCE ON DEPLOYMENT AND POST DEPLOYMENT HEALTH ASSESSMENTS.//
POC/L. A. BENNETT /-/-/-/TEL:DSN 278-9322/TEL:(703) 784-9322//
POC/L. HEEREN/-/-/-/TEL:DSN 278-9323/TEL:(703) 784-9323//
POC/GARY RICHARDSON /MR/-/-/TEL:DSN 278-9309/TEL:(703) 784-9309//
POC/R. ADAMS /CAPT/-/-/TEL:DSN 278-9308/TEL:COMM (703) 784-9308//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THIS MARADMIN SUMMARIZES COMMAND REQUIREMENTS BEFORE INVOLUNTARY ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATION OF MARINES AND COMPLIES WITH NDAA FY10 SECTION 512 FOR CASES INVOLVING POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI).
2. GENERAL.  THE MARINE CORPS REMAINS FULLY COMMITTED TO THE COMPREHENSIVE CARE AND TREATMENT OF OUR WOUNDED, ILL AND INJURED WARRIORS WHO ARE EXPECTED TO MAINTAIN THE SAME HIGH STANDARDS OF GOOD ORDER AND DISCIPLINE THAT THE NATION EXPECTS OF ALL MARINES, REGARDLESS OF THEIR MEDICAL STATUS.  ALL LEADERS, COMMANDERS AND GENERAL COURT MARTIAL CONVENING AUTHORITIES (GCMCA) PLAY CRUCIAL ROLES THAT BALANCE THE WELFARE OF THE INDIVIDUAL MARINE WITH GOOD ORDER, DISCIPLINE AND MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT.
3. PRIOR TO APPROVING ANY INVOLUNTARY ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATION INITIATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF REFERENCE A FOR MARINES WITH MORE THAN 180 DAYS OF ACTIVE DUTY, THE SEPARATION AUTHORITY MUST ENSURE THAT A MEDICAL EVALUATION OF THE MARINE IS PERFORMED PER REFERENCES B AND C AND MUST REVIEW THE RESULTS OF THAT EVALUATION. THESE MEDICAL EVALUATIONS SHALL BE COMPLETED BY MEDICAL PROVIDERS AUTHORIZED TO PERFORM SEPARATION EVALUATIONS AND SHALL BE SUFFICIENT IN SCOPE AND TIMING TO MEET SEPARATION MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS. THE INTENT OF PERFORMING THESE EVALUATIONS IS TO ENSURE THAT SEPARATION AUTHORITIES HAVE ALL PERTINENT INFORMATION ABOUT ANY MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT MAY HAVE A MATERIAL IMPACT ON A MARINES BEHAVIOR, ESPECIALLY ANY MARINE WHO HAS OR REASONABLY ALLEGES TO HAVE A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY OR POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. INHERENT IN ANY SEPARATION ACTION IS THAT AUTHORITY'S DISCRETION TO DIRECT ADDITIONAL MEDICAL TREATMENT AND DETERMINE THE DATE OF SEPARATION OR DIRECT RETENTION AS APPROPRIATE.
4. THE SEPARATION AUTHORITY FOR ENTRY LEVEL MARINES OR SELECTED MARINE CORPS RESERVE (SMCR) MARINES WITH NO HISTORY OF COMBAT SERVICE OR DEPLOYMENT WILL BE EXEMPT FROM REVIEWING THE FINAL MEDICAL EVALUATION; HOWEVER, THE COMMANDER INITIATING SEPARATION WILL BE REQUIRED TO CERTIFY THAT THESE MARINES HAD NO COMBAT SERVICE OR DEPLOYMENT AND WERE NOT DIAGNOSED WITH PTSD OR TBI.  THE FINAL MEDICAL EVALUATION WILL ALSO BE EXEMPTED IN INSTANCES WHERE SMCR MARINES HAVE A HISTORY OF COMBAT SERVICE OR DEPLOYMENT, ARE UNDERGOING ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATION PROCEEDINGS AND DO NOT RESPOND TO NOTIFICATION AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATION.
5. MEDICAL PROVIDERS PERFORMING THESE EVALUATIONS SHALL ENSURE MARINES DIAGNOSED WITH OR WHO HAVE CONCERNING SYMPTOMS OF PTSD OR TBI WILL BE FURTHER EVALUATED BY APPROPRIATELY PRIVILEGED PHYSICIANS OR OTHER LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS SUCH AS A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST OR PSYCHIATRIST.  PTSD AND TBI EVALUATIONS MUST SPECIFICALLY INCLUDE COMMENTS ON THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF THESE CONDITIONS AND, IF PRESENT, THE EXTENT TO WHICH THEY AFFECTED THE MARINE'S JUDGMENT AND MAY HAVE BEEN A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE BASIS FOR SEPARATION. FOR THOSE CASES IN WHICH THE SERVICE CHARACTERIZATION IS DETERMINED TO BE GENERAL UNDER HONORABLE OR OTHER THAN HONORABLE, THE GCMCA'S SEPARATION ENDORSEMENT SHALL, IN LIGHT OF AN IDENTIFIED PTSD OR TBI CONTRIBUTING FACTOR, EXPLAIN THE REASONS FOR THE RESPONDENT'S SEPARATION AND THE CHARACTERIZATION OF SERVICE.
6. IF THE MEDICAL EVALUATION RESULTS IN A DIAGNOSIS OF PTSD OR TBI AND THE SEPARATION AUTHORITY DETERMINES IT IS SERVICE RELATED, SUFFICIENTLY MITIGATING, AND AMOUNTS TO A SIGNIFICANT DISABILITY, THE SEPARATION AUTHORITY SHOULD CONSIDER PROCESSING FOR SEPARATION UNDER CHAPTER EIGHT OF REFERENCE A FOR PHYSICAL DISABILITY. THESE PROCEDURES CONSTITUTE A CHANGE TO PARAGRAPH 8508 OF REFERENCE A.
7. MARINES SEPARATED UNDER THESE PROVISIONS SHALL BE DIRECTED TO CONSULT WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS REGARDING VETERAN BENEFITS AND SERVICES PRIOR TO SEPARATION WITH THAT COUNSELLING DATED AND SIGNED IN BLOCK 17 OF DD FORM 2648, PRESEPARATION COUNSELING CHECKLIST.
8. THIS POLICY DOES NOT PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL PROCEDURAL BASIS OF APPEAL OR REDRESS FOR RESPONDENTS.  THE MEDICAL EXAMINATION PROCEDURES REQUIRED IN THIS MARADMIN DO NOT APPLY TO COURT-MARTIAL OR OTHER PROCEEDINGS CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE
9. THE NEXT CHANGE TO REF A WILL INCLUDE THESE REQUIREMENTS.
10. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY MAJGEN A. SALINAS, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER MANAGEMENT DIVISION.//