R 151716Z MAR 10
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 153/10
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC I IJ//
SUBJ/MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING AND TREATMENT AND SECURITY CLEARANCES WITHIN THE U.S. MARINE CORPS// REF/A/MSGID:DOC/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC/YMD:20080418//
REF/B/MSGID:MSG/MARADMIN 383-08/YMD:20080714//
REF/C/MSGID:DOC/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC/YMD:20091120//
NARR/REF A IS SECDEF MEMO, POLICY IMPLEMENTATION - MENTAL HEALTH QUESTION, STANDARD FORM (SF) 86, QUESTIONNAIRE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY POSITIONS, PROVIDING GUIDANCE AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE REVISED SF-86, QUESTION 21.  REF B IS THE ORIGINAL MARADMIN ISSUED ADDRESSING THE REVISED SF-86 MENTAL HEALTH QUESTION NUMBER 21.  REF C IS THE SECDEF MEMO, REITERATING THAT COUNSELING AND/OR TREATMENT FOR MENTAL OR EMOTIONAL HEALTH, IN AND OF ITSELF, IS NOT A REASON TO DENY OR REVOKE A SECURITY CLEARANCE.//
POC/L. E. STEVENS/MR/UNIT:CMC WASHINGTON DC IOS/NAME:HQMC /TEL:703-693-6007//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MARADMIN IS TO REITERATE AND REAFFIRM DOD AND MARINE CORPS POLICY ENCOURAGING OUR MARINES, SAILORS, CIVILIANS, AND CONTRACTORS TO VOLUNTARILY SEEK OUT PROFESSIONAL HELP ADDRESSING ALL HEALTH-RELATED CONCERNS, WHETHER MENTAL OR PHYSICAL, WITHOUT FEAR OF JEOPARDIZING THEIR SECURITY CLEARANCES.  THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR THOSE PERSONNEL WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO TRAUMATIC AND STRESSFUL EVENTS AS THE RESULT OF OUR CURRENT OPERATIONAL TEMPO.  WE STILL RECEIVE REPORTS SUGGESTING THAT PERSONNEL WHO NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP, AVOID SEEKING IT DUE TO CONCERNS OVER LOSING SECURITY CLEARANCES FOR WHICH THEY'VE APPLIED OR WHICH THEY HOLD.
2.  THE REFERENCES, EXPLAIN THE REVISION OF LANGUAGE ON QUESTION 21 OF THE SF-86 SECURITY QUESTIONNAIRE, THAT NOW ALLOWS PERSONNEL TO EXCLUDE THE REPORTING OF COUNSELING RELATED TO MARITAL, FAMILY, GRIEF, OR ADJUSTMENTS FROM SERVING IN A MILITARY COMBAT ENVIRONMENT, UNLESS THERE IS VIOLENCE (MENTAL OR PHYSICAL) BY THE MEMBER.
3.  IT IS A DOD AND MARINE CORPS POLICY THAT SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING IN AND OF ITSELF IS NOT A REASON TO DENY OR REVOKE A CLEARANCE.  RATHER, IT IS A SIGN OF MATURITY AND A POSITIVE COURSE OF ACTION THAT CAN HELP BEHAVIORS FROM ESCALATING TO A POINT OF CONCERN.
4.  GENERAL GUIDANCE - REDUCING THE STIGMA OF MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING:
    A.  SEEKING PROFESSIONAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING AND/OR TREATMENT, DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY RESULT IN THE SUSPENSION, REVOCATION OR DENIAL OF A MEMBER'S SECURITY CLEARANCE.
    B.  ALL PERSONNEL ARE ENCOURAGED TO VOLUNTARILY SEEK MENTAL AND/OR EMOTIONAL HEALTH COUNSELING AND/OR TREATMENT WHEN NECESSARY.
IT IS CRITICAL THAT COMMANDERS ESTABLISH A COMMAND CLIMATE OF RESPECT, PRIVACY, AND SUPPORT FOR PERSONNEL WHO MAY REQUIRE ASSISTANCE TO HELP WITH COPING AND STRESS REDUCTION MECHANISMS.
    C.  COMMAND SECURITY PERSONNEL MUST EDUCATE ALL HANDS ON THE MARINE CORPS' POSITION REGARDING MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH DURING THE EMPLOYEES' INITIAL COMMAND SECURITY ORIENTATION OR INDOCTRINATION. THIS TRAINING MUST BE RECORDED AND MADE AVAILABLE TO THE SPECIAL SECURITY OFFICER INSPECTION TEAMS CONDUCTING COMMAND SECURITY ASSIST VISITS (SAVS).
    D.  AWARENESS BY ALL HANDS OF THIS POLICY SHOULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE PERCEPTIONS THAT MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING AND/OR TREATMENT WILL AUTOMATICALLY RESULT IN THE LOSS OF A SECURITY CLEARANCE.
5.  INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
    A.  ALL PERSONNEL HOLDING CLEARANCES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPORTING TO COMMAND SECURITY OFFICIALS ANY CHANGE IN THEIR MENTAL OR EMOTIONAL HEALTH STATUS, AND MUST REPORT THE TYPE OR REASON FOR MENTAL OR EMOTIONAL HEALTH COUNSELING OR TREATMENT. IN MOST CIRCUMSTANCES, CLEARANCES AND ACCESSES WILL NOT BE AFFECTED UNLESS ISSUES OF VIOLENCE ARE REPORTED.
        1. PERSONNEL UNDERGOING COUNSELING OR TREATMENT MUST NOTIFY COMMAND SECURITY OFFICIALS IF MEDICATIONS HAVE BEEN PRESCRIBED, TO INCLUDE THE TYPE OF MEDICATION AND THE DURATION OF THE PRESCRIPTION. MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT WITH ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS IS ALSO TOLERATED BY SECURITY CLEARANCE HOLDERS.  THIS INFORMATION MUST BE REPORTED AND WILL BE MONITORED BY PERSONNEL SECURITY OFFICIALS.
        2. IN MOST CASES, PERSONAL INFORMATION REGARDING MENTAL OR EMOTIONAL HEALTH COUNSELING OR TREATMENT WILL BE PROTECTED AND WILL NOT BE RELEASED OUTSIDE THE COMMAND UNLESS THERE IS AN ESCALATION OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MANDATES THE RELEASE OF REPORTED INFORMATION, SUCH AS REPORTED VIOLENCE, MENTAL OR PHYSICAL THREATS TO SELF OR OTHERS.
6.  MARINE CORPS SECURITY SPECIALISTS:
    A.  SECURITY OFFICIALS MUST HAVE AN OPEN DOOR POLICY THAT PROMOTES PERSONNEL TO REPORT COUNSELING OR TREATMENT, WITH CONFIDENCE THAT THIS INFORMATION WILL BE HANDLED DISCREETLY.
    B.  IF VIOLENCE (MENTAL OR PHYSICAL) RELATED TO MENTAL OR EMOTIONAL HEALTH OR UNRELATED MENTAL AND/OR EMOTIONAL CONCERNS NOT MEETING THE SPECIFIC CONDITIONS LISTED IN PARAGRAPH 2 ARE IDENTIFIED
- INDIVIDUALS COULD HAVE THEIR CLEARANCE SUSPENDED, OR REVOKED AS DIRECTED BY THE COMMANDER.
    C.  ALL PERSONAL INFORMATION WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL AND WITHIN THE SECURITY OFFICIAL CHANNELS. THE TYPE, SEVERITY AND NATURE OF COUNSELING OR TREATMENT AND THE OUTCOME OF TREATMENT ARE FACTORS INFLUENCING COMMAND DECISIONS ON CLEARANCE RETENTION AND CONTINUED ACCESS.
7.  ALL PERSONNEL APPLYING FOR OR HOLDING SECURITY CLEARANCES SHOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH THE WEB LINKS AND REFERENCES LISTED BELOW:
    A.  "LEADERS GUIDE FOR MANAGING MARINES IN DISTRESS"
HTTP:DOUBLE SLASH WWW.USMC-MCCS.ORG/LEADERSGUIDE/EMOTIONAL/MHPROBLEMS/GENERALINFO.CFM - "MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS"
    B.  "MILITARY PROGRAM: OVERVIEW"
HTTP:DOUBLE SLASH WWW.MENTALHEALTHSCREENING.ORG/MILITARY/ 
    C.  "DOD MENTAL HEALTH SELF-ASSESSMENT (MHSA) PROGRAM"
HTTP:DOUBLE SLASH WWW.PDHEALTH.MIL/MHSA.ASP
    D.  REFERENCES A AND B ARE LOCATED AT THE BELOW URLS, AND REFERENCE C WILL BE EMAILED ALL SSO'S AND TO ANYONE REQUESTING A COPY.
        1. REF A IS POSTED AT THE FOLLOWING URL:
HTTP:DOUBLE SLASH WWW.NAVYSECURITY.NAVY.MIL/DOCUMENTS/PERSONNEL/PSI-08U223079MAY08.PDF
        2. REF B IS POSTED AT THE FOLLOWING URL:
HTTP:DOUBLE SLASH WWW.MARINES.MIL/NEWS/MESSAGES/PAGES/MARADMIN383-08.ASPX
8.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY BGEN VINCENT R. STEWART, DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE.//