R 262127Z NOV 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 0686/09
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC C4//
SUBJ/POLICY PROHIBITING THE FORWARDING OF CHAIN E-MAIL//
REF/A/MSGID:MSGID/CMC WASHINGTON DC C4/051956Z//
REF/B/MSGID:MSGID/CMC WASHINGTON DC C4/301408Z//
NARR/REF A IS MARADMIN 427/08 WHICH ESTABLISHED AND REINFORCED E-MAIL USAGE POLICY ON THE MISSION-ORIENTED NIPRNET, AND REVIVED PREVIOUSLY PROMULGATED E-MAIL POLICIES.  REF B IS MARADMIN 427/08, WHICH EXTENDED THE CANELLATION DATE OF REF A TO 1 OCTOBER 2010 UNLESS SOONER SUPERCEDED.//
POC/RAY A. LETTEER/CIV/UNIT:703-693-3490/NAME:E-MAIL/ EMAIL:RAY.A.LETTEER@USMC.MIL//
POC/MARK R./-/-/-/EMAIL:MARK.R.SCHAEFER@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  PURPOSE.  TO REINFORCE EXISTING POLICY THAT PROHIBITS THE CREATION AND FORWARDING OF CHAIN E-MAIL.
2.  BACKGROUND.  CHAIN E-MAILS ARE E-MAILS THAT, IN THE BODY OR SUBJECT OF THE MESSAGE, ASK THE RECIPIENT TO FORWARD THE E-MAIL ON TO MULTIPLE PEOPLE.  MANY CHAIN E-MAILS ARE HOAXES AND ARE CONSIDERED TO BE A SECURITY AND PRIVACY RISK.  CHAIN E-MAIL CONTENT MAY INCLUDE TOO-GOOD-TO-BE-TRUE SALES PROMOTIONS OR HOAXES, AND OFTEN INCLUDE STATEMENTS SUCH AS "FOR EVERY PERSON THAT YOU FORWARD THIS E-MAIL TO, YOU WILL RECEIVE ...", "SEND THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW", AND "THIS IS TRUE".  FORWARDING CHAIN E-MAIL IS A CONCERN ACROSS THE MARINE CORPS ENTERPRISE NETWORK (MCEN).  FORWARDING CHAIN E-MAIL DISTRACTS RECIPIENTS FROM THEIR WORK, DEGRADES NETWORK PERFORMANCE BY TRANSMITTING NON-PRODUCTIVE MESSAGES, IS CONSIDERED TO BE A DENIAL OF SERVICE THREAT TO VARIOUS MCEN SEGMENTS, AND CAUSES UNNECESSARY COST.  ADDITIONALLY, RESPONDING WITH "REPLY TO ALL" ADMONISHING THE CHAIN E-MAIL SENDER FURTHER SATURATES THE NETWORK.
3.  ACTION.  PER THE REFS, CREATING OR FORWARDING CHAIN E-MAIL CONTINUES TO BE PROHIBITED.  DISREGARD ANY CHAIN E-MAIL MESSAGES REGARDING SUPPOSED PROMOTIONS OR HOAXES, AND DO NOT FORWARD THEM CHAIN E-MAILS.  MCEN USERS ARE TO DELETE CHAIN E-MAIL UPON RECEIPT, AND NOTIFY THE CHAIN OF COMMAND IF THEY RECEIVE A SUSPECTED CHAIN E-MAIL.
4.  EVERYONE IS REMINDED TO COMPLY WITH THE POLICIES IN THE REFS.  COMMANDERS ARE TO ENSURE ANNUAL COMPLETION OF MANDATORY INFORMATION ASSURANCE AWARENESS TRAINING FOR ALL USERS OF DOD INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES.  WEBLINK:  HTTP:(DOUBLE SLASH)IASE.DISA.MIL SLASH ETA SLASH IAAV8 SLASH IAAV8 SLASH INDEX.HTM.
5.  FURTHER DIRECTIONS WILL BE CODIFIED IN UPCOMING POLICY.
6.  CANCELLATION:  31 DECEMBER 2010.
7.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY MAJGEN G. J. ALLEN, DIRECTOR, COMMAND, CONTROL, COMMUNICATIONS, AND COMPUTERS/CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER OF THE MARINE CORPS.//