R 201549Z NOV 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 0667/09
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS//
SUBJ/IMPLEMENTATION OF OPERATIONAL STRESS CONTROL AND READINESS (OSCAR) EXTENDER PROGRAM//
POC/DR. THOMAS GASKIN/CIV/UNIT:MRA/-/TEL:(703) 784-9542//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. PURPOSE. THIS MARADMIN OUTLINES EXPANSION OF OSCAR PROGRAM CAPABILITIES IN THE MARINE DIVISIONS TO THE COMPANY LEVEL THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION OF OPERATIONAL STRESS CONTROL AND READINESS (OSCAR) EXTENDERS AND OSCAR PEER MENTORS.
2. BACKGROUND. THE CURRENT OSCAR PROGRAM AUGMENTS THE COSC PROGRAM IN MARINE DIVISIONS BY EMBEDDING FULL-TIME MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AS PART OF THE DIVISION TABLE OF ORGANIZATION DOWN TO THE INFANTRY REGIMENTAL LEVEL. OSCAR PERSONNEL ARE ORGANIC TO THE DIVISION AND INFANTRY REGIMENT. THEY DEPLOY WITH THEIR UNITS IN THEATER AND STAY WITH THEM WHEN THEY RETURN TO GARRISON. THEY HELP COMMANDERS BUILD UNIT STRENGTH, RESILIENCE, AND READINESS, AS WELL AS HELP KEEP MARINES AND SAILORS IN THE FIGHT THROUGH PREVENTION, EARLY IDENTIFICATION AND INTERVENTION WITH STRESS-RELATED PROBLEMS. FULL MANNING OF OSCAR TEAMS IS IN PROGRESS WITH COMPLETION PROJECTED FOR FY-11. UNTIL THEN, THE BUREAU OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY (BUMED) PLANS TO FILL OSCAR TEAMS FOR DEPLOYING UNITS WITH AVAILABLE MENTAL HEALTH PERSONNEL ON AN AD-HOC BASIS.
3. ISSUE. THE NEED TO PROVIDE FULL-TIME OSCAR PRESENCE BELOW THE REGIMENTAL LEVEL IS EVIDENT. TO MEET THIS NEED, I HAVE DIRECTED EXTENSION OF OSCAR FUNCTIONALITY BELOW THE FUNDED DIVISIONAL AND REGIMENTAL MENTAL HEALTH ASSETS TO THE BATTALION AND COMPANY LEVEL USING EXISTING PERSONNEL ASSETS.
4. ACTION. MARINE DIVISIONS, ACTIVE AND RESERVE, WILL IMPLEMENT THE EXTENDED OSCAR PROGRAM AS OUTLINED BELOW.
5. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS AND STAFFING. THE OSCAR PROGRAM WILL NOW CONSIST OF FULL-TIME OSCAR MENTAL HEALTH PERSONNEL AT THE DIVISIONS AND INFANTRY REGIMENTS, AUGMENTED AND EXTENDED BY EXISTING MEDICAL, RELIGIOUS MINISTRY, AND WARFIGHTING PERSONNEL IN THE INFANTRY BATTALIONS AND COMPANIES. OSCAR EXTENDERS WILL BE SELECTED AND SPECIALLY TRAINED TO PERFORM OSCAR DUTIES APPROPRIATE TO THEIR LEVEL OF EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE. THEIR CHARGE WILL BE TO:
A. HELP LEADERS AND FULL-TIME OSCAR PERSONNEL BUILD INDIVIDUAL AND UNIT STRENGTH, RESILIENCE, AND READINESS; B. SERVE AS A KNOWN, EASILY APPROACHABLE IMMEDIATE POINT OF CONTACT; C. PROVIDE ADVICE TO OTHERS ON STRESS-RELATED ISSUES; D. ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO GET HELP WHEN NEEDED; E. PROVIDE EARLY INTERVENTIONS AS APPROPRIATE; AND F. HELP AFFECTED MARINES AND SAILORS GET BACK TO FULL READINESS AND ENGAGEMENT IN THE UNIT AS QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE.
6. SPECIFIC TYPES OF OSCAR PERSONNEL WILL NOW INCLUDE:
A. OSCAR MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS. THESE ARE FULL-TIME POSITIONS FILLED BY PSYCHIATRISTS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, MENTAL HEALTH CLINICAL NURSE PRACTITIONERS, AND PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIAN CORPSMEN BILLETED TO OSCAR TEAMS FROM THE DIVISION AND INFANTRY REGIMENTS.
B. OSCAR EXTENDERS. THESE ARE COLLATERAL DUTY POSITIONS FILLED BY SELECTED MEDICAL PERSONNEL, CHAPLAINS, AND RELIGIOUS PROGRAM SPECIALISTS FROM THE INFANTRY BATTALIONS, AND BY SELECTED CORPSMEN FROM THE INFANTRY BATTALIONS AND COMPANIES.
C. OSCAR SENIOR MENTORS. THESE ARE COLLATERAL DUTY POSITIONS CONSISTING OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS (XO) AND SENIOR ENLISTED MARINES FROM THE INFANTRY BATTALIONS AND COMPANIES.
D. OSCAR PEER MENTORS. THESE ARE COLLATERAL DUTY POSITIONS CONSISTING OF SELECTED OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MARINES FROM THE INFANTRY BATTALIONS AND COMPANIES.
7. STAFFING. OSCAR PERSONNEL BY COMMAND LEVEL ARE AS FOLLOWS.
A. DIVISION. FULL-TIME POSITIONS (TO BE PHASED IN BY FY-11); MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS (3); AND PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIAN CORPSMEN (4).
B. INFANTRY REGIMENT. FULL-TIME POSITIONS (TO BE PHASED IN BY FY-11); MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS (2); AND PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIAN CORPSMEN (2).
C. INFANTRY BATTALION. COLLATERAL DUTY POSITIONS: MEDICAL PROVIDERS, CORPSMEN, CHAPLAIN, RELIGIOUS PROGRAM SPECIALIST, XO, AND SGTMAJ - TOTAL (APPROX 6).
D. INFANTRY BATTALION. EACH BATTALION HAS A TEAM OF OSCAR EXTENDERS CONSISTING OF BATTALION MEDICAL PROVIDERS, CHAPLAINS, CORPSMEN, AND RELIGIOUS PROGRAM SPECIALISTS SERVING ON A COLLATERAL AND COLLABORATIVE BASIS, AND PEER MENTORS CONSISTING OF SELECTED OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MARINES SERVING ON A COLLATERAL BASIS.
(1) THE SENIOR OSCAR EXTENDER ON EACH BATTALION TEAM SERVES AS THE BATTALION OSCAR TEAM COORDINATOR; OVERSEES STAFFING, TRAINING, AND QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR THE OSCAR PROGRAM IN THE BATTALION AND SUBORDINATE COMMANDS; RECEIVES OSCAR PROGRAM OVERSIGHT AND GUIDANCE FROM THE REGIMENTAL OSCAR TEAM LEADER; PROVIDES TECHNICAL GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT TO THE BATTALION SENIOR PEER MENTORS; REPORTS ADMINISTRATIVELY TO THE BATTALION SURGEON; AND PROVIDES PROGRAM GUIDANCE AND SUPERVISION TO EACH COMPANY OSCAR TEAM VIA ITS COMPANY OSCAR TEAM COORDINATOR.
(2) THE BATTALION XO SERVES AS THE SENIOR OFFICER OSCAR PEER MENTOR FOR THE BATTALION; AND SUPERVISES OFFICER PEER MENTORING IN THE BATTALION.
(3) THE BATTALION SERGEANT MAJOR SERVES AS THE SENIOR ENLISTED OSCAR PEER MENTOR FOR THE BATTALION; AND SUPERVISES ENLISTED PEER MENTORING IN THE BATTALION.
E. COMPANY. EACH COMPANY HAS A TEAM OF OSCAR EXTENDERS CONSISTING OF SELECTED COMPANY CORPSMEN SERVING ON A COLLATERAL BASIS, AND PEER MENTORS CONSISTING OF SELECTED OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MARINES SERVING ON A COLLATERAL BASIS.
(1) THE COMPANY XO SERVES AS THE COMPANY OSCAR TEAM COORDINATOR; OVERSEES STAFFING, TRAINING, AND QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR THE OSCAR PROGRAM IN THE COMPANY; RECEIVES OSCAR PROGRAM OVERSIGHT AND GUIDANCE FROM THE BATTALION OSCAR TEAM COORDINATOR; PROVIDES TECHNICAL GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT TO THE COMPANY SENIOR ENLISTED OSCAR PEER MENTOR; SERVES AS THE SENIOR OFFICER OSCAR PEER MENTOR FOR THE COMPANY; AND SUPERVISES OFFICER PEER MENTORING IN THE COMPANY.
(2) THE COMPANY FIRST SERGEANT SERVES AS THE SENIOR ENLISTED OSCAR PEER MENTOR FOR THE COMPANY; AND SUPERVISES ENLISTED PEER MENTORING IN THE COMPANY.
9. INITIAL OSCAR TRAINING FOR NEW OSCAR PERSONNEL WILL BE PROVIDED BY HQMC MOBILE TRAINING TEAM IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL OSCAR MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS AND LEADERS. INITIAL TRAINING WILL BE COORDINATED BY HQMC OSCAR PROGRAM MANAGER VIA DIVISION TRAINING STAFF, DIVISION PSYCHIATRIST, AND COSC REGIONAL TRAINING COORDINATOR. INITIAL TRAINING TIME REQUIREMENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
A. PEER MENTORS, SENIOR MENTORS, AND PREVIOUSLY-DEPLOYED EXTENDERS WILL REQUIRE FOUR HALF-DAYS.
B. MENTAL HEALTH STAFF AND NEW EXTENDERS WILL REQUIRE FIVE HALF-DAYS.
10. HIGHEST PRIORITY IS FOR IMMEDIATE TRAINING OF BATTALIONS DEPLOYING IN THE NEAR FUTURE, ALONG WITH RESPECTIVE DIVISION AND REGIMENT STAFF. TRAINING OF REMAINING INFANTRY UNITS WILL BE DONE BY DIVISION AND REGIMENT OSCAR TEAM MEMBERS, ASSISTED BY HQMC OSCAR TRAINING STAFF AS AVAILABLE.
11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND PLANS FOR OFFICER TRAINING WILL BE PROMULGATED SEPARATELY.
12. COMPLETION TARGET FOR TRAINING 100 PERCENT OF INFANTRY UNITS IS MARCH 2010.
13. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY JAMES F. AMOS, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//