R 090600Z JUN 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 0348/09
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MRA MR//
SUBJ/ADVANCE NOTE OF CHANGES TO EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/MCO 1754.4A/-//
REF/B/MSGID:DOC/P1000.6G/-//
REF/C/MSGID:DOC/DODFMR VOL 7A/-//
NARR/REF A IS MCO 1754.4A, EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM
REF B IS MCO P1000.6G, ACTS MANUAL
REF C IS DODFMR VOL 7A, MILITARY PAY POLICY AND PROCEDURES - ACTIVE DUTY AND RESERVE PAY//
POC/T. SMITH/MAJ/UNIT:HQMC MRZ/-/TEL:DSN 278-9592//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/BACKGROUND. 1. EFM FAMILIES FACE CHALLENGES WITH MAINTAINING CONTINUITY OF CARE THAT CAN OFTEN BE DISRUPTED BY PCS ASSIGNMENTS. THE AVAILABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF MEDICAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES VARY IN EACH GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION. THEREFORE, A MARINE CORPS ASSIGNMENT POLICY THAT IS SENSITIVE TO EFM FAMILY NEEDS WILL HELP ENSURE A STEADY AND SEAMLESS CONTINUUM OF CARE AND SIMULTANEOUSLY ALLOW THE MARINE TO MEET HIS/HER CAREER OBLIGATIONS.
2. SITUATION. THIS MARADMIN IS AN ADVANCE NOTICE OF FORTHCOMING CHANGES TO MCO 1754.4A, EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM (EFMP) AND POLICY FOR CONTINUATION ON LOCATION FOR EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER (EFM) FAMILIES. CONTINUATION ON LOCATION FOR A MARINES FAMILY WILL BE RECOMMENDED BY HQMC PERSONAL AND FAMILY READINESS DIVISION (MR) WHEN THE CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR THE EFM WITH A MEDICAL CONDITION OR EDUCATIONAL NEED WOULD BE SERIOUSLY DISRUPTED BY THE MARINES PERMANENT REASSIGNMENT. INFORMED ASSIGNMENT DECISIONS COORDINATED WITH THE EFM SPONSOR, SPOUSE, AND HQMC AGENCIES OF MR, ARE OUTLINED BELOW TO IMPROVE THE MARINE  CORPS CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR ENROLLED FAMILIES.
3. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS. 
A. ASSIGNMENT PROCESS
(1) ASSIGNMENT. A MARINE MUST HAVE PCS ORDERS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR CONTINUATION ON LOCATION. THE ASSIGNMENT PROCESS FOR EFM SPONSORS WILL INCLUDE A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE SPONSORS EFM ENROLLMENT PACKAGE AND A MEDICAL AND/OR EDUCATIONAL SCREENING IAW REF A, COORDINATION BETWEEN HQMC EFMP, MM DIVISION, RA DIVISION, AND THE EFMP SPONSOR FAMILY. ALL POTENTIAL ASSIGNMENTS WILL CONSIDER THE EFMS MEDICAL AND EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS ALONG WITH THE AVAILABILITY OF AND PROXIMITY TO LIKE MEDICAL AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AT THE SPONSORS PRESENT AND PROSPECTIVE GAINING DUTY STATION. THE MARINE CORPS WILL MAKE EVERY ATTEMPT TO ACCOMMODATE EFM SPONSORS FAMILY/PERSONAL NEEDS AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT ENCUMBER A FAIR AND EQUITABLE ASSIGNMENT PROCESS. TIME ON STATION, EXCEPT FOR OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENTS, IS NOT A FACTOR IN ANY REASSIGNMENT DECISION, INCLUDING THAT OF AN EFM SPONSOR. DEPENDING ON MARINE CORPS NEEDS, AND WHEN POSSIBLE, AN EFM SPONSOR WILL BE RETAINED IN THE SAME AREA PROVIDED A VALID BILLET EXISTS IN THE SAME GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION. IF THERE IS NO BILLET AVAILABLE, THE EFM SPONSOR MUST AGREE TO AN EFM GEOGRAPHIC BACHELOR CONUS ASSIGNMENT FOR A MINIMUM OF 24 MONTHS IN ORDER TO FILL A BILLET VACANCY THAT PROMOTES CAREER PROGRESSION AND DOES NOT ADVERSELY IMPACT THE CAREER PROGRESSION OF OTHERS.  IN THESE CASES, CONTINUATION ON LOCATION OF THE EFM FAMILY WILL BE AUTHORIZED. THE NEED FOR CONTINUATION ON LOCATION WILL BE REEVALUATED EACH TIME THE MARINE RECEIVES PCS ORDERS. ALL CASES RECOMMENDED FOR CONTINUATION ON LOCATION WILL REQUIRE DC, M&RA REVIEW AND APPROVAL.
(2) DEPLOYMENT AND UNACCOMPANIED TOURS. ENROLLMENT IN EFMP WILL NOT BE A FACTOR IN THE SPONSORS DEPLOYMENT OBLIGATIONS. OVERSEAS UNACCOMPANIED ASSIGNMENTS AND UNIT AND INDIVIDUAL AUGMENTATION DEPLOYMENTS MUST BE CARRIED OUT WHEN REQUIRED. WHEN A FAMILY NEED CONFLICTS WITH THESE CAREER OBLIGATIONS, THE ISSUE MAY BE ADDRESSED UNDER THE PROVISIONS FOR HUMANITARIAN TRANSFER AS OUTLINED IN REF B.
B. COMPENSATION AND HOUSING. 
(1) COMPENSATION. SPONSORS WHO QUALIFY AND ACCEPT CONTINUATION ON LOCATION FOR THEIR FAMILY AND AGREE TO AN EFM GEOGRAPHIC BACHELOR CONUS PCS ASSIGNMENT, MUST SUBMIT AN OFFICIAL WRITTEN WAIVER REQUEST TO DC, M&RA (MMIA) TO RETAIN BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING (BAH) AT THE LOCATION WHERE THE SPONSORS FAMILY RESIDES. IN ADDITION, QUALIFIED SPONSORS WHO ACCEPT AN EFM GEOGRAPHIC BACHELOR CONUS PCS ASSIGNMENT MAY BE ENTITLED TO FAMILY SEPARATION ALLOWANCE (FSA), IF THEY MEET THE CRITERIA OUTLINED IN REF C, CHAPTER 27.
(2) HOUSING. SPONSORS MUST SUBMIT AN OFFICIAL WRITTEN REQUEST TO REMAIN IN MARINE CORPS OWNED OR LEASED FAMILY HOUSING TO THE APPLICABLE BASE COMMANDER/HOUSING OFFICE.
4. THIS POLICY WILL NOT APPLY RETROACTIVELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING BAH OR FSA ENTITLEMENTS.
5. THIS ADVANCE NOTICE IS APPLICABLE TO THE TOTAL FORCE.
6. THE PROPOSED POLICY IN THIS MARADMIN WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE APPROPRIATE DIRECTIVES/ORDERS AS APPLICABLE.
7. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY LTGEN R. S. COLEMAN, DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS.//