R 071716Z APR 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 232/09
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/III MEF AND MCBJ ASSIGNMENT POLICY//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP/YMD:20070216//
REF/B/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP/YMD:20040622//
REF/C/MSGID:DOC/DODD/YMD:19870109//
REF/D/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP/YMD:19941004//
REF/E/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP/YMD:20091119//
POC/P. J. HILLIARD/MAJ/UNIT:MPO-40/-/TEL:(703) 784-9387 /TEL:DSN 278-9387//
POC/H. J. DUENEZ/YA3/UNIT:MMEA-1/-/TEL:(703) 784-9230 /TEL:DSN 278-9230//
NARR/REF A IS MARADMIN 267/04 MODIFICATION TO CURRENT III MEF AND MCBJ ASSIGNMENT POLICY.
REF B IS MARADMIN 529/03 ASSIGNMENT POLICY CHANGE AFFECTING FUTURE PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION ORDERS TO III MEF AND MCBJ.
REF C IS DODD 1315.7 (LEAVE AND LIBERTY PROCEDURES).
REF D IS MCO 1300.8R. PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY.
REF E IS MARADMIN 115/07 AMPLIFYING PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT GUIDANCE FOR EVERY MARINE INTO THE FIGHT-COMMANDANT'S INTENT.//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  PURPOSE.  ESTABLISHMENT AND FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF ASSIGNMENT POLICY FOR GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF MAINLAND AND OKINAWA JAPAN (III MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE (III MEF) AND MARINE CORPS BASE JAPAN (MCBJ)).
2. CANCELLATION.  EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, REFS A AND B ARE CANCELLED.
3. BACKGROUND.  PER REFS C AND D, MAINLAND AND OKINAWA JAPAN TOUR LENGTH STANDARDS ARE 36 MONTH TOURS FOR THOSE ACCOMPANIED BY DEPENDENTS AND 24 MONTH TOURS FOR ALL OTHERS.  THE MARINE CORPS BEGAN TRANSITIONING DURING FY04 TO THE DOD STANDARD FOR PCS ASSIGNMENTS TO MAINLAND AND OKINAWA JAPAN. PER REFS D AND E, THE TRANSITION WAS EXECUTED IN PHASES. 
4. DISCUSSION.  EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, CMC HAS DIRECTED MAXIMIZING THE UTILIZATION OF FORCES THROUGH THE ASSIGNMENT POLICY TO SUPPORT GLOBAL FORCE MANAGEMENT (GFM) AND EVERY MARINE TO THE FIGHT CONCEPT STIPULATED IN REF E.  ACCORDINGLY, OFFICER AND ENLISTED TOUR LENGTHS FOR MAINLAND AND OKINAWA JAPAN WILL BE 36 MONTHS ACCOMPANIED/24 MONTHS FOR ALL OTHER TOURS; FIRST TERM ENLISTED MARINES WILL BE CURTAILED AT 18 MONTHS IF NOT DEPLOYED OR STABILIZED FOR DEPLOYMENT ISO GFM AS STIPULATED BY MARFORCOM SOURCING SOLUTION.  DEPENDENT RESTRICTED TOURS (12 MONTHS) WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM (EFMP) AND CAREER MARINES THAT ELECT NOT TO GAIN OBLIGATED SERVICE TO COMPLETE THE 36 MONTH ACCOMPANIED/24 MONTH TOUR LENGTHS. 
5. ACTION.  EFFECTIVE 1 MAY 2009 DC M&RA (MM) WILL IMPLEMENT THE POLICY AS STATED IN PARAGRAPH 4 ABOVE.
   A.  MARINES ASSIGNED TO MAINLAND AND OKINAWA JAPAN WILL SERVE THE STANDARD TOUR LENGTH OF 36-MONTHS ACCOMPANIED (W/DEPENDANTS) AND 24 MONTH TOURS (WITHOUT DEPENDANTS) FOR ALL OTHERS.
   B.  MARINES WITH DEPENDANTS (FIRST TERMERS/CAREERISTS) WILL BE ISSUED A 36-MONTH ACCOMPANIED TOUR LENGTH AND MAY ELECT TO SERVE A 24-MONTH UNACCOMPANIED TOUR.
   C.  FIRST-TERM ENLISTED MARINES WITHOUT DEPENDENTS WILL BE ASSIGNED TO A 24 MONTH TOUR LENGTH. DC M&RA (MM) WILL CURTAIL MARINES AT THE 18 MONTH MARK IF NOT DEPLOYED OR STABILIZED FOR DEPLOYMENT ISO GFM AS STIPULATED BY MARFORCOM SOURCING SOLUTION.  M&RA (MM) WILL CONDUCT AN ASSESSMENT AT THE 12-MONTH TIME ON STATION TO IDENTIFY MARINES THAT WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR 18 MONTH CURTAILMENTS (I.E., REDUCE ORIGINAL 24 MONTH TOUR BY SIX MONTHS FOR AN 18 MONTH TOUR).
   D.  TOUR CONVERSIONS AND EXTENSIONS/INCENTIVES WILL CONTINUE TO BE OFFERED TO ALL MARINES.  FIRST TERMERS WITHOUT DEPENDENTS THAT ARE APPROVED FOR OVERSEAS EXTENSIONS/INCENTATIVES WILL NOT BE CURTAILED AND WILL SERVE THEIR INITIAL TOUR LENGTH AND THE EXTENSION.
6. THIS BULLETIN IS APPLICABLE TO THE ACTIVE DUTY COMPONENT.
7. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY (SES) MR. M. F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION, M&RA.//