MARADMIN 434/08
R 111552Z AUG 08
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA/MPE//
SUBJ/2007 MARINE CORPS CLIMATE ASSESSMENT SURVEY (MCCAS)//
POC/A. BERNARD/CAPT/UNIT:CMC MRA (MPE)/-/TEL:(703) 784-9371
/TEL:DSN 278-9371//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THE MARINE CORPS CLIMATE ASSESSMENT SURVEY
(MCCAS)
IS A SURVEY CONDUCTED MARINE CORPS-WIDE THAT MEASURES PERCEPTIONS OF
THE ORGANIZATION AND COMMAND CLIMATE.  BY PERIODICALLY CONDUCTING
THIS TYPE OF SURVEY, WE ARE ABLE TO GAIN INSIGHTS INTO TRENDS
OCCURRING IN VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE MARINE CORPS CLIMATE.
2.  THE FIRST PART OF THE MCCAS CONTAINS GROUPS OF ITEMS RELATED TO
ORGANIZATIONAL CLIMATE AND DISCRIMINATION. CLIMATE MODULES INCLUDE: 
LEADERSHIP, TRAINING, SATISFACTION WITH THE MARINE CORPS, AND
INFORMAL RESOLUTION SYSTEM/REQUEST MAST. PART TWO OF THE MCCAS
ASSESSED SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND GENDER DISCRIMINATION.
3.  THE SUCCESS OF OUR EFFORTS IN EVALUATING THESE AREAS DEPENDS ON
THE INDIVIDUAL MARINE.  THE 2007 MCCAS WAS ADMINISTERED ONLINE FOR
THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE SURVEY. A RANDOM SAMPLE OF
MARINE CORPS OFFICER AND ENLISTED PERSONNEL STRATIFIED BY
RACIAL/ETHNIC AND GENDER GROUPS TOOK THE SURVEY.  THE MARINE CORPS
HAS PREVIOUSLY CONDUCTED THESE SURVEYS IN 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999 AND
2004.
4.  THE RESULTS OF THE 2007 SURVEY SHOWED CONTINUED IMPROVEMENTS IN
ALL AREAS IN COMPARISON TO PREVIOUS YEARS.  THIS IS DUE TO THE
FOLLOWING ACTIONS TAKEN SINCE THE 2004 SURVEY:
    A.  DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED A QUARTERLY COMMAND/VISIT CLIMATE
SEMINAR SCHEDULE. OVER 5,900 SENIOR SNCOS AND OFFICERS WERE TRAINED
ON THE RESULTS OF THE 2004 SURVEY WITH EMPHASIS ON THE MENTORING
PROGRAM, REQUEST MAST AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT.
    B.  REVISED THE COMMANDER'S HANDBOOK TO INCLUDE EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY AND EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY.
    C.  DEVELOPED THE SENIOR LEADERS COURSE WHICH IS CONDUCTED
QUARTERLY BY EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ADVISORS.
    D.  REVISED, STANDARDIZED AND IMPROVED THE EO REPRESENTATIVES
COURSE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF TRAINED EO REPRESENTATIVES
THROUGHOUT THE MARINE CORPS.
5.  THE 2007 SURVEY INCLUDED THREE NEW AREAS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED
AS HAVING AN IMPACT ON THE CLIMATE OF THE MARINE CORPS: DIVERSITY,
MENTORING AND SEXUAL ASSAULT.  THE RESULTS PROVIDE INSIGHTS IN BOTH
THE POSITIVE TRENDS AND AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT.
    A.  THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE POSITIVE AREAS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
        (1) DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF MARINES WHO RECEIVED
TRAINING ON THE INFORMAL RESOLUTION SYSTEM (IRS).
        (2) A POSITIVE BASELINE FOR MENTORING EXISTS; OVER 75
PERCENT OF ACTIVE DUTY ENLISTED MARINES ARE AWARE OF THE MARINE
CORPS MENTORING PROGRAM.
        (3) POSITIVE CLIMATE TRENDS FOR ACTIVE DUTY AND RESERVE
ENLISTED CONTINUE, PARTICULARLY FOR ACTIVE DUTY ENLISTED BLACKS.
        (4) INCREASE IN AGREEMENT THAT THE USMC PERFORMANCE
EVALUATION SYSTEM IS FAIR.
        (5) FEMALE SEXUAL HARASSMENT RATES CONTINUED TO DECLINE FOR
BOTH OFFICERS AND ENLISTED.
        (6) RACIAL AND GENDER DISCRIMINATION RATES CONTINUE TO DROP.
    B.  THE FOLLOWING AREAS INDICATE A NEED FOR INCREASED VIGILANCE
AND CONTINUED TRAINING TO ENSURE A POSITIVE CLIMATE EXISTS WITHIN
THE COMMAND FOR MARINES' PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH.
        (1) ALTHOUGH THE NUMBERS OF MARINES WHO USED REQUEST MAST
WAS VERY LOW, AMONG THOSE ENLISTED WHO USED REQUEST MAST, OVER 33
PERCENT OF THE MARINES SAID THEY SUFFERED NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES.
        (2) THE INCREASE PERCENTAGE OF MARINES WHO RECEIVED TRAINING
ON THE INFORMAL RESOLUTION SYSTEM IS ENCOURAGING.  HOWEVER, RATES
ARE ONLY AT 50 PERCENT AND MUCH LOWER THAN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND
SEXUAL HARASSMENT TRAINING RATES.
        (3) ONLY 50 PERCENT OF THE MARINES SURVEYED KNEW WHO THEIR
UNIFORM VICTIM ADVOCATE IS.
        (4) ALTHOUGH SEXUAL HARRASSMENT CONTINUES TO DECLINE, ONE
AREA OF BEHAVIOR THAT REMAINS A CONCERN IS THE USE OF OFFENSIVE
JOKES AND GESTURES.
6.  WHILE THE COMMANDER IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COMMAND
CLIMATE, EVERY MEMBER OF THE COMMAND HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO TREAT
THEIR FELLOW MARINES WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.  THE ABOVE AREAS TO
WATCH INDICATE THERE IS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT AND CONTINUED TRAINING
IS CRITICAL TO MAINTAIN THE POSTIVE TRENDS.
7.  THE MCCAS RESULTS CAN BE FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE:
HTTPS://WWW.MANPOWER.USMC.MIL UNDER THE "NEWS AND FEATURES" COLUMN.
COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DISCUSS THE FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY
WITH THEIR MARINES.
8.  THIS MARADMIN IS APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE.
9.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY MR. M.F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER
PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION.//