"
R 151330Z SEP 03
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL MARADMIN(uc)
MARADMIN
BT
UNCLASSIFIED
MARADMIN 428/03
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/ACMC/HS//
SUBJ/OPERATIONAL STRESS CONTROL AND READINESS PROGRAM (OSCAR)//
REF/A/MROC DM 49-2003 OSCAR//
AMPN/REF A IS MROC DECISION MEMORANDUM 49-2003 THAT AUTHORIZES
OSCAR PILOT PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. OPERATIONAL STRESS CAN ADVERSELY IMPACT
READINESS BOTH IN GARRISON AND IN COMBAT BY CONTRIBUTING TO
MENTAL HEALTH RELATED PROBLEMS THAT LEAD TO NON-EAS ATTRITION.
MENTAL HEALTH RELATED PROBLEMS ARE THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF
NON-EAS ATTRITION; YET, CURRENT MANNING PROVIDES FOR ONLY A
SINGLE PSYCHIATRIST AND A SINGLE HM PSYCH TECH IN EACH DIVISION
WHILE WINGS/GROUPS HAVE NO PERMANENTLY ASSIGNED MENTAL HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS.
2. 2D MARDIV DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED AN ORGANIC OPERATIONAL
STRESS CONTROL AND RESTORATION (OSCAR) PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THE
MENTAL HEALTH RELATED PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN PARA (1). OSCAR
INCLUDES SNCOS, CHAPLAINS, AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN
A FULLY INTEGRATED MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM PROVIDING PROACTIVE
MANAGEMENT FOR OPERATIONAL STRESS AND RELATED MENTAL HEALTH
PROBLEMS. BASED ON FAVORABLE RESULTS DURING A 1-YEAR ASSESSMENT,
OSCAR WAS INSTITUTIONALIZED WITHIN 2D MARDIV IN FEBRUARY, 2001.
3. THE MARINE REQUIREMENTS OVERSIGHT COUNCIL (MROC) WAS BRIEFED
ON THE OSCAR INITIATIVE AND RECOMMENDED EXPANDING IT AS DESCRIBED
IN THE REFERENCE. SUBSEQUENTLY, CMC DIRECTED THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF A 2-YEAR OSCAR PILOT AT EACH OF THE 3 ACTIVE DIVISIONS.
4. HEALTH SERVICES, HQMC, WILL PERFORM THE FOLLOWING:
A. CHARTER A MARINE CORPS/NAVY INTEGRATED PLANNING TEAM (IPT) TO
IMPLEMENT OSCAR PILOT PROGRAMS. HQMC PARTICIPANTS IN THE IPT WILL
INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, PP&O, I&L, P&R AND MCCDC. THE IPT
WILL COORDINATE WITH DIVISION AND MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITY
COMMANDERS FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:
(1) BRIEF THE OSCAR PROGRAM AND PROVIDE CMC'S INTENT
(2) IDENTIFY MANPOWER SOURCING FOR THE PILOT PROGRAM
(3) TAILOR THE COMPOSITION OF EACH OSCAR TEAM TO THEIR RESPECTIVE
DIVISION'S REQUIREMENTS
(4) DEVELOP GUIDANCE AND POLICY TO IMPLEMENT EACH PROGRAM
(5) ESTABLISH A STUDY PLAN TO MEASURE THE PROGRAM'S IMPACT AND TO
GUIDE FUTURE PLANNING.
B. DEVELOP PROCEDURES TO COLLECT PERTINENT DATA ABOUT THE OSCAR
PILOT PROGRAM IN ORDER TO REVIEW ITS EFFECTIVENESS AND UTILITY TO
THE OPERATING FORCES.
C. EVALUATE THE OSCAR PILOT PROGRAM AFTER IMPLEMENTATION FROM
INFORMATION GAINED THROUGH DIVISION PROGRAMS, STUDY PLANS, AND DATA
COLLECTION PROCEDURES TO BRIEF THE MROC ON A WAY AHEAD TO HELP OUR
MARINES OVERCOME THE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH OPERATIONAL
STRESS.
5. YOUR ATTENTION, COOPERATION, AND PARTICIPATION IN THIS IMPORTANT
INITIATIVE ARE ESSENTIAL TO ITS SUCCESS.
6. SEMPER FIDELIS, W. L. NYLAND, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, ASSISTANT
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.// "