MARADMINS : 262/07
UNCLAS 171343Z APR 07
CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL MARADMIN(UC)
MARADMIN 262/07
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC PPO//
SUBJ/MARINE CORPS POLICY ON THE WEAR AND PURCHASE OF BODY ARMOR AND
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)//
POC/B. W. TIPPETT/MAJOR/CMC WASHINGTON PPO POG/-/TEL:DSN 222-4290//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/ 1. THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS DIRECTS
THE FOLLOWING POLICY FOR MARINES AND SAILORS ASSIGNED TO USMC AND
JOINT COMMANDS, ON THE WEAR AND PURCHASE OF BODY ARMOR AND PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE). PPE REFERS TO PROTECTIVE BODY ARMOR,
HELMETS, GOGGLES, CLOTHING, AND OTHER GEAR DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE
WEARERS BODY FROM BATTLEFIELD INJURIES. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:
OUTER TACTICAL VEST, MODULAR TACTICAL VEST, LIGHTWEIGHT HELMET,
FULL-SPECTRUM BATTLE EQUIPMENT, MILITARY EYE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
(ESS ICE SPECTACLES / ESS PROFILE NVG GOGGLES), ENHANCED SMALL ARMS
PROTECTIVE INSERT PLATES, SIDE SMALL ARMS PROTECTIVE INSERT PLATES,
BALLISTIC PLATE CARRIER, QUAD GUARD, FLAME RESISTANT ORGANIZATIONAL
GEAR AND COMBAT ARMS EARPLUGS.
2. MARINES/SAILORS DEPLOYED TO COMBAT ZONES WILL BE ISSUED MARINE
CORPS APPROVED PPE, INCLUDING MODULAR BODY ARMOR SETS.
3. MARINE COMPONENT AND/OR FUNCTIONAL COMPONENT/JOINT TASK FORCE
(JTF) COMMANDERS WILL PRESCRIBE THE WEAR OF PPE FOR UNITS CONDUCTING
OPERATIONS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE THEATER OF OPERATIONS. PPE
REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY A FUNCTIONAL COMPONENT COMMANDER THAT
ARE MORE INCLUSIVE (I.E. PRESCRIBE ADDITIONAL PPE ITEMS) THAN THOSE
SET BY THE ASSOCIATED MARINE COMPONENT COMMANDER WILL BE MET BY
MARINES/SAILORS SERVING UNDER THE DESIGNATED COMMAND.
4. SUBORDINATE COMMANDERS WILL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE THEIR
MARINES/SAILORS TO WEAR ADDITIONAL LEVELS OF PPE BASED ON THEIR
ESTIMATE OF THE SITUATION, TO INCLUDE ASSESSMENTS OF ENEMY THREAT,
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, AND THE TACTICAL MISSIONS ASSIGNED TO THEIR
UNITS. SUBORDINATE COMMANDERS WHO DETERMINE THAT A LOWER LEVEL
(I.E. FEWER PPE ITEMS) OF PPE IS APPROPRIATE MUST RECEIVE APPROVAL
FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE USMC AND/OR FUNCTIONAL COMPONENT/JTF COMMANDER
PRIOR TO EXECUTION OF ANY CHANGE.
5. INDIVIDUAL MARINES/SAILORS MAY NOT USE COMMERCIAL PPE IN LIEU OF
GOVERNMENT TESTED, APPROVED AND ISSUED PPE. COMMANDERS MAY AUTHORIZE
MEMBERS OF THEIR COMMANDS TO USE COMMERCIALLY PURCHASED PPE ITEMS IN
ADDITION TO THOSE ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT, AS LONG AS ADDITIONS DO
NOT INTERFERE WITH THE FUNCTIONALITY OF APPROVED PPE. INDIVIDUALLY
PURCHASED COMMERCIAL PPE WILL NOT BE REIMBURSABLE BY COMMAND/UNIT
(GOVERNMENT) FUNDS.
6. IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT MARINES/SAILORS ARE PROVIDED ONLY THOSE
PPE ITEMS THAT HAVE MET GOVERNMENT TEST STANDARDS (MIL-STANDARD),
COMMANDERS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO UTILIZE UNIT (GOVERNMENT) FUNDS TO
PURCHASE COMMERCIAL PPE ITEMS THAT HAVE NOT MET GOVERNMENT TEST
STANDARDS AND BEEN APPROVED FOR USE BY THE MARINE CORPS.//