MARADMINS : 176/06
R 170009Z APR 06
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL MARADMIN(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 176/06
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MR/-/-//
SUBJ/ENHANCED HONORS FOR DECEASED SERVICE MEMBERS
/MILITARY HONOR GUARDS AT ARRIVAL AIRPORTS//
REF/A/MSGID:OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MEMORANDUM/-
/YMD:20060209//
REF/B/-/TITLE V OF NDAA FY 2006/-//
REF/C/-/DOD 1300.18/-//
REF/D/-/DODD 1300.22/-//
POC/MARK MENDEZ/CAPT/MRPC/-/TEL:(703) 784-9512//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. ON 9 FEBRUARY 2006, THE OFFICE OF THE
UNDERSECRETARY OF DEFENSE PUBLISHED A MEMORANDUM TITLED "ENHANCED
HONORS FOR DECEASED SERVICE MEMBERS." THE MEMORANDUM ESTABLISHES
DEPARTMENTAL POLICY THAT, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE, SMALL
HONOR GUARDS WILL RENDER APPROPRIATE HONORS PLANE-SIDE AT THE
ARRIVAL AIRPORTS FOR ALL FALLEN ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS. THE
FOLLOWING IS HQMC DIRECTION TO ALL UNITS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THIS POLICY.
2. THE CASUALTY ASSISTANCE CALLS OFFICER (CACO) CLOSEST TO THE
PLACE OF BURIAL WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING THE HONOR
GUARD. AT A MINIMUM, THE HONOR GUARD WILL CONSIST OF TWO MARINES
(THE CACO AND THE ESCORT); THE ACTUAL SIZE AND COMPOSITION OF THE
HONOR GUARD ABOVE THIS MINIMUM WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE CACO'S
COMMAND AND WILL BE BASED ON AVAILABLE RESOURCES, OPERATIONAL TEMPO,
FEASIBILITY OF COORDINATION REQUIRED FOR LARGER DETAILS, AND THE
INHERENT COMPLEXITIES OF AIRLINE OPERATIONS.
3. IF ANY AIRLINE OR AIRPORT DOES NOT ALLOW THE MINIMUM TWO-MAN
HONOR GUARD TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE TARMAC TO VIEW OFF-LOADING
AND RENDER APPROPRIATE HONORS, AS REQUIRED BY DOD POLICY, THE
REQUIRED PROCEDURES WILL BE AS FOLLOWED: CONTACT THE TRANSPORTATION
SECURITY OPERATIONS CENTER (TSOC) AT (703) 563-3201; IF THE TSOC IS
NOT ABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, THEN CONTACT THE HQMC
CASUALTY SECTION AT 1-800-847-1597; IN ADDITION, AN EMAIL MESSAGE
MUST BE SENT TO THE CASUALTY SECTION ORGANIZATIONAL MAILBOX
(CASUALTY.SECTION@USMC.MIL) WITH A NARRATIVE OF THE SITUATION TO
INCLUDE: NAME OF DECEASED MARINE, DATE, AIRLINE, AIRPORT, BACKGROUND
INFORMATION DETAILING WHAT DIFFICULTIES WERE ENCOUNTERED, AND FAMILY
MEMBER INVOLVEMENT.
4 . THE NEXT REVISION OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION
(DODI) 1300.18 "MILITARY PERSONNEL CASUALTY MATTERS, POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES", DOD DIRECTIVE 1300.22 "MORTUARY AFFAIRS POLICY", AND
THE "MARINE CORPS CASUALTY PROCEDURES MANUAL" MCO P3040.4F WILL
INCLUDE PERMANENT GUIDANCE FOR THIS REQUIREMENT.//