R 171701Z APR 13
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARADMIN 207/13
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS(UC)/F002//
SUBJ/CHANGES TO THE MARINE CORPS UNIFORM REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE WEARING OF RELIGIOUS APPAREL ITEMS AND GROOMING REGULATIONS//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/-/YMD:20030331/CMC WASHINTON DC MCUB//
AMPN/REF IS MCO P1020.34G, MARINE CORPS UNIFORM REGULATIONS.//
POC/MR. BILL MCWATERS/-/UNIT:MPO/-/TEL:(703)784-9386//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THIS MARADMIN IDENTIFIES CHANGES TO PARAGRAPHS 1004.6 AND 1004.7 OF REFERENCE (A), WHICH ADDRESSES THE WEARING OF RELIGIOUS APPAREL ITEMS AND GROOMING REGULATIONS.
2.  CHANGE PARAGRAPH 1004.6 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: BEGIN QUOTE:  6.  SUBJECT TO TEMPORARY REVOCATION DUE TO MISSION REQUIREMENTS, MARINES MAY WEAR RELIGIOUS APPAREL ITEMS AS FOLLOWS:
A.  ARTICLES OF RELIGIOUS APPAREL WHICH ARE NOT VISIBLE OR APPARENT WHEN WORN WITH THE UNIFORM.
B.  VISIBLE ARTICLES OF RELIGIOUS APPAREL WITH THE UNIFORM WHILE ATTENDING OR CONDUCTING DIVINE SERVICES OR WHILE IN A CHAPEL OR OTHER HOUSE OF WORSHIP.
C.  WITH CMC APPROVAL, NEAT AND CONSERVATIVE VISIBLE ARTICLES OF RELIGIOUS APPAREL WITH THE UNIFORM WHICH DO NOT INTERFERE WITH OR REPLACE REQUIRED UNIFORM ARTICLES OR INTERFERE WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF A MEMBER'S MILITARY DUTIES.
(1) ALL REQUESTS FOR WEAR OF RELIGIOUS APPAREL UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH 1004.6C WILL BE FORWARDED VIA THE CHAIN OF COMMAND TO THE DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS (DC M&RA) FOR DECISION.
(2) THE NAVMC 10274 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION (AA) FORM WILL BE USED FOR REQUESTS FOR WEAR OF RELIGIOUS APPAREL.  END QUOTE.
3.  INSERT THE FOLLOWING NEW SUBPARAGRAPH 1004.7A: BEGIN QUOTE.  A.  REQUESTS FOR EXCEPTIONS TO GROOMING REGULATIONS BASED UPON RELIGIOUS BELIEFS WILL BE FORWARDED VIA THE CHAIN OF COMMAND TO DC M&RA FOR DECISION, USING THE NAVMC 10274 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION (AA) FORM.  END QUOTE.  RE-LABEL THE OLD PARAGRAPH 1004.7A AND SUBSEQUENT SUBPARAGRAPHS OF PARAGRAPH 1004.7 OF THE REF ACCORDINGLY.
4.  DC M&RA WILL CONVENE A STANDING BOARD TO REVIEW REQUESTS FOR WEAR OF RELIGIOUS APPAREL OR EXCEPTIONS TO GROOMING REGULATIONS BASED UPON RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.
5.  COMMANDING OFFICERS, SERGEANTS MAJOR, AND OTHER MARINE CORPS LEADERS WILL ENSURE THEIR MARINES FULLY UNDERSTAND THE POLICY CHANGES PUBLISHED IN THIS MESSAGE.
6.  THIS CHANGE IS EFFECTIVE THE DATE TIME GROUP OF THIS MESSAGE AND WILL BE INCORPORATED IN THE NEXT REVISION OF THE REF.
7.  THIS POLICY IS APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE CORPS TOTAL FORCE.
8.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY LTGEN W. J. WILLIAMS, DIRECTOR, MARINE CORPS STAFF.//