R 171402Z JAN 14
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARADMIN 029/14
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MF(UC)/F002//
SUBJ/CLARIFYING GUIDANCE FOR EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM (EFMP) CONTINUATION ON LOCATION//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRY-1 /YMD:20100920//
POC/J.STEWART/NF-5/UNIT:MFY/-/TEL:703-784-0298//
AMPN/REF A IS MCO/1754.4B EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM (EFMP)//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/
1. BACKGROUND.
A. BY FOLLOWING SPECIFIC PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES, THE EFMP ENSURES SPONSORS WITH EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBERS (EFM) ARE ASSIGNED TO DUTY STATIONS WHERE SERVICES EXIST TO SUPPORT THE EFM WITH ACCESS AND AVAILABILITY TO MEDICAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES.
B. SOME EFM FAMILIES FACE CHALLENGES WITH MAINTAINING CONTINUITY OF CARE DISRUPTED BY PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION (PCS) ASSIGNMENTS, PARTICULARLY WHEN THERE IS A SEVERE MEDICAL CONDITION OR SIGNIFICANT EDUCATIONAL NEED.  AN ASSIGNMENT POLICY THAT IS SENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE EFM, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY SUPPORTIVE OF A MARINES CAREER OBLIGATION AND PROGRESSION, WILL ALLOW FOR A STEADY AND SEAMLESS CONTINUUM OF CARE.
C. ONE ASPECT OF THE EFMP, DESIGNED TO REDUCE POSSIBLE DISRUPTIONS AND SUPPORT THE CONTINUUM OF CARE, IS KNOWN AS CONTINUATION ON LOCATION (COL).  SPECIFICS PERTAINING TO COL BEGIN ON PAGE 2-13 OF THE REFERENCE.
2. PURPOSE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MARADMIN IS TO REINFORCE EXISTING POLICY IN THE REFERENCE, AND PROVIDE CLARIFYING GUIDANCE.
3. TIMELY SUBMISSIONS. OVER THE PAST YEAR, NEARLY 50% OF COL REQUESTS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED AFTER THE SPONSOR EXECUTED PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION (PCS) ORDERS. IF THE REQUEST IS SUBSEQUENTLY DISAPPROVED, THAT FAMILY IS NOW PLACED IN A FINANCIAL DILEMMA, HAVING TO MAINTAIN TWO HOUSEHOLDS. FOR TIMELY COL SUBMISSIONS, SPONSORS SHOULD APPLY VIA ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION (AA) FORM VIA HIS/HER CHAIN OF COMMAND AS SOON AS ORDERS ARE RECEIVED, BUT PRIOR TO PCS EXECUTION, ALLOWING MORE TIME TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ON THE FAMILY LOCATION. MARINES WHO HAVE ALREADY EXECUTED PCS ORDERS WILL NOT NORMALLY BE CONSIDERED ELIGIBLE FOR COL.
4.FAMILY LOCATION. COL DOES NOT AUTHORIZE THE SPONSOR TO REMAIN IN THE SAME LOCATION.  COL APPLIES TO THE FAMILY AND DOES NOT REQUIRE A MARINE TO REMAIN IN A GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION.   BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING (BAH) IS CALCULATED AT THE LOCATION OF THE LAST FULLY FUNDED PCS ORDERS, NOT THE NEW LOCATION OF THE SPONSOR OR AN ALTERNATIVE LOCATION SELECTED BY THE SPONSOR OR FAMILY MEMBERS.
5.THE MARINE CORPS USES COL ONLY IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE FAMILY. IT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR BAH WAIVER, BUT AN ENDORSEMENT FOR FAMILIES WHEN REQUIRED FOR THE EFM CONTINUUM OF CARE.
6.FURTHER REVISION TO MCO 1754.4B WILL INCLUDE THIS CLARIFYING GUIDANCE.
7.RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY BGEN R.A.C. SANBORN, DIRECTOR, MARINE AND FAMILY PROGRAMS DIVISION.//