R 281504Z OCT 14

MARADMIN 552/14

MSGID/GENADMIN/CG EDCOM PRES MCU QUANTICO VA//

SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2015 CORNERSTONE: THE COMMANDANT'S COMBINED COMMANDERSHIP COURSE (FORMERLY THE COMMANDANT'S COMMANDERS PROGRAM AND SPOUSES WORKSHOP AND SERGEANTS MAJOR COURSE)//

POC/BENJAMIN P. WAGNER/MAJ/MARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY/PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS/TEL: DSN (312) 378-6850, COMM (703) 784-6850/EMAIL: BENJAMIN.P.WAGNER(AT)USMC.MIL//

POC/MICHAEL D. HYAMS/CIV/MARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY/PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS/TEL: DSN (312) 378-4710, COMM (703) 432-4710/EMAIL: MICHAEL.HYAMS(AT)USMC.MIL//

POC/DAVID L. MADDUX/SGTMAJ/MARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY/EPME/TEL: COMM (703) 432-4793/EMAIL: DAVID.MADDUX(AT)USMC.MIL//

GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  SITUATION. IN 1992 THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS (CMC) ESTABLISHED A RESIDENT COMMANDERS PROGRAM FOR BOARD SELECTED AND SLATED COLONELS AND LIEUTENANT COLONELS. IN 2013, THE COMMANDANT AND SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE MARINE CORPS ESTABLISHED ARESIDENT PROGRAM FOR NEWLY SELECTED SERGEANTS MAJOR. IN PAST YEARS THE COMMANDERS PROGRAM AND SERGEANTS MAJOR COURSE WERE DELIBERATELY OFFSET FROM ONE ANOTHER WHICH ONLY PROVIDED ONE-WEEK FOR COMBINED TRAINING ON SPECIFIC PORTIONS OF THEIR PARTICULAR COURSES. ADDITIONALLY, THE SPOUSES WORKSHOP HAS HISTORICALLY ONLY BEEN AVAILABLE TO COMMANDERS' SPOUSES. IN FY15, ALL THREE COURSES WILL BE COMBINED PROVIDING MAXIMUM OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMANDERS AND SERGEANTS MAJOR TO INTERACT AS WELL AS A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR SERGEANTS' MAJOR SPOUSES TO ATTEND THE SPOUSES WORKSHOP. THIS NEW CONSTRUCT IS FORMALLY TITLED "CORNERSTONE: THE COMMANDANT'S COMBINED COMMANDERSHIP COURSE". THE PRESIDENT, MARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY (MCU), AS EXECUTIVE AGENT FOR THE CMC AND SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE MARINE CORPS, ANNUALLY CONDUCTS TWO CORNERSTONE COURSES. ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY FOR COMMANDERS AND SERGEANTS MAJOR EITHER PRIOR TO OR SHORTLY AFTER TAKING COMMAND OR ASSUMING THEIR ROLE AS A SENIORENLISTED ADVISOR. ATTENDANCE FOR SPOUSES, WHILE NOT REQUIRED, IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED.

2.  MISSION. FROM 22 FEB 15 TO 6 MAR 15 AND 26 APR 15 TO 8 MAY 2015, MARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY, ON BEHALF OF THE CMC, FACILITATES CORNERSTONE: THE COMMANDANT'S COMBINED COMMANDERSHIP COURSE AT MCB QUANTICO IN ORDER TO PREPARE BOARD SELECTED COMMANDERS AND SERGEANTS MAJOR AND THEIR RESPECTIVE SPOUSES FOR THE CHALLENGES OF COMMAND.

3.  EXECUTION.

3.A.  COMMANDER'S INTENT.

3.A.1.  PURPOSE. EDUCATE COMMANDERS, SERGEANTS MAJOR AND THEIR SPOUSES ON THE FUNDAMENTAL AUTHORITIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, PROGRAMS, AND PRACTICES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO A SUCCESSFUL COMMAND TOUR.

3.A.2.  METHOD. THE PROGRAM WILL UTILIZE A TWO-WEEK CONSTRUCT THAT ADDRESSES THE DIFFERENT DEMANDS AND CHALLENGES OF COMMAND AND ALLOWS SPECIFIC FOCUS ON PARTICULAR CONSTITUENT COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST WHILE PROVIDING TIME FOR INFORMAL MENTORING AND CROSS TALK. THE PROGRAM WILL EMPHASIZE THE ART AND SCIENCE OF COMMAND AS APPROPRIATE FOR EACH GRADE, WITH LEADERSHIP, CRITICAL THINKING, AND UNIT READINESS PROVIDING THE BASIC FOUNDATIONS FOR INSTRUCTION. THE PROGRAM OF INSTRUCTION WILL MAXIMIZE THE USE OF SMALL GROUP GUIDED DISCUSSIONS WITH CURRENT AND FORMER COMMANDERS, SERGEANTS MAJOR AND THEIR SPOUSES IN ORDER TO PERMIT A FRANK EXCHANGE OF OBSERVATIONS, IDEAS, AND METHODOLOGIES.

3.A.3.  ENDSTATE. SUCCESSFUL COMMAND TEAMS WHO ARE FULLY PREPARED TO MEET THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND DEMANDS OF COMMAND.

3.B.  CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS. PRESIDENT, MARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY WILLCONDUCT THE PROGRAM AT THE MARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY, MCB QUANTICO, VIRGINIA. TWO OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR FY15: 23 FEB 15 TO 6 MAR 15(CORNERSTONE 1-15) OR 27 APR 15 TO 8 MAY 15 (CORNERSTONE 2-15). DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF EACH OPTION, COMMANDERS AND SERGEANTS MAJOR WILL CONDUCT PROGRAMS OF INSTRUCTION THAT WILL PROVIDE BOTH BILLET SPECIFIC TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES TO INTERACT DURING COMBINED PRESENTATIONS AND SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS. IN THE SECOND WEEK THE COMMANDERS AND SERGEANTS MAJOR WILL CONDUCT A FULLY COMBINED PROGRAM OF INSTRUCTION CONCURRENT WITH THE SPOUSES PROGRAM OF INSTRUCTION. DURING THE SECOND WEEK OF EACH CORNERSTONE, THERE WILL BE SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS IN WHICH COMMANDERS, SERGEANTS MAJOR AND THEIR SPOUSES WILL ATTEND JOINTLY. THE SCHEDULE, WHICH IS UNDER DEVELOPMENT, WILL FEATURE THE FOLLOWING GENERAL SEQUENCE OF EVENTS:

    21 FEB / 25 APR SERGEANTS MAJOR EXECUTE TRAVEL

    22 FEB / 26 APR SERGEANTS MAJOR COMMENCE TRAINING; COMMANDERS EXECUTE TRAVEL

    23 FEB / 27 APR COMMANDERS COMMENCE TRAINING

     1 MAR /  3 MAY SPOUSES EXECUTE TRAVEL

     2 MAR /  4 MAY SECOND WEEK OF CORNERSTONE COMMENCES

     6 MAR /  8 MAY 1700 CORNERSTONE COMPLETE

     7 MAR /  9 MAY EXECUTE RETURN TRAVEL

3.C.  COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS.

3.C.1.  ELIGIBILITY. COMMAND SLATED COLONELS, COLONEL SELECTS,LIEUTENANT COLONELS, AND LIEUTENANT COLONEL SELECTS, SERGEANTS MAJOR SELECTED ON THE FY15 PROMOTION BOARD AS WELL AS US NAVY EQUIVALENTS IDENTIFIED BY MMOA ARE DIRECTED TO ATTEND THE PROGRAM. SPOUSES OF ELIGIBLE ATTENDEES ARE AUTHORIZED TO ATTEND THE SPOUSES PORTION OF CORNERSTONE AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE. THIS PROGRAM IS NOT OPEN TO RECRUITING STATION COMMANDING OFFICERS (MAJORS).

3.C.2.  REGISTRATION.

3.C.2.A.  QUOTAS ARE AS FOLLOWS: A MAXIMUM OF (40) O-6 LEVEL COMMANDERS, (100) O-5 LEVEL COMMANDERS, (45) SERGEANTS MAJOR, PER CLASS, WITH ACCOMPANYING SPOUSES. REGISTRATION IS ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS. REGISTRATION FOR THE FY2015 CORNERSTONES CLOSESAT 1200 (EST) ON FRIDAY, 9 JAN 15. DURING THE REGISTRATION PROCESS,COMMANDERS WILL IDENTIFY THEIR CHOICE OF CORNERSTONE 1-15 OR 2-15. SERGEANTS MAJOR WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE APPLICABLE CORNERSTONE BYMMEA VIA SEPCOR.

3.C.2.B.  REGISTRATION RESPONSIBILITY.  UPON RELEASE OF THIS MARADMIN, COMMANDERS AND SERGEANTS MAJOR MAY REGISTER THEMSELVES AND THEIR SPOUSES FOR CORNERSTONE BY USING THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE:HTTPS:(SLASH)(SLASH)WWW.MCU.USMC.MIL(SLASH)LLEADERSHIP(SLASH)SITEPAGE (SLASH)CCPSW.ASPX

3.C.2.C.  ONCE ALL APPLICABLE INFORMATION IS SUBMITTED, LLI STAFF WILL ENROLL COMMANDERS AND SERGEANTS MAJOR IN MCTIMS. PARENT UNITS ARE NOT TO ENROLL ATTENDEES IN MCTIMS. ONCE AN ATTENDEE IS COMPLETELY ENROLLED IN MCTIMS NOTIFICATION WILL BE PROVIDED TO CONFIRM RECEIPT OF ALL INFORMATION AND ENROLLMENT STATUS.

4.  ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS.

4.A.  UNIFORM FOR THE COMMANDERS PROGRAM IS THE APPROPRIATE SERVICE UNIFORM, SERVICE "B" DURING CORNERSTONE 1-15 AND SERVICE "C" DURING CORNERSTONE 2-15. THE ATTIRE FOR ATTENDING SPOUSES IS BUSINESS CASUAL.

4.B.  ORDERS.

4.B.1.  ALL ATTENDEES SHALL TRAVEL ON NON-REPORTING ORDERS. ORDERS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ATTENDEE'S PARENT COMMAND. GOVERNMENT BILLETING IS AVAILABLE ON A LIMITED BASIS. MESSING IS AVAILABLE, BUT NOT CONDUCIVE TO TRAINING, SO IT IS NOT DIRECTED.

4.B.2.  BILLETING. THE MCB QUANTICO GOVERNMENT BILLETING IS LOCATED AT THE CROSSROADS INN; COM: (703) 630-4444. A LIMITED NUMBER OF ROOMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE CROSSROADS INN UNDER THE GROUP RESERVATION: CORNERSTONE 1-15 (21 FEB 15 TO 6 MAR 15) AND CORNERSTONE 2-15 (25 APR 15 TO 8 MAY 15). A STATEMENT OF NONAVAILABILITY WILL BE REQUIRED FROM LIVERSEDGE HALL; COM: (703) 784-3149, FOR ANY OFF-BASE BILLETING.

4.C.  FUNDING AND TRAVEL.

4.C.1.  ACTIVE COMPONENT. CG TECOM FORMAL SCHOOLS TRAINING SUPPORT (FSTS) WILL FUND TRAVEL AND PER DIEM TO INCLUDE LODGING, MEALS, AND INCIDENTAL EXPENSES FOR ACTIVE COMPONENT ATTENDEES. LOCAL TRAVEL WILL NOT BE FUNDED. LLI WILL SUBMIT REQUESTS FOR FUNDING TO TECOM UPON CLOSING OF THE REGISTRATION PERIOD. APPROVED FUNDING LETTERS WILL BE RELEASED VIA SEPCOR. TECOM WILL NOT FUND U.S NAVY ATTENDEES. U.S NAVY ATTENDEES MUST FUND TRAVEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH LOCAL PROCEDURES.

4.C.2.  SPOUSES OF ACTIVE COMPONENT. TRAVEL/PER DIEM FOR SPOUSES OF ACTIVE DUTY ATTENDEES WILL BE FUNDED BY MCU.  LOCAL TRAVEL WILL NOT BE FUNDED.  ALL SPOUSES ATTENDING MUST HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL DTS PROFILE IN ORDER TO PROPERLY PROCESS TRAVEL. CONTACT LOCAL S-1/G-1 FOR SUPPORT IN ESTABLISHING A DTS PROFILE FOR SPOUSES. ONCE THE SPOUSE'S DTS PROFILE IS ESTABLISHED, CONTACT LLI ADMIN, MRS. JUDITH MARTIN VIA EMAIL AT JUDITH.MARTIN(AT)USMC.MIL OR (703) 784-4777 TO EXECUTE CROSS-ORG APPROVAL AND FINALIZE DTS AUTHORIZATION.

4.C.3.  RESERVE COMPONENT. MARFORRES WILL FUND TRAVEL AND PER DIEM FOR SELECTED MARINE CORPS RESERVE (SMCR), ACTIVE RESERVE, AND SPOUSES THEREOF REGISTERED BY MCU LLI. POC FOR TRAVEL SUPPORT AT MARFORRESIS MR. ANTHONY DAVIS VIA EMAIL AT ANTHONY.T.DAVIS(AT)USMC.MIL OR(504) 697-7316.

4.D.  TRANSPORTATION. THE SERVICING AIRPORTS FOR THE QUANTICO AREA ARE DULLES INTERNATIONAL (IAD), BALTIMORE WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL  (BWI), RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL (RIC) AND REAGAN NATIONAL (DCA). ATTENDEES MUST UTILIZE THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE AIRPORT WHEN ARRANGING TRANSPORTATION. RENTAL VEHICLES WILL NOT BE FUNDED BY TECOM. WHEN ARRANGING RETURN TRANSPORTATION PLEASE BE AWARE OF DEPARTURE TIMES. LODGING IN THE AIRPORT AREA IS NOT AUTHORIZED.5. COMMAND AND SIGNAL.

5.A.  COMMAND RELATIONSHIPS. PRESIDENT, MARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY SERVES AS ON-SCENE COMMANDER.

5.B.  SIGNAL. QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS IN REGARD TO THE CONTENTS OF THIS MARADMIN CAN BE DIRECTED TO THE MCU POC.

6.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY BGEN T. D. WEIDLEY; COMMANDING GENERAL, EDUCATION COMMAND; PRESIDENT, MARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY.//