R 061055Z OCT 16
MARADMIN 531/16
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//
SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2017 SPECIAL DUTY ASSIGNMENT COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/MARADMIN 016_16//
REF/B/MSGID: DOC/MARADMIN 415_16//
REF/C/MSGID: DOC/MARADMIN 023_15//
REF/D/MSGID: DOC/MCO P1326.6D CH2//
REF/E/MSGID: DOC/NAVMC 1330_1//
REF/F/MSGID: DOC/NAVMC 1330_2//
NARR/REF A IS FY17 SPECIAL DUTY ASSIGNMENT (SDA) SELECTION AND SLATING PROCESS.  REF B IS FY18 HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS SDA VOLUNTEER PERIOD (SDAVP).  REF C IS RELEASE OF THE UPDATED COMMANDING OFFICERS SCREENING INTERVIEW GUIDE FOR SDA AND THE COMMANDING OFFICERS FINANCIAL WORKSHEET.  REF D IS SELECTING, SCREENING AND PREPARING ENLISTED MARINES FOR SPECIAL DUTY ASSIGNMENTS AND INDEPENDENT DUTIES (SDAMAN).  REF E IS COMMANDING OFFICERS SCREENING/INTERVIEW GUIDE FOR SPECIAL DUTY ASSIGNMENTS.  REF F IS COMMANDING OFFICERS FINANCIAL WORKSHEET (1326)//
POC/D.W. MICKLIS/LTCOL/MMEA-2/TEL: (703)784-9947 EMAIL:  DANIEL.W.MICKLIS(AT)USMC.MIL//
POC/D.P. HOOPER/CAPT/MMEA-25/TEL: (703)784-9335 EMAIL:  DONALD.P.HOOPER(AT)USMC.MIL//
POC/I.O. GOUDYREV/CAPT/MMEA-25/TEL: (703)432-9472 EMAIL:  IVAN.GOUDYREV(AT)USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  This message defines SDA non-compliance and promulgates procedures for minimizing and assessing non-compliance.
2.  Background.  Over the past year, average service-wide attrition from assignments to Recruiting Duty, Drill Instructor Duty, and Combat Instructor Duty has surpassed 50 percent.  Excessive SDA attrition creates instability throughout the force as Marines must be replaced typically with Marines from other units and often on short notice. The effects of attrition are significantly compounded by SDA non-compliance.
3.  SDA non-compliance is defined as a failure to comply with HQMC established requirements or timelines as they relate to the screening, preparation or execution of orders for Marines selected for assignment to SDA. Commanding Officers bear significant responsibilities in ensuring that the SDA selection and assignment process works effectively. These responsibilities are outlined in the references.  Key among these responsibilities are the following:
3.a.  Commanding Officers are directed to conduct an initial screening of his/her Marines in accordance with references (c) through (f).  These screenings must be conducted correctly and submitted in a timely manner.
3.b.  Commanding Officers are responsible for ensuring that Marines obligate sufficient service to execute their orders to SDA in accordance with established timelines.
3.c.  Commanding Officers conduct re-certification to ensure that a Marine is still qualified for a special or independent duty assignment.  This should be done 60 days prior to the SDA class report date.  If a Marine is found to be unqualified for their SDA assignment during recertification, Commanders are directed to contact HQMC (MMEA-25) via AMHS NLT 45 calendar days prior the class report date.  Except in rare circumstances, reporting a Marine unqualified or unable to execute orders less than 45 days prior to class date constitutes non-compliance.
4.  FY17 Requirements and Procedures.  To more effectively identify and reduce SDA non-compliance, the following requirements and procedures are in effect.
4.a.  Requests for modification or cancellation of a Marines SDA assignment less than 45 days prior to class report date must be endorsed by a Marines O-6 level Commander.
4.b.  Directors of Recruiters School, Drill Instructor School, Marine Combat Instructor School, Marine Security Guard School, and Marine Corps Security Forces School will complete and submit a drop report to HQMC (MMEA-25) whenever a student is not accepted for training or is disenrolled in accordance with reference (d) Appendix J.  Paragraph 4 of the drop report will specifically state whether or not the Marines status has changed since being screened by the parent command.  Reasons for initial drop or disenrollment from a formal Marine Corps School will be listed in sufficient detail to discern whether non-compliance was a factor.  If the school believes that noncompliance is apparent, the specific reasons will be stated and explained.
5.  HQMC will establish an SDA Non-compliance Board that will review the school drop reports and command requests for modification or cancellation.  The board will consider the circumstances and any mitigating factors associated with each case, assess non-compliance as appropriate and will report these cases to Major Subordinate Commands on a quarterly basis.  Non-compliance will be assessed in the following areas:
5.a.  Not meeting HT/WT and body composition standards.
5.b.  Not meeting the minimum standards of the Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test (PFT).
5.c.  Not meeting initial screening submission timeline.
5.d.  Incomplete training required by the applicable SDA checklist.
5.e.  Naval messages requesting modification or cancellation of orders that were received less than 30 days prior to class report date or were not received at all.
5.f.  Undisclosed pre-existing medical/dental conditions and injuries.
5.g.  Undisclosed pre-existing financial or family instability.
5.h.  Undisclosed pre-existing legal matters.
5.i.  Undisclosed excessive or derogatory tattoos.
5.j.  Failure to submit initial screening checklists for Marines on directed assignment.
5.k.  Failure to gain obligated service or initiate required security clearance within prescribed timelines.
5.l.  Incomplete medical/dental exams.
6.  If a Marine is approved for an SDA class modification or cancellation, or is dropped from an SDA class, a cancellation request for granted extensions of enlistment to complete an SDA will be submitted within 3 working days in accordance with reference (c) via the Total Force Retention System (TFRS).
7.  Release authorized by MajGen Craig Q. Timberlake, Director, Manpower Management Division.//