HUMS MMEA-26

Our mission is to offer support and guidance on humanitarian matters within the Marine Corps, including processing Transfer by Service Record (non-HUMS) and Organ Donation requests. Humanitarian Assignments are aimed at assisting Marine Corps families during challenging times.

Humanitarian Assistance eligibility is determined by the following criteria:

1. Severe Personal Problem: The situation must present a personal problem of greater severity than those typically encountered by Marines and their families during military service.

2. Hardship Related to Service Terms: The hardship should either occur or worsen due to the Marine beginning their initial term of service or after the date of their last reenlistment.

3. Immediate Family Involvement: The problem should involve the Marine’s immediate family, where the Marine’s presence is crucial to alleviating or eliminating the hardship. Immediate family includes the spouse, natural or stepchildren, brothers, sisters, and the Marine’s or spouse’s parents. Additionally, a person who has served as a parent for at least 2 years prior to the Marine’s entry on active duty qualifies for humanitarian assistance.

4. Inadequate Medical Care for EFMP Enrollees: If a Marine enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) receives orders that do not provide adequate medical care, they may be eligible for humanitarian assistance.

Note: If you are unsure about the situation, it is advisable to seek guidance from the Humanitarian Assignments Monitor.

Attaching a Marine for HUMS PTAD:

Verbal authorization for individual commands to attach a Marine for the initial 15-day period is no longer required. CMC approval is no longer necessary at this stage. Please notify CMC via email with attachment notification.

Hardship Discharge and HUMS:

We’ve observed an increase in incorrectly submitted packages for Hardship Discharge. To address this, we’ve established guidelines for proper administration, accessible on the HUMS Administration page, to streamline the process and avoid delays caused by missing elements.

Requesting HUMS under False Pretense:

Unfortunately, there are instances of individuals taking advantage of humanitarian assistance for dishonest reasons, such as avoiding deployments. It’s crucial to thoroughly investigate each case and ensure legitimate supporting documentation. While assuming cases are genuine is encouraged, following established guidelines helps identify and address any fraudulent situations.

Begin by familiarizing yourself with Humanitarian Assignments. A helpful starting point is to read paragraph 1300 of the ACTSMAN. This will guide you in determining whether a Marine meets the criteria for HUMS assistance.

Identifying a HUMS Situation:

Once a HUMS situation is identified, there are three common scenarios to consider:

1. Requests initiated from the parent command:

   • If immediate presence is essential, grant annual leave with instructions to report to the nearest Inspector Instructor Staff (I-I Stf) for further assistance.

   • If time allows, follow administrative procedures outlined in paragraph 1301 of the ACTSMAN. Submit an AA Form through the chain of command, and email a copy to MMEA-26 upon endorsement by the Bn CO.

2. Requests initiated from PTAD command:

   • Recommendations suggest seeking aid from I-I Stf’s or any major command during leave or enroute to a new duty station (except Recruiting Commands).

   • Local commanders have the authority to deny requests outside the scope of HUMS assignments. Seek advice from MMEA-26 for borderline situations.

   • Notify MMEA-26 via naval message of the Marine’s presence within 15 days of attachment.

3. Requests when Marine is enroute to a new command:

   • Follow the same administrative process as requests initiated from PTAD command.

   • Join the Marine for further transfer on your UD instead of standard PTAD attachment.

Requests for Further HUMS Assistance:

If a Marine requires additional assistance after authorized PTAD, start the process anew. Do not attempt to modify the last package; each request must be reevaluated by the local command with up-to-date documentation.

Requests for Hardship Discharge:

Refer to MCO P1900.16E (MARCORSEPMAN) and paragraph 6407.1. For requests from a parent command, approval is not required from CMC; the CG has decision-making authority. Ensure each hardship discharge request is complete and contains all required elements/documentation as outlined in MCO P1900.16E.

DCC AH and RE-3C:

Marines receiving HUMS assistance are assigned the Draw Case Code (DCC) AH, indicating their unavailability for worldwide assignment. The associated Reenlistment Code RE-3C is not punitive; it remains in effect until notification of the resolved or stabilized HUMS situation is received by MMEA-26.

Responsibility: MMEA-26 manages TR BY SR for ALL Enlisted Marines.

Situations Requiring TR BY SR:

• Hospitalization: Marines hospitalized (in-patient or out-patient) for over 30 days outside their parent command’s control (refer to MCO 6320.2D).

• In Hands of Military Authority (IHMA): Marines with less than 90 days left on their sentence after convening authority action, and an exception is identified not to return them to their parent command upon release (refer to MCO 1640.3F).

• PCS Orders and TAD: Marines with Permanent Change of Station Orders (PCSO) currently on Temporary Additional Duty (TAD) may be considered for TR BY SR, especially for overseas commands. Each case will be handled individually.

• Other Unique Cases: We regularly receive TR BY SR requests for novel reasons. If uncertain about a case, contact our office for guidance.

Situations Not Considered for TR BY SR:

• In Hands of Civilian Authority (IHCA): Marines in civilian authority custody must follow instructions in MCO P5800.16, regardless of the situation.

• Humanitarian Issues: TR BY SR for humanitarian reasons is separate from Humanitarian Assignments. Ensure these are handled according to their distinct rules.

Administrative Information:

While directives provide guidance on TR BY SR administration, due to the infrequency and complexity of situations, it is recommended to contact our office for guidance. Remember, you cannot resolve these issues with the Marine’s individual monitor. Contact us for assistance.

Responsibility: MMEA-26 oversees information related to Marines expressing interest in organ or tissue donation.

Organ/Tissue Donation Guidelines:

Approval Not Required: Active-duty Marines intending to donate organs or tissues while alive do not need Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) approval.

Compatibility Studies: Prospective living donors must complete compatibility studies before notifying CMC of their intent. During compatibility studies, the Marine must be on leave.

Notification Process: After compatibility studies, the Marine informs their Commanding Officer and CMC (MMEA-26) of their intent to be a living donor, following specified administrative procedures.

Counseling and Medical Examination: Upon notification, the Commanding Officer ensures the Marine receives necessary counseling and a medical examination.

Medical Facility Admission: Upon admission to the medical facility for the procedure, the Marine’s leave status is canceled, and the Naval Medical Treatment Facility in the region assumes medical responsibility.

Post-Surgery Examination: After surgery and recovery, the Medical Treatment Facility orders the Marine to the nearest appropriate medical facility for an examination to determine fitness for continued service.

Administrative Information:

If you have a Marine considering organ or tissue donation, notify MMEA-26 via naval message, with information copies to BUMED and the Military Medical Support Office (MILMEDSUPPOF) where the procedure will occur. The message should include:

Marine’s Information: Rank, full name, SSN/PMOS.

Organ/Tissue Donation Details: Type of organ/tissue.

Hospital Information: Name and location of the civilian hospital performing the procedure.

Procedure Date: Scheduled date (or estimated date if undecided).

MMEA-26 will respond via naval message with instructions on required counseling and medical examinations for the Marine.

Q1: A Marine on leave requests HUMS assistance at an Inspector Instructor Staff. What's the process?

A1: According to MCO P1000.6G (ACTSMAN), the Commanding Officer assesses the validity of the Marine’s HUMS request. If warranted, attach the Marine for PTAD, run Unit Diary entries, and immediately release a Naval Message to CMC WASHINGTON DC//MMEA-26//. Ensure an info copy is sent to the Marine’s parent command, notifying MMEA-26. Submit the HUMS Package within 15 days from attachment.

Q2: A Marine enroute on PCSO requests HUMS assistance. What steps should be taken?

A2: Similarly, the Commanding Officer determines the validity. If HUMS assistance is necessary, join the Marine for further transfer instead of PTAD. Run appropriate Unit Diary entries and promptly release a Naval Message to CMC WASHINGTON DC//MMEA-26//. Send an info copy to the Marine’s parent command, notifying MMEA-26. Submit the HUMS Package within 15 days from attachment.

Q3: We've attached a Marine for HUMS but are unsure about Naval Message details. What should it include?

A3: The “HUMS Attachment Message” to CMC WASHINGTON DC//MMEA-26// must include:

• To Line: CMC WASHINGTON DC//MMEA-26//

• Info Line: PLA of the Marine’s parent command.

• POC Line: Responsible point of contact with a valid phone number.

• Subject Line: HUMS ATT ICO: RANK INITIALS LAST NAME SSN/MOS USMC.

• Body: Date of attachment, full command address including MCC, and a brief summary of the Marine’s situation. Detailed case information is not required; this will be covered in the HUMS Package.

Q4: We can't release Naval Message traffic; can we inform MMEA-26 through email?

A4: Yes, you can notify MMEA-26 via email. Ensure all required information is provided in writing, and the Marine’s parent command is also informed.

Q5: The Marine attached for HUMS has returned to the parent command. What's our responsibility?

A5: If a Marine’s PTAD is terminated before submitting the HUMS Package, release a Naval Message to MMEA-26 with an info copy to the parent command. Include the time and date of termination along with justification.