Marine Corps Administrative Analysis Team (MCAAT)

IAW the below references, members assigned to a WESTPAC UDP are directed Essential Unit Messing (EUM) with an applicable Discounted Meal Rate (DMR) deduction.  EUM is group messing that is declared by an appropriate authority (Secretary concerned, CMC (MPO), or for a Joint Task Force, the Combatant Commander, or JTF commander) to be necessary for operational readiness, military operations, or effective training where members are required to eat Government–furnished meals.  Members will be in a travel status and are entitled to travel reimbursement for incidental expenses, but not for subsistence.  Designation for EUM will apply only to organizational units and to operational elements and detachments, not to individual members.  All members on duty under circumstances where EUM has been declared will be charged for all meals made available whether eaten or not, except for approved missed meals.

Installation commanders exercise command supervision, financial responsibility, and management control of food service functions for military managed food service operations.  This financial responsibility shall not be delegated to subordinate commanders.  The installation commander can determine if mess facility closures or hours of operation have an impact on the availability of meals for UDP personnel.  If assigned duties or dining facility exigencies prevent the Government from providing meals, charges shall be adjusted for affected meals.  These assigned duties should cause an individual to miss more than 20% of their meals the Government furnishes on a monthly basis.  The installation’s food services may be capable of providing box meals or night meals to mitigate these missed meals.

Under normal circumstances, unit commanders possess discretionary authority from installation commanders to grant members permission to mess separately, so long as the economic efficiency of mess operations is not affected.  This discretionary authority does not extend to WESTPAC UDPs that have been directed EUM from higher authority.

MCAAT Determination:  The installation commander can approve exceptions to EUM based upon the availability of mess facilities aboard the installation or food services support limitations as a result of the assigned duties of the UDP member.  These exceptions should be limited to the periods of non-availability of the servicing mess facility, as well as individual determinations based upon a member’s assigned duties as certified by the member’s commanding officer.  At no time should blanket exceptions be granted outside of these circumstances or to provide a financial incentive for UDP personnel. 

References:

1. DoDFMR, Vol 7a, Chap 25

2. MCO 10110.14N - MARINE CORPS FOOD SERVICE AND SUBSISTENCE PROGRAM

3. MCO P30000.15B - MANPOWER UDP SOP

4. MCO 10110.47A - BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR SUBSISTENCE (BAS)

5. PAA 02/21 – UDP UPDATE

6. DODD 1418.05 - BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR SUBSISTENCE (BAS) POLICY

7. MCFTSPRIUM 80401

8. MARFORPACO 3120.10E - UNIT DEPLOYMENT PROGRAM

Due to current system logic, DD-214’s are not auto-populating with serial numbers until after the document has been certified by an approver in DTMS.  Many administrative offices have procedures to print and sign the DD-214 while it is pending the approver in DTMS in order to have the member review the document for accuracy.  This results in the production, distribution, and upload of non-serialized versions of the DD-214s into the OMPF and in the departing members’ possession. 

The best course of action to ensure members receive the proper serialized DD-214 is to certify the document in DTMS after the member’s review and before printing the document for signature/distribution.  It is recommended that administrative offices follow this guidance until this issue can be resolved in future software updates.

There is an increased inefficiency and inaccuracy when executing the DD form 2789 waiver of indebtedness process.  These inaccuracies can drastically increase the waiver processing time, while creating a high potential for further financial hardship.  The following links are provided to aid the service member and administrative sections in accurately completing and processing waivers of indebtedness:
 
https://www.dfas.mil/waiversandremissions/ - This is the homepage specific for member looking to submit a waiver.
https://www.dfas.mil/waiversandremissions/Finance-Office/#How%20to%20complete – This link provides more detail about the waiver process to include the “how.”

Marines that test positive for a controlled substance will receive an 18-month promotion restriction.  If the member is retained during the course of the administrative separation (ADSEP) process, the 18-month promotion restriction shall remain in effect.  An ADSEP board does not provide an admonishment of guilt, only that the Marine Corps is willing to retain an individual with a blemish on their record. 

A promotion restriction can be removed if adversity (i.e. NJP, 6105, etc.) is removed from the Marine’s record by the Performance Evaluation Review Board (PERB) or Board of Corrections Naval Records (BCNR).  Additionally, the restriction may be removed if the commander makes a determination that there was no wrongful use and sets aside the NJP. 

SECNAV M-1650.1 currently does not address the commencement dates for Select Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR) Medal and Armed Forces Reserve Medal (AFRM) following an instance of misconduct via NJP or Court Martial.  MMPB-31 has stated that the new SMCR/AFRM period should be reestablished to commence effective the date of approval of the NJP or date of approval by the convening authority for courts martial. 

This change will be reflected on a future update to SECNAV M-1650.1.

Per MFP-1, the new DD-137 form is intended for use in adding secondary dependents (i.e. parents, students under the age of 23, incapacitated children over the age of 21, and wards of the court) and should not be used for children born out of wedlock.  Children born out of wedlock are considered primary dependents that can be approved at the command level without determination from MFP-1.  The attesting officer may utilize NAVMC 1750/13 "USMC Dependency Statement Child Born Out of Wedlock Under Age 21" to determine the member's financial responsibility to the child. 

Questionable cases should be directed to MFP-1 for determination.  

In response to a recent "Ask MCAAT" inquiry, the Promotions Branch has provided the following guidance pertaining to Reduction (RD) JEPES marks for members awarded reduction at NJP.  The RD occasion ends the day prior to the new DOR, where the behavior resulted in a NJP or the NJP itself should not be considered.  The date of the new rank is the start of a new evaluation period.  Further, RD occasions cannot be omitted for being less than the 30-day observation requirement, as only SA and AN occasions may be omitted. 

This represents an exception to the requirement for JEPES marks to be approved prior to the last day of the occasion.  RD marks should be input and approved on the date of the NJP and reduction.