Discontinuance of Requirement for First OIC/Unit Input for CMC Condolence Letters
This MARADMIN eliminates the requirement for the first officer in a deceased Marine's chain of command to provide input for CMC condolence letters within five working days of a fatality. Due to high operational tempo making timely submissions difficult, Headquarters Marine Corps (MRPC) will now assume full responsibility for preparing all CMC condolence letters, though commands must still write their own condolence letters to next of kin within five working days.
Issued: February 16, 2007
1. PURPOSE. THIS MSG DELETES THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE FIRST OFFICER IN A DECEASED MARINE'S CHAIN OF COMMAND TO PROVIDE, WITHIN FIVE WORKING DAYS OF THE FATALITY, A PROPOSED CMC CONDOLENCE LETTER FOR THE NEXT OF KIN OF THE DECEASED. 2. BACKGROUND. THIS REQUIREMENT WAS IMPLEMENTED IN FEB 2002 IN ACCORDANCE WITH REF A TO ILLUSTRATE THE CONCERN FOR AND COMMITMENT TO THE FAMILIES OF MARINES WHO LOST THEIR LIVES REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE INCIDENT. 3. INFORMATION. DUE TO THE CURRENT OPERATIONAL TEMPO, OBTAINING THE REQUESTED INFORMATION IN A TIMELY MANNER HAS BEEN DIFFICULT. THIS UNIT INPUT FOR THE CMC CONDOLENCE LETTER WILL NO LONGER BE REQUIRED, AND HEADQUARTERS, U.S. MARINE CORPS (MRPC) WILL ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PREPARING ALL CMC CONDOLENCE LETTERS. 4. ACTION. MARINE UNITS ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR CMC CONDOLENCE LETTERS. MARINE COMMANDS ARE STILL REQUIRED TO WRITE A COMMAND CONDOLENCE LETTER TO THE NEXT OF KIN WITHIN FIVE WORKING DAYS AS STATED IN REF B.