Marine Corps Funding Policy on Light Refreshments

1. THIS MARADMIN IS RELEASED BY THE FISCAL DIRECTOR
OF THE MARINE CORPS AND HAS BEEN COORDINATED WITH COUNSEL FOR THE
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE STAFF JUDGE ADVOCATE TO THE
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.
2. REF (A) SUPERCEDES GUIDANCE IN REFS (B), (C) & (D) REGARDING THE
USE OF APPROPRIATED FUNDS (APF) TO PURCHACE LIGHT REFRESHMENTS AT
CONFERENCES. REF (E) CLARIFIES DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY POLICY
GUIDANCE ON LIGHT REFRESHMENTS CONSISTENT WITH REF (A). (COPY OF
REF (E) HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO FIELD COMPTROLLERS VIA E-MAIL). 
PENDING PUBLICATION OF CHANGES TO REF (F), THE GUIDANCE IN THIS
MARADMIN SUPERCEDES THE MCO'S PREVIOUS LIGHT REFRESHMENT GUIDANCE. 
3. REF (A) AND (E) PROVIDE THAT APF MAY NOT BE USED TO PAY FOR 
LIGHT REFRESHMENTS AT CONFERENCES (INCLUDING MEETINGS
AND SIMILAR GATHERINGS) EXCEPT AS PART OF THE EMPLOYEES'S
TRAVEL SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN A
TRAVEL STATUS. THEREFORE, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, 
APPROPRIATED FUNDS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO PAY FOR LIGHT
REFERSHMENTS AT CONFERENCES. (NOTE: THIS PROHIBITION DOES
NOT PREVENT COLLECTION OF A VOLUNTARY, NONREIMBURSABLE
"LIGHT REFRESHMENT FEE" FROM PARTICPANTS TO PAY FOR COSTS
OF LIGHT REFRESHMENTS AT CONFERENCES AND OTHER
GATHERINGS.) 
4. THIS RECENT GAO DECISION AND THE ASN (FM&C) MEMO ALSO DO
NOT IMPACT RULES FOR USE OF APF TO PAY FOR FOOD SPECIFICALLY
AUTHORIZED UNDER OTHER STATUTORY AUTHORITIES, SUCH AS THOSE RELATED
TO QUALIFIED TRAINING (5 USC 4109 FOR CIVILIANS AND 10 USC 2013 FOR
UNIFORMED PERSONNEL) UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES DISCUSSED IN REF (A),
AND RECEPTIONS FOR CERTAIN AWARDS MADE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 5 USC
4503, AS DISCUSSED IN
REF (E). 
5. HQMC POC FOR THIS POLICY MARADMIN IS MR DON CALLAWAY
(CODE RFR) DSN 224-4500,