Flag and Guidon Allowance Update

1. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO IDENTIFY 
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO REF A THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE SINCE ITS LAST
REVISION. THESE CHANGES ARE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. FORMAL REVISION
TO REF A IS CURRENTLY IN PROCESS.
2. FLAGS.
 A. TYPES OF FLAGS (FOR WHICH POLICY HAS CHANGED).
 (1) THE TYPE III, CLASS 1 ORGANIZATIONAL STANDARD (NSN 8345-
01-281-5500), SHOWN IN FIGURE 8 OF REF A, HAS THE NAME OF THE 
ORGANIZATION ON THE SCROLL. THE TERM "FLEET MARINE FORCE (FMF)" HAS
BEEN REPLACED WITH "OPERATING FORCE," THEREFORE, "FMF" IS NO LONGER
INCLUDED ON THE SCROLL OF THIS FLAG. THIS FLAG IS RESERVED FOR 
HEADQUARTERS ORGANIZATIONS OF THE OPERATING FORCES (TO INCLUDE LIKE
ORGANIZATIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS FORCES RESERVE) AND MAJOR 
SUBORDINATE COMMANDS OF THE SUPPORTING ESTABLISHMENT (FORMERLY 
"NON-FMF" ORGANIZATIONS). ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE FLAGS WITH "FMF"
ON THE SCROLL MAY CONTINUE TO USE THEM UNTIL UNSERVICEABLE.
 (2) THE TYPE III, CLASS 2 ORGANIZATIONAL STANDARD (NSN 8345-
01-268-8226), SHOWN IN FIGURE 9 OF REF A, HAS THE WORDS "UNITED 
STATES MARINE CORPS" EMBROIDERED ON THE SCROLL. THIS FLAG IS 
INTENDED FOR ACTIVE SUPPORTING ESTABLISHMENT ORGANIZATIONS NOT 
AUTHORIZED THE TYPE III, CLASS I ORGANIZATIONAL STANDARD AND ALL 
RESERVE ORGANIZATIONS, JOINT ACTIVITIES WITH MARINES ASSIGNED, AND 

MISCELLANEOUS MILITARY ACTIVITIES THAT PERFORM CEREMONIAL FUNCTIONS 
REQUIRING A U.S. MARINE CORPS ORGANIZATIONAL STANDARD.
 (3) THE TYPE III, CLASS 3 ORGANIZATIONAL STANDARD (FORMERLY 
KNOWN AS THE "USMCR FLAG") HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. RESERVE 
ORGANIZATIONS ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED TO POSSESS A USMCR 
ORGANIZATIONAL STANDARD. ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE A "USMCR" FLAG MAY
CONTINUE TO USE IT UNTIL UNSERVICEABLE, AT WHICH TIME IT SHOULD BE
REPLACED BY THE TYPE III, CLASS 2 ORGANIZATIONAL STANDARD.
 (4) THE NATIONAL COLOR OR STANDARD (NSN 8345-00-656-1451) IS
CARRIED ON ALL OCCASIONS OF CERMONY IN WHICH TWO OR MORE COMPANIES 
(OR EQUIVALENT UNITS) PARTICIPATE AND REPRESENT THE ORGANIZATION FOR
WHICH THE COLOR IS AUTHORIZED.
 (5) THE TYPE I, CLASS 1, UNITED STATES FLAG (NSN 8345-00-
656-1435) IS PROVIDED TO MILITARY MEMBERS ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY
OF THE NAVY UPON THE ACTIVE DUTY MEMBER'S RETIREMENT OR TRANSFER TO 
THE FLEET MARINE CORPS RESERVE (FMCR), PER REF B. COMMANDERS SHALL 
PRESENT THIS FLAG TO MILITARY ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS WHO ARE 
TRANSFERRED TO THE RETIRED LIST OR FMCR ON OR AFTER 1 OCT 98, AT NO 
COST TO THE RECIPIENT.
 B. ALLOWANCES.
 (1) CMC (LPC) MAINTAINS THE ALLOWANCE LISTS FOR TYPE III, 
CLASS 1 AND MULTIPLE TYPE III, CLASS 2 ORGANIZATIONAL STANDARDS. 
THESE LISTS WILL NO LONGER BE UPDATED IN REF A.
 (2) ORGANIZATIONS CURRENTLY AUTHORIZED (1) TYPE III, CLASS 1
ORGANIZATIONAL STANDARD MAY REQUISITION A SECOND FLAG, IF REQUIRED.
(I.E. ALLOWANCE CAN BE RAISED FROM (1) TO (2) VIA LOCAL ALLOWANCE 
APPROVED IN WRITING BY UNIT COMMANDERS AT THE BATTALION/SQUADRON OR 
EQUIVALENT LEVEL, WITHOUT HQMC APPROVAL). REQUESTS FOR A NEW 
ALLOWANCE UP TO (2) OR AN INCREASE BEYOND (2) TYPE III, CLASS 1 
ORGANIZATIONAL STANDARDS MUST BE MADE IN WRITING TO CMC (LPC) FOR
APPROVAL, PRIOR TO REQUISITIONING.
 (3) HQMC APPROVAL IS NO LONGER REQUIRED FOR AN ALLOWANCE OF
UP TO (2) TYPE III, CLASS 2 ORGANIZATIONAL STANDARDS. ALLOWANCES 
MUST BE LOCALLY ESTABLISHED AND APPROVED IN WRITING BY UNIT 
COMMANDERS AT THE BATTALION/SQUADRON OR EQUIVALENT LEVEL. REQUESTS
FOR AN ALLOWANCE OF MORE THAN TWO TYPE III, CLASS 2 ORGANIZATIONAL
STANDARDS MUST BE SENT TO CMC (LPC) FOR APPROVAL.
 (4) ONE NATIONAL COLOR OR STANDARD IS AUTHORIZED ON THE 
BASIS OF ONE PER ORGANIZATIONAL STANDARD. HOWEVER, THIS FLAG IS NOT
AUTHORIZED FOR TEMPORARY OR PROVISIONAL UNITS/ORGANIZATIONS WITHOUT 
CMC (LPC) APPROVAL.
 C. REQUISITIONING. 
 (1) TO OBTAIN AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATIONAL STANDARDS OR 
NATIONAL COLORS, SUBMIT A FUNDED MILSTRIP REQUISITION TO THE MARINE
CORPS LOGISTICS COMMAND (MCLC), FLEET SUPPORT DIVISION, ATTN: 
MATERIEL MANAGEMENT BRANCH (CODE 586-3), 814 RADFORD BOULEVARD, 
SUITE 20321, ALBANY, GA 31704-0321. REQUISITIONS FOR TYPE III, 
CLASS 1 AND QUANTITIES OF MORE THAN (2) TYPE III, CLASS 2 
ORGANIZATIONAL STANDARDS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ALLOWANCE REQUEST
APPROVED BY CMC (LPC), UNLESS THE REQUISITION IS REPLACEMENT FOR A 
PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATIONAL STANDARD THAT HAS BEEN PROPERLY
DISPOSED OF.
 (2) REQUESTS TO PURCHASE FLAGS FROM A SOURCE OTHER THAN THAT
LISTED IN PARAGRAPH 2C(1) PRECEDING MUST BE APPROVED IN WRITING BY 
THE CONTRACTS DIVISION (CODE 891-2), 814 RADFORD BOULEVARD, SUITE
20321, ALBANY, GA 31704-0321. 
 (3) CHANGES TO FLAG DESIGNS IDENTIFIED ABOVE WILL NOT BE APPLIED 

TO PREVIOUSLY INDUCTED REQUISITIONS THAT HAVE RECEIVED A VALID BACKORDER 

STATUS. 
 D. DISPOSITION. UNSERVICEABLE ORGANIZATIONAL STANDARDS AND 
NATIONAL COLORS MUST BE REPORTED TO CG, TECOM (HDM) FOR DISPOSITION 
INSTRUCTIONS. REQUESTS SHOULD INCLUDE THE FLAG'S DATE OF 
ACQUISITION AND HISTORY. 
3. GUIDONS. 
 A. TYPES OF GUIDONS. 
 (1) THE TYPE 1 ORGANIZATION GUIDON (NSN 8345-00-262-3702) 
INCLUDES THE ABBREVIATED DESIGNATION OF THE UNIT TO WHICH IT IS
AUTHORIZED. "FMF" IS NO LONGER EMBROIDERED ON THIS GUIDON ABOVE 
THE EAGLE, GLOBE, AND ANCHOR (NO LETTERING WILL APPEAR IN THIS 
SPACE). ANY GUIDON WITH THE DESIGNATION "FMF" MAY REMAIN IN SERVICE
UNTIL IT BECOMES UNSERVICEABLE, AT WHICH TIME IT SHOULD BE REPLACED
BY A NEW TYPE I OR TYPE II GUIDON.
 (2) THE TYPE II ORGANIZATION GUIDON (NSN 8345-00-262-3703) 
INCLUDES THE ABBREVIATED DESIGNATION OF THE UNIT TO WHICH IT IS 
AUTHORIZED. THE LETTERS "USMC" ARE EMBROIDERED ON THIS GUIDON ABOVE
THE EAGLE, GLOBE, AND ANCHOR. 
 (3) THE TYPE III ORGANIZATION GUIDON, PREVIOUSLY USED FOR 
RESERVE UNITS, HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. RESERVE ORGANIZATIONS ARE NO
LONGER REQUIRED TO USE THE USMCR GUIDON. ANY GUIDON OF THIS TYPE 
MAY REMAIN IN SERVICE UNTIL IT BECOMES UNSERVICEABLE, AT WHICH TIME
IT SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THE TYPE II GUIDON.
 (4) DRESS GUIDON (NSN 8345-00-249-6252) WITH EMBROIDERED 
"USMC" AND FRINGE IS USED TO DELINEATE A LINE OF TROOPS OR FOR 
SIMILAR PURPOSES. A DRESS GUIDON IS AUTHORIZED FOR EACH ORGANIZATION
GUIDON.
 B. ALLOWANCES. 
 (1) GUIDON ALLOWANCES ARE TO BE ESTABLISHED LOCALLY AND 
APPROVED IN WRITING BY UNIT COMMANDERS AT THE BATTALION/SQUADRON OR 
EQUIVALENT LEVEL USING THE SIZE AND EXPECTED DURATION OF THE UNIT AS
GUIDING PRINCIPLES. ONLY UNITS OF SUBSTANTIAL SIZE (IN THE 
COMMANDER'S DISCRETION) THAT ARE EXPECTED TO BE ORGANIZED FOR A 
MINIMUM OF 6 MONTHS, SHOULD BE AUTHORIZED GUIDONS. CMC (LPC) 
ALLOWANCE AUTHORIZATION IS NOT REQUIRED. 
 (2) ORGANIZATION GUIDONS MUST REMAIN CONSISTENT IN DESIGN 
AND STYLE, PER REF A. 
 (3) ORGANIZATION GUIDONS WILL NOT BE USED AS TROPHIES OR 
AWARDS. HOWEVER, REPLICAS MAY BE PURCHASED FOR THIS PURPOSE, AT 
THE COMMANDER'S DISCRETION.
 C. REQUISITIONING. SAME AS PARAGRAPH 2C PRECEDING. 
 D. DISPOSITION. UNSERVICEABLE GUIDONS CONSIDERED TO BE OF 
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE SHALL BE REPORTED TO CG, TECOM (HDM) FOR 
DISPOSITION INSTRUCTIONS. REQUESTS SHOULD INCLUDE THE GUIDONS 
DATE OF ACQUISITION AND HISTORY.
4. STREAMERS. IN GENERAL, ONLY UNITS AUTHORIZED THE TYPE III, 
CLASS 1 ORGANIZATIONAL STANDARD WILL DISPLAY AWARD, CAMPAIGN, OR 
SERVICE STREAMERS. OTHER COLOR BEARING UNITS MAY DISPLAY 
SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED AWARD STREAMERS. CORRESPONDENCE/REQUESTS 
CONCERNING ALLOWANCES AND REQUISITION OF STREAMERS MUST BE FORWARDED
TO THE CG, TECOM (HDH) FOR APPROVAL PRIOR TO SUBSEQUENT PROCESSING 
AT MCLC (586-3).
5. POCS.
 A. CMC (LPC-3) FLAG ALLOWANCES - MR. TIM FLORIAN, DSN 225-8946
OR COMM (703) 695-8946.
 B. CG, TECOM (HDH) FLAG MANUAL, USE AND DISPLAY - MS. LENA 
KALJOT, DSN 288-2631 OR COMM (202) 433-2631.
 C. CG, TECOM (HDH) STREAMER APPROVAL AND ALLOWANCES - MR. DAN
CRAWFORD, DSN 288-3874 OR COMM (202) 433-3874.
 D. CG, TECOM (HDM) DISPOSITION OF FLAGS - MS. JENNIFER CASTRO,
DSN 278-2606 OR COMM (703) 784-2606.
 E. MCLC (586-3) FLAG, GUIDON, AND STREAMER REQUISITIONING - 
MS. JIMMIE WILLIAMS, DSN 567-5837 OR COMM (229) 639-5837.
 F. MCLC (891-2) FLAG, GUIDON, AND STREAMER OPEN PURCHASE 
REQUESTS - MS SANDRA ROBERTS, DSN 567-6774 OR COMM (229) 639-6774.