Modification to Current III MEF and MCBJ Assignment Policy

1. PURPOSE. TO ANNOUNCE A MODIFICATION TO THE
CURRENT ASSIGNMENT POLICY AFFECTING FUTURE PERMANENT CHANGE OF
STATION ORDERS TO III MEF AND MCBJ.
2. DISCUSSION. AS OUTLINED IN REF A, THE MARINE CORPS BEGAN
TRANSITIONING IN FY04 TO THE DOD STANDARD FOR PCS ASSIGNMENTS TO
OKINAWA AND IWAKUNI, JAPAN, WHICH IS 36 MONTH TOURS FOR THOSE
ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY MEMBERS AND 24 MONTH TOURS FOR ALL OTHERS.
THE NEW ASSIGNMENT POLICY IS CURRENTLY BEING PHASED IN OVER A FIVE
YEAR PERIOD. THE FULL DETAILS ARE STILL UNDER DEVELOPMENT BUT HAS
COMMENCED WITH THE ASSIGNMENT OF COLONELS, LIEUTENANT COLONELS,
SERGEANT'S MAJOR, MASTER GUNNERY SERGEANTS, FIRST SERGEANTS, AND
MASTER SERGEANTS.
3. ACTION
A. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, THE MARINE CORPS WILL INITIATE A
MODIFICATION TO PHASE I OF THE III MEF AND MCBJ ASSIGNMENT POLICY
EFFECTING SINGLE MARINES ON THEIR FIRST ENLISTMENT.
B. SINGLE FIRST TERM MARINES WILL BE ASSIGNED TO OKINAWA AND
IWAKUNI ON A 24 MONTH UNACCOMPANIED TOUR.
C. SINGLE FIRST TERM MARINES WITHOUT THE OBLIGATED SERVICE TO
COMPLETE A 24 MONTH UNACCOMPANIED TOUR MAY STILL BE ASSIGNED TO III
MEF AND MCBJ BUT WILL BE ASSIGNED A TOUR CONTROL FACTOR CONCURRENT
WITH THEIR EAS. THIS WILL BE BY EXCEPTION AND NOT THE NORM. EVERY
EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO SEND MARINES WITH AT LEAST 24 MONTHS
REMAINING UNTIL THEIR EAS. 
D. CAMP FUJI WILL REMAIN AS A 12 MONTH UNACCOMPANIED ASSIGNMENT
TOUR FOR ALL PERSONNEL.
E. FIRST TERM MARRIED MARINES OR MARINES WITH FAMILY MEMBERS WILL
CONTINUE TO BE ASSIGNED TO 12 MONTH UNACCOMPANIED TOURS. MARINES IN
THIS CATEGORY AND ASSIGNED TO OKINAWA OR IWAKUNI CAN ELECT WITH
THEIR COMMANDS APPROVAL TO CONVERT TO AN ACCOMPANIED TOUR PROVIDING
HE/SHE MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS.
4. THIS POLICY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL THE REVISED III MEF AND
MCBJ ASSIGNMENT POLICY IS PUBLISHED BY HQMC.