Aviation Commanders Preparation Program
This MARADMIN establishes the Aviation Commander's Preparation Program, requiring officers selected to command flying squadrons to report to their gaining Marine Aircraft Wing at least six months prior to assuming command. During this period, they must complete mandatory training including flight refresher training, Aviation Commanders Safety Course, and the MAG/Squadron Commanding Officers Course.
Issued: June 20, 2005
1. THIS IS A HQMC AVIATION DEPARTMENT (AVN), MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT (M&RA), SAFETY DIVISION (SD) AND TRAINING AND EDUCATION COMMAND (TECOM) COORDINATED MESSAGE. 2. THE REFERENCE DIRECTED THAT OFFICERS SLATED TO COMMAND FLYING SQUADRONS WILL REPORT TO THEIR GAINING COMMAND AT LEAST SIX MONTHS EARLY TO COMPLETE APPROPRIATE AVIATION AND AVIATION COMMAND RELATED TRAINING PRIOR TO ASSUMING COMMAND. ACCORDINGLY, THIS MARADMIN PROVIDES INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS TO IMPLEMENT THIS POLICY THROUGH THE AVIATION COMMANDER'S PREPARATION PROGRAM. 3. OFFICERS SELECTED TO COMMAND A FLYING SQUADRON SHALL ARRIVE AT THEIR RESPECTIVE MARINE AIRCRAFT WING AT LEAST SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THEIR SCHEDULED CHANGE OF COMMAND AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING TRAINING PRIOR TO ASSUMING COMMAND: APPLICABLE FLIGHT REFRESHER TRAINING, AVIATION COMMANDERS SAFETY COURSE, AND THE MAG/SQUADRON COMMANDING OFFICERS COURSE. A. THE DEPUTY COMMANDANT (DC) FOR M&RA WILL OVERSEE THIS EFFORT. WHEN APPLICABLE, THIS TRAINING WILL BE COMPLETED VIA TEMPORARY DUTY UNDER INSTRUCTION (TEMINS) ORDERS EN-ROUTE TO THE GAINING COMMAND. B. DC AVN, DIRECTOR, SD AND THE COMMANDING GENERAL, TECOM WILL COORDINATE SCHOOL SEATS, FUNDING ISSUES, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS TO EFFECT REQUISITE TRAINING VIA THE NAVAL AVIATION CENTER OF EXCELLENCE (ACE), WHERE APPLICABLE. 4. THIS PROGRAM IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND WILL BE IMPLEMENTED TO ALIGN WITH THIS SUMMER'S LTCOL COMMAND SCREENING BOARD ASSIGNMENTS. A. THE HQMC AVN MANPOWER AND SUPPORT BRANCH (ASM) WILL MAINTAIN OVERSIGHT OF THIS PROGRAM. B. DC M&RA, THROUGH THE OFFICER ASSIGNMENTS SECTION (MMOA), PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT DIVISION, WILL COORDINATE ISSUANCE AND EXECUTION OF ORDERS TO COMPLY WITH THE SIX MONTH TIMELINE TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE. THE INTENT IS FOR SLATED COMMANDERS TO RECEIVE AND EXECUTE ORDERS IN SUFFICIENT TIME FOR THEM TO ARRIVE AT THE GAINING COMMAND SIX MONTHS IN ADVANCE. THIS MAY REQUIRE CERTAIN OFFICERS TO DEPART THEIR CURRENT COMMAND EARLIER THAN ANTICIPATED. WHEN ABLE, MMOA WILL DE-CONFLICT AND COORDINATE ISSUANCE OF ORDERS BETWEEN THE LOSING AND GAINING COMMANDS. C. THE DIRECTOR, SD WILL TRACK COMPLIANCE VIA THE MONTHLY MARINE AVIATION OPERATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT STATUS REPORT. SD WILL SEPARATELY PUBLISH ANY ADJUSTMENTS AND ADDITIONAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS TO ALL MARINE AIRCRAFT WINGS. 5. QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS PROGRAM SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO: AVN MANPOWER: LTCOL M. J. SMITH-MECK, HQMC (ASM), DSN 223-9865 SAFETY: COL F. WENGER, DIR SD, DSN 224-2147, X-2562 ORDERS: COL J. P. TOMCZAK, HEAD MMOA, DSN 278-9300.