General Officer Participation in 2004 USMC Birthday Balls

1. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MARADMIN IS TO PROVIDE
INFORMATION,
GUIDANCE AND PROCEDURES CONCERNING INVITATIONS FOR GENERAL OFFICERS
(G.O.'S), TO SERVE AS GUESTS OF HONOR (GOH) AT 2004 MARINE CORPS
BIRTHDAY BALLS.
2. THE MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY BALL IS THE CORPS' PREMIER SOCIAL
FUNCTION. IT OFFERS AN UNPARALLELED OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TELL THE
MARINE CORPS STORY TO INFLUENTIAL COMMUNITY LEADERS. ATTENDANCE BY
MARINE CORPS G.O.'S CAN HELP INCREASE PARTICIPATION OF LOCAL CIVIC
LEADERS AND CONSEQUENTLY ENHANCE THE CORPS' STANDING IN THE
COMMUNITY. TO STAY WITHIN THE HQMC BUDGET, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT
HOST COMMANDS MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO FIRST INVITE A LOCAL G.O. AS A
GOH, BEFORE REACHING OUT TO NON-LOCAL G.O.'S. REFS (A) 
AND (B) PROVIDE AUTHORITY TO USE GOVERNMENT FUNDS FOR TRAVEL WHEN
GENERAL OFFICERS ARE NOT AVAILABLE LOCALLY.
3. BECAUSE OF THE HIGH DEMAND FOR SPEAKERS AND LIMITED TAD FUNDS,
ONLY THOSE BALLS THAT ARE IN SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH WITH A
COMMUNITY RELATIONS OR DIPLOMATIC BENEFIT WILL BE FUNDED.
ORGANIZATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED TO INVITE LOCAL COMMUNITY CIVIC
LEADERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE CORPS.
4. TAD FUNDS FOR G.O.'S, BOTH ACTIVE DUTY AND RESERVE AND THEIR
SPOUSES, ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH HQMC (PAC). HQMC FUNDING IS NOT
AVAILABLE FOR THE AIDE-DE-CAMP TO ACCOMPANY THE G.O., NOR IS FUNDING
AVAILABLE FOR RETIRED G.O.'S.
5. OCONUS REQUESTS ARE DISCOURAGED BECAUSE OF THE ADDITIONAL COSTS
INCURRED. INVITATIONS FROM OCONUS ACTIVITIES WILL BE REVIEWED ON A
CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.
6. ALL REQUESTS FOR G.O.'S PARTICIPATION IN BIRTHDAY BALLS MUST BE
SUBMITTED TO HQMC, DIVPA COMMUNITY RELATIONS (PAC) NO LATER THAN 15
SEPTEMBER 2004.
7. ALL MSG DET BIRTHDAY BALL REQUESTS SHOULD INITIALLY BE SUBMITTED
TO THE MSG BN, QUANTICO, VA. THE MSG BN IS ENCOURAGED TO SUMBIT A
CONSOLIDATED PRIORITIZED REQUEST FOR FUNDING. APPROVAL OF THESE
REQUESTS WILL BE BASED UPON A CLEARLY DEFINED COMMUNITY RELATIONS
BENEFIT AND RETURN ON INVESTMENT. CONSIDERATION FOR APPROVAL WILL
ALSO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT A DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BENEFIT AS A
COMPLIMENT TO COMMUNITY RELATIONS BENEFIT. 
8. TAD FUND REQUEST PROCEDURES:
 A. THE HOST COMMAND INVITES THE PROSPECTIVE G.O. 
 B. A COPY OF THE FORMAL LETTER OF INVITATION IS TO BE FAXED TO
HQMC (PAC), AT (703) 614-2358, ATTN: MRS. HATTIE POWELL-RAY. THE
AIDE/SECRETARY IS TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION, VIA THE
MARINE CORPS WEB SITE HYPERLINK ENTITLED "GENERAL OFFICER BIRTHDAY
BALL REQUEST FORM"
- or direct - http://www.usmc.mil/comrel/120day.nsf/gobirthdayballrequest 

 (1) DATE AND LOCATION OF THE BALL.
 (2) WHETHER THE SPOUSE IS INVITED, AND IF SO, IS HE/SHE
ATTENDING.
(SPOUSES DO NOT RATE PERDIEM, THEREFORE THEY ARE ONLY AUTHORIZED
COMAIR EXPENSES).
 (3) ESTIMATED NUMBER OF ATTENDEES.
 (4) A COMMUNITY RELATIONS/DIPLOMATIC BENEFIT MUST BE
IDENTIFIED/DEMONSTRATED.
 (5) LIST OF CIVIC LEADERS LIKELY TO ATTEND.
 (6) OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS INWHICH THE GENERAL PLANS TO
PARTICIPATE.
 (7) IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER G.O.'S PARTICIPATING IN THE BALL.
 (8) THE GENERAL AND SPOUSE'S (IF PARTICIPATING) FULL NAMES.
 (9) MODE OF TRANSPORTATION (MILAIR, COMAIR OR RAIL). 
 (10) ESTIMATED TAD COSTS.
 (11) DATES OF DEPARTURE AND RETURN.
 C. PER DOD DIR 4500.56 DTD 15 MAR 02, SPOUSAL TRAVEL WILL ONLY
BE APPROVED WHEN THERE IS A COMMUNITY RELATIONS OR DIPLOMATIC
BENEFIT DEMONSTRATED.
D. REQUESTS FOR FUNDS WILL BE FORWARDED TO ACMC FOR APPROVAL. IF
ACMC APPROVES THE REQUEST, HQMC PAC WILL NOTIFY THE AIDE/SECRETARY
AND REQUEST ACTUAL COSTS FOR TRAVEL. NO RSVPS SHOULD BE MADE UNTIL
ACMC HAS RENDERED A DECISION.
 E. PAC WILL PROVIDE TAD ORDERS TO G.O.'S LOCATED AT HQMC ONLY
AND ACCOUNTING DATA FOR G.O.'S OUTSIDE OF HQMC. ALL INVITATIONAL
TRAVEL ORDERS (ITOS) FOR SPOUSES ACCOMPANING THE GENERAL WILL ALSO
BE DONE BY HQMC (PAC).
 F. AFTER COMPLETION OF TRAVEL, AND THE GENERAL HAS SETTLED
HIS/HER TRAVEL CLAIM THROUGH THE DISBURSING OFFICE, PLEASE PROVIDE
MRS. POWELL-RAY WITH COPIES OF THE TAD ORDER AND TRAVEL VOUCHER
SUMMARY EXPENSE SHEET FROM DISBURSING. THE FAX NUMBER IS COMM (703)
614-2358 OR DSN 224-2358.
9. FUNDED G.O. BIRTHDAY BALL ATTENDANCE IS LIMITED, SO EARLY
REQUESTS HAVE AN INCREASED CHANCE OF SUPPORT.
10. HQMC (PAC) POC IS MRS. HATTIE POWELL-RAY AT COMM (703)692-1528;
DSN 222-1528; FAX COMM (703) 614-2358; DSN 224-2358; OR E-MAIL 
POWELL-RAYH@HQMC.USMC.MIL.
11. THIS MARADMIN IS CANCELLED 30 NOVEMBER 2004.