Marking of Organizational Clothing and Equipment

1. REF A CURRENTLY PROHIBITS THE MARKING OF
ORGANIZATIONAL CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT IN ANY MANNER. THE INTENT OF
THIS POLICY WAS TO PREVENT PERMANENT MARKING, DEFACING, OR OTHER
MARKING THAT WOULD DAMAGE OR DEGRADE THE COMBAT EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
ITEM. AS WRITTEN, THIS POLICY IS TOO RESTRICTIVE AND DOES NOT GIVE
ORGANIZATIONAL COMMANDERS THE FLEXIBILITY TO TEMPORARILY MARK
EQUIPMENT AS THEY DEEM APPROPRIATE OR NECESSARY.
2. THEREFORE, CHANGE PARAGRAPH 5029 OF REF A TO READ:
"THE MARKING OF ORGANIZATIONAL CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT IS PERMITTED
AT THE DISCRETION OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL COMMANDER AS LONG AS THE
MARKING IS NOT PERMANENT AND DOES NOT DAMAGE OR DEGRADE THE COMBAT
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ITEM. PERMANENT INK IS SPECIFICALLY
PROHIBITED EXCEPT FOR AUTHORIZED CONTINGENCY TRAINING EQUIPMENT
POOL (CTEP)/TRAINING ALLOWANCE POOL (TAP) STAFF PERSONNEL. 
PERMANENT MARKING BY AUTHORIZED CTEP/TAP STAFF PERSONNEL THAT
DOES NOT DAMAGE OR DEGRADE THE COMBAT EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CLOTHING
AND EQUIPMENT IS AUTHORIZED TO IDENTIFY IT AS GOVERNMENT OWNED
PROPERTY AND TO SEGREGATE IT FROM INDIVIDUAL ISSUE OR PERSONALLY
OWNED CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT. THOSE ORGANIZATIONAL ITEMS LISTED IN
PARAGRAPH 5025, PRECEDING (I.E. TRUNK LOCKERS, SUITCASES, WETSUITS,
SWIMMERS' SHOES, AND SAFETY SHOES), AND OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE ISSUED
FOR PERSONAL RETENTION MAY BE MARKED IN ANY WAY DEEMED APPROPRIATE
BY THE INDIVIDUAL AT HIS/HER OWN COST."
3. PER REF A AND THIS CHANGE, THE SEWING ON OF REMOVABLE LABELS, 
TO INCLUDE NAME AND SERVICE TAPES, TO ORGANIZATIONAL CLOTHING AND
EQUIPMENT IS PERMITTED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL
COMMANDER. EQUIPMENT DRAWN FROM THE CONSOLIDATED ISSUE FACILITY
(CIF) OR THE CTEP/TAP SHOULD BE MARKED ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH
COMMARFOR OR LOCAL MEF SOP. SPECIAL CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN BY
INDIVIDUALS WHEN REMOVING THE NAME TAPES SO AS TO PREVENT DAMAGE
PRIOR TO TURN-IN TO THE CIF OR CTEP/TAP. THE SERVICE TAPES SHOULD
BE LEFT ON THE ORGANIZATIONAL CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT. 
4. A PLANNED REVISION TO REF B WILL AUTHORIZE THE SEWING ON OF NAME
AND SERVICE TAPES SPECIFICALLY TO THE EXTENDED COLD WEATHER CLOTHING
SYSTEM (ECWCS, AKA GORTEX) IN A MANNER THAT DOES NOT DAMAGE THE
WEATHER-PROOF INTEGRITY OF THE ITEM, AS FOLLOWS:
 A. PARKA - NAME TAPE ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER POCKET FLAP AND
SERVICE TAPE ON THE LEFT SHOULDER POCKET FLAP.
 B. TROUSERS - NAME TAPE ON THE RIGHT SEAT POCKET FLAP.
5. NAME AND SERVICE TAPES AND THE SERVICE OF SEWING THEM ON TO
ORGANIZATIONAL CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT MUST BE PROVIDED AT GOVERNMENT
EXPENSE USING LOCAL UNIT OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, MARINE CORPS
(O&MMC) FUNDS. INDIVIDUALS CANNOT BE DIRECTED TO PAY FOR THE TAPES
OR THE SEWING SERVICE.
6. OTHER MEANS, TO INCLUDE USING BAGGAGE TAGS OR TWIST TIE LABELS,
MAY BE CONSIDERED TO TEMPORARILY MARK ORGANIZATIONAL CLOTHING AND
EQUIPMENT.
7. INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE INSTRUCTED TO CLOSELY INSPECT
ORGANIZATIONAL CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT UPON ISSUE TO ENSURE THERE ARE
NO PERMANENT MARKINGS FOR WHICH THEY MIGHT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE UPON
TURN-IN.
8. THE ABOVE POLICY AND MARKING PROCEDURES WILL NOT PREVENT ALL
LOSSES. SMALL UNIT LEADERSHIP AND INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY ARE
STILL REQUIRED.