Implementation Guidance for the Standardized Use of Fleet Marine Forces (FMF) Within Designated Commands/Units of the United States Marines Corps

1. Purpose.  To provide guidance and standardization on the colloquial use of the title, Fleet Marine Forces (FMF), within commands and units at the Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) level and below.<br>
2.  Background.  Our amphibious doctrine and naval heritage dictates insertion from the sea.  Ref (a) describes the operational environment and rising global threats that are necessitating a revitalization of our naval capabilities and a return to our historical naval roots.  Currently, the majority of Marine Forces are no longer aligned directly to Naval Fleet Commanders as articulated in ref (b),<br>
    a.  This action reestablishes our historical use of Fleet Marine Forces (FMF) to uphold our long standing Navy-Marine Corps tradition of an integrated naval force.<br>
    b.  The guidance provided in this document will serve as interim authorization to deviate from that contained in ref (b) and (c) until changes can be published to these references.<br>
The following guidance applies:<br>
        (1) With regard to ref (b), the FMF will be synonymous with<br>
Those Marine Forces located at the tactical level of war, which are assigned to the MEF and equivalent units within MARFORRES.  These Fleet Marine Forces make up "a reservoir of ground and air organizations", along with specialized enablers from which forces can be drawn to form any size MAGTF or conduct any assigned task [ref (e)].  While these forces are no longer directly assigned to Navy Fleet Commanders, they are integral to our country's ability to project Naval Power Ashore and are worthy of the designation of FMF.<br>
        (2) With regard to ref (c), a supplemental attachment to this MARADMIN can be found at the following hyperlink:  Https://mccdc.portal.usmc.mil/org/cdd/tfsd/civilian%20toecr%20proCess%20documents/forms/allitems.aspx<br>
        (a) This attachment supersede information contained in enclosure (2) of ref (c), with regard to the reference of Operating Forces;  and serve as the authoritative source for commands and units  authorized receive the FMF designation.<br>
        (b) MEF Commanders, DC IL, and LOGCOM should utilize this attachment to verify which commands and units are required and authorized to procure replacement colors and guidons to comply with this action.<br>
3.  Action.  This MARADMIN provides follow-on guidance to ref (d), and directs the historical use of FMF by the commands and units captured in the accompanying attachment.  The information that follows will be used to standardize this usage within the names of Commanders' signature blocks, stationery, awards citations, and other certain ceremonial items (e.g., guidons, unit colors, etc.).<br>
    a.  This paragraph directs a return to the historical placement of FMF immediately following the MEF's designated major subordinate command.  The following examples are provided to demonstrate the proper placement of FMF within the naming conventions of commands and units affected by this action.<br>
        1.  Commanding Officer<br>
            3d Battalion, 7th Marines Regiment<br>
            1st Marine Division, FMF<br>
        2.  Commanding Officer <br>
            Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14<br>
            Marine Aircraft Group 14<br>
            2d Marine Aircraft Wing, FMF<br>
        3.  Commanding Officer<br>
            9th Engineer Support Battalion<br>
            3d Marine Logistics Group, FMF<br>
    b.  MEF Commanders shall consolidate all requisitions from their subordinate commands to ensure and facilitate procurement of updated/replacement guidons and colors for their commands.  This consolidation will result in a single point of contact within each MEF to initiate requisitions and/or procurement actions IAW with the guidance provided in ref (e) and (f).  Actions directed by this paragraph should result in all affected commands and units obtaining updated guidons or colors NLT 10 Nov 2020.  This requirement has  been coordinated with DC Installations and Logistics and Marine Corps Logistics Command.  Additional amplifying guidance to supplement that contained in refs (e) and (f) will be forthcoming.<br>
    c.  Training and Education Command (doctrine).  Begin a review of all Doctrinal and Reference Publications.  Formulate a strategy to systemically update them using guidance contained in this message.<br>
4.  This action is applicable to the Marine Corps Total Force.<br>
5.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General Eric M. Smith, Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration