Change 1 to MCO 6200.1E, Marine Corps Heat Injury Prevention Program
This MARADMIN issues Change 1 to Marine Corps Order 6200.1E, clarifying that the work/rest cycle guidelines in the Heat Injury Prevention Program are intended as guidance rather than prescriptive requirements. Commanders must use risk management principles when conducting physical training during high heat conditions, and must develop standing operating procedures in coordination with medical authorities when mission-essential tasks require exceeding the guidelines.
Issued: July 23, 2003
1. PURPOSE. THIS MARADMIN DIRECTS PEN CHANGES TO THE BASIC ORDER. 2. BACKGROUND A. IN ENCLOSURE (5) OF THE REF, THE WORK/REST CYCLE OF TABLE 5-1, FLUID REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES FOR WARM WEATHER TRAINING, HAS BEEN PERCEIVED AS BEING "PRESCRIPTIVE." THE INTENT OF THE ORDER IS TO PROVIDE COMMANDERS APPROPRIATE GUIDANCE AND TOOLS TO PLAN AND EXECUTE PHYSICAL TRAINING AND ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES DURING INCREASED HEAT INDEX CONDITIONS. B. THIS CHANGE CLARIFIES AND REINFORCES THE NEED FOR COMMANDERS TO APPLY THE WORK/REST CYCLE UNDER THE VARIOUS FLAG CONDITIONS AS A "GUIDE" FOR DECIDING THE LEVEL, CRITICALITY, AND EXECUTION OF PHYSICAL TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING INCREASED HEAT INDEX CONDITIONS. DURING ALL PERIODS OF HIGH HEAT INDEX CONDITIONS, COMMANDERS WILL APPLY APPROPRIATE RISK MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES THAT ENSURE ADEQUATE WATER AND NUTRITIONAL INTAKE AND REST PERIODS. TRAINING WHICH EXCEEDS THE GUIDELINES CONTAINED WITHIN TABLE 5-1 WILL REQUIRE MITIGATING ACTIONS (E.G., LIVE FIRE - SHORTENING LENGTH OF ATTACK; TACTICAL MOVEMENTS - REDUCE USE/QUANTITY OF BODY ARMOR, ETC). 3. ACTION. IN ENCLOSURE (1), PAGE 3, PARAGRAPH 6C, DELETE THE FIRST SENTENCE AND REPLACE IT WITH THE FOLLOWING TEXT: "TABLE 5-1 OF ENCLOSURE (5) PROVIDES COMMANDERS A GUIDE FOR DECIDING THE LEVEL, CRITICALITY, FLEXIBILITY AND EXECUTION OF PHYSICAL TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING INCREASED HEAT INDEX CONDITIONS. IF A COMMAND MUST EXCEED THE TRAINING CONDITION GUIDELINES CONTAINED IN THIS ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH MISSION ESSENTIAL TASKS, THAT COMMAND WILL HAVE ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES TO DO SO. COMMANDERS, IN CONCERT WITH LOCAL MEDICAL AUTHORITIES, WILL DEVELOP AND APPROVE STANDING OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOP) FOR THOSE OCCASIONS. THE SOP WILL CONTAIN RISK MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES AND INDICATE HOW THE INCREASED HEAT INJURY RISK WILL BE ASSESSED AND ADDRESSED. MEASURES WILL INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, INCREASED COMMAND SUPERVISION, COMMAND SUPPORT, AND INCREASED SUPPORT AND PREPARATION BY LOCAL MEDICAL PERSONNEL." 4. THIS CHANGE IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND IS APPLICABLE TO MARINE CORPS ACTIVITIES ON PCN 10209380000 DISTRIBUTION. 5. FILING INSTRUCTIONS. FILE THIS CHANGE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE SIGNATURE PAGE OF THE BASIC ORDER.