Single Marine Program (SMP) Conference and 10th Anniversary

1. TEN YEARS AGO, THE SINGLE MARINE PROGRAM WAS
ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR MARINES TO IDENTIFY QUALITY OF
LIFE IDEAS AND ISSUES, AND TO RECOMMEND SOLUTIONS. A 1992 QUALITY
OF LIFE (QOL) STUDY INDICATED A SIGNIFICANT LEVEL OF DISSATISFACTION
IN QOL FOR YOUNG ENLISTED MARINES WHO ARE PREDOMINATELY SINGLE. THE
FOCUS OF THE PROGRAM IS TO IMPROVE THE QOL THROUGH AN ADVOCACY ROLE
AND THROUGH PROGRAMMING IN THE FIVE PILLARS OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS,
LIFE SKILLS, CAREER ENHANCEMENT, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT. TEN YEARS LATER SMP IS ESTABLISHED AT 23 INSTALLATIONS
AROUND THE GLOBE.
2. THE 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY SMP FORUM WILL CONVENE 18-23 SEP 05 AT
THE SHERATON BARCELO HOTEL, ANNAPOLIS, MD. THIS EVENT ALLOWS SENIOR
ENLISTED ADVISORS (SEA), COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES, AND SMP
COORDINATORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS POLICY RELATED ITEMS, COMMON
QOL ISSUES, SHARE PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND NETWORK WITH OTHER
SMP REPRESENTATIVES. INSTALLATIONS WITH AN ESTABLISHED SMP WILL
BRIEF THEIR BASE PROGRAMS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE PAST 10
YEARS. INSTALLATION SMP'S ARE ENCOURAGED TO SET UP DISPLAYS
DEPICTING THEIR OVERALL PROGRAM AND SPECIAL EVENTS. DISPLAY
SPECIFICS ARE PROVIDED ON THE CONFERENCE WEBPAGE STATED BELOW. 
3. COMMANDERS WILL ENSURE THE WIDEST DISSEMINATION OF THIS MESSAGE
TO ALL SEA/SMP COORDINATORS/COUNCIL REPS. ATTENDANCE IS ENCOURAGED,
CONSISTENT WITH OPERATIONAL COMMITMENTS. PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED
TO REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE AND BILLETING NO LATER THAN 19 AUG
2005. THE REGISTRATION FORM IS ACCESSIBLE AT
WWW.USMC-MCCS.ORG/SMPCONF/REGISTERFORM.CFM. BILLETING ARRANGEMENTS
CAN BE MADE ONLINE WITH WWW.SHERATON.COM OR FROM THE LINK AT THE
FORUM WEB PAGE STATED BELOW.
4. DETAILED LOGISTICAL INFORMATION AND PERIODIC AGENDA UPDATES ARE
PROVIDED AT WWW.USMC-MCCS.ORG/SMPCONF. TRAVEL AND PER DIEM WILL BE
FUNDED BY INDIVIDUAL COMMANDS. GOVT QUARTERS AND MESSING ARE NOT
AVAILABLE. MEALS PROVIDED ON LOCATION INCLUDE ONE LUNCH AND ONE
DINNER. COST FOR LODGING IS $114 PER NIGHT AND THE MEALS PER DIEM
RATE IS $44. TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE FOR ARRIVAL ON 18
SEP 05 AND DEPARTURE ON 23 SEP 05. RECOMMEND ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE AT
BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (BWI) FOR THOSE WHO WILL
TRAVEL VIA COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT. TRANSPORTATION WILL BE PROVIDED FOR
EVENTS NOT HELD AT THE SHERATON.
5. TAD ORDERS WILL BE NON-REPORTING, HOWEVER, ATTENDEES SHOULD HAVE
ORDERS IN THEIR POSSESSION UPON CHECK-IN AT THE CONFERENCE FACILITY. 
6.COMMANDS WILL COMPLY WITH MCO 4600.7 CONCERNING THE GOVT TRAVEL
CARD. ENSURE THAT APC'S ACTIVATE GOVT TRAVEL CARDS PRIOR TO
ATTENDEE DEPARTURE FROM THEIR COMMAND. ATTENDEES WITHOUT TRAVEL
CARDS SHOULD HAVE THAT ANNOTATED IN THEIR ORDERS, AND A TRAVEL
ADVANCE SHOULD BE ISSUED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FROM THEIR COMMAND. 
7. ATTIRE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FORUM ARE LISTED ON THE WEBSITE
PROVIDED ABOVE.
8. POC IS MS. EVONNE CARAWAN, EVONNE.CARAWAN@USMC.MIL OR MS. JESSICA
JONES, JESSICA.JONES@USMC.MIL AT MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS,
PERSONAL AND FAMILY READINESS DIVISION (MR) SINGLE MARINE PROGRAM AT 
DSN 278-0400/COMM 703-784-0400