General Officer Participation in 2003 USMC Birthday Balls

1. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MARADMIN IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION,
GUIDANCE AND PROCEDURES CONCERNING INVITATIONS FOR GENERAL OFFICERS (GO S)
TO SERVE AS GUESTS OF HONOR (GOH) AT 2003 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 GO 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 GO AS A GOH BEFORE REACHING OUT TO NON-LOCAL
GO S. REFS (A) AND (B) PROVIDE AUTHORITY TO USE GOVERNMENT FUNDS FOR 
TRAVEL WHEN GO S ARE NOT AVAILABLE LOCALLY.
3. ORGANIZATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED TO INVITE LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS, 
PARTICULARLY THOSE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE CORPS. 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. 
4. TAD FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH HQMC (PAC) FOR ACTIVE DUTY AND RESERVE
GO S AND THEIR SPOUSES. HQMC FUNDING IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE AIDE-DE-CAMP
TO ACCOMPANY THE GO, NOR IS FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR RETIRED GO 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. TAD FUND REQUEST PROCEDURES:
A. THE HOST COMMAND INVITES THE PROSPECTIVE GO.
B. THE AIDE/SECRETARY SHOULD PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AND COPY OF
THE FORMAL LETTER OF INVITATION TO HQMC (PAC) BEFORE, BUT NLT, 30 SEPTEMBER
2003:
(1) DATE AND LOCATION OF THE BALL.
(2) WHETHER THE SPOUSE IS INVITED, AND IF SO, IS HE/SHE ATTENDING. (SPOUSES
DO NOT RATE PER DIEM, THEREFORE THEY ARE ONLY AUTHORIZED COMAIR EXPENSE.)
(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 IN WHICH THE GENERAL PLANS TO PARTICIPATE.
(7) ANY OTHER GO S PARTICIPATING IN THE BALL.
(8) THE GENERAL AND SPOUSE S (IF PARTICIPATING) FULL NAME, SSN, HOME ADDRESS
AND MODE OF TRANSPORTATION (MILAIR OR COMAIR).
(9) ESTIMATED TAD COSTS.
(10) 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. HQMC (PAC) WILL PROVIDE TAD ORDERS TO GO S LOCATED AT HQMC ONLY; ACCOUNTING
DATA WILL BE PROVIDED FOR GO S OUTSIDE OF HQMC. ALL INVITATIONAL TRAVEL ORDERS
(ITO S) FOR SPOUSES ACCOMPANING THE GENERAL WILL ALSO BE DONE BY HQMC (PAC).
F. AFTER COMPLETION OF TRAVEL, AND THE GENERAL HAS SETTLED A TRAVEL CLAIM 
THROUGH THE DISBURSING OFFICE, PLEASE PROVIDE MRS. POWELL-RAY WITH COPIES OF
THE TAD ORDERS AND TRAVEL VOUCHER SUMMARY EXPENSE SHEET FROM DISBURSING. THE
FAX NUMBER IS COMM (703) 614-2358 OR DSN 224-2358.
7. ALL REQUESTS MUST BE RECEIVED AT HQMC (PAC) NLT 30 SEPTEMBER 2003. FUNDING
FOR GO BIRTHDAY BALL ATTENDANCE IS LIMITED, THEREFORE REQUESTS RECEIVED EARLIER
HAVE AN INCREASED CHANCE FOR SUPPORT.
8. 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.
9. THIS MARADMIN IS CANCELLED 28 NOVEMBER 2003.