2016 General Officers, Senior Executive Service Members, and Sergeants Major Participation in Marine Corps Birthday Balls

1.  This MARADMIN provides guidance regarding the travel of Marine Corps general officers (GO), Senior Executive Service  members (SES), sergeants majors, and any other Marines serving in an active duty capacity, to act as the guests of honor (GOH)  or guest speakers for 2016 Marine Corps Birthday Ball Celebrations IAW refs (a) – (d).  This MARADMIN does not apply to GOH or guest speakers who are not employed by the government or are not serving in an active duty capacity.<br>
2.  Due to the current fiscal environment, the Marine Corps will minimize government funded travel for active duty GOHs to attend Marine Corps Birthday Balls.  Commands/Units/Organizations requesting active duty GOHs to attend birthday balls should request appropriate representatives from the local area.<br>
3.  GOH travel outside the local area requires approval and determination of mission criticality from the Director of Marine Corps Staff (DMCS).  Such out of local area travel must be undertaken in coordination with other mission related duties.<br>
    a.  Requests for GOH from units/organizations which fall within the  GOH(Apostrophe)s purview/command responsibilities (i.e. subordinate unit) do not require separate approval from DMCS.<br>
    b.  Requests for GOH to attend a Ball in which a GO, SES Member, or SgtsMaj from outside the unit is already in attendance or a local GO, SES Member, or SgtsMaj is available to attend as the GOH will not receive a favorable approval.<br>
4.  HQMC will not fund GOs, SES Members, SgtsMajs or any other Marine to travel to Balls.<br>
    a.  Per ref (c), GOH travel will be funded with APF, from either the requesting unit(Apostrophe)s or the GOH(Apostrophe)s unit funds.<br>
    b.  Requesting units may provide the GOH hotel rooms that were no cost to the government as long as the rooms were bargained for under the Ball support contract (i.e. contract provides some hotel guest rooms at no charge for event).<br>
    c.  Non-appropriated funds, including funds raised by the ball committee or unit fundraising, should not be used to pay for the travel costs of the GOH.<br>
5.  Government funded spousal travel will be considered on a case by case basis and will be routed through the Counsel for the Commandant(Apostrophe)s (CL) office, to DMCS per ref (a) and (c).<br>
    a.  Funding for spousal travel is limited to transportation costs.  Per diem for spousal travel is not authorized.<br>
    b.  GOHs should review ref (a) in its entirety prior to submitting for spousal funding approval.  Requests must ensure government funded spousal travel to unit sponsored Balls is incidental to the spouse(Apostrophe)s actual participation in a separate, unquestionable official function or where travel is in the national interest because of a diplomatic or public relations benefit to the U.S.<br>
    c.  Requests for funded spousal travel that do not meet the stipulations of ref (a) and (c) will be denied.<br>
    d.  Non-reimbursed spousal travel is authorized and does not require approval from DMCS.  <br>
    e.  Contact CL (Capt Gansca, 703-614-2490, rebecca.gansca@usmc.mil) for the required funded spousal travel request format.<br>
6.  Gift(s) for GOH/guest speakers should be de minimis/nominal.  However, under no circumstances should gift(s) exceed (Dollar Sign)300.  Furthermore, GOH/guest speakers attending multiple Balls should coordinate in advance with the units to minimize gift(s).  Accumulated gifts from attending multiple Balls that in total exceed the (Dollar Sign)300 authorized amount should be refused or accepted on behalf of the USMC.<br>
7.  Requests for non-local GOHs to participate in a Ball should be routed directly to the DMCS POC identified in this MARADMIN.<br>
    a.  Requests can be made via either e-mail or formal correspondence and must contain the following: <br>
        1.  Unit hosting Ball.<br>
        2.  Date (Ampersand) location of Ball.<br>
        3.  Role of GO, SES Member, or SgtsMaj at Ball (I.e. GoH, Guest Speaker, attendee, etc...) / reason for attending.<br>
        4.  Identify all GOs, SES Members, and SgtsMajs in attendance, and all local GOs, SES Members, and SgtsMajs available but not attending.<br>
        5.  Estimated TAD costs, and how costs are to be funded and by whom.<br>
        6.  Detailed travel Itinerary (i.e. departing 8 Nov via com air for arrival in Atlanta, GA, 9 Nov meeting with xyz IOT discuss xyx/conduct PME with xyz, evening of 9th attend Ball, 10 Nov return to permanent duty station via com air).<br>
        7.  Anticipated number of attendees.<br>
        8.  If spouse or any other personnel will also be traveling with the GoH for the Ball, and how their costs to attend are to be funded.<br>
8.  Exceptions to this policy require approval from the ACMC via the DMCS.<br>
9.  This MARADMIN is canceled 30 December 2016.<br>
10.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General James B. Laster, Director, Marine Corps Staff, HQMC.