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MARADMIN 387/06

Update Regarding Marine Corps Law of War Program

This MARADMIN updates the Marine Corps Law of War Program following the issuance of a new Department of Defense Directive (DODD 2311.01E) that supersedes previous guidance. The update requires all Marines, Navy personnel, civilians, and contractors serving with Marine Corps units to comply with the Law of War during all armed conflicts and military operations, and to promptly report all "reportable incidents" as newly defined. Commanders must ensure personnel receive required Law of War training consistent with the updated policy.

Issued: August 16, 2006
1. THIS MSG IS APPLICABLE TO THE TOTAL FORCE, AS
WELL AS U.S. NAVY, CIVILIAN, AND CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL. ON 9 MAY
2006, DEPSECDEF ISSUED REF B, WHICH CANCELS REF C. REF B CONTAINS
SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES FROM REF C. AS A RESULT, BOTH REF D AND REF E
REQUIRE REVISION. REF E WILL NOT BE REVISED UNTIL REF D REVISION IS
COMPLETE. IN THE INTERIM, REF E REMAINS IN EFFECT TO THE EXTENT IT
DOES NOT CONFLICT WITH REF B. AMPLIFYING DIRECTION APPEARS BELOW.
2. DOD POLICY. REF B REQUIRES U.S. ARMED FORCES TO COMPLY WITH THE
LAW OF WAR DURING ALL ARMED CONFLICTS, HOWEVER SUCH CONFLICTS ARE
CHARACTERIZED, AND IN ALL OTHER MILITARY OPERATIONS. THIS IS A
CHANGE FROM REF C.
3. REPORTING. PER REF B AND REF E, ALL MARINES, U.S. NAVY, AND
CIVILIAN AND CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL SERVING WITH OR ACCOMPANYING
MARINE CORPS UNITS ON OPERATIONS MUST PROMPTLY REPORT ALL REPORTABLE
INCIDENTS AS DEFINED IN REF B PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF ENCL 6
OF REF E. REF B CHANGES THE DEFINITION OF A "REPORTABLE INCIDENT,"
TO INCLUDE A REQUIREMENT THAT ANY ALLEGATION OF A LAW OF WAR
VIOLATION BE SUPPORTED BY CREDIBLE INFORMATION.
4. EXECUTION. 
A. JUDGE ADVOCATE DIVISION (JAD), HQMC, WILL COORDINATE ITS EFFORTS
IN REVISING REF E WITH DC PP&O, WHO IS THE PRIMARY STAFF SPONSOR OF
THE MARINE CORPS LAW OF WAR PROGRAM. 
B. CG MCCDC, IN COORDINATION WITH JAD, WILL ENSURE ALL LAW OF WAR
TRAINING MATERIALS MCCDC IS RESPONSIBLE FOR UNDER REF E, ARE
CONSISTENT WITH REF B. JAD WILL ENSURE ALL LAW OF WAR TRAINING
MATERIALS IT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR UNDER REF E, ARE CONSISTENT WITH REF
B. MARFOR SJAS MUST ENSURE ALL LAW OF WAR TRAINING PROVIDED BY
THEIR SUPPORTING ELEMENTS IS CONSISTENT WITH REF B.
C. COMMANDERS MUST ENSURE PERSONNEL RECEIVE LAW OF WAR TRAINING AS
REQUIRED BY REF B AND REF E.
5. EXPIRATION DATE: INDEFINITE.