Deployment Tempo (Deptempo) Under-Reporting Corrective Action

1.  PURPOSE.  TO AGAIN REQUEST ASSISTANCE OF 
COMMANDERS, AT ALL LEVELS, IN CORRECTING THE UNDER-REPORTING OF 
DEPTEMPO DATA, TO ENSURE THAT MARINE CORPS DEPTEMPO DATA IS ACCURATE
AND COMPLETE.    
2.  DISCUSSION
A.  SINCE 01 OCT 2000, THE SERVICES HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO TRACK AND 
REPORT DEPTEMPO FOR ALL ASSIGNED MEMBERS.  REF A PROVIDES DEPTEMPO 
REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS.  REF B REQUESTED ASSISTANCE OF COMMANDERS AT
ALL LEVELS IN CORRECTING THE UNDER-REPORTING OF DEPTEMPO DATA IN THE
MARINE CORPS TO ENSURE THAT MARINE CORPS DEPTEMPO DATA IS ACCURATE 
AND COMPLETE.
B.  DEPTEMPO APPLIES TO ALL MARINES, ACTIVE AND RESERVE, REGARDLESS 
OF GRADE, BILLET, OR ASSIGNED UNIT, INCLUDING THOSE ASSIGNED TO HQMC,
JOINT, EXTERNAL, AND INDEPENDENT BILLETS.
C.  DEPTEMPO IS A LEGISLATED INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE 
EXCESSIVE DEPLOYMENT OF SERVICE PERSONNEL.  
D.  BASED UPON DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN STAFFS, SITE VISITS, ANALYSIS OF 
MCTFS AND DEFENSE MANPOWER DATA CENTER (DMDC) DATA, ETC., THE 
MARINE CORPS CONTINUES TO NOT ACCURATELY, CONSISTENTLY, OR 
COMPREHENSIVELY REPORT DEPTEMPO IN MCTFS.  IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL
THAT DEPTEMPO REPORTING AND TRACKING IS ACCURATE, COMPLETE AND 
TIMELY FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:
(1) TO ACCURATELY REFLECT THE EXPEDITIONARY NATURE OF OUR CORPS - 
PARTICULARLY DURING A TIME OF WAR;
(2) TO ENSURE MARINES ARE CREDITED WITH THE DEPTEMPO THEY HAVE 
EARNED;
(3) TO ENSURE HQMC CAN MAKE CORRECT PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT DECISIONS -
DEPTEMPO REPORTING AFFECTS PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT DECISIONS NOT ONLY 
FOR INDIVIDUAL MARINES BUT ALSO FOR MOS'S, OCCUPATIONAL FIELDS, 
UNITS AND THE MARINE CORPS AS A WHOLE. 
3.  ACTION
A.  COMMANDERS AT ALL LEVELS WILL REVIEW THE DEPTEMPO STATUS OF THE
MARINES AND SAILORS IN THEIR UNITS, DETERMINE IF UNDER-REPORTING HAS
OCCURRED, AND TAKE IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION TO REPORT DEPTEMO IN
MCTFS WHEN REQUIRED.
B.  ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT DETACHMENT COMMANDERS WILL ENSURE THAT 
MARINES, ASSIGNED TO INDEPENDENT OR EXTERNAL BILLETS BUT UNDER 
THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE CARE, HAVE HAD THEIR DEPTEMPO PROPERLY 
REPORTED.
C.  INDIVIDUAL MARINES, WHEN NECESSARY, WILL ENSURE THEIR COMMANDS 
ARE AWARE OF ANY DEPTEMPO THEY ACCRUE.  
D.  COMMANDERS WILL COMPLETE REVIEWS AND PROVIDE UPDATED DEPTEMPO 
DATA TO MCTFS NLT 30 DAYS FROM RELEASE OF THIS MESSAGE.
4.  THE STAFF IN CMC (MPO) AND THE LOCAL MISSO OFFICE PERSONNEL ARE
AVAILABLE TO ASSIST UNITS IN VERIFYING AND CORRECTING UNDER-REPORTING
OR CLARIFYING POLICY, PROCEDURES AND GUIDANCE.