Changes to the Light Duty and Limited Duty Processing
This MARADMIN implements changes to Light Duty and Limited Duty processing procedures for Marines, based on updates to the Manual of the Medical Department. The changes are designed to provide injured Marines with maximum hands-on medical care while reducing administrative burden on care providers, and include new time limits for light duty status, expanded use of abbreviated medical evaluation boards, and requirements for commands to appoint Limited Duty Coordinators.
Issued: October 21, 2005
1. SCOPE. PER REFS A THROUGH D, THIS MARADMIN APPLIES TO ALL MARINES, OFFICERS AND ENLISTED, SERVING IN THE REGULAR MARINE CORPS, AND TO MEMBERS OF THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE SERVING ON ACTIVE DUTY. 2. PURPOSE. THIS MARADMIN WILL HIGHLIGHT THE CHANGES PUBLISHED BY REF A, TO REF B, AND PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDANCE TO COMMANDERS FOR THE CARE AND TREATMENT OF INJURED MARINES PROCESSING THROUGH THE DISABILITY EVALUATION SYSTEM. THE CHANGES WERE APPROVED WITH THE INTENT OF PROVIDING OUR INJURED MARINES WITH THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT OF HANDS-ON MEDICAL CARE WHILE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN ON THEIR CARE PROVIDERS. 3. THE CHANGES TO REF B HAVE CAUSED CONFLICTING GUIDANCE IN PARA 8603 OF REF C. UNTIL THE NEXT REVISION OF REF C IS PUBLISHED, THE FOLLOWING CHANGES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED: A. MARINES MAY BE PLACED IN A LIGHT DUTY STATUS FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 90 DAYS (ASSIGNED IN 30 DAY INCREMENTS). IF A MARINE IS NOT EXPECTED TO RETURN TO FULL DUTY BY THE END OF THE 90-DAY PERIOD OF LIGHT DUTY THEN AT THE END OF 60 DAYS A LIMITED DUTY BOARD SHALL BE INITIATED. THE MARINE MAY BE RETAINED IN A LIGHT DUTY STATUS FOR AN ADDITIONAL 30 DAYS TO ALLOW FOR THE PROCESSING OF A LIMITED DUTY BOARD. COMMANDERS SHALL COORDINATE WITH THE APPROPRIATE MEDICAL STAFF TO ENSURE THAT NO MARINE BE RETAINED IN A LIGHT DUTY STATUS BEYOND 90 DAYS WITHOUT A LIMITED DUTY BOARD BEING COMPLETED. B. ABBREVIATED MEDICAL EVALUATION BOARD REPORTS MAY NOW BE UTILIZED FOR THE FIRST 2 CONSECUTIVE 6 MONTH PERIODS OF LIMITED DUTY FOR ALL OFFICER AND ENLISTED. DICTATED MEDICAL EVALUATION BOARD REPORTS ARE REQUIRED FOR CUMULATIVE PERIODS OF LIMITED DUTY GREATER THAN 12 MONTHS FOR THE SAME MEDICAL CONDITION. ALL LIMITED DUTY MEDICAL EVALUATION BOARDS FOR OFFICERS WILL BE FORWARDED TO CMC(MMSR-4) FOR DEPARTMENTAL REVIEW. C. COMMANDS ARE REQUIRED TO APPOINT A LIMITED DUTY COORDINATOR WHO WILL SERVE AS THE COMMAND POINT OF CONTACT FOR SCHEDULING AND TRACKING ALL LIGHT DUTY AND LIMITED DUTY RELATED FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENTS AND REEVALUATIONS. COMMANDS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPORTING ACCURATE DUTY LIMITATIONS CODES IN THE MARINE CORPS TOTAL FORCE SYSTEM (MCTFS). D. IF A MARINE IS FOUND FIT FOR DUTY AT THE COMPLETION OF A PERIOD OF LIMITED DUTY, OR FIT FOR CONTINUED NAVAL SERVICE BY THE PHYSICAL EVALUATION BOARD AND IS STILL UNABLE TO MEET THE RETENTION AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, THE MARINE MAY BE SUBJECT TO ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATION AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COMMANDING OFFICER. 4. THIS MARADMIN IS CANCELLED WHEN THE CHANGES HEREIN ARE INCORPORATED INTO THE NEXT REVISION OF REF C AND FOR RECORD PURPOSES OCT 06.