Update to Approval Process for Posthumous Promotion of Officers and Staff Noncommissioned Officers
This MARADMIN updates the approval process for posthumous promotions of officers and staff noncommissioned officers who were selected for promotion but died in the line of duty before being promoted. Effective October 1, 2004, approval authority for officer posthumous promotions was delegated from the President to the Secretary of Defense, shortening approval time. The message also clarifies procedures for both officer and enlisted posthumous promotion nomination packages.
Issued: November 18, 2004
1. BACKGROUND. REF A AMPLIFIED THE GUIDANCE TO COMMANDERS CONTAINED IN REF B AND C REGARDING APPROVAL AUTHORITY FOR POSTHUMOUS PROMOTIONS FOR OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MARINES WHO WERE SELECTED FOR PROMOTION BUT DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY PRIOR TO THEIR PROMOTION. THIS MARADMIN ADDRESSES RECENT CHANGES TO THE APPROVAL PROCESS FOR POSTHUMOUS PROMOTIONS AND PROVIDES UPDATED GUIDANCE FOR COMMANDERS. 2. REF D DELEGATED THE APPROVAL AUTHORITY FOR OFFICER POSTHUMOUS PROMOTIONS FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE EFFECTIVE 1 OCT 2004. THIS WILL SHORTEN THE TIME REQUIRED TO RECEIVE APPROVAL FOR OFFICER POSTHUMOUS PROMOTION NOMINATION PACKAGES. 3. WHILE REF A DIRECTED THAT REQUESTS FOR APPROVAL FOR OFFICER POSTHUMOUS PROMOTIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE OFFICER PROMOTION SECTION (CMC(MMPR-1)), THE PROCESS OUTLINED IN REF B WHEREBY CMC(MMPR-1) INITIATES PREPARATION OF A POSTHUMOUS PROMOTION NOMINATION PACKAGE UPON RECEIPT OF A PERSONNEL CASUALTY REPORT HAS NOT CHANGED. CMC(MMPR-1) REVIEWS ALL OFFICER PERSONNEL CASUALTY REPORTS AND CHECKS THE NAMES AGAINST PROMOTION LISTS. IN CASES WHERE A DECEASED OFFICER HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR PROMOTION BUT WAS NOT PROMOTED PRIOR TO DEATH, CMC(MMPR-1) WILL CONTACT THE COMMAND TO DETERMINE IF THE COMMANDING OFFICER RECOMMENDS THE OFFICER FOR PROMOTION. UPON CONFIRMATION FROM CASUALTY BRANCH (CMC(MRC)) THAT THE DEATH WAS IN THE LINE OF DUTY, CMC(MMPR-1) WILL FORWARD THE POSTHUMOUS PROMOTION NOMINATION PACKAGE FOR APPROVAL BY THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE VIA THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 4. IN ORDER TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS FOR APPROVAL OF POSTHUMOUS PROMOTIONS FOR STAFF NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS, THE ENLISTED PROMOTION SECTION (CMC(MMPR-2)) HAS IMPLEMENTED PROCEDURES TO REVIEW ALL PERSONNEL CASUALTY REPORTS FOR SERGEANTS AND STAFF NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS TO DETERMINE IF THEY WERE SELECTED FOR PROMOTION BUT NOT YET PROMOTED. IN THOSE CASES, CMC(MMPR-2) WILL CONTACT THE COMMAND TO DETERMINE IF THE COMMANDING OFFICER RECOMMENDS THE MARINE AS QUALIFIED FOR PROMOTION. UPON CONFIRMATION FROM CASUALTY BRANCH (CMC(MRC)) THAT THE DEATH WAS IN THE LINE OF DUTY, CMC(MMPR-2) WILL RELEASE A NAVAL MESSAGE INFORMING THE COMMAND AND CMC(MRC) THAT THE POSTHUMOUS PROMOTION IS APPROVED. 5. COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL PROMOTION BRANCH (CMC(MMPR)) IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE ABOVE GUIDANCE. POC FOR OFFICER PROMOTION SECTION (CMC(MMPR-1)) IS MAJ P. L. GILLIS, DSN 278-9703/4 COMM (703) 784-9703 OR EMAIL: PETER.GILLIS@USMC.MIL. POC FOR ENLISTED PROMOTION SECTION (CMC(MMPR-2)) IS CAPT J. A. MCLAUGHLIN, DSN 278-9710 COMM (703) 784-9710 OR EMAIL JAMES.MCLAUGHLIN@USMC.MIL.