MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/POLITICAL ACTIVITIES BY MEMBERS OF THE MARINE CORPS//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/DOD WASHINGTON DC USD (PR)/YMD:20080219//
NARR/REF A IS DODD 1344.10, POLITICAL ACTIVITIES BY MEMBERS OF THE
ARMED FORCES.//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. RECENTLY, SOME MARINES HAVE APPEARED IN UNIFORM
AT PARTISAN POLITICAL EVENTS SUCH AS CAMPAIGN SPEECHES GIVEN BY
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES. THIS ACTIVITY IS PROHIBITED. MARINES WILL
NOT APPEAR IN UNIFORM AT ANY EVENT THAT COULD BE CONSTRUED AS
PARTISAN POLITICAL ACTIVITY. ANY EVENT AT WHICH A PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE IS SPEAKING SHALL BE CONSIDERED A PARTISAN POLITICAL EVENT.
2. DOD POLICY ENCOURAGES SERVICE MEMBERS TO CARRY OUT THE
OBLIGATIONS OF CITIZENSHIP. HOWEVER, DOD PERSONNEL MAY NOT ENGAGE
IN ACTIVITIES THAT ASSOCIATE DOD WITH ANY PARTISAN POLITICAL
CAMPAIGN OR ELECTION, CANDIDATE, CAUSE, OR ISSUE. THE REFERENCE
CONTAINS THE RULES APPLICABLE TO SERVICE MEMBERS PARTICIPATING IN
POLITICAL ACTIVITIES, AND PROVIDES EXAMPLES OF BOTH WHAT IS, AND IS
NOT, PERMISSIBLE.
3. IF THERE IS ANY POSSIBILITY AN EVENT MAY BE A PARTISAN POLITICAL
EVENT, DO NOT ATTEND IN UNIFORM. IF YOU ARE AT AN EVENT IN UNIFORM
AND IT TURNS INTO A PARTISAN POLITICAL EVENT, DEPART AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
4. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CONSULT YOUR LOCAL STAFF JUDGE
ADVOCATE OR CONTACT LTCOL R. E. GRANT, JUDGE ADVOCATE DIVISION, HQMC
VIA EMAIL AT RICHARD.GRANT@USMC.MIL, OR VIA PHONE AT COMMERCIAL
(703) 614-2510 OR DSN 224-2510.
5. SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//