R 150940Z OCT 01 ZYW
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//MM//
TO MARADMIN
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UNCLAS //N01070//
MARADMIN 497/01
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MMSB//
SUBJ/REQUIREMENT OF PHOTOGRAPHS FOR PROMOTION/SELECTION BOARDS//
REF/A/DOC/MIFD/14JUL00//
AMPN/REF A IS MCO P1070.12K, MARINE CORPS INDIVIDUAL RECORDS AND
ADMINISTRATION MANUAL (IRAM)//
POC/WILLIAM G. SWARENS/GM-15/MMSB/-/TEL:DSN 278-5674//
RMKS/1. MARINES TAKE PRIDE IN ACCOMPLISHING THE MISSION AND IN
TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN. BUT, WHEN IT COMES TO SUBMITTING OFFICIAL
PHOTOGRAPHS FOR PROMOTION, SOME MARINES ARE NOT COMPLYING WITH THE
REF OR THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE CONVENING NOTICES PUBLISHED FOR EACH
PROMOTION BOARD.
2. THE PURPOSE OF A PROMOTION BOARD PHOTOGRAPH IS TO GIVE THE
BRIEFER AND THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS A TOOL TO INSTANTLY DETERMINE
WHETHER A MARINE MEETS THE HEIGHT/WEIGHT AND PERSONAL APPEARANCE
STANDARDS REQUIRED OF ALL MARINES. WITHOUT A PHOTO, A MARINE'S
RECORD IS INCOMPLETE.
3. THE SERVICE RECORDS OF THE MAJORITY OF TODAY'S MARINES ARE
IMPECCABLE. MARINES ARE PERFORMING MANY GREAT THINGS. RECORDS ARE
EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE. THE LACK OF A PHOTOGRAPH MAKES A MARINE'S
RECORD WEAKER THAN THAT OF MARINES WHO SUBMIT PHOTOS. THE LACK OF A
PHOTO CAN LEAD BOARD MEMBERS TO ASSUME THAT AN INDIVIDUAL JUST DOES
NOT CARE ABOUT HIS/HER PROMOTION OR HAS SOMETHING TO HIDE.
SUBMISSION OF PHOTOS BY MARINES IN THE BELOW ZONE CATEGORY SHOWS THE
PROMOTION BOARD THAT A MARINE CONSIDERS HIMSELF/HERSELF READY FOR
ADVANCEMENT AND THAT HE/SHE CAN FOLLOW BASIC ORDERS. SUBMISSION OF
PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARINES IN THE ABOVE ZONE SHOWS BOARD MEMBERS THAT
THESE MARINES CARE AND ARE STILL FIGHTING FOR SELECTION, AND HAVE
NOT GIVEN UP.
4. MARADMIN 463/01 ANNOUNCED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW DIGITAL
PHOTO INITIATIVE. SUBMISSION OF PHOTOS IS NOW AUTHORIZED WITHIN 12
MONTHS OF A BOARD VICE SIX MONTHS. DIGITAL PHOTOS WILL REMAIN IN
THE OFFICIAL MILITARY PERSONNEL FILE (OMPF) UNTIL REPLACED BY NEWER
PHOTOS. AS PART OF THE OMPF, DIGITAL PHOTOS WILL NOW BE AVAILABLE
FOR USE BY ALL BOARDS AND MONITORS. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THESE
PHOTOS BE SUBMITTED.
5. IT IS BOTH AN INDIVIDUAL'S AND COMMAND'S REPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE
STRICT COMPLIANCE WITH THE GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED BY CMC CONCERNING
THE SUBMISSION OF OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHS. ALL MARINES ARE DIRECTED TO
COMPLY WITH THE REF, CONVENING NOTICES FOR SPECIFIC PROMOTION BOARDS,
AND MARADMIN 463/01. ADDITIONALLY, COMMANDERS MUST ENSURE THEIR
MARINES ARE EDUCATED IN REGARDS TO THIS IMPORTANT
RESPONSIBILITY.//
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