R 111130Z DEC 01 ZYW
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//HD//
TO MARADMIN
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UNCLAS //N01130//
MARADMIN 609/01
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/HD//
SUBJ/COMMAND HISTORICAL PROGRAM//
REF/A/DOC/MCO3750.1//
REF/B/DOC/MCO5040.8A//
REF/C/DOC/MCO5211.4//
REF/D/DOC/MCO5510.1B//
REF/E/DOC/MCO5750.10//
NARR/REF A PROVIDES THE BASIC REF FOR COMMAND CHRONOLOGIES. REF
B PROVIDES THE SAME FOR HQMC ANNUAL SUMMARY OF ACTITIVITES. REF C,
REF D, AND REF E PROVIDE AMPLIFYING INSTRUCTIONS FOR GEN OFFICER
SPEECHES, SPECAT MSGS, AND ORAL HISTORY SUBMISSIONS.//
POC/MELSON, CHARLES D./GS14/HD/-/TEL: DSN 288-3839
/SECTEL: MELSONCDHQMC.USMC.MIL//
RMKS/1. DUE TO RECENT EVENTS, WHETHER IT BE RESCUE, RECOVERY, OR
COMBAT OPERATIONS, NOW IS AN OPPORTUNE TIME TO REMIND COMMANDERS
AND STAFFS OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO ACCURATELY DOCUMENT ACTIONS
SO THAT MARINES, SAILORS, AND CIVILIANS INVOLVED RECEIVE THE
APPROPRIATE CREDIT WHEN HISTORY IS DOCUMENTED.
2. REF A PROVIDES GUIDANCE REGARDING THE SUBMISSION OF COMMAND
CHRONOLOGIES DOWN TO THE BATTALION AND SQUADRON LEVEL. REF B
PROVIDES HQMC STAFFS GUIDANCE REGARDING THEIR REQUIREMENT TO
SUBMIT AN ANNUAL SUMMARY OF ACTIVITES.
3. UNITS IN COMBAT, SPECIAL MAGTFS, OR DETACHMENTS ARE REQUIRED
TO SUBMIT COMMAND CHRONOLOGIES MONTHLY AND/OR WITHIN 90-DAYS OF
TERMINATION OF OPERATIONS. EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT A REPORT
DEFERRED IS A REPORT NOT SUBMITTED, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTATION.
4. REF'S C THROUGH E PROVIDE ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE IN THE
PREPARATION OF THESE REPORTS WHEN FORWARDING RECORDS CONSIDERED
ESSENTIAL IN TELLING THE STORY - TO INCLUDE PHOTOGRAPHS, GRAPHICS,
AND KEY DOCUMENTS. USE OF A STRONG NARRATIVE STYLE GIVING WHO,
WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, AND WHY IS ESSENTIAL AS SOME OPERATIONAL REPORTS,
EMAILS, AND EFILES ARE TRANSITORY AND UNREADABLE OVER TIME. IN
ADDITION TO JOURNALS AND MESSAGES, INCLUDE UNIT OR DETACHMENT
ROSTERS, AWARD RECOMMENDATIONS, PUBLIC AFFAIRS STORIES, SPECIAL
BRIEFS, AFTER ACTION REPORTS, AND OTHER PERTINENT DOCUMENTS TO
ACCURATELY REFLECT ACTIONS OF OUR MARINES.//
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