R 2220462z AUG 08
MARADMIN 471/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MRA//
SUBJ/TRANSITIONING THE MARINE CORPS FAMILY READINESS PROGRAM
/- MANNING AND STAFFING POLICY AND PROCEDURES//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/MARADMIN 461 08/-//
REF/B/MSGID: DOC/MCO P12000.11A/-//
REF/C/MSGID: DOC/MCO 1754.6A/-//
REF/D/MSGID: DOC/NAVMC 1754.6A/-//
POC/K. A. GATES/NF04/UNIT:MRZ/-/TEL: DSN 278-0296
/EMAIL: MCFTB@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/-1. PURPOSE. THIS MESSAGE AND THE GUIDANCE
CONTAINED HEREIN ANNOUNCES, SUPPLEMENTS, AND ELABORATES UPON THE
STAFFING DISCUSSED IN REFERENCE (A).
2. BACKGROUND. REFERENCE (A) PROVIDED A CONCEPTUAL OVERVIEW OF
PLANNED ENHANCEMENTS (I.E., STAFFING, TECHNOLOGY, FUNDING, ETC.) TO
MARINE CORPS FAMILY TEAM BUILDING AND UNIT FAMILY READINESS PROGRAMS
AS DIRECTED BY THE 34TH COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS PLANNING
GUIDANCE.
3. ACTION
A. BILLETS DESCRIBED IN REFERENCE (A) HAVE BEEN SEPARATELY
COORDINATED AND PROMULGATED TO APPROPRIATE MARINE FORCES
HEADQUARTERS. APPROPRIATED FUNDS (APF), TO BE ADMINISTERED THROUGH
THE UNIFORM FUNDING AND MANAGEMENT (UFM) PROCESS FOR THE BILLETS,
WILL BE PROVIDED BASED ON VALIDATED AND APPROVED REQUIREMENTS.
FUNDS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH OPERATIONAL BUDGET (OPBUD) HOLDERS
FOR ALLOCATION TO SUBORDINATE COMMANDS.
B. INSTALLATION MARINE CORPS COMMUNITY SERVICES (MCCS)
NONAPPROPRIATED FUND (NAF) HR OFFICES WILL, AFTER VALIDATING THE
UNIT'S FAMILY READINESS OFFICER (FRO) SELECTION, INITIATE HIRING
ACTIONS FOR APPROVED COMMAND STAFFING PLANS (PER AUTHORIZED LEVELS)
USING EXISTING MERIT STAFFING POLICIES FOR ALL CIVILIAN POSITIONS
WITH THE SUPPLEMENTAL GUIDELINES CONTAINED HEREIN. HQMC HUMAN
RESOURCES AND TRAINING BRANCH (MRG) WILL COORDINATE THE HIRING
ACTIONS FOR MARINE FORCES RESERVE, MARINE CORPS RECRUITING COMMAND
AND OTHER COMMANDS NOT SUPPORTED BY A NAF HR OFFICE, WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF PENSACOLA AND MARCENT, WHICH WILL BE SUPPORTED BY MCLB
ALBANY MCCS AND CAMP PENDLETON MCCS, RESPECTIVELY. COMMANDS SHALL
UTILIZE STANDARD POSITION/BILLET DESCRIPTIONS THAT CORRESPOND WITH
THE UNIT COMMANDERS' RANK. STANDARD POSITION DESCRIPTIONS (SPD)
IDENTIFY MINIMUM DUTIES AND QUALIFICATIONS FOR EACH BILLET.
C. PRIORITY SHALL BE GIVEN TO DEPLOYING UNITS WITH MORE THAN 60
DAYS, BUT LESS THAN 120 DAYS BEFORE SCHEDULED DEPLOYMENT DATE. UNIT
CHANGE OF COMMAND DATES WILL ALSO BE CONSIDERED IN THE STAFFING
PROCESS.
D. TO ENSURE STANDARDIZATION AMONG INSTALLATIONS, BILLETS WHICH
ALREADY EXIST FOR SIMILAR FUNCTIONS SHALL BE RE-TITLED AND RE-SCOPED
TO MATCH THE SPD. IF AN APF EMPLOYEE CURRENTLY FILLS A BILLET,
ALTHOUGH RE-TITLED AND RE-SCOPED, THE EMPLOYEE SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED
TO CONVERT TO NAF. THE NEXT HIRING ACTION FOR THE BILLET SHALL BE
VIA THE NAF PROCESS.
E. NAF HR OFFICES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MARFORRES UNITS, MAY
PUBLISH ONE JOB VACANCY NOTICE FOR ALL UNIT CIVILIAN FRO
RECRUITMENTS. HOWEVER, APPLICANTS MUST HAVE THE OPTION OF
REQUESTING A PARTICULAR UNIT FOR WHICH TO BE CONSIDERED.
F. NAF HR OFFICES MAY ESTABLISH ONE RATING AND RANKING PANEL
TO REVIEW ALL QUALIFIED CIVILIAN FRO APPLICANTS. UNIT COMMANDERS,
HOWEVER, MUST BE INVOLVED IN THE INTERVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS
AFTER APPLICANTS HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY RATED AND RANKED.
G. QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WHO HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY SCREENED
REMAIN ELIGIBLE TO BE REFERRED FOR AN INTERVIEW FOR A PERIOD OF SIX
MONTHS AFTER THE CLOSING OF THE POSITION THAT THEY ORIGINALLY
APPLIED FOR.
4. EXECUTION
A. FULL-TIME UNIT FRO BILLETS.
(1) CIVILIAN FRO BILLETS SHALL BE ESTABLISHED AT ALL LEVELS
AT AND ABOVE THE BATTALION AND SQUADRON LEVEL, IN ACCORDANCE WITH
AUTHORIZED STAFFING LEVELS.
(A) CIVILIAN FROS SHALL BE HIRED VIA INSTALLATION NAF HR
MECHANISMS AND WILL FALL ADMINISTRATIVELY UNDER THE COGNIZANCE OF
THE INSTALLATION COMMANDER AND MCCS DIRECTOR. MCCS ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO HR SUPPORT, ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPLIES, AND ACCESS TO UNIT/FAMILY READINESS FUNDS. CIVILIAN FROS
WILL FALL OPERATIONALLY UNDER THE SUPPORTED UNIT COMMANDER IN ORDER
TO IMPLEMENT THE COMMANDERS FAMILY READINESS VISION AND INTENT. THE
COMMANDER SHALL UTILIZE REFERENCE (B) FOR ALL PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
MATTERS INCLUDING COMPLETION OF APPROPRIATE PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS
AND PROVIDING RECOMMENDATIONS TO MCCS REGARDING PERFORMANCE
MANAGEMENT.
(B) IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE HIRING UNIT
LEADERSHIP SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR EMPLOYMENT AS THE FRO IN THAT
UNIT.
(C) NAF HR PERSONNEL SHALL SUPPORT SELECTION BOARDS AND
PROVIDE HIRING COUNSEL TO THE BOARDS, AS REQUIRED. SELECTION
BOARDS, CHAIRED BY AND COMPRISED OF COMMAND-DESIGNATED
REPRESENTATIVES, WILL SELECT THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATE(S). MCCS
MCFTB STAFF WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ADVISE SELECTION BOARDS UPON
REQUEST. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE: ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE
ORALLY AND IN WRITING, POSSESS ABILITIES TO ENERGIZE, MOTIVATE, AND
ASSIST MARINES AND FAMILIES, AND REPRESENT THE COMMAND TEAM AS
APPROPRIATE ON ALL FAMILY READINESS MATTERS. COMMUNICATION SKILLS
ARE CRITICAL TO THE FRO BILLET, A WRITING DEMONSTRATION AND ORAL
PRESENTATION ARE REQUIRED DURING THE INTERVIEW PROCESS. HQMC MR
WILL PROVIDE A SAMPLE WRITING DEMONSTRATION AND ORAL PRESENTATION
TEST.
(D) NAF HR PERSONNEL WILL SUPPORT COMMANDS IN THE
TRAINING AND EXECUTION OF CIVILIAN PAYROLL, LEAVE, AND TIME AND
ATTENDANCE PROCESSES. TIME WILL BE INPUT BY EACH FRO, APPROVED AND
CERTIFIED BY A DESIGNATED COMMAND REPRESENTATIVE, AND PROCESSED BY
THE NAF HR PERSONNEL.
(E) THE MAXIMUM AUTHORIZED SALARY FOR LTCOL LEVEL
COMMANDS IS $49,000, COLONEL LEVEL COMMANDS IS $54,000, AND GENERAL
OFFICER LEVEL COMMANDS IS $60,000. THE INSTALLATION COMMANDER/MCCS
DIRECTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ESTABLISHING A LEVEL OF PAY THAT IS
CONSISTENT AND EQUITABLE WITH LOCAL HIRING PRACTICES/GEOGRAPHICAL
REQUIREMENTS.
(2) ACTIVE DUTY MARINE FRO BILLETS (STAFF NONCOMMISSIONED
OFFICER) MAY BE ESTABLISHED AT THE BATTALION AND SQUADRON LEVEL.
HQMC MR SHALL COORDINATE WITH UNIT COMMANDERS FOR STAFFING UTILIZING
OPTIONS THAT HAVE THE LEAST IMPACT ON THE ACTIVE COMPONENT INCLUDING
RETIRE/RETAIN, RETIRE/RECALL, AND MULTIPLE-DEPLOYMENT MARINES FOR
DUTY AS THE FULL-TIME FRO. HIRING PRIORITY SHALL BE GIVEN TO FY08
DEPLOYING UNITS. THE IMPORTANCE OF FINDING THE "RIGHT MARINE FOR
THE JOB" CANNOT BE OVEREMPHASIZED.
(A) MARINES SHALL BE ASSIGNED TO THE POSITION FOR A
MINIMUM OF TWO YEARS FOR THE SAKE OF CONTINUITY.
(B) WHEN THE UNIT DEPLOYS, THE FRO SHALL REMAIN BEHIND
TO SUPPORT THE UNIT'S FAMILIES. THE FRO SHALL NOT BE DESIGNATED AS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE UNIT REMAIN BEHIND ELEMENT, BUT RATHER SHALL BE
ALLOWED TO FOCUS EXCLUSIVELY ON FAMILY READINESS ISSUES.
(3) IF THE COMMAND IS UNABLE TO OBTAIN A SUITABLE
RETIRE/RETAIN, RETIRE/RECALL FRO, THEN THE UNIT CAN EITHER HIRE A
CIVILIAN FRO OR APPOINT A FRO FROM THE UNIT'S OWN SNCO POOL.
(4) NEW FRO TRAINING CURRICULUM AND OTHER TRAINING
CURRICULA, ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH INSTALLATION MCFTB OFFICES AND
SHALL GUIDE THE FRO IN THE EXECUTION OF THEIR DUTIES.
(5) FROS SHALL BE INTERVIEWED, SELECTED AND APPOINTED IN
WRITING BY THE COMMANDER, AND TRAINED BY THE INSTALLATION MCFTB
FAMILY READINESS PROGRAM TRAINER. FAMILY READINESS PROGRAM TRAINERS
SHALL BE AVAILABLE FOR ONE-ON-ONE TRAINING SESSIONS AS NECESSARY.
B. DEPUTY FRO. COMMANDERS AT ALL LEVELS ARE AUTHORIZED TO
APPOINT A MILITARY DEPUTY FRO ON A PART-TIME/COLLATERAL DUTY BASIS.
THE DEPUTY FRO ASSISTS THE FULL-TIME FRO IN THE EXECUTION OF THE
FROS DUTIES. THIS BILLET MUST BE SOURCED FROM INTERNAL COMMAND
RESOURCES; IT SHALL NOT BE RESOURCED BY HQMC. FOR THE SAKE OF
STANDARDIZATION AMONG COMMANDS, DEPUTY FRO IS THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE
TITLE FOR THIS POSITION. DEPUTY FROS SHALL ALSO RECEIVE FRO
TRAINING VIA INSTALLATION MCFTB OFFICES. DEPUTY FROS SHALL BE
UTILIZED BY GEOGRAPHICALLY SEPARATED DETACHMENTS/SUBORDINATE UNITS.
C. VOLUNTEER UNIT FAMILY READINESS ADVISORS/ASSISTANTS
(1) FAMILY READINESS ADVISOR
(A) THE FAMILY READINESS ADVISOR SHALL SPECIFICALLY
ADVISE THE FAMILY READINESS COMMAND TEAM REGARDING THE OVERALL UNIT
FAMILY READINESS PROGRAM AND FAMILY WELL-BEING.
(B) THE FAMILY READINESS ADVISOR SHALL BE AN EXPERIENCED
SPOUSE AND/OR DESIGNATED PARENT/EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBER OF AN
ENLISTED OR OFFICER MEMBER OF THE UNIT AND SHOULD IDEALLY BE
GEOGRAPHICALLY PROXIMATE TO THE UNIT. USE OF BOTH A SPOUSE AND A
PARENT/EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBER WILL HELP ENSURE A COMMANDER THAT ALL
CONSTITUENCIES ARE GIVEN A VOICE, PROVIDING MEANINGFUL FEEDBACK TO
THE FAMILY READINESS COMMAND TEAM. THE FAMILY READINESS ADVISOR
SHALL HAVE DEMONSTRATED: COMMUNICATION SKILLS; EXPERIENCE IN MEETING
THE CHALLENGES OF THE MILITARY LIFESTYLE; AND ABILITY TO NAVIGATE
THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO MILITARY FAMILIES.
(C) PRIOR TO ASSUMING THE POSITION, THE FAMILY READINESS
ADVISOR SHALL BE INTERVIEWED, SELECTED AND APPOINTED IN WRITING BY
THE UNIT COMMANDER AND TRAINED BY THE INSTALLATION MCFTB FAMILY
READINESS PROGRAM TRAINER.
(D) THE FAMILY READINESS ADVISOR SHALL:
(1) SERVE LATERALLY WITH THE FAMILY READINESS
COMMAND TEAM LEADERSHIP TO SUPPORT THE UNIT FAMILY READINESS PROGRAM.
(2) ACT IN CONCERT LATERALLY WITH THE FAMILY
READINESS OFFICER, EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SERGEANT MAJOR, CHAPLAIN, AND
OTHER FAMILY READINESS ADVISOR(S) IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMANDER.
(3) SERVE AS AN ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK MECHANISM FROM
THE FAMILIES TO THE COMMAND TEAM AND ATTEND ALL UNIT FAMILY
READINESS PROGRAM MEETINGS.
(4) CONTRIBUTE CONTENT TO FAMILY READINESS
COMMUNICATIONS AND ASSIST IN DEVELOPMENT OF UNIT COMMUNICATION
STRATEGIES.
(5) PROVIDE FAMILY INSIGHT TO THE FAMILY READINESS
COMMAND TEAM REGARDING THE OVERALL UNIT FAMILY READINESS PROGRAM AND
FAMILY WELL-BEING.
(6) PARTICIPATE IN FAMILY READINESS COMMAND TEAM
PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMANDER.
(2) FAMILY READINESS ASSISTANTS
(A) THE UNIT COMMANDER SHALL APPOINT VOLUNTEER FAMILY
READINESS ASSISTANTS TO ASSIST THE FRO IN THE EXECUTION OF THE UNIT
FAMILY READINESS PROGRAM.
(B) FAMILY READINESS ASSISTANTS ARE GUIDED BY THE FRO,
AND SUPPORT THE FAMILY READINESS MISSION BY PROVIDING FEEDBACK FROM
UNIT FAMILIES AND ASSISTING WITH INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES.
(C) FAMILY READINESS ASSISTANTS SHALL SERVE AS MENTORS
AND ROLE MODELS; HAVE DEMONSTRATED COMMUNICATION SKILLS; AND HAVE
EXPERIENCE IN MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF THE MILITARY LIFESTYLE AND
NAVIGATING THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO MILITARY FAMILIES.
(D) FAMILY READINESS ASSISTANTS SHALL BE INTERVIEWED AND
SELECTED BY THE FRO AND UNIT COMMANDER. PRIOR TO ASSUMING THE
POSITION, THE FAMILY READINESS ASSISTANT WILL BE APPOINTED IN
WRITING BY THE UNIT COMMANDER AND TRAINED BY THE MCFTB FAMILY
READINESS PROGRAM TRAINER.
(E) FAMILY READINESS ASSISTANTS SHALL OPTIMALLY SERVE A
MINIMUM ASSIGNMENT OF ONE YEAR OR MORE.
(F) FAMILY READINESS ASSISTANTS SHALL SUPPORT THE
OFFICIAL UNIT FAMILY READINESS PROGRAM AND SHALL NOT PARTICIPATE IN
PLANNING OR EXECUTING UNIT SOCIAL OR MORALE SUPPORT EVENTS DURING
THEIR TERM OF APPOINTMENT.
D. FAMILY READINESS COMMAND TEAM TRAINING. MCFTB FAMILY
READINESS PROGRAM TRAINERS WILL TRAIN UNIT FAMILY READINESS COMMAND
TEAMS, AS DEFINED IN REFERENCE (A).
E. MCFTB STAFF. INSTALLATION STAFFING AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN
SEPARATELY PROMULGATED. INSTALLATION STAFFING WILL CONSIST OF
EXISTING STAFF AND NEW HIRES. MODEL BILLETS INCLUDE: MCFTB DIRECTOR
AND MCFTB ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT; LIFESTYLE INSIGHTS, NETWORKING,
KNOWLEDGE, AND SKILLS (L.I.N.K.S.) TRAINER AND L.I.N.K.S.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT; READINESS AND DEPLOYMENT SUPPORT TRAINER;
FAMILY READINESS PROGRAM TRAINER; AND LIFESKILLS TRAINER.
(1) THE HIRING OF MCFTB BILLETS SHALL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH
EXISTING NAF MERIT STAFFING PROCEDURES (SEE REFERENCE (B)).
STANDARDIZED PDS HAVE BEEN SEPARATELY PROMULGATED AND SHALL BE USED
FOR ALL RECRUITMENT AND STAFFING REQUIREMENTS. SAMPLE VACANCY
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND OTHER RECRUITMENT RESOURCES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED.
(2) PERFORMANCE METRICS FOR THESE POSITIONS WILL BE
DEVELOPED AT A LATER DATE AND PUBLISHED VIA SEPARATE CORRESPONDENCE.
F. MARINE CORPS COMMUNITY SERVICES (MCCS) COORDINATOR. THIS
BILLET SHALL BE ESTABLISHED AT ALL INSTALLATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH
PREVIOUSLY PROMULGATED STAFFING AUTHORIZATIONS. THE MCCS
COORDINATOR IS EMPLOYED BY THE INSTALLATION MCCS, WORKS DIRECTLY FOR
THE MCCS DIRECTOR, AND ACTS AS AN MCCS LIAISON TO THE UNIT
COMMANDERS, FROS, AND THE STAFF OF EACH GEOGRAPHIC/FUNCTIONAL AREA
OF THE INSTALLATION. IDEALLY, ONE MCCS COORDINATOR WILL BE ASSIGNED
TO EACH AREA COMMANDER TO SUPPORT THOSE UNITS WITHIN THAT AREA BY
COORDINATING WITH UNIT COMMANDERS AND FROS.
(1) MCCS COORDINATORS SHALL BE HIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
REFERENCE (B). THE INTERVIEW PANEL PROCESS SHALL INCLUDE A
COMMAND-DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE
SELECTION PROCESS. NAF HUMAN RESOURCES SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS SHALL
SUPPORT SELECTION BOARDS. SELECTION BOARDS SHALL RECOMMEND
INTERVIEWED CANDIDATES FOR SELECTION AND ASSIGNMENT TO THE
RESPECTIVE AREAS. THE MCCS DIRECTOR SHALL BE THE HIRING OFFICIAL.
(2) MCCS COORDINATORS SHALL BE TRAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
PARAGRAPH 4.E.2 ABOVE. ADDITIONAL INSTALLATION SPECIFIC TRAINING IS
HIGHLY ENCOURAGED.
(3) PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS, SALARY AND BONUS REQUIREMENTS
SHALL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE INSTALLATION COMMANDER/MCCS DIRECTOR OR
DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE, WITH INPUT PROVIDED BY THE RESPECTIVE
AREA COMMANDER.
(4) NAF HUMAN RESOURCES PERSONNEL SHALL ENTER THE REQUISITE
INFORMATION INTO PEOPLESOFT IMMEDIATELY AFTER IN-PROCESSING.
REPORTING OF AUTHORIZED HIRING ACTIONS SHALL BE VIA THE
INSTALLATION'S AUTHORIZED STAFFING LIST. THIS INFORMATION SHALL BE
SUBMITTED TO HORTONC@USMC-MCCS.ORG OR (703-432-1412). UPON RECEIPT
OF FORMAL NOTIFICATION, FUNDING SHALL BE PROVIDED FOR ACTUAL SALARY
PLUS BENEFIT COSTS AT 33% OF ACTUAL SALARY, UP TO THE AUTHORIZED
AMOUNT ESTABLISHED IN PREVIOUS COORDINATION. RECRUITMENT AND/OR
RELOCATION COSTS SHALL BE INVOICED TO HQMC MRF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
(3044 CATLIN AVENUE, QUANTICO VA 22134, 703-784-6337 OR
703-432-0736), FOLLOWING ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES, WITH DETAILED
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION.
5. ALL COMMANDS ARE REQUIRED TO AGGRESSIVELY IMPLEMENT THE
NECESSARY ACTIONS AS OUTLINED HEREIN.
6. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS, FUNDING
AND BUDGET EXECUTION, AND COMMUNICATION SHALL BE PROVIDED IN
SUPPLEMENTAL MARADMINS.
7. THE CONTENTS OF THIS MARADMIN WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THE NEXT
REVISION OF REFERENCES (C) AND (D).
8. RESERVE APPLICABILITY. THIS MARADMIN IS APPLICABLE TO THE
MARINE CORPS TOTAL FORCE.
9. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY LTGEN R. S. COLEMAN, DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR
MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS.//