R 020036Z OCT 08
MARADMIN 560/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/PPO PS//
SUBJ/MARINE CORPS TRAINING AND USE OF HUMAN ELECTRO-MUSCULAR
/INCAPACITATION (HEMI) DEVICES//
REF/A/MSGID:DODD 3000.3 /09JUL96/DMY:21112003/RECERT//
REF/B/MSGID:JNLWD/HECOE REPORT/DMY:14012005//
REF/C/MSGID:JNLWD/HERB REPORT/MAY2002//
REF/D/MSGID:JNLWD/HEAP REPORT/DMY:16022006//
REF/E/MSGID:CJCSI/3121.01B/DMY:13062005//
REF/F/DESC:MARCORSYSCOM SAFETY RELEASE FOR THE TASER (X26E)/3100/-
/11JAN07//
AMPN/REF A IS DOD DIRECTIVE 3003.3, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE POLICY FOR
NON-LETHAL WEAPONS. REF B IS JNLWD HUMAN EFFECTS CENTER OF
EXCELLENCE (HECOE) STUDY ON THE RISK CHARACTERIZATION ASSOCIATED
WITH HEMI DEVICES. REF C IS JNLWD HUMAN EFFECTS REVIEW BOARD (HERB)
REPORT OF REVIEW OF TASER MAY 2002. REF D IS HUMAN EFFECTS ADVISORY
PANEL (HEAP) REVIEW OF THE HUMAN ELECTRO-MUSCULAR INCAPACITATION
(HEMI) BIOEFFECTS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP FEBRUARY 2006.
REF E IS CJCSI 3121.01B SROE/SRUF FOR US FORCES. REF F IS THE
MARCORSYSCOM SAFETY RELEASE FOR THE X26E TASER.//
POC/STEPHEN SIMPSON/LTCOL/UNIT:HQMC PSL/NAME:PENTAGON
/TEL:DSN 222-4251/-//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. PURPOSE. PER REF A, THIS MARADMIN PROVIDES
POLICY AND GUIDANCE FOR THE USE AND TRAINING OF HUMAN
ELECTRO-MUSCULAR INCAPACITATION (HEMI) DEVICES WITHIN THE USMC.
2. EFFECTIVE DATE AND APPLICATION. THIS MARADMIN IS EFFECTIVE
IMMEDIATELY AND APPLIES TO THE TOTAL FORCE MARINE CORPS, TO INCLUDE
COMMANDS WITH CIVILIAN PERSONNEL SERVING IN POSITIONS AUTHORIZED TO
UTILIZE HEMI DEVICES.
3. BACKGROUND. HEMI DEVICES HAVE BEEN IN USE BY CIVILIAN LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO SUBDUE NONCOMPLIANT INDIVIDUALS FOR A NUMBER
OF YEARS. HEMI DEVICES USE A HIGH VOLTAGE LOW AMPERAGE ELECTRICAL
STIMULUS TO OVERRIDE THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM INTERUPTING
VOLUNTARY CONTROL OF SKELETAL MUSCLES AND CAUSING UNCONTROLLABLE
MUSCLE CONTRACTIONS. THE CURRENT USMC APPROVED HEMI DEVICE, THE
X26E TASER, DISCHARGES TWO PROBES FROM THE LAUNCH PLATFORM. THE
PROBES ARE ATTACHED TO THE PLATFORM VIA WIRE LEADS THAT TRAIL BEHIND
THE PROBES IN FLIGHT. A HIGH VOLTAGE LOW AMPERAGE ELECTRICAL
STIMULUS IS THEN DELIVERED FROM THE PLATFORM DOWN THE LEADS AND
THROUGH THE PROBES EMBEDDED IN THE TARGETED INDIVIDUAL. COMMON
EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH HEMI EXPOSURE INCLUDE INVOLUNTARY MUSCLE
CONTRACTIONS, LOSS OF POSTURE CONTROL, ETC (REFS B, C, AND D).
4. MARINE CORPS POLICY. THE FOLLOWING ESTABLISHES MARINE CORPS
POLICIES FOR TRAINING, EQUIPING AND EMPLOYING HEMI DEVICES.
A. CLASSIFICATION. THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CURRENTLY USES THE
X26E TASER. THE X26E TASER IS MANUFACTURED BY TASER INTERNATIONAL
INCORPORATED. THE X26E TASER IS THE ONLY HEMI DEVICE APPROVED FOR
USE BY U.S. MARINES FOR USE/CONTINUUM OF FORCE APPLICATION, FORCE
PROTECTION AND SECURITY PURPOSES. THE X26E TASER IS AVAILABLE FOR
MILITARY PURCHASE VIA AARDVARK TACTICAL INC. AND CARRIES NATIONAL
STOCK NUMBER (NSN) 1095-01-543-2189. THE X26E TASER DELIVERS .0021
AMPERES/50,000 VOLTS TO SUBDUE AN INDIVIDUAL. THERE ARE 4
PROJECTILE CARTRIDGES AVAILABLE FOR THE MARINE CORPS.
(1) 21FT SIMULATION CARTRIDGE: CARTRIDGE WITH NON-CONDUCTIVE WIRE
TETHERS USED FOR TRAINING AT DISTANCES UP TO 21 FEET. BLUE
CARTRIDGE WITH BLUE BLAST DOORS. NSN 1095-01-528-6893.
(2) 21FT STANDARD: A CONDUCTIVE CARTRIDGE USED TO INCAPACITATE A
SUBJECT AT DISTANCES UP TO 21 FEET. BLACK CARTRIDGE WITH SILVER
BLAST DOORS. NSN 1095-01-528-6894.
(3) 25FT XP: A CONDUCTIVE CARTRIDGE USED TO INCAPACITATE A SUBJECT
WEARING BULKY CLOTHING AT DISTANCES UP TO 25 FEET. BLACK CARTRIDGE
WITH GREEN BLAST DOORS. NSN 1095-01-533-1733.
(4) 35FT XP: A CONDUCTIVE CARTRIDGE USED TO INCAPACITATE A SUBJECT
WEARING BULKY CLOTHING AT DISTANCES UP TO 35 FEET. BLACK CARTRIDGE
WITH ORANGE BLAST DOORS. NSN 1095-01-545-5742.
B. TRAINING. THE FOLLOWING ESTABLISHES POLICY AND PROCEDURES
REGARDING THE TRAINING OF INSTRUCTORS AND USERS PRIOR TO EMPLOYMENT
OF THE X26E TASER.
(1) INSTRUCTORS
(A) TRAINING FOR MARINES AND CIVILIAN/CONTRACTOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT/SECURITY PERSONNEL IN THE PROPER EMPLOYMENT AND
CERTIFICATION OF THE X26E TASER IS CONDUCTED AT THE INTERSERVICE
NON-LETHAL INDIVIDUAL WEAPONS INSTRUCTOR COURSE (INIWIC), BY AAN
INIWIC MOBILE TRAINING TEAM, OR A CMC (PSL) APPROVED X26E TASER
INSTRUCTOR PROGRAM.
(B) CONTACT CMC (PSL) FOR A LIST OF APPROVED X26E TASER INSTRUCTOR
TRAINING PROGRAMS.
(C) RECERTIFICATION FOR ALL X26E TASER INSTRUCTORS WILL BE COMPLETED
AT A MINIMUM OF EVERY 2 YEARS.
(D) A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF INSTRUCTORS MUST BE MAINTAINED AT
INSTALLATIONS AND IN THE MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCES TO ENSURE THAT
UNITS AND INDIVIDUALS EQUIPPED WITH THE X26E TASER ARE PROPERLY
TRAINED.
(E) THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR INSTRUCTORS TO BE EXPOSED DURING
CERTIFICATION. INDIVIDUALS VOLUNTEERING FOR EXPOSURE SHALL RECEIVE
NO MORE THAN (1) FIVE-SECOND EXPOSURE FROM THE X26E TASER.
VOLUNTARY EXPOSURE MAY BE CONDUCTED USING THE 21FT ALLIGATOR CLIP
METHOD OR BY FIRING A 25FT XP CONDUCTIVE CARTRIDGE AT THE
INDIVIDUAL. EYE PROTECTION AND SPOTTERS WILL BE USED WHEN FIRING
PROBES AT INDIVIDUALS DURING TRAINING.
(F) MEDICAL SUPPORT. ALL PRACTICAL APPLICATION AND EXPOSURE
TRAINING WILL BE CONDUCTED WITH A CORPSMAN OR COMBAT LIFE SAVER
(CLS) PRESENT AND EQUIPPED WITH APPROPRIATE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT.
(2) USERS
(A) PRIOR TO ISSUANCE OF THE X26E TASER, USERS ARE REQUIRED TO
COMPLETE X26E TASER TRAINING CONDUCTED BY A CERTIFIED X26E TASER
INSTRUCTOR.
(B) TRAINING WILL INCLUDE CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AND PRACTICAL
APPLICATION.
(C) CLASSROOM TRAINING. CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION WILL ENSURE USERS
UNDERSTAND AND CAN IDENTIFY THE INTENDED PURPOSE, FUNCTION
NOMENCLATURE, CHARACTERISTICS, AND EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE
CARE AND USE OF THE X26E TASER.
(D) PRACTICAL APPLICATION. PRACTICAL APPLICATION WILL CONSIST OF
FUNCTION CHECK PROCEDURES, CARTRIDGE LOADING AND UNLOADING, PROPER
ENGAGEMENT OF TARGETS, AND THE CONDUCT OF PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
CHECKS AND SERVICES. DURING QUALIFICATION, USERS WILL BE REQUIRED
TO EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE TARGETS WITH (2) 25FT XP CONDUCTIVE CARTRIDGES
TO ENSURE FAMILIARITY WITH THE X26E TASER OPERATING SYSTEM.
(E) EXPOSURE. THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS TO BE EXPOSED
PRIOR TO BEING ISSUED AN X26E TASER. INDIVIDUALS VOLUNTEERING FOR
EXPOSURE SHALL RECEIVE NO MORE THAN (1) FIVE-SECOND EXPOSURE FROM
THE X26E TASER. VOLUNTARY EXPOSURE MAY BE CONDUCTED USING THE 21FT
ALLIGATOR CLIP METHOD OR BY FIRING A 25FT XP CONDUCTIVE CARTRIDGE AT
THE INDIVIDUAL. EYE PROTECTION AND SPOTTERS WILL BE USED WHEN
FIRING PROBES AT INDIVIDUALS DURING TRAINING.
(F) MEDICAL SUPPORT. ALL PRACTICAL APPLICATION AND EXPOSURE
TRAINING WILL BE CONDUCTED WITH A CORPSMAN OR CLS PRESENT AND
EQUIPPED WITH APPROPRIATE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT.
(G) USER CERTIFICATION IS VALID FOR 1-YEAR. ANNUAL RECERTIFICATION
CONSISTS OF FIRING AT LEAST (1) 25FT XP CONDUCTIVE CARTRIDGE IN
ADDITION TO ANY LOCALLY MANDATED TRAINING.
C. EMPLOYMENT. COMMANDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR STAFF JUDGE
ADVOCATE FOR CLARIFICATION ON ANY ISSUES NOT COVERED BY THIS
MARADMIN, REF D, OR REF E.
(1) EMPLOYMENT PARAMETERS. THE USE OF SERVICE APPROVED UNIT ISSUED
X26E TASERS IS AUTHORIZED FOR USE/CONTINUUM OF FORCE APPLICATION,
FORCE PROTECTION AND SECURITY PURPOSES IN THE CONDUCT OF MAJOR
OPERATIONS AND CAMPAIGNS, IN CRISIS RESPONSE AND LIMITED CONTINGENCY
OPERATIONS AND ON UNITED STATES BASES, POSTS, EMBASSY GROUNDS, AND
INSTALLATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH REFERENCE E.
(2) AS A NON-LETHAL WEAPON, THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE X26E TASER REMAINS
SUBJECT TO THE STANDING RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (ROE) OR RULES ON THE
USE OF FORCE SPECIFIC TO THE CAMPAIGN/OPERATION AND MUST BE
CONSIDERED PRIOR TO ISSUANCE AND EMPLOYMENT. REF F OUTLINES THE
HAZARDS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE.
(3) THE X26E TASER IS THE ONLY HEMI DEVICE APPROVED FOR USE BY U.S.
MARINES FOR USE/CONTINUUM OF FORCE APPLICATION, FORCE PROTECTION AND
SECURITY PURPOSES.
(4) THE X26E TASER MAY ALSO BE USED BY MILITARY AND CIVILIAN LAW
ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL IN THE PERFORMANCE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
ACTIVITIES:
(A) ON-BASE.
(B) OFF-BASE, WHEN AUTHORIZED UNDER TITLE 10 AND TITLE 18, UNITED
STATES CODE, IN THE UNITED STATES AND ITS TERRITORIES AND
POSSESSIONS.
(C) ON-BASE OVERSEAS.
(D) OFF-BASE OVERSEAS IN THOSE COUNTRIES WHERE SUCH USE IS
SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED BY THE HOST-NATION GOVERNMENT.
(E) THE X26E TASER MAY BE USED OFF-BASE (WORLDWIDE) UNDER THE SAME
CONDITIONS AS THOSE AUTHORIZED FOR THE USE OF LETHAL FORCE.
(F) THE X26E TASER MAY BE USED IN TRAINING.
(5) THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE X26E TASER IS COUPLED WITH THE REQUIREMENT
TO BE PREPARED TO PROVIDE FIRST AID TO THE SUBJECT WHEN REASONABLE.
5. REPORTING. COMMANDS WILL REPORT ANY X26E TASER ATTRIBUTED
ADVERSE EFFECT SUFFICIENT TO REQUIRE TREATMENT BY A MEDICAL PROVIDER
PER UNIT/INSTALLATION SERIOUS INCIDENT REPORTING GUIDELINES.
6. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY MR. RAYMOND F. GEOFFROY, ASSISTANT DEPUTY
COMMANDANT FOR PLANS, POLICIES AND OPERATIONS, SECURITY DIVISION.//