State of the Corps June 2017
At Ease, Marines,
Due to some computer issues, health issues and general life issues, I did not publish a May 2017 Status report so this is a combined May-June report. Nothing bad in regards to health, I’m just not as tolerant of 95F+ as I’ve been in the past.
Now on to business.
** Database:
With another International Marine Muster coming up on the horizon this is a good time to check out your personnel records on the database. You are the only individual who knows exactly what should be listed for awards, courses, etc. so it’s a good to get in the habit of reviewing your personal records every couple of months or so. With IC coming up in mid August [August 18, 2017 – August 20, 2017] you still have time to get those last minute items for your uniforms.
It’s a fact of life in electronic record keeping that sometimes things go missing. An email may get eaten by a spam folder. Records can be lost on a hard drive. It is the responsibility of the individual to keep a copy of all his personal records, awards received, courses completed, etc.
If you find something in error, it’s certainly acceptable to point it out to COFORCECOM [COL Brian Allen – E-Mail: forcecom@sfi-sfmc.org ]and request the data be added, updated or changed. Just know that you’ll need to provide documentation so that the appropriate correction to the database can be made. Documentation can be a scanned copy of the certificate, an email from the issuing authority, a copy of a Unit or Brigade report noting the award, etc.
** Please Read the Manuals:
Please Read The Manual first and foremost. [PRTM is the family rated version of RTFM]. For all things that pertain to the actual day to day workings of the SFMC, it will be in either the Marine Force Manual [MFM] or the Policy Manual. Both are on the SFMC website and are downloadable. You can find them under Library, General Manuals. [Link Removed – Old Post] If you have read through them and still can’t find what you’re looking for, use the Chain of Command to ask for guidance [Unit OIC – Brigade OIC – COFORCECOM]. Please do not jump your chain thinking you’ll get a faster answer.
I can’t stress this enough. Most of the questions the General Staff have been asked are already covered in either the Marine Force Manual [general topics] or the Policy Manual [for Unit, Battalion and Brigade OICs]. It’s not that any of us on the GS are adverse to answering questions, but you’ve got then entire working policies of the SFMC available to you in those two manuals. Please take the time to look through them and consult your chain if you have a question.
Also PRTM in regards to who is responsible for what level of promotions. In so far as the SFMC is concerned, we do not have the ability to promote. That function belongs on the Fleet side of the house. So always check with your Ship CO and your RC about promotions.
** Awards:
Here’s another “PRTM” point. With IC coming, think of the Marines around you in regards to award nominations.
* “All” nominations for Honor Awards need to be in the hands of the Deputy Commandant, GEN Mike McGowan [E-Mail: depdant@sfi-sfmc.org ] by 30 June/31 July. These nominations come in from the BDE OIC’s and consist of the various Valor award winners for each Brigade. Please be specific why this individual stands out from all the others in the Corps. All we have to go on for review is what you send us. Be specific, but also be concise. Don’t let someone’s nomination fall by the wayside by not providing enough info.
* “All” nominations for the Commander/Starfleet’s ‘Starfleet Cross’ need to be to me NLT by 30 June/31 July. The address is MGN Jari James, Commandant/SFMC E-Mail: dant@sfi-sfmc.org or seticat@cableone.net] . For those who are not familiar with this award, here’s the info from the Marine Force Manual.
STARFLEET CROSS
Issuing Authority: Commander, Starfleet
Frequency: As needed (one award per marine per year maximum)
Cadets Eligible for Award: No
This award is given by the Commander, Starfleet to recognize a marine who has rendered exceptional service to STARFLEET in general—either by demonstrating consistently outstanding performance over time, or by performing a particular task or service to a high standard of excellence.
Anyone can nominate a Marine for this award; this is not something awarded to someone for merely doing their regular duty. This is an individual who has stepped out of the boundaries of the Corps alone to do things that help SFI as a whole. If you nominate someone, please explain why you feel their deserve it. The nomination list will be compiled by me and go to FADM Robert Westfall for his review and decisions. Again, don’t make either of us waste time recontact you to pull more information out of you.
* Review the awards section in the MFM and online to see if there are any other awards someone may be worthy of. By this I’m speaking of awards issued by various members of the General Staff [Dant, FORCECOM, TRACOM, SGM/SFMC, INFOCOM ]. Many of these can be issued at any time throughout the year, but receiving recognition at IC/Marine Muster simply makes things sweeter.
That’s all for now. Keep it safe out there and be nice to each other.
Stand Easy, Marines.
MGN Jari L. James
Commandant-SFMC
Addenda to the State of the Corps for June 2017
A tip of the beret to the Sar’Major of the Corps, MGSGT Stoddard, for catching the little error in upcoming nomination dates.
‘All’ nominations for Honor Awards [the DepDant], the Starfleet Cross [the Dant] and anything you’d like to see go out at the International Marine Muster [COFORCECOM] must be to their respective parties _no later then_ 30 June/1 July. Not 30 June/31 July as previously posted.
Just because the Dant had a Heat Induced Brain Fade you do not get the extra 31 days of July to do paperwork.
Keep it safe out there no matter the season.
MGN Jari James
Commandant-SFMC