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State of the SFMC October 2012

Greetings to all Marines

Again I must apologize for the lateness of this report – in future I will endeavor to ensure I can keep these reports to the strict timetable that has been in place over the last eighteen months..
NEW UNITS
As reported by ForceCom, it is really great to see us welcoming new Units to the Corps. This last month saw the activation of four new MSG’s. and like every other Marine, I would like to congratulate these Units on their deployment and wish them every best success with their endeavors.
New recruits and new Units are the lifeblood to our existence and help maintain the long-term security and growth of the SFMC. Wherever we can, we should be assisting and supporting new Marines and newly established Units (or those Units in process of being established that we are aware of) to the very best of our ability.
The GS is here to help in any way we can and we will always welcome your questions and queries, no matter what they are
On that note, a quick reflection of the state of the Corps in terms of numbers, shows we currently record a total of 1,158 Marines (580- Active; 577 Reserve) over 160 activated Units, and now representing just over 25% of total STARFLEET membership. I have no knowledge of long-term history but would suggest that this must possibly be the highest percentage of membership that Corps has ever held? Either way, as a component of STARFLEET International, the SFMC is certainly in a most healthy position in this regard we must all work hard to ensure this remains the case.
It continues to be up to each and everyone of us to participate; inter-act; communicate; enthuse; motivate and to continue building on the fun aspects associated with being a member of the SFMC
MANUAL REVISIONS
Work on manual revisions has been completed for the Marine Forces Manual (MFM) and the SFMC Policy Manuals. However, due to some formatting issues, they are not quite ready for publication. This is expected to be done very shortly and both these manuals will be published as usual, on the SFMC website.
While the manuals have been kept to same design, there have a been a few tweaks here and there (you will note the cover design which – in keeping with SFMC security coding – now registers the
security classification of each manual) and some several additions/edits to existing material
There have been a few changes to uniform dress coding in the MFM, especially in conjunction with some device wear but in the main, this manual has really simply undergone a “tidy up”.
As there are additions and pending changes to some SFMC uniforms, it is proposed that a separate, more detailed SFMC Uniform Manual will get published in the months ahead. The intention with this manual will be to better enable us to lay-out specifics to uniforms and any additional accouterments proposed, and to then enable a more detailed overview of SFMC uniforms and dress codes
Manual revision cycles have had to be changed from the traditional formula as timing and staffing skill levels has meant that we will publish revisions on a regular, defined, rolling basis, rather than the once a year publication cycle as previous. This will be evident by the numbering sequence
used to identify each specific publication, so as to ensure Marines are able to easily identify the most current manual issue.
RIBBONS
As reported previously, it has been our intention to improve the services to Marines though the QM store, by stocking as many uniform items as we can. This has certainly been the case with SFMC ribbons and we have now included a range of the “standard” ribbon designs that are generally available elsewhere (Vanguard etc). This will mean that you can confidently visit the QM store and access your award needs without the need to have purchase other similar items elsewhere, this saving time and shipping cost
We are still in midst of updating the stocks of some of our “SFMC-Specific” designs, but these too will be stock-updated as necessary on a rolling basis.
Once this objective has been fulfilled, we will have the security of our SFMC- designed material not likely to need to ever be replaced
And on note of the QM store – have you checked out the new collar brass? Not as gilded as the *older* style, but certainly a very classy and better detailed item. An excellent addition to any dress uniform to be certain.
SFMC SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The Scholarship Fund has been suffered from a seeming lack of focus and attention – but I can advise that this is actually not the case. Working with the VCS, we have been passing a serious review to the Scholarship Fund ; it’s reason for being; the legal, ethical and moral responsibilities we have to the Funds donors; and to consider and to investigate ways by which we can improve this great incentive
To date -since Fund establishment – there has been only one application/distribution and this is of course nothing like that which would have been originally intended. We want the monies to be used to assist our Marines in their education process and it seems simply nonsensical to continue as we have been if the value of the Fund and its intent cannot be more easily applied
But as I have said,, we have had some excellent recent input and solid suggestions made as to how the Fund could perhaps be adapted to better suit needs of members without causing or creating any major issues
Announcement to any changes to the Fund charter will be made through the office of COTraCom as soon as final commitment of any possible alteration to policy or criteria has been made
COMMUNICATIONS
Our two majors channels of communication by way of any publication, are either CQ or AoD!E, and for our on-line inter-action, we use Corps-list or FaceBook.
Each of these channels of media are fraught with problems of their own nature. CQ has lately suffered from significant delay meaning anything published of a “time sensitive nature” ends up being woefully out of date. AoD!E is only really published via Corps-list and to our website – in both cases, dependent upon the number of subscribers or visitors for any decent coverage (Corps-list records 223 subscribers or some 19% total membership).
AoD!E is a very important communication tool for us and it is important that we keep this publication up to date and regularly published.
We can – and do – of course include copies of each of the various CGS Commands “State of..” (SoR) reports but it would be great to be able to publish other material that may be of interest to Marines.
If you or any of your fellow Marines you may know of, have articles, columns or content that they think would be of interest to us all, then please, by all means have them drop us a line
SoRarticles are important and necessary – but boy these can be brief and/or boring (mine own included). We need more than that
So – any ideas? Let’s hear from you..
ANNIVERSARY RIBBON
Another quick reminder on behalf of the team over at ForceCom – you or members of your Unit will likely qualify for the Anniversary Ribbon. Have you made application ? We would much prefer to see all appropriate applications processed in this next year of criteria and not have a repeat of the 20th Anniversary Award where we received applications 10 years later…
Check out the detailing as published by ForceCom or drop ForceCom a line if you are unsure of how to proceed
A REMINDER ON DRESS CODES
With the planned additions and any proposed adjustments to our uniforms, it is important that keep reminding of our Dress Code Policy.
The STARFLEET Marine Corps has a wide variety of uniforms authorized in the MFM, suitable for any ‘Trek era, as well as designs whose primary value is that they are relatively inexpensive and consist of components widely available through a variety of commercial sources.
Remember that at no time is any uniform required, but if a STARFLEET Marine Corps uniform is worn, it should be one of the designs authorized in the MFM and the uniform should be worn “correctly”.
The MFM contains a caution that bears repeating often : Uniforms should not be worn to functions where the majority of attendees would not recognize it as some type of fan uniform. The Mess White and Class C BDU uniforms are not readily recognizable as a non-military uniform. Marines should avoid wearing the uniform in any context where is may appear paramilitary or intimidating to the public.
Bruce O’Brien
Brigadier General, SFMC
Commandant, STARFLEET Marine Corps
dant at sfi-sfmc.org]]>