Implementation of Mandatory Annual Mask Fit Testing

1. Purpose. Pursuant to references (a) through (i), 
this MARADMIN provides guidance for the implementation of mandatory 
annual Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) mask 
fit and seal testing for all Marine Corps personnel. This training 
supports individual readiness and validates the effective employment 
of respiratory protective equipment, supporting survivability, 
interoperability, and mission execution.
2. Background.
2.a. Reference (a) established uniform grooming standards across the 
force to ensure operational readiness and compatibility with 
protective equipment. Reference (a) further directed annual training 
to validate mask fit and reinforce grooming compliance.
2.b. Reference (b) denied requested exemptions to the annual mask 
training requirement and directed the military departments to 
resource the minimum requirements necessary to conduct annual 
training. At a minimum, training shall include a negative pressure 
seal check for each service member using an appropriately sized 
protective mask. A successful negative pressure seal check requires 
the mask to maintain an airtight seal during inhalation in 
accordance with reference (f).
2.c. Reference (c) establishes annual individual CBRN training and 
Individual Protective Equipment Confidence Exercise (IPECE) 
requirements for Marines. These requirements include training on the 
proper donning, fit, seal verification, and employment of the field 
protective mask, with completion reported in the Marine Corps 
Training Information Management System (MCTIMS).
2.d. Reference (d), the Marine Corps Common Skills (MCCS) Training 
and Readiness (T&R) Manual, establishes individual training 
standards, performance criteria, evaluation requirements, and 
sustainment intervals for MCCS. Successful completion of an IPECE 
(CS chamber or open-air exposure), in accordance with references (c) 
and (d), satisfies the annual training requirement directed in 
references (c) and (i) and satisfies the annual mask fit and seal 
test requirement established by this MARADMIN.
2.e. The Marine Corps employs Joint Service General Purpose Masks 
(JSGPM) for respiratory and ocular CBRN protection and training. 
The currently approved negative pressure JSGPMs are the M50 and the 
M53A1. 
2.f. Reference (e) establishes policies for the management and issue 
of CBRN protection equipment and Individual Protective Equipment 
(IPE) within the Marine Corps Consolidated Storage Program (CSP). In 
commands where CBRN IPE is not in the standard individual issue, an 
IPE training allotment shall be issued to the unit. Government 
civilians, contractors, linguists, law enforcement program 
personnel, and other authorized personnel requiring protective 
equipment shall be supported in accordance with reference (e) and 
applicable Marine Corps supply and CSP policies.
3. Action.
3.a. Policy Requirements.
3.a.1. All Marines, active and reserve component, shall complete 
annual mask fit and seal testing to validate the ability to achieve 
an effective seal on approved respiratory protective equipment in 
accordance with references (a), (b) and (h). This MARADMIN does not 
change the annual IPECE requirement directed in references (c) and 
(i). 
3.a.2. Per reference (h), all tight-fitting respiratory equipment 
requires an unobstructed seal between the facepiece and skin. 
Personnel shall be clean shaven at the respirator seal surface when 
undergoing required annual CBRN testing or training.  
3.a.3. Per reference (h), Marine Corps Training and Education 
Command (TECOM) shall create a Service Directed training requirement 
for annual mask fit training. This new requirement shall be titled 
"Annual Mask Fit Training." Reporting will be tracked using the 
following statuses: TRAINED, UNTRAINED and FAILED.  A TRAINED status 
indicates successful completion of the mask fit and seal test or 
IPECE annual training during the current annual period. An UNTRAINED 
status indicates the mask fit and seal test or IPECE annual training 
has yet to be completed during the current annual period. A separate 
FAILED status will be applied when training performance standards 
are not met, or if the mask fit and seal test or IPECE annual 
training was not executed during the previous annual period.
3.a.4. Entry level training commands shall record completion of 
Annual Mask Fit Training using established entry-level training 
codes for recruit training and basic officer training. These codes 
shall distinguish initial entry-level training, annual mask fit and 
seal test compliance, and IPECE completion for readiness reporting.
3.b. Training Requirements.
3.b.1. Commands with an authorized allowance of JSGPMs shall 
continue to conduct IPECE annually in accordance with references 
(c) and (i). 
3.b.2. Commands without an authorized allowance of JSGPMs shall 
complete annual mask fit and seal testing using a negative pressure 
seal check. A negative pressure seal check, operator level 
maintenance, and sanitary practices shall be conducted in accordance 
with reference (e) and constitute the minimum training standard for 
validating mask fit and seal.
3.b.3. Commanders shall ensure all Marines complete annual mask fit 
and seal testing each fiscal year, consistent with the annual 
requirement period prescribed in reference (c).  
3.b.4. In accordance with references (a), (b), and (h), annual mask 
fit and seal testing may be accomplished using an approved 
protective mask or firefighting respiratory equipment. 
3.c. Reporting Requirements. 
3.c.1. Commanders shall report completion of annual mask fit and 
seal testing in MCTIMS under the "Annual Mask Fit Training" training 
requirement. 
3.c.2. No later than 31 August 2026, commanders shall validate the 
Annual Mask Fit Training status in MCTIMS for all assigned 
personnel, and update as required.
3.c.3. No later than 30 September 2026 for the active component and 
31 December 2026 for the reserve component, O-6 commanders of units 
with untrained personnel shall submit a comprehensive plan to their 
commanding general to ensure full compliance with annual mask fit 
and seal testing. These plans must detail resource shortfalls, 
specific requirements, execution timelines with clear milestones, 
and a strategy for integrating this testing into routine unit 
training.
3.c.4 When directed, TECOM shall report the Annual Mask Fit Training 
completion status for the total force, in accordance with reference 
(h).
3.d. Resourcing Requirements.
3.d.1. DC CD&I, in coordination with DC PP&O and Marine Corps 
Logistics Command, will review JSGPM allowances and authorized 
inventories supporting the annual training requirement established 
by this MARADMIN.
3.d.2. Commanders shall utilize the CSP and other authorized sources 
of supply, as required, to obtain JSGPMs to execute the training 
requirement established by this MARADMIN. 
4. Endstate. Annual mask fit and seal testing shall be incorporated 
into all unit training programs across the Marine Corps total force, 
with training completion, and compliance tracked in accordance with 
this MARADMIN.
5. Release authorized by Lieutenant General Jay M. Bargeron, Deputy 
Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations.