Establishment of the United States Marine Corps Family Member Travel Screening Cell

1.  Purpose.  The purpose of this MARADMIN is to
announce the establishment of the United States Marine Corps Family
Member Travel Screening (FMTS) Cell located at Headquarters Marine
Corps.  The FMTS Cell is a help desk and resource to Marines,
monitors and commands and liaises with Bureau of Medicine and
Surgery (BUMED).  The FMTS Cell does not conduct any portion of the
medical/dental/educational screening process.  The FMTS Cell offers
proactive support to Marines, family members, Military Occupational
Specialties (MOS) monitors, and both losing and gaining commands
involved in the overseas suitability screening (OSS) process.  The
cell manages resources across Manpower and Reserve Affairs (M&RA),
maintains points of contact, promulgates OSS literature/guides and
provides policy expertise to stakeholders.
2.  Background.  Multiple divisions within M&RA are stakeholders in
the screening and suitability of Marines and their dependents for
overseas or remote Continental United States (CONUS) assignments,
but there is no office of primary responsibility (OPR).  The absence
of a central point of coordination creates challenges that impact
the timely and successful assignment of Marines to locations that
require suitability determinations, such as:  screening delays that
prolong completion of screening beyond the 30/60-day timeline
outlined in references (a), (c), (d) and (f); gaps in manning which
result from delayed suitability determinations; lack of transparency
and information sharing to resolve screening delays or issues among
Marines, monitors and commands; and frustration and added stress
for family members pursuing overseas or remote CONUS orders.
2.a.  The FMTS Cell will support timely initiation of overseas
suitability screening within 10 days from the date of orders
publication as required by reference (e).  Marines will receive
proactive communication and information to start the screening, as
well as a referral to the appropriate Military Treatment Facility
(MTF) suitability screening office for current forms and
instructions associated with the medical portion of screening, in
accordance with references (a), (d) and (f).
2.b.  If Marines encounter unexpected delays in any part of the
screening process, they should contact the FMTS Cell at
SMB_HQMC_FMTS@USMC.MIL for assistance.  This ensures transparency
for MOS monitors and assistance with any situation which might
result in a Marine or family member not meeting the 30-day (Marines)
or 60-day (family member) timeline for completion of the screening,
captured in references (a), (d), and (f).
2.c.  If a Marine and/or family member(s) is unsuitable for an
overseas or remote CONUS assignment, losing command notification to
SMB_HQMC_FMTS@USMC.MIL will ensure MOS monitors are made aware at
the earliest opportunity and can determine the appropriate next
action associated with the Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders,
to minimize impact to Marine, family, and gaining command.  Gaining
commands may also contact the FTMS Cell to discuss potential options
if a Marine is found medically unsuitable or a reconsideration
option if family member(s) is found medically unsuitable.  The FMTS
Cell does not override medical determinations at any time.
2.d.  Losing and gaining commands are key stakeholders in the
overseas suitability screening process.  The FMTS Cell will offer
resources, information and training for commands to support timely
command actions in the screening process, to include the command
review and disposition captured in reference (f) and command
deficiency reports in accordance with reference (d).
2.e.  The screening information reported by Marines and commands
and maintained by the FMTS Cell will support the required annual
Memorandum for the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and
Reserve Affairs) which certifies the effectiveness of the overseas
screening program in accordance with references (b) and (g).
3.  This MARADMIN applies to the Active Component and members of the
Active Reserve, their family members and when authorized by law,
other populations such as civilian personnel.
4.  Released authorized by Lieutenant General William J. Bowers,
Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.