A Marine requiring an assessment will be assigned a case manager. The case manager, through a collaborative effort with the Marine, will conduct a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment of the individual’s treatment needs.  As part of the assessment a Licensed Independent Practitioner (LIP) will render a diagnostic judgement. The case manager and the Marine will use the assessment results to develop an Individualized Treatment Plan (ITP). 

A classification of quality of service rendered, the characterization of service is recognition of the quality of a Marine's performance and conduct.  Determining the proper characterization should not be underestimated.  Characterization of service serves as a goal for each Marine and as a meaningful endorsement to potential employers.

1. Honorable.  An honorable characterization is appropriate when the quality of the Marine's service is otherwise meritorious that any other characterization would be clearly inappropriate. Enlisted Marine with average proficiency marks of 3.0 or higher and average conduct marks of 4.0 or higher, shall have his or her service characterized as Honorable.
2. General (Under Honorable Conditions). A general characterization of service is appropriate when the Marine's conduct of performance of duty outweigh the positive aspects of the military record. Enlisted Marines with proficiency and conducts marks below 3.0 and 4.0, respectively, should receive a characterization of general, under honorable conditions.
3. Under Other Than Honorable Conditions. This characterization is appropriate when the Marine's conduct or performance of duty, particularly the commission or omission of an act that constitutes a significant departure from that expected of a Marine.

For additional guidance concerning characterization of service for Marine Officers refer to the SECNAVINST 1920.6C. For additional guidance concerning characterization of service for enlisted Marines, refer to chapter 1 of MCO P1900.16F.

Purpose:To assist Marine Corps military families in understanding the impact of deployments on children, to help children better understand the experience of the deployed parent, and to assist in opening lines of communication between the children and the parent remaining at home.

Audience: Marine Corps families, especially young children (ages 4-10).

Key Points to be Communicated: There are two distinct parts to this video: a puppet show and an explanation as to how to conduct the show. The puppet show features puppets from the Camp Pendleton Deployment and Readiness Support office. The message of the puppet show is this:

• The Marine did not leave because of something the child did.
• The Marine still loves the child and family but duty has called the Marine away.
• Life during deployment is different but the Marine wil l be safe, eat, sleep, get medical attention, have mail sent and delivered so that contact can be maintained.
• The child must remember that the parent remaining at home is a source of support and love.

Article 112a of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, modeled after 21 U.S.C. § 841, provides in pertinent part:

1. Any person subject to this chapter who wrongfully uses, possesses, manufacturers, distributes, imports into the customs territory of the United States, exports from the United States, or introduces into an installation, vessel, vehicle, or aircraft used by or under the control of the armed forces a substance described  in subsection (b) shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
2. The substances referred to in subsection (a) are the following:
   1. Opium, heroin, cocaine, amphetamine, lysergic acid diethylamide, methamphetamine, phencyclidine, barbituric acid, and marijuana and any compound or derivative of any such substance.
   2. Any substance not specified in clause (1) that is listed on a schedule of controlled substances prescribed by the President for the purposes of this article.

• DD Form 2792, Exceptional Family Member Medical Summary for medical issues only, and
• DD Form 2792-1, Exceptional Family Member Special Education/Early Intervention Summary for educational issues. Any Marine who has a child who has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is required to enroll in the EFMP.

is the automated process that collects and documents information on all formal equal opportunity complaints.  The web-based system is maintained by CMC (MPE) and uses the information gathered to generate statistics for reporting purposes and to keep CMC apprised of equal opportunity issues throughout the Marine Corps.  It is further outlined below:

1. It is the responsibility of the command in which the complaint was received to ensure a DASH report is initiated.  The DASH report is required when a formal complaint is filed and a Marine is the complainant or alleged offender.  The command that receives the complaint is responsible for ensuring a DASH report is submitted to the CMC (MPE).
2. Commanders are required to submit a DASH report, using the format in Appendix D of MCO P5354.1D, within 20 days after the date on which the investigation commenced.  The command EOA will provide advice and assistance on DASH report submission procedures.
3. Commands not located at or near an installation with an EOA need to contact Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps (MPE), 3280 Russell Road, Quantico, VA 22134-5103, commercial phone number (703) 784-9371, DSN 278-9371 for further guidance.  DASH reports should not be reported via message traffic due to the sensitive nature of the information and to protect the privacy of the people involved.

Discharge

The wrongful use of a controlled substance, prescription medication, over-the-counter medication, or intoxicating substance (other than alcohol) to an extent that it has an adverse effect on performance, conduct, discipline, or mission effectiveness. For purposes of this Manual, drug abuse also includes the intentional inhalation of fumes or gasses of intoxicating substances with the intent of achieving an intoxicating effect on the user’s mental or physical state, and steroid usage other than that specifically prescribed by a competent authority. Drug abuse is also a clinical diagnosis based on specific diagnostic criteria delineated in the American Psychiatric Association, "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders," current edition (DSM), and must be determined by a qualified Medical officer (MO) or DoD-authorized licensed practitioner. A diagnosis of drug abuse generally requires some form of intervention and treatment.

primary responsibility is to support the Marine Corps’ illegal drug use prevention activities (e.g., DDR budget, illegal drug use education, and urinalysis testing).

The following agencies offer the services listed. 

• Marine and Family Services –  Personal counseling, stress management, family/relationship counseling
• Chaplains – Spiritual guidance, personal counseling, life issues counseling
• Military OneSource – Anonymous personal, financial, and other advice, brief face-to-face counseling
• Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society – Financial counseling and monetary assistance
• Legal Services – Legal assistance and advice
• Medical – Mental Health evaluation and treatment, health promotion strategies

• The patient' s personal physician;
• Hospice physician (or medical director);
• Nurses and/or Home health aides;
• Social workers;
• Clergy or other counselors;
• Trained volunteers; and
• Speech, physical, and occupational therapists, if needed.

Per the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, each public school child who receives special education and related services (i.e. occupational, speech and physical therapy, transportation) must have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). An IEP describes the special education and related services specifically designed to meet the unique needs of a student with a disability. The program is developed at one or more IEP meetings, and its provisions are detailed in writing in the IEP.

It is customary for both parents to attend an IEP meeting but not necessary. Its important that both parents understand and agree upon the special education needs of their child. IEP meetings can be very stressful for parents because sometimes there are disagreements over what services, goals and objectives are more appropriate for the child. If the Marine cant attend then its a good idea for the spouse to take a friend or advocate with them to support them through the IEP team meeting. Usually IEP meetings are an annual occurrence, however, when interim changes are required the IEP team has to meet to make changes to the IEP.

Marines referred to the SACC will be screened by a drug and alcohol counselor to determine if early intervention or an assessment is warranted. Screenings will be conducted using the clinical package screening forms in NAVMC 2931. If the need for an assessment is ruled out, the individual will be placed in an Early Intervention Program. Generally, the screening process should take no longer than 30 minutes to complete.