How to Complete a Joint Action

1
How to Complete a Joint Action
2
Receive Joint Action from JACO

• Secret and below Joint Actions are sent via SIPR
  MCATS
• Top Secret Joint Actions are usually hard copy or
  TS disk with a SIPR MCATS place holder for
  tracking purposes

3
Read Form 136 and Transmittal Memo

• This will tell you
• The purpose of the action
• Format of response
• Comment matrix
• Line in/line out
• Other information (POC for an issue or attendee
  name etc.)
• Suspense (plan accordingly if GO approval is
  required)
• Level of review
• AO level
• Planner
• GO
• 4-star

4
Staff action to other branches

• Staff as necessary
• PLJ may direct coordination in MCATS

5
Coordinate with other services

• Their positions are important for future
  reference and if we are non-concurring with the
  action
• Record their positions in MCATS in space provided

6
Prepare comments

• Critical Comments Critical comments will cause
  non-concurrence with a joint action if the
  concern is not satisfactorily resolved prior to
  final coordination. Critical comments are
  comments that the Marine Corps insists must be
  changed or the Marine Corps will non-concur.
• Major Comments Major comments are significant
  concerns that may result in non-concurrence in
  the entire document. This category may be used
  with a general statement of concern with a
  subject area, thrust of the document, or other
  appropriate concern, followed by detailed
  comments on specific entries in the document
  that, taken together, constitute the concern.
• Substantive Comments Substantive comments are
  provided because sections of the document appear
  to be incorrect, incomplete, misleading, or
  confusing.
• Administrative Comments Administrative comments
  correct inconsistencies between different
  sections in the document, typographical errors,
  grammatical, and editorial errors.

7
Decide concur or non-concur(for Final/GO chops
only)

• Concur
• With comments requires Marine Corps Planner Memo
  (Call JACO for number)
• Without comments dos NOT require MCPM
• Non-concur
• Requires Marine Corps Planner Divergent View memo
  (or higher)
• Requires review by GO in chain
• Requires LtGen Hulys approval (PLJ routes AOs
  recommendation and EXSUM to LtGen Huly)

8
Memo examples

• Marine Corps Action Officer Memorandum (MCAOM)
• Prepared and signed by an AO in response to a
  joint action requesting preliminary coordination.
• Marine Corps Planners Memorandum (MCPM)
• Prepared by AO and signed by the appropriate
  Marine Corps Service Planner in response to a
  joint action requesting final coordination. A
  MCPM represents the formal Marine Corps position
  on the issue.
• Marine Corps Planners Divergent View (MCPDV)
• Used to convey a divergent view or
  non-concurrence in response to a joint action
  requesting final coordination.

9
Memo Examples (cont.)

• Marine Corps Operations Deputy Memorandum (MCODM)
• The MCODM may be used as the OpsDep deems
  appropriate. The most common use is to provide a
  formal Marine Corps response to a joint action
  that the OpsDep considers significant enough to
  warrant coordination at the general officer level
  or when the Joint Staff specifically requests a
  response at this level.
• Additionally, the MCODM may be used for official
  correspondence between the OpsDep and the
  Director, Joint Staff, the DepOpsDep, and the
  Vice Director, Joint Staff, or their Service
  counterparts.
• Marine Corps Divergent View (MCDV)
• The MCDV may be used as the OpsDep deems
  appropriate. The most common use is to convey a
  divergent view or non-concurrence in response to
  a joint action requesting final coordination when
  the OpsDep considers the matter significant
  enough to warrant coordination at the general
  officer level or when the Joint Staff
  specifically requests a response at this level.

10
Memo Examples (cont.)

• Commandant of the Marine Corps Memorandum (CMCM)
• The CMCM may be used as the CMC deems
  appropriate. It is normally submitted to the
  CJCS, the JCS, and when appropriate, the SECDEF,
  to express the CMCs views on an action or issue
  significant enough to merit a response by the
  CMC. Only the CMC, or ACMC in an "Acting"
  capacity may sign a CMCM.
• Commandant of the Marine Corps Divergent View
  (CMCDV).
• The CMCDV may be used as the CMC deems
  appropriate. It is normally submitted to the JCS
  as a corporate body to convey a divergent view or
  non-concurrence on an action or issue, which is
  significant enough to merit a response by the
  CMC. Only the CMC, or ACMC in an "Acting"
  capacity may sign a CMCDV.

11
Submit response in MCATS

• Include other services positions in space
  provided in MCATS
• List USMC branches involved in coordination of
  the response in space provided in MCATS
• Save enclosures as cited in appropriate memo
  (enclosure 1.doc etc.)

12
Follow Through

• Confirm with planner that response is completed
• Ensure critical comments are resolved with Joint
  Staff