MANDATORY ARTICLE 137 UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE TRAINING FOR COMMANDERS AND OFFICERS IN CHARGE

MARADMINS : 498/24

R 211733Z OCT 24
MARADMIN 498/24
MSGID/CG TECOM QUANTICO VA//
SUBJ/MANDATORY ARTICLE 137 UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE TRAINING
FOR COMMANDERS AND OFFICERS IN CHARGE//
REF/A/10 U.S.C. SECTION 801-946A//
REF/B/DOC/JAGINST 5800.7G CH-2//
REF/C/DOC/MCO 1900.16 CH 3//
REF/D/DOC/ PART V OF THE MANUAL FOR COURTS-MARTIAL//
REF/E/DOC/MCO 5800.16 CH-7//
NARR/REF (A) IS THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE (UCMJ), REF (B)
IS THE MANUAL OF THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL (JAGMAN), REF (C) IS THE
MARINE CORPS SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT MANUAL (MARCORSEPMAN), REF (D)
IS PRESIDENTIAL GUIDANCE ON NONJUDICIAL PUNISHMENT PROCEDURE, AND REF
(E) IS THE LEGAL SUPPORT AND ADMINISTRATION MANUAL (LSAM)//
POC/W. L. GERATY/CIV/JET/703-614-8161/EMAIL/[email protected]//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. This is a Commanding General, Training and
Education Command (TECOM) and Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) to the
Commandant of the Marine Corps coordinated message to implement
portions of the training requirements set forth in Article 137 of
reference (a) and section 0108c of reference (b). This MARADMIN
provides instruction and administrative details for conducting and
documenting training for all company and field grade commanders and
officers in charge (OICs) with nonjudicial punishment (NJP)
authority. Implementation of other training required by Article 137,
UCMJ has been promulgated (per paragraph 6103 of reference (c)) or
will be promulgated in the future.
2. Situation. Article 137(c) of reference (a) requires officers
with the authority to convene courts-martial or to impose NJP to
receive periodic training on the purpose and administration of the
UCMJ. All officers have an obligation to understand their duties
and responsibilities under, and to act consistent with, the
references.
3. Mission. No later than (NLT) 1 January 2025, all company and
field grade commanders and officers in charge with the authority
to administer NJP shall complete Marine Commanders and the Law
training (Parts I and II) unless an extension is granted by the
first O-6 in the chain of command with notification to the
cognizant SJA office.
4. Execution
4.a. Concept of Operations
4.a.1. The training will occur in three phases: Phase 1: Initial
training of current company and field grade commanders and OICs
(complete NLT 1 Jan 2025); Phase 2: Training of prospective company
and field grade commanders and OICs (begins 2 Jan 2025); and Phase 3:
Refresher training (as required).
4.a.2. Phase 1. NLT 1 Jan 2025, all current company and field grade
commanders and OICs with the authority to administer NJP shall
complete a two-part course designed to train and educate individual
commanders to facilitate the fair and effective exercise of command
authority.
4.a.2.a. Marine Commanders and the Law training (Part I) shall be
completed via MarineNet, setting the conditions for Marine Commanders
and the Law training (Part II), an in-person guided discussion led by
the cognizant SJA office. Marine Commanders and the Law training
(Part II) should be facilitated by senior commanders and enlisted
leaders wherever possible.
4.a.3. Phase 2. Prospective company and field grade commanders and
OICs shall complete Marine Commanders and the Law training
(Parts I and II) prior to conducting their first NJP hearing, or
within 90 days of assuming their duties, whichever comes first.
Attendance in the Commanders Course (Cornerstone) legal block
satisfies this requirement for field grade commanders assuming
command in CY24 and beyond.
4.a.4. Phase 3. Marine Commanders and the Law training
(Parts I and II) completion remains valid for three years, or
until twelve months after departing company or field grade command,
whichever comes first. Refresher training will be required for
officers who take company or field grade command again after a break
of more than twelve months since their last command. Attending the
Commanders Course (Cornerstone) legal block prior to conducting the
first NJP or 90 days in command will satisfy the refresher training
requirement.
4.b. Tasks
4.b.1. Commanders and OICs in the grade of O-6 and below in command
as of 1 October 2024: complete Marine Commanders and the Law training
(Parts I and II) NLT 1 January 2025.
4.b.2. Commanders and OICs in the grade of O-6 and below assuming
command after 1 October 2024: complete Marine Commanders and the Law
training (Parts I and II) prior to conducting first NJP hearing, or
within 90 days of assuming duties, whichever comes first.
4.b.3. Cognizant SJA Offices.
4.b.3.a. Coordinate with Judge Advocate Division, Education and
Training Branch (JET) to receive most up-to-date training materials.
4.b.3.b. Coordinate and deliver Marine Commanders and the Law
training (Part II) to commanders and OICs.
4.c. Coordinating Instructions
4.c.1. Marine Commanders and the Law training (Parts I and II) will
have a corresponding Marine Corps Training Information Management
System (MCTIMS) code to document training completion.
4.c.2. Updates to training materials will be provided to cognizant
SJA offices via JET.
4.c.3. Post-command commanders, senior enlisted leaders, unit legal
officers and clerks, and all 44XX personnel are strongly encouraged
to complete the Marine Commanders and the Law training (Part I) via
MarineNet and to attend and participate in the guided discussions led
by their command's cognizant SJA office.
4.c.4. Cognizant SJA office as used in this message means the office
of the Marine Corps command legal advisor supporting that commander
or OIC. Marine Commanders and the Law training (Part II) must be
conducted by a judge advocate certified under Article 27(b) of
reference (a).
5. Administration and Logistics
5.a. Direct all questions to the point of contact or the cognizant
SJA office.
5.b. The training requirements contained in this MARADMIN will be
included in the next update to the Inspector General of the
Marine Corps' Legal Administration functional area checklist.
5.c. Failure by a commander or OIC to complete the training required
by this MARADMIN does not invalidate an NJP otherwise conducted in
accordance with law and regulation.
5.d. Nothing in this MARADMIN creates a right or benefit,
substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity by a party
against the United States, its departments, agencies or
instrumentalities, its officers or employees, or any other person.
6. Command and Signal. This MARADMIN applies to the total force.
7. Release authorized by Lieutenant General Benjamin T. Watson,
Commanding General, TECOM.//