R 042000Z OCT 24 MARADMIN 473/24 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC// SUBJ/2024 GENERAL OFFICERS, SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE MEMBERS, AND SERGEANTS MAJOR PARTICIPATION IN MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY BALLS// REF/A/DOC/CMC/13MAY13// REF/B/DOC/DON/10APR19// REF/C/DOC/CMC/04AUG08// REF/D/DOC/DOD/03APR19// REF/E/DOC/DOD/15MAY24// REF/F/DOC/DOD/01OCT24// NARR/REF A IS CMC GREEN LETTER 2-13, SENIOR OFFICIAL SPOUSAL TRAVEL. REF B IS SECNAVINST 5720.44C CH-2, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY PUBLIC AFFAIRS POLICY AND REGULATIONS. REF C IS MCO 7040.11A, MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY BALL FUNDING. REF D IS DOD DIRECTIVE 4500.56, DOD POLICY ON THE USE OF GOVERNMENT AIRCRAFT AND AIR TRAVEL. REF E IS THE DOD JOINT ETHICS REGULATION (JER). REF F IS THE JOINT TRAVEL  REGULATIONS.// POC/D. HUGHES/MAJOR/DMCS OPSO/TEL: 703-614-2828/ E-MAIL: [email protected]// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose. This MARADMIN provides guidance regarding travel of Marine Corps general officers (GOs), senior executives, sergeants major (SgtsMaj), and any other Marines serving in an active-duty capacity, to act as the guest of honor (GOH) or guest speaker for 2024 Marine Corps birthday ball celebrations per the references.  This MARADMIN does not apply to GOH or guest speakers who are not employed by the government or are not serving in an active-duty capacity. 2.  Guidance.  As responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, the Marine Corps will minimize the use of government funds to support travel expenses incurred by active-duty guests of honor or guest speakers. 2.a.  Commands, units, or organizations requesting active-duty GOHs to attend Marine Corps birthday balls must demonstrate that local GOs and/or SgtsMaj are unavailable to support the date specified. 2.b.  Units are highly encouraged to consider leaders of local veteran organizations and local retired community leaders as  additional GOH options to reduce costs and maintain our Marine for Life commitment.  3.  Approval.  GOH travel outside the local area requires approval and determination of mission criticality from the Director, Marine Corps Staff (DMCS). 3.a.  Requests for GOHs from units/organizations which fall within the GOH's purview/command responsibilities (e.g., subordinate unit), and/or at the traveler’s own expense do not require separate  approval from DMCS.  3.b.  Requests for GOHs to attend a ball at which an active-duty GO, senior executive, or SgtMaj is already in attendance, or at which a local GO, senior executive, or SgtMaj is available to attend as the GOH, will not normally receive a favorable endorsement. 3.c.  Stewardship of resources extends to the use of support staff and transportation resources.  As such, attendance approval for a GOH at an outside ball authorizes travel for the attending GOH and no other travelers.  Requests for other travelers, to include aides, will not be considered nor endorsed. 4.  Funding.  HQMC will not fund GOs, senior executives, SgtsMaj, or any other Marine to travel to balls. 4.a.  Per ref (c), GOH travel expenses (transportation, lodging, meals, and incidentals) will be exclusively funded with appropriated funds, from either the requesting unit's or the GOH's unit funds in accordance with the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR), reference (f). 4.b.  Non-appropriated funds, including funds raised by the ball committee or unit fundraising, shall not be used to pay for a GOH's travel expenses. 5.  Spousal travel.  Government-funded spousal travel will not be endorsed. GOHs are welcome to pay for their spouses travel and ball ticket at their own expense.   6.  Gifts.   6.a. Units shall consult with their local staff judge advocate prior to presenting any gifts to a GOH/guest speaker as there have been significant updates to the JER, reference (e).  6.b.  Active-duty Marines who are authorized to serve as GOH/guest speaker pursuant to DMCS approval are on official orders and receiving travel entitlements in accordance with reference (f). GOH/guest speaker will consult with their local staff judge advocate prior to accepting any gifts or travel benefits to ensure compliance with reference (e) and paragraphs 4.a.—4.b. above.   7.  Requests.  Requests for non-local, active-duty, GOHs to  participate in a ball should be routed directly to the DMCS POC  identified in this MARADMIN no later than 10 business days prior to the date of event. 7.a.  Requests will be in standard naval letter format and sent  directly, via e-mail, to the listed POC.  Requests will address the following: 7.a.1.  Unit hosting ball. 7.a.2.  Date & location of ball. 7.a.3.  Identify if there are travel restrictions to and from ball location. 7.a.4.  Role of GO, senior executive, or SgtMaj at ball (e.g., GOH, guest speaker, attendee, etc) and reason why they are exceptionally unique to the hosting unit’s ceremony. 7.a.5.  Identify all active-duty GOs, senior executives, and SgtsMaj in attendance, and all local GOs, senior executives, and SgtsMaj  available but not attending. 7.a.6.  Estimated TAD costs (travel, per diem, and expenses), how  costs are to be funded.  7.a.7.  Detailed travel itinerary beginning and ending at the GOH’s home station.  7.a.8.  Anticipated number of attendees. 8.  Cancellation.  This MARADMIN is canceled 31 December 2024. 9.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General Paul J. Rock, Jr., Director, Marine Corps Staff.//