R 201307Z MAY 25 MARADMIN 237/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC PPO POF WASHINGTON DC/FOO2// SUBJ/MARINE CORPS POLICY ON THE WEAR AND PURCHASE OF BODY  ARMOR AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)// REF/A/MSGID: MSG/CMC WASHINGTON DC PPO/YMD: 20070417// REF/B/MSGID: GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC PPO: 20090416// REF/C/MSGID: GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC PPO: 20090710// REF/D/MSGID: GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC PPO: 20170327// REF/E/MSGID: GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC PPO: 20181127// REF/F/MSGID: GENADMIN/COMMMARCORSYSCOM: 20240509// REF/G/MSGID: GENADMIN/COMMMARCORSYSCOM: 20240807// REF/H/MCO 6260.3A SD: 20160926// NARR/REF A IS MARADMIN 262/07, Marine Corps Policy on the Wear  and Purchase of Body Armor and Personal Protective Equipment  (PPE). Ref b is MARADMIN 254/09, Marine Corps Policy on the  Wear of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).  Ref c is  MARADMIN 415/09, Establishment of Body Armor Protection Levels.  Ref d is MARADMIN 151/17, change 1 to Marine Corps Policy on  the Wear and Purchase of Body Armor and Personal Protective  Equipment (PPE). Ref e is MARADMIN 667/18 Marine Corps Policy  on the Wear and Purchase of Body Armor and Personal Protective  Equipment (PPE). Ref f is the Safety of Use Message for the  Enhanced Combat Helmet and High Cut Enhanced Combat Helmet  Suspension Systems. Ref g is the Safety of Use Message for the  Enhanced Combat Helmet with Hearing Enhancement Device. Ref h  is the Marine Corps Hearing and Conservation Program.//  POC/E.T. Clark/COL/PPO POF/Branch Head/TEL: 703-625-2580/ email: [email protected]// POC/E.A. Benson/CIV/PPO POF/Dep Branch Head/TEL: 703-692-4303/  email: [email protected]    GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  The Commandant of the Marine Corps directs  the following policy for Marines and Sailors assigned to USMC  and joint commands, on the wear and purchase of body armor and  PPE. This MARADMIN supersedes references (a, b, c, d, and e).  PPE refers to Marine Corps approved body armor, helmets,  goggles, gloves, clothing, and other gear designed to protect  the wearer’s body from battlefield injuries. The equipment and  training information for service-approved PPE systems can be  found at https:(slash)(slash)app.mcboss.usmc.mil searching via  program office: PMM-154.3 and via  Marine Net course # mcsppe0306 -  Proper use of Personal  Protective Equipment   2.  Individual Marines/Sailors may not use commercial PPE in  lieu of government tested, approved, and issued PPE as outlined  in the product information sheets referenced in paragraph 1.   Commanders are not authorized to utilize unit funds to purchase  commercial PPE items that have not been approved for use by  Marine Corps Systems Command. 3.  Ballistic spectacles and goggles authorized for use are  listed on the authorized protective eyewear list (APEL) and are  compatible with the universal prescription lens carrier.  While  the Marine Corps will continue to issue a single spectacle and  a single goggle, units may purchase other authorized ballistic  eyewear on the APEL through the defense logistics agency or the  post-exchange. The latest APEL can be found at:  https:(slash)(slash)www.peosoldier.army.mil/equipment/ approved-eyewear-qpl/ 4.  All forms of hearing protection devices are considered PPE,  and the Marine Corps issues Hearing Enhancement Devices (HED)  (TAMCN C01142F) and High Noise Hearing Enhancement Devices  (HN-HED) (TAMCN C00142F). Commanders must ensure Marines comply  with ref (f) or ref (g) for helmet configuration and ref (h)  guidelines to select appropriate hearing protection devices.  HEDS shall be evaluated at least twice per year for appropriate  use and to replace any worn/deteriorated seals per ref (h).   Commanders will consult navy medicine occupational audiologists  or industrial hygienists to determine from sound pressure  measurements appropriate hearing protective devices for their  operational needs, ensuring Marines have the correct single or  dual hearing protection when necessary.  Per ref (h), the  safety objective is to protect Marines’ exposure to any  steady-state noise having an 8-hour time-weighted average noise  level greater than or equal to 85 decibels: or a single  exposure to impulse and/or impact noise of 140 decibels peak  or greater, regardless of duration.    5.  Marine Corps Body Armor Protection Levels (APLS). 5.a.  A service-level policy defining specific armor protection  levels has been established with the intent of standardizing  APLS, enabling commanders to tailor armor protection based on  their estimate of the situation or based on guidance from  service/joint/theater combatant commanders.  Higher APLS  provide increased ballistic protection through the addition of  modular armor components, increasing the areas of coverage  and/or ballistic protection. Higher APLS correspond to greater  weight, increased thermal loading, and reduced mobility, thus  degrading individual and unit performance over extended periods  of time. 5.b.  The following APLS are established and apply to all  Marine Corps-issued armor systems. Read in two columns:  APL             Description  Level 0         No body armor worn  Level 1         Marine Corps-issued plate carrier with soft                  armor only (defeats handgun and fragmentation                  threats)  Level 2         Marine Corps-issued plate carrier with soft                  armor, and front and back hard armor plates                  (defeats rifle and fragmentation threats)  Level 3         Marine Corps-issued plate carrier with soft                  armor, front and back hard armor plates,                  and side hard armor plates (defeats rifle                  and fragmentation threats).  Removal of the soft armor from the plate carrier compromises  the ballistic protection of the issued armor systems.  Soft  armor must be worn in conjunction with ballistic plates in the  issued plate carrier – failure to do so may result in severe  bodily injury or death.  There are currently two variants of  ballistic plates fielded to the Fleet Marine Force: the  Enhanced Small Arms Plate Insert (ESAPI) (TAMCN C30202E) and  the Lightweight Plate (LWP) (TAMCN C01342F). Commanders may  choose to utilize either variant based on the threat. 5.c.  The Marine Corps-issued helmets authorized for operations  include the Enhanced Combat Vehicle Crewman Helmet (ECVCH)  (TAMCN C49942F), Enhanced Combat Helmet (ECH) (TAMCN C01202E),  High Cut Enhanced Combat Helmet (HC ECH) (TAMCN C02222F), and  the Integrated Helmet System (IHS) (TAMCN C02222F) which were  designed to provide both ballistic and blunt impact protection  across the full spectrum of operational environments. The  helmets consist of a shell, a suspension system (pads), a  retention system (chinstrap), and include other accessories  such as a night vision device mounting bracket and rail systems.   The ballistic protection of these systems is provided by the  construction and materials of the shell. The blunt impact  protection is provided by the construction, materials, and  configuration of the suspension system. The suspension system  must have pads in an approved configuration. In accordance with  ref (f) or ref (g) the issued suspension system cannot be  replaced with commercial pads.  The screws in the helmet  support the ballistic integrity and shall not be replaced with  commercial screws. Unit leaders will ensure initial training is  conducted for Marines upon issue of the helmet. Commanders  shall ensure approved helmets are worn in an approved  configuration. 5.d. Diving life preserver and buoyancy compensator listed in  the authorized for navy use (ANU) are not authorized for  ballistic protection until the configuration has been certified  and approved by Marine Corps Systems Command. Commanders  interested in requesting diving life preserver and buoyancy  compensator for certification must follow the universal needs  process.  Information can be found at: https:(slash)(slash) www.cdi.marines.mil/units/cdd/universal-needs-process/ 5.e. Protective attachments may be worn with  Marine Corps-issued body armor. It is impractical to establish  APLS that incorporate every possible configuration in which  these attachments may be worn. Commanders will designate the  wear of Marine Corps approved helmets; ballistic eyewear; and  groin, neck, and throat protection as required by their units'  mission, the threat, and local environmental considerations. 5.f. The lightweight helmet (TAMCN C32152E) and the small arms  protective body armor (stocklist-3 item of TAMCN C35012E) are  only authorized for use by training command. 5.g. Ballistic protection vendor samples are not authorized for  use without Marine Corps Systems Command oversight and approved  safety releases for limited user evaluations. 6. Authority 6.a.  Operating force commanders at the Lieutenant Colonel (O-5)  level or higher are authorized to determine the required level  of PPE (or APL when established) for wear by assigned personnel  within the Marine Corps Systems Command approved systems.  This  determination will be made based on mission  (including during training), unit type, threat, and  environmental factors. 6.b.  Combatant, Joint Task Force (JTF), and service component  commanders retain the authority to prescribe the level of  protection worn by all assigned personnel.  In cases where  combatant, JTF, and/ or service component commanders have  established a required level of PPE that is more restrictive  than that set by Marine Unit Commanders, Marines will adhere to  the highest level.  In cases where the APL is not designated,  the Marine Corps service policy places the authority to  designate the APL on commanders, Lieutenant Colonel (O-5)  and higher. 6.c.  Based on their unique mission requirements,  Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) personnel may, within  published MARSOC policies and subject to their commanders'  approval, wear special operations command-approved special  purpose body armor. 6.d.  Installation commanders are authorized to use government  funds to purchase commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) body armor  and PPE only for use by Military Police performing law  enforcement duties aboard Marine Corps installations. COTS body  armor must, at a minimum, meet National Institute of Justice  (NIJ)-certified level RF2 as listed on the NIJ website.  Https:(slash)(slash)www.nij.gov/topics/technology/body-armor/ pages/compliant-ballistic-armor.aspx.  COTS body armor  purchased for installation law enforcement duty will not be  worn by Marines as a substitute for Marine Corps approved  body armor and PPE in a combat zone or theater of operation. 7.  Marine Corps organizations that do not receive class II  PPE materiel support from the Logistics Command should direct  all materiel requirements to DC, IL, IP. 8.  Release authorized by MajGen J. L. Morris, Assistant Deputy  Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations.//