R 201730Z AUG 25 MARADMIN 389/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS// SUBJ/2025 GENERAL OFFICERS, SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE MEMBERS, AND SERGEANTS MAJOR PARTICIPATION IN MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY BALLS// REF/A/DOC/USMC/13MAY13// REF/B/DOC/USMC/04AUG08// REF/C/DOC/DOD/03APR19// REF/D/DOC/DOD/15MAY24// REF/E/DOC/DOD/01OCT24// NARR/REF A IS CMC GREEN LETTER 2-13, SENIOR OFFICIAL SPOUSAL TRAVEL. REF B IS MCO 7040.11A, MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY BALL FUNDING.  REF C IS DOD DIRECTIVE 4500.56, DOD POLICY ON THE USE OF GOVERNMENT AIRCRAFT  AND AIR TRAVEL.  REF D IS THE DOD JOINT ETHICS REGULATION (JER).   REF E IS THE JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS.// POC/B. HIPP/CAPTAIN/DMCS ASST 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 (SgtMaj), and any other Marines serving in an active-duty capacity, to act as the guest of honor (GOH) or  guest speaker for 2025 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 SgtMaj are unavailable to support the date specified. 2.b.  Units are strongly encouraged to consider leaders of local  veteran organizations and local retired community leaders as  primary 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 additional travelers inside CONUS will not be considered.  Additional travelers for OCONUS travel  will be considered on a case-be-case basis provided there is a  substantiating travel agenda that supports such a requirement.  4.  Funding.  HQMC will not fund GOs, senior executives, SgtMaj, or any other Marine to travel to balls. 4.a.  Per ref (b), 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 (e). 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 spouse's travel  expenses 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 (d).  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 (e).  GOH/guest speaker will consult with their local staff judge advocate prior to accepting any gifts or travel benefits to ensure compliance with reference (d) and paragraphs 4.a. and 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 SgtMaj in attendance, and all local GOs, senior executives, and SgtMaj  available but not attending. 7.a.6.  Estimated TAD costs (travel, per diem, and expenses), and 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 2025. 9.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General Paul J. Rock, Jr.,  Director, Marine Corps Staff.//