MARADMIN 357/26 - Revision to Marine Corps Military Equal Opportunity Terminology

Scope

MARADMIN 357/26 realigns Marine Corps program terminology from Prohibited Activities and Conduct, PAC, to Military Equal Opportunity, MEO, effective immediately, for consistency with Department of the Navy and Department of War policy. The change is administrative. Definitions of misconduct, reporting requirements, and commander authorities do not change, and all prohibited behaviors remain prohibited. Applies to the Total Force. Reissues MARADMIN 349/26, cancelled the same day for an administrative error, with identical policy effect.

Audience

• Commanders updating local directives, briefs, and materials to the MEO designation.
• Equal Opportunity Advisors receiving the MPE communication plan for the fleet-wide transition.
• S-1 staff and leaders using program terminology in policy statements, training records, and reporting.

Action items

• Stop using Prohibited Activities and Conduct to identify the Marine Corps MEO program. Official policies, training materials, reporting, and communications use the Military Equal Opportunity designation. Paragraph 3.a.
• Route incidents to the correct functional program by governing policy, MEO, IGMC, law enforcement, or command action. The MEO program is a non-investigative entity focused on its statutory mission and is not the lead agency for misconduct outside its scope. Paragraphs 3.c and 3.d.
• Commands update local directives and materials, and HQMC MPE issues a communication plan to Equal Opportunity Advisors for a standardized transition. Paragraphs 4.a and 4.b.
• No changes to complaint processing procedures, timelines, or systems of record. Paragraph 4.c.

Background

The PAC construct consolidated harassment, unlawful discrimination, hazing, bullying, and sexual harassment under one prevention and response structure, then grew to include extremism, criminal gang activity, and certain political activities, misconduct outside the statutory scope of the DoW MEO program. The DON directed the realignment to restore clarity to program authorities and governance boundaries.

Connection to higher policy

• DODI 1350.02 of 2026-03-11. The DoD Military Equal Opportunity Program policy the realignment aligns to.
• DODI 1020.03 of 2025-12-10. The DoD harassment prevention and response policy.

Connection to Marine Corps doctrine

• MCO 5354.1G of 2025-04-11. The Marine Corps prevention and response order carrying the program, this guidance holds until its next revision supersedes the message.

Status

Active. Released 2026-08-07, DTG R 071315Z AUG 26. Release authorized by Lieutenant General William J. Bowers, Deputy Commandant, Manpower and Reserve Affairs. POCs sit at HQMC MPE. In effect until superseded by an updated revision of MCO 5354.1. Replaces MARADMIN 349/26, cancelled 2026-08-07 by MARADMIN Cancellation 009/26 for an administrative error. Policy content matches the cancelled message.