MARADMIN 633/24 - Update to Notification Requirements for Covered Offenses

Scope

MARADMIN 633/24 updates the notification requirements for covered offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Commanders shall promptly report all allegations of covered offenses to the Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC). The MARADMIN took effect 2024-12-30 and cancelled MARADMIN 655/23 effective 2025-01-01. Sexual harassment under Article 134 became a covered offense effective 2025-01-01 once a formal complaint is substantiated per service policy.

Audience

• Commanders at every level. Report allegations to OSTC promptly. Continue OPREP-3 Serious Incident Reports and law enforcement notifications in parallel. Do not dispose of any offense over which OSTC has exercised authority unless a Special Trial Counsel (STC) defers the offense back to the commander.
• Staff Judge Advocates. Field commander questions on military justice reform implementation. Service the chain of command on covered-offense routing.
• Administrative officers and S-1. Track OSTC notification timing and routing. Maintain reporting records.

Covered offenses under the UCMJ

OSTC holds exclusive referral authority over the following offenses committed on or after the effective date:

• Article 117a, Wrongful Broadcast or Distribution of Intimate Visual Images
• Article 118, Murder
• Article 119, Manslaughter
• Article 119a, Death or Injury of an Unborn Child
• Article 120, Rape and Sexual Assault
• Article 120a, Mail, Deposit of Obscene Matter
• Article 120b, Rape and Sexual Assault of a Child
• Article 120c, Other Sexual Misconduct
• Article 125, Kidnapping
• Article 128b, Domestic Violence
• Article 130, Stalking
• Article 132, Retaliation
• Article 134, Child Pornography
• Article 134, Sexual Harassment (when a formal complaint is substantiated per service policy)
• A conspiracy, solicitation, or attempt to commit any covered offense

OSTC also exercises authority over related offenses, known offenses (any other offense alleged against the same person), and covered offenses committed before the effective date.

OSTC regional routing

The Marine Corps OSTC routes notifications by the duty station of the alleged offender. Commanders report to the OSTC office responsible for the region.

• OSTC-West (ostcw@usmc.mil). AK, WA, OR, CA, AZ, NV, ID, IN, MT, WY, UT, CO, NM, ND, SD, NE, KS, OK, TX, AR, MO, IA, MN, WI, IL.
• OSTC-East (ostceast@usmc.mil). LA, MS, AL, FL, GA, SC, NC, TN, KY, MI, OH.
• OSTC-National Capital Region (ostcncr@usmc.mil). Washington DC, VA, WV, PA, MD, DE, NJ, NY, RI, CT, MA, NH, VT, ME.
• OSTC-Pacific (PAC), Hawaii (ostcmcbh@usmc.mil). Hawaii.
• OSTC-PAC, Okinawa (ostcokinawa@usmc.mil). Okinawa, Korea, mainland Japan, elsewhere in USINDOPACOM AOR.
• OSTC-Headquarters (HQ) (OSTC_HQ@usmc.mil). Non-activated reservists and any duty station not covered above.

Required reporting behavior

• Any allegation reasonably alleging a covered offense routes to OSTC immediately. Exception: an Article 134 sexual harassment formal complaint routes only after the complaint has been substantiated per service policy. Unsubstantiated formal complaints carry no OSTC reporting requirement.
• OSTC holds exclusive authority to determine whether a reported offense is a covered offense.
• Commanders take any action other than referring charges to special or general court-martial when OSTC defers the offense back to the commander.
• Existing OPREP-3 SIR and law enforcement notification requirements remain in effect.

Connection to higher policy

• Executive Order 14103. Promulgates amendments to the Manual for Courts-Martial.
• Rule for Courts-Martial 301 (as amended by Annex 2 of E.O. 14103).
• 136 Stat. 2579-81. Amendment to the UCMJ making any formal substantiated complaint of sexual harassment a covered offense.
• FY22, FY23, and FY24 National Defense Authorization Acts. Drove the broader military justice reform package establishing OSTC and the covered-offense framework.

Connection to Marine Corps doctrine

• MARADMIN 655/23. Cancelled by 633/24 effective 2025-01-01. Original announcement of OSTC full operational capability and initial notification requirements.
• MCO 3504.2A. OPREP-3 Reporting. Continues to apply in parallel with OSTC notification.

Status

In effect until superseded. Released 30 December 2024 (DTG R 301544Z DEC 24) by Major General David J. Bligh, Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Effective dates: covered offenses paragraphs 2.a through 2.m apply from 28 December 2023 per Rule for Courts-Martial 301. Covered offense paragraph 2.n (sexual harassment) applies from 2025-01-01 per the UCMJ amendment in reference (c). Point of contact: LtCol G. S. Shows, OSTC, 703-614-6108, geoffrey.shows@usmc.mil.