MCO 1320.11H - Marine Corps Sponsorship Program (MCSP)

Scope

MCO 1320.11H sets Marine Corps Sponsorship Program (MCSP) policy. The order assigns sponsorship responsibility to Unit Sponsorship Coordinators (SCs) and individual Sponsors who support inbound Marines and family members through Permanent Change of Station (PCS) transitions. Sponsorship is mandatory for every Marine in the grades E-1 through E-9, WO-1 through CWO-5, and O-1 through O-6 executing CONUS or OCONUS orders. The order names the Information, Referral and Relocation (IR&R) Program at each installation as the subject-matter authority. IR&R staff train, support, and oversee Sponsors and SCs. Sponsorship support is separate from Welcome Aboard workshops, though the two programs coordinate.

Audience

• Unit commanders. Establish the unit MCSP. Appoint a Sponsorship Coordinator in writing (collateral duty, recommended from S-1, Administrative Chief, or Adjutant). Budget for Sponsor reimbursable expenses. Establish check-out procedures requiring PCS workshop attendance 60 to 90 days before transfer.
• Sponsorship Coordinators (SCs). Complete required training within 60 days of appointment. Maintain contact information with the installation IR&R Manager. Match Sponsors to inbound Marines by grade and marital status when possible. Track training certificates and Sponsorship Program questionnaires.
• Individual Sponsors. Contact assigned inbound Marines before arrival. Greet them on arrival. Support initial transportation needs. Provide local resource information and orient them to the new duty station.
• Installation Commanders. Ensure IR&R provides Sponsorship Training, Sponsor Coordinator Training, and Welcome Aboard services. Provide publicity and advertising support.
• Marine and Family Programs Division (MF). Develop standardized training materials. Conduct inspections. Support the managers' internal control program.
• COMMARFORRES. Liaison for Reserve Sponsors. Sponsorship support via MARFORRES Marine Corps Community Services at 1-866-305-9058.
• CG MCRC. Ensure Deployment Readiness Coordinators (DRCs) and Uniformed Readiness Coordinators (URCs) at every Recruiting District support the SC.

Enclosure map

• Enclosure 1. Sample Sponsorship Coordinator Appointment Letter.
• Enclosure 2. Sample Command "Welcome Aboard" Letter.
• Enclosure 3. Sample Sponsorship Program Utilization Metrics.
• Enclosure 4. Sample Sponsor "Welcome Aboard" Letter (CONUS).
• Enclosure 5. Sample Sponsor "Welcome Aboard" Letter (Accompanied OCONUS).
• Enclosure 6. Sample Sponsor "Welcome Aboard" Letter (Unaccompanied OCONUS).
• Enclosure 7. Sample Sponsorship Assignment Letter.

Forms and systems

• NAVMC 11799, Sponsorship Request Form. Inbound Marine submits to gaining unit to trigger Sponsor assignment.
• NAVMC 11791, Sponsorship Program Questionnaire. Provided to the inbound Marine after the move. Unit retains completed forms for 2 years in command files.
• MCTIMS (Marine Corps Training Information Management System). Training documentation entered under event code "US".
• MarineNet course "USMC Sponsorship Training". Required for individual Sponsors.
• MarineNet course "USMC Sponsorship Coordinator Training". Required for SCs.
• militaryonesource.mil. Hosts the non-USMC sponsorship training fallback when MarineNet access is unavailable.
• planmymove.militaryonesource.mil and installations.militaryonesource.mil. Relocation tools for units not on a military installation.

Timing rules

• Sponsor assigned no later than 60 days before the inbound Marine's transfer.
• For OCONUS gaining units, Sponsor assigned as soon as basic (web) orders arrive at the overseas unit.
• SC completes Sponsor Coordinator Training within 60 days of appointment.
• Individual Sponsor completes Sponsorship Training before performing sponsorship duties.
• Marine attends mandatory PCS workshop 60 to 90 days prior to transfer.
• SC appointment letter copy goes to the installation or supporting IR&R Manager.

Geographically isolated families

• East of the Mississippi River (except Wisconsin): 1-833-657-2110.
• West of the Mississippi River, plus Wisconsin: 1-800-253-1624.
• Military OneSource (24/7): 1-800-342-9647.

Connection to higher policy

• DoDI 1342.22. Military Family Readiness (5 Aug 2021).
• SECNAVINST 1754.1B. DON Family Support Programs.
• 5 U.S.C. section 552a. Privacy Act of 1974.
• SECNAVINST 5211.5F. DON Privacy Program.
• SECNAV M-5210.1. DON Records Management Manual.

Connection to Marine Corps doctrine and lower policy

• MCO 1754.9B. Unit, Personal, and Family Readiness Program (UPFRP). MCSP collaborates with UPFRP on the welcoming function.
• MCO P1700.27B w/CH-1. Marine Corps Community Services. Governs MWR funds available for Welcome Aboard events.
• MCO 1754.10B. Family Readiness Officer (FRO) Program.
• MCO 5210.11F. Marine Corps Records Management Program. Drives retention of Sponsorship Questionnaire records.
• Joint Travel Regulations (JTR). Authorizes Sponsor mileage, parking, and toll reimbursement.

Status

Active with Administrative Change 1. Base order signed 19 September 2023. Cancels MCO 1320.11G. Sponsor is DC M&RA Marine and Family Programs Division (MF), Information, Referral and Relocation Program. DC M&RA reviews the order annually for currency.