MCO 5215.1K - Marine Corps Directives Management Program

Scope

MCO 5215.1K sets Marine Corps directives management policy. The order prescribes the format, signature authority, control points, and lifecycle of every Marine Corps directive issued at the HQMC level. Directives covered include Marine Corps Orders (MCOs), Marine Corps Bulletins (MCBULs), and Joint Directives. The order tells authors how to construct a directive, who signs it, how to staff and clear it, and how to retire it. Administrative Change 3 (29 Sep 2025) updated the "by title" and "by direction" signature authority lists. Administrative Change 2 (signed 2025-05-16) implemented Executive Order 14168 language and revised MARADMIN message policy references. The base order signed 2007-05-10.

Audience

• Directives Control Points (DCPs). Maintain the directive inventory at HQMC departments, MARFOR commands, and major subordinate commands. Route packages through the AR (ARDB) Marine Corps Directives Management Program.
• Action officers drafting directives. Use the chapter formats and figure templates as the authoring baseline. Submit through the local DCP.
• Signature authorities. Officials listed in Chapter 1 paragraph 7a hold "by title" authority. Others sign "by direction" per delegation.
• Administrative officers (0102, 0111, 0170) and adjutants. Maintain command directive files, route locator sheets, manage records dispositions on directive records.
• Reviewers and editors at HQMC ARDB. Run the centralized review of every Marine Corps directive prior to release.

Enclosure and chapter map

• Enclosure 1, Marine Corps Directives Management Program (the operational manual).
  • Chapter 1, Directives Administrative Procedures. Definitions, authorities, exemptions, supplemental directives, signature delegation, DCPs, classification handling, FOUO designation, directive sponsor changes, command relocations, internal reviews, sex-based language and biological term usage, abbreviations, staffing and clearing, distribution statements, printing, preparing directives, reserve designation, designation lines, Ref and Encl sections, locator sheets, reports-required, forms management, records disposition, paragraph numbering, spacing, signature blocks, change transmittals and page replacements, master directive file, checklists, identification blocks, formats of procedural guidance enclosures.
  • Chapter 2, Orders. Letterhead, mandatory paragraphs, Administration and Logistics, Command and Signal, signature block, distribution. Includes the five-paragraph order format (Figure 2-1) and the field commands format (Figure 2-2).
  • Chapter 3, Bulletins. MCBUL format. Letterhead, SSIC and sponsor code, designation line, From/To/Subj lines, Ref and Encl sections, distribution statement, major paragraphs, signature block, distribution, filing instructions, bulletins issued in message format. Figures 3-1 to 3-3.
  • Chapter 4, Joint Directives. SSIC and signature requirements, applicability, cancellation, information required, checklist, preliminary and final coordination, signature authority, format for directives signed by two or more principals.

Connection to higher policy

• 5 U.S.C. section 552a. Privacy Act of 1974. Governs PII handling in directive records.
• SECNAV M-5210.1 with CH-1. DON Records Management Manual. Drives directive records disposition.
• SECNAVINST 5211.5F. DON Privacy Program.
• Executive Order 14168 (20 Jan 2025). Drove the Admin CH-2 update to sex-based language and biological term usage.
• OPM Memorandum on Defending Women (29 Jan 2025).

Connection to Marine Corps doctrine and lower policy

• MCO 5210.11F. Marine Corps Records Management Program. Governs records disposition for directive records.
• MCO 5211.5. Marine Corps Privacy Program. Implements the Privacy Act locally.
• MCO 5216.20B with Admin CH-4. Marine Corps Supplement to the Department of the Navy Correspondence Manual. MCPEL lists Admin CH-4 as current.
• IGMC Functional Area 060 (Records Management) inspections touch directive files.

Implementation venues

• AR (ARDB) Marine Corps Directives Management Program. Organizational mailbox: smb_hqmc_directives@usmc.mil.
• DON Records Management Schedules portal: https://portal.secnav.navy.mil/orgs/DUSNM/DONAA/DRM/Records-and-Information-Management/Approved%20Record%20Schedules/Forms/AllItems.aspx.
• The order itself ships with figure templates for every directive type. Authors copy the figure and fill the slots.

Status

Active with Administrative Change 3. Base order signed 2007-05-10. Admin CH-1 dated 2022-03-17. Admin CH-2 dated 2025-05-16 (Executive Order 14168 compliance). Admin CH-3 dated 2025-09-29 (updates to "by title" signature authorities). Sponsor is HQMC Administration and Resource Management Division, Reports, Directives, and Forms Management Section (ARDB). Order applies to the Marine Corps Total Force.