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Charles Wemyss, Jr.'s avatar

This was and is terrific advice aka SCOOP. It ought to be sent to TBS as a lesson in the POI, and then reinforced at IOC. The standard operating procedure is a guidebook here for the specifics of a coordinated border assignment. But Captain Howard has drilled into a much deeper level of command. That last “S” in BAMCIS “Supervise” runs throughout his writing of the basics to the specifics of this mission. It really brings home a couple of points. The 5 paragraph order is meaningful in just about all situations. (Including a trip to Home Depot.) The second is higher command needs to be sure that the civilian authorities in this case DHS, know that these are Marines and are there to “support” the effort not take confusing “orders” from the local agents. One can see friction or a “gap” in the structure if CBP officers with a great deal of local knowledge and experience feel that they are superior in some manner shape or form. Working the seams like Captain Howard did by inter acting with the various outposts and civilian authorities lowered the temperature or friction without compromising the mission or the authority of the USMC chain of command. The Connecting File is just a superb resource, and interestingly the lesson often pass through decades ands still ring true.

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JamesJMaxwell's avatar

35 years since company command, and it all comes pouring back into my head! S/F

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