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Dependency or Hardship Discharge

Marines

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MCO 1900.16 (MARCORSEPMAN) (15 FEB 2019)

Source
MCO 1900.16 (MARCORSEPMAN) (15 FEB 2019) (1.8 MB)

Comments: To view or download the complete regulation, click on the link to it in the box above these comments.

6407. DEPENDENCY OR HARDSHIP

1. General. The CMC and the GCMCA may direct the separation of enlisted Marines for dependency or hardship. Applications from Marines who have been granted temporary additional duty with a unit for the purpose of applying for this type of separation will be forwarded to the CMC (MMSR-3) for consideration. Marines granted Permissive Temporary Additional Duty (PTAD) to a unit for humanitarian reasons and subsequently request a hardship discharge will continue to submit this request to the CMC (MMEA 86) for consideration per paragraph 1301 of reference (be) MCO 1000.6 (ACTSMAN). The CMC (MMEA 86 and MMSR-3) will determine if the request meets humanitarian/hardship discharge criteria. The GCMCA will consider applications from Marines at their parent command; these applications are not reviewed or considered by CMC.

2. Criteria. Separation may be directed when genuine dependency or undue hardship exists under the following circumstances:

a. The hardship or dependency is not temporary;

b. Conditions have arisen, or have aggravated, to an excessive degree since entry into the Marine Corps and the Marine has made every effort to remedy the situation;

c. The administrative separation will eliminate or materially alleviate the condition; and

d. There are no other means of alleviation reasonably available.

3. Undue hardship does not necessarily exist because of altered present or expected income, family separation, or other inconveniences normally incident to military service.

a. Separation will not be authorized for personal convenience alone; when the Marine requires medical treatment; or solely by reason of the Marine's wife being pregnant.

b. Separation will not be disapproved solely because the Marine's services are needed in the unit or because the Marine is indebted to the Government or to an individual. All attempts should be made to collect the debt before separation, if this will not place further hardship on the Marine.

4. Application. The Marine's request consists of two parts, a statement of the circumstances and substantiating documentation, as explained below.

a. The Marine must submit a statement containing the following:

(1) Reason for Request. The clearer the "picture" of the situation the Marine provides, the greater the likelihood a proper decision will be made. It would be helpful to address the criteria in paragraph 6407.2;

(2) Complete home address of the family member and the Marine;

(3) The Marine's marital status, date of marriage, and number of family members;

(4) Names and addresses of persons familiar with the situation;

(5) Names, ages, addresses, and occupations of all immediate family members and reasons why they cannot provide the necessary help (if deceased indicate date of death); and

(6) If the request is based on the financial difficulties of a Marine's family member(s), provide statements of both income and expenses, and assets and liabilities of that (those) family member(s). Assets will include a listing of all property, securities, and funds owned except clothing and household furnishings. For this type of request, also provide a statement of the Marine's own financial obligations including specific amounts and methods of past and current contributions/allotments to the family member(s).

b. The Marine must submit substantiating documentation as enclosures to the request.

(1) Where practicable, statements must be submitted from the family members concerned. If applicable, indicate the status of parents (unmarried, divorced or widowed). The intent is on quality of information provided, not quantity.

(2) If dependency or hardship is the result of a family member's death, provide a certificate or other proof.

(3) If dependency or hardship is the result of a family member's disability, provide a doctor's statement showing when the disability occurred, the nature of the disability, probable duration, and the requirement for the service member to medically assist the family member.