MCACC Coordination and Civil Authority Liaison

Role and responsibility

S-1 admin specialists run the day-to-day liaison with the Marine Corps Absentee Collection Center (MCACC). The S-1 clerk receives daily Return to Military Control (RMC) reports from the MCACC Deserter Information Point (DIP). The S-1 chief routes DD Form 553 packages through the unit security officer to the MCACU site holding regional caseload coverage. The unit security officer coordinates with civilian law enforcement through the geographic I&I staff identified in MCO 1620.3A Enclosures 1 and 2.

Source documents flow from the MCACC RMC report, the DIP deserter caseload accountability, the MCACU apprehension and escort transport records, the I&I civilian law enforcement liaison logs, and the zip code cross-reference. Outputs include the unit deserter caseload, the daily RMC reconciliation, the escort transport request, the IHCA notification, and the apprehension support coordination record.

MCACC, DIP, and MCACU sit under DC PP&O Security Division (PS) Law Enforcement and Corrections Branch (PSL) Corrections Section. The Head of PSL Corrections serves as OIC of MCACC.

Trigger events

• Unit declares a deserter and routes DD Form 553 to MCACC for caseload entry.
• MCACC reports a daily RMC update and the unit reconciles the caseload.
• Civilian law enforcement notifies the unit through I&I of an apprehended Marine.
• The unit identifies an IHCA Marine and requests MCACU escort transport.
• Reserve I&I staff identifies a Marine residing in their geographic area of responsibility per Enclosures 1 and 2.

Processing workflow

1. Establish MCACC and DIP point of contact at unit stand-up. The S-1 chief records the DIP phone (703) 604-3667 or 0395, DSN 664, fax (703) 604-6666 per MCO 1620.3AMCO 1620.3A Paragraph 4b(1).
2. Identify the geographic I&I staff. For a deserter with last known location in the United States, look up the geographic I&I staff using the first three digits of the zip code per MCO 1620.3AMCO 1620.3A Enclosure 1.
3. Coordinate with the unit security officer. The unit security officer routes DD Form 553 to civilian law enforcement and runs the I&I liaison interface.
4. Submit DD Form 553 to MCACC. The deserter caseload package routes from the unit through the unit security officer to the MCACU site holding regional coverage (Washington DC for east of the Mississippi, San Diego for west).
5. Run daily RMC reconciliation. The S-1 clerk pulls the daily DIP RMC report and reconciles against the unit deserter caseload. New apprehensions trigger MCACU escort transport requests.
6. Request MCACU escort transport. When the apprehending agency or IHCA location sits outside the parent unit area, request escort transport from MCACU Washington DC or MCACU San Diego per MCO 1620.3AMCO 1620.3A Paragraph 4b(2).
7. Coordinate IHCA disposition. The S-1 chief coordinates with civilian law enforcement, military prosecution, and MCACC on IHCA release timing, civilian charge disposition, and military custody transfer.
8. Track hospitalized absentees. When a deserter is hospitalized at a civilian medical facility, the unit maintains liaison through civilian law enforcement and notifies MCACC of status changes per MCO 1620.3AMCO 1620.3A Paragraph 4b(3).
9. Reconcile records on return. Notify the DIP within 24 hours of return to military control. The DIP removes the DD Form 553 entry from NCIC and clears the unit deserter caseload.
10. Screen MOS 5831 chaser duty candidates. The S-1 chief screens unit Marines for chaser duty per MCO 1326.6 independent duty screening and the MOS 5831 selection criteria in MCO 1620.3AMCO 1620.3A Paragraph 5b.

Systems of record and forms

Systems

• MCACC Deserter Information Point (DIP). 24-hour control center at HQMC.
• MCACU Washington DC. Regional caseload coverage for the eastern United States.
• MCACU San Diego. Regional caseload coverage for the western United States.
• NCIC. National Crime Information Center entries through civilian law enforcement.
• MCTFS. Deserter status with pay implications.
• I&I geographic AOR map. Enclosures 1 and 2 of MCO 1620.3A by zip code prefix.

Forms

• DD Form 553 Deserter or Absentee Wanted by the Armed Forces. Routed through unit security officer to civilian law enforcement and MCACC.
• DD Form 616 Report of Return of Absentee. Routed back to MCACC and the DIP at return.
• MCACU Escort Transport Request. Internal request to the MCACU site for escort travel.
• MOS 5831 Chaser Duty Screening Checklist. Per MCO 1326.6 independent duty screening.

Common pitfalls

• DIP notification skipped at deserter declaration. The MCACC caseload runs without the deserter. Notify the DIP at (703) 604-3667 within 24 hours of declaration per MCO 1620.3AMCO 1620.3A Paragraph 4b(1).
• Geographic I&I staff not identified. Civilian law enforcement liaison stalls for absent or unclear unit ownership. Use the first three digits of the deserter last known zip code against Enclosure 1.
• MCACU escort transport not requested. The unit attempts unit-internal transport without certified chaser escort. Request MCACU escort for all IHCA and apprehension transport per Paragraph 4b(2).
• Daily RMC reconciliation skipped. The unit deserter caseload diverges from MCACC and DIP records. Run the DIP RMC report reconciliation daily.
• MOS 5831 chaser screening waived. Marines assigned to MCACC duty without independent duty screening per MCO 1326.6 and the MOS 5831 selection criteria fail certification per MCO 1620.3AMCO 1620.3A Paragraph 5c.

Decision points

• MCACU Washington versus San Diego. Caseload routes by deserter last known location. East of the Mississippi River goes to MCACU Washington DC. West goes to MCACU San Diego per MCO 1620.3AMCO 1620.3A Paragraph 4b(2).
• Active component base versus Reserve I&I staff liaison. Active component installations hold liaison for their geographic areas. Reserve I&I staffs hold liaison for the Reserve geographic AOR identified in Enclosure 1.
• IHCA release timing. The S-1 chief coordinates with civilian prosecution and MCACC. Release to military custody happens when civilian charges resolve, the bond posts, or the apprehending agency releases per agreement.

Authority

This sub-page maps to NAVMC 3500.3E T-R event 0102-GENA-2108 Process Absentee Wanted by the Armed Forces and 0111-GENA-2016 Process Deserter or Absentee Cases. The processing workflow sits under MCO 1620.3AMCO 1620.3A Paragraph 4 Execution, Enclosures 1 and 2 Geographic Areas of Responsibility, and DODI 1325.02 Desertion and Unauthorized Absence or Absence Without Leave. DC PP&O Security Division (PS) Law Enforcement and Corrections Branch (PSL) Corrections Section sponsors the program.

Related references

• MCO 1620.3A Marine Corps Absentee and Deserter Apprehension Program. MCACC, DIP, MCACU mission, Enclosure 1 zip code cross-reference.
• DODI 1325.02 Desertion and Unauthorized Absence or Absence Without Leave. Parent DoD framework.
• MCO 1326.6 Selecting Screening and Preparing Marines for Independent Duty. MOS 5831 chaser duty screening rules.
• MCO 1200.17 Military Occupational Specialty Manual. MOS 5831 Corrections Specialist definition.