Command Investigation (Type One) - S-1 Procedural Page

Role and responsibility

The convening authority (CA) signs the Type One convening order per JAGINST 5800.7GJAGINST 5800.7G Chapter II section 0209.c (Convening Order) using Appendix A-2-e (Sample Command Investigation Convening Order). The investigating officer (IO) appointed by the CA executes the investigation per section 0209.d (Investigatory Approach) and builds the report per section 0209.e (Command Investigation Report) using Appendix A-2-f (Sample Command Investigation Report). The legal advisor reviews the investigation for sufficiency per section 0209.g (Review). The CA acts on the IO recommendations per section 0209.f (CA Action). The GCMCA reviews per section 0223 (Action by Reviewing Authorities) when required.

Source documents flow from the preliminary inquiry record per JAGMAN 0203, the command-options decision per 0204, the Type One convening order per Appendix A-2-e, the witness statements and physical evidence per JAGMAN 0207, the IO findings of fact, opinions, and recommendations per JAGMAN 0208, and the legal sufficiency review. Type One outputs include the certified Command Investigation Report per Appendix A-2-f, the CA action endorsement per section 0209.f, the legal sufficiency review per section 0209.g, the case file retained per section 0209.h, and the Page 11 entries on subject Marines per MCO P1070.12KMCO P1070.12K Chapter 6.

Per JAGMAN section 0209.a (Purpose), the Type One Command Investigation is the standard administrative investigation tool for matters of command interest without a litigation or major-incident posture. Per section 0209.b (Limitations), Type One does not extend to matters reserved for litigation-report investigation (Type Two, section 0210) or court of inquiry (Type Three, section 0211).

Trigger events

• CA elects Type One investigation per JAGMAN 0204.
• Routine administrative inquiry into command interest matter.
• Preliminary inquiry per JAGMAN 0203 recommends Type One.
• Incident covered by JAGMAN Appendix A-2 special-incident appendices but not rising to major-incident threshold.
• Performance, conduct, or property accountability matter requiring formal IO finding.
• Cross-command incident with another Marine Corps unit requiring CA-level resolution.

Processing workflow

1. Receive the CA decision. Per JAGINST 5800.7GJAGINST 5800.7G Chapter II section 0204 (Command Options), the CA selects Type One after preliminary inquiry.
2. Issue the convening order. Per JAGMAN section 0209.c (Convening Order) and Appendix A-2-e, draft the convening order including the IO appointment, scope, witness list, time limits, and any specific direction.
3. Brief the IO on JAGMAN 0209.a-b. The legal advisor briefs the IO on the purpose, limitations, scope, and the parties' rights per Appendix A-2-c.
4. Apply the investigatory approach. Per JAGMAN section 0209.d (Investigatory Approach), the IO gathers evidence, interviews witnesses per section 0207, and develops findings.
5. Build the report. Per JAGMAN section 0209.e (Command Investigation Report) and Appendix A-2-f (Sample Command Investigation Report), structure with Preliminary Statement, Findings of Fact, Opinions, Recommendations, Enclosures, and Signatures per section 0208.
6. Route to legal review and CA action. Per JAGMAN section 0209.f (CA Action) and section 0223.a (Action by Convening Authority), the CA endorses with approval, modification, return for further work, or rejection.
7. Process review. Per JAGMAN section 0209.g (Review), the legal advisor reviews the investigation for sufficiency. The reviewer flags legal sufficiency issues and recommends corrections.
8. Apply forwarding and retention policies. Per JAGMAN section 0209.h (Forwarding and Retention Policies), forward to the GCMCA when required and retain in the unit legal records per MCO 5800.16MCO 5800.16 Volume 1.
9. Handle release. Per JAGMAN section 0209.i (Release of Command Investigations), release requests run through the Privacy Act and FOIA procedures. The legal advisor coordinates release.
10. Document Page 11 entries on subject Marines. Per MCO P1070.12KMCO P1070.12K Chapter 6, cut Page 11 for adverse findings or actions referenced in the CA endorsement.

Systems of record and forms

Systems

• Investigating Officer Working File. Holds the case file during execution.
• Convening Authority Legal Records. Holds the certified investigation per MCO 5800.16 Volume 1.
• OMPF Field Folder. Holds the personnel records pulled for the investigation.
• Legal Sufficiency Review File. Holds the legal advisor review.

Forms

• Command Investigation Convening Order. Per Appendix A-2-e.
• Command Investigation Report. Per Appendix A-2-f.
• Witness Statement. Per JAGMAN 0207.c.
• Privacy Act Statement. Per JAGMAN 0207.e and Appendix A-2-i.
• Privacy Act Record of Disclosure. Per Appendix A-2-j.
• CA Endorsement Memorandum. Per JAGMAN 0209.f and 0223.a.
• NAVMC 118 (11) Administrative Remarks. Page 11 documenting adverse findings affecting a subject Marine.

Common pitfalls

• IO appointed without legal advisor brief. Per JAGINST 5800.7GJAGINST 5800.7G Chapter II section 0209.a-b, the IO understands purpose and limitations before starting. A non-briefed IO produces a sufficiency-deficient report.
• Convening order missing required elements. Per JAGMAN section 0206 (Convening Orders) and Appendix A-2-e, the convening order lists IO, scope, witnesses, time limits, and any specific direction. A defective order invalidates downstream work.
• Findings of Fact mixed with Opinions in the report. Per JAGMAN section 0208 and Appendix A-2-f, Findings of Fact and Opinions are separate sections. Mixing them confuses the CA review.
• Witness statements unsigned. Per JAGMAN 0207, the witness signs the statement under oath. An unsigned statement loses evidentiary weight.
• Retention skipped after CA action. Per JAGMAN section 0209.h, the unit retains the certified investigation per MCO 5800.16MCO 5800.16 Volume 1.
• Type One used for a matter belonging in Type Two. Per JAGMAN section 0210, matters with potential government liability or litigation exposure require Type Two procedures.

Decision points

• Type One versus Type Two routing. Per JAGINST 5800.7GJAGINST 5800.7G Chapter II section 0204 (Command Options) and 0210, the CA routes to Type Two when potential government liability surfaces.
• CA action options. Per JAGMAN section 0209.f and section 0223.a, the CA approves, modifies, returns for further work, or rejects. The CA selects per the legal advisor recommendation and the record.
• Release scope. Per JAGMAN section 0209.i, release requests follow the Privacy Act and FOIA. The legal advisor coordinates the release scope.

Authority

This sub-page sits under JAGINST 5800.7GJAGINST 5800.7G Chapter II section 0209 (Type One: Command Investigations) including subsections a (Purpose) through i (Release). Appendix A-2-e provides the sample convening order. Appendix A-2-f provides the sample report. JAGMAN section 0207 sets evidence and witness rules. JAGMAN section 0208 sets the report format. JAGMAN section 0223 sets CA and GCMCA review. MCO 5800.16MCO 5800.16 Volume 1 and Volume 11 supplement at the Marine Corps level. MCO P1070.12KMCO P1070.12K Chapter 6 covers Page 11 documentation. S-1 responsibilities sit at MCO 5000.14DMCO 5000.14D MCAP enclosure 4. The processing workflow maps to NAVMC 3500.3E T-R event 0102-GENA-1012.

Related references

• JAGMAN section 0209 and subsections a-i. Authoritative Type One rules.
• JAGMAN Appendix A-2-e. Sample convening order.
• JAGMAN Appendix A-2-f. Sample report.
• JAGMAN sections 0207, 0208, 0223. Cross-cutting evidence, report, and review rules.
• MCO 5800.16 Volume 1 and Volume 11. Marine Corps supplement.
• MCO P1070.12K paragraph 4006. Page 11 documentation.
• MCO 5000.14D MCAP enclosure 4. S-1 investigation responsibilities.
• NAVMC 3500.3E. T-R event 0102-GENA-1012.