Bulletins and Message Bulletins - S-1 Procedural Page

Role and responsibility

The DCP clerk drafts the Marine Corps Bulletin (MCBul) per MCO 5215.1KMCO 5215.1K Enclosure (1) Chapter 3 paragraph 1 (Introduction). The S-1 chief reviews the draft against the Chapter 3 paragraph-by-paragraph format. The S-1 officer signs by direction on the route to the signing authority. The signing authority signs per Chapter 1 paragraphs 6 (Authority to Issue) and 7 (Signature Delegation).

Source documents flow from the time-limited information requiring formal issuance, the cancellation contingency or date, the SSIC and sponsor code, the references and enclosures, the chain endorsements, and the distribution list. Bulletin actions land in the DCP index, the unit directives library, and the addressee inboxes (for letter-type) or message traffic (for message-format). Outputs include the signed MCBul or message bulletin, the DCP index entry with cancellation date, and the staffing record.

Per MCO 5215.1K Enclosure (1) Chapter 3 paragraph 1 (Introduction), bulletins carry time-limited or one-time information. Per the Chapter 3 figures, the letter-type MCBul issues with a cancellation contingency (Figure 3-1) or a given cancellation date (Figure 3-2). Per paragraph 15 (Bulletins Issued in Message Format), bulletins issue by message (including MARADMIN message traffic) per Figure 3-3.

Trigger events

• Time-limited policy guidance requires formal issuance.
• One-time event requires bulletin coverage with a cancellation date.
• Routine information requires distribution beyond standard notice channels.
• MARADMIN message issued by HQMC requiring local bulletin implementation.
• Cancellation contingency met triggering automatic bulletin retirement.
• Cancellation date reached triggering removal from the DCP index.

Processing workflow

1. Validate bulletin scope. Per MCO 5215.1KMCO 5215.1K Enclosure (1) Chapter 3 paragraph 1 (Introduction), confirm the content fits the bulletin category. Lasting policy goes in an MCO per Chapter 2.
2. Set cancellation contingency or date. Per Figure 3-1 (Cancellation Contingency) or Figure 3-2 (Given Cancellation Date), set the cancellation marker.
3. Apply letterhead. Per Chapter 3 paragraph 2 (Letterhead Page), use the standard letterhead.
4. Apply SSIC and sponsor code. Per Chapter 3 paragraph 3 (SSIC and Sponsor Code), set the SSIC and the sponsor code on the designation line.
5. Build the From, To, Subj, Ref, Encl, and Distribution Statement blocks. Per Chapter 3 paragraphs 5 (From), 6 (To), 7 (Subj), 8 (Ref), 9 (Encl), and 10 (Distribution Statement Block).
6. Draft major paragraphs. Per Chapter 3 paragraph 11 (Major Paragraphs), structure the bulletin body.
7. Set the signature block. Per Chapter 3 paragraph 12 (Signature Block), apply the signature block per the signing authority.
8. Apply distribution and copy to. Per Chapter 3 paragraph 13 (Distribution and Copy to Sections), set distribution.
9. Apply filing instructions. Per Chapter 3 paragraph 14 (Filing Instructions), include filing guidance.
10. Process message-format bulletin. Per Chapter 3 paragraph 15 (Bulletins Issued in Message Format), use the message format per Figure 3-3.

Systems of record and forms

Systems

• Directives Control Point (DCP). Holds the bulletin index with cancellation tracking.
• Unit Directives Library. Holds the bulletin file.
• HQMC Directives Portal. Source of HQMC-issued MCBuls.
• Message Traffic System. Routes bulletins issued by message per Chapter 3 paragraph 15.

Forms

• Letter-Type MCBul (Cancellation Contingency Variant). Per Figure 3-1.
• Letter-Type MCBul (Given Cancellation Date Variant). Per Figure 3-2.
• Message-Format Bulletin. Per Figure 3-3.
• Bulletin Draft Cover Sheet. Per Chapter 3 paragraph 1.

Common pitfalls

• Lasting policy issued as MCBul instead of MCO. Per MCO 5215.1KMCO 5215.1K Enclosure (1) Chapter 3 paragraph 1, the MCBul is for time-limited information only. Lasting policy belongs in an MCO per Chapter 2.
• Cancellation contingency or date omitted. Per Chapter 3 Figures 3-1 and 3-2, every letter-type MCBul carries a cancellation marker. A missed cancellation marker leaves the bulletin in force indefinitely.
• Distribution Statement omitted. Per Chapter 3 paragraph 10, the Distribution Statement applies to every bulletin.
• SSIC misapplied on the designation line. Per Chapter 3 paragraph 3, the SSIC drives indexing and routing. Apply the correct SSIC.
• Message-format bulletin issued without filing instructions. Per Chapter 3 paragraph 14, filing instructions apply to all bulletin formats.

Decision points

• Letter-type versus message-format bulletin. Per MCO 5215.1KMCO 5215.1K Enclosure (1) Chapter 3 paragraphs 1 and 15, the time-criticality and the audience drive the format. Message format suits urgent or wide-distribution items.
• Cancellation contingency versus given date. Per Figures 3-1 and 3-2, contingency cancellation suits event-tied bulletins (e.g., a one-time exercise). A given date suits routine annual cycles.
• Distribution scope. Per Chapter 3 paragraph 13, the distribution list controls the audience. The S-1 officer sets the scope per the bulletin content.

Authority

This sub-page sits under MCO 5215.1KMCO 5215.1K Enclosure (1) Chapter 3 (Bulletins) paragraphs 1-15 and Figures 3-1, 3-2, 3-3. Chapter 1 paragraphs 6 (Authority to Issue) and 7 (Signature Delegation) set the issuing authority. Chapter 1 paragraphs 19 (Distribution Statements) and 20 (Printing and Distribution) cross-reference distribution. 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-1004.

Related references

• MCO 5215.1K Enclosure (1) Chapter 3 paragraphs 1-15. Authoritative bulletin rules.
• MCO 5215.1K Enclosure (1) Chapter 3 Figures 3-1, 3-2, 3-3. Bulletin format samples.
• MCO 5215.1K Enclosure (1) Chapter 1 paragraphs 6-7. Issuing authority and signature delegation.
• MCO 5000.14D MCAP enclosure 4. S-1 directives responsibilities.
• NAVMC 3500.3E. T-R event 0102-GENA-1004.