Marine Corps Warfighter Mental Readiness Playbook - Version 3

Scope

The Marine Corps Warfighter Mental Readiness Playbook is a leadership reference for command teams, small unit leaders, and individual Marines on mental readiness, suicide prevention, and stress response. Version 3, modified 14 March 2025. 40 pages. Endorsed by General Eric Smith, 39th Commandant of the Marine Corps. The playbook walks readers through Combat and Operational Stress First Aid (COSFA), effective conversations with Marines in need, the Stress Decision Flowchart, criteria for command notification, the warm handoff to clinical care, and the Marine Corps Total Fitness framework.

Audience

• Command Team. Battalion and squadron level commanders, sergeants major, and S-3 operations officers.
• Small Unit Leaders. Platoon commanders, platoon sergeants, squad leaders, fire team leaders.
• All Marines. Self-care, peer support, recognition of warning signs.
• Marine and Family Programs (M&FP) staff. Force Multiplying Resources and Commander Assets coordinators.

Sections

• Section 1 What's In It For Me. Command Team, Small Unit Leaders, All Marines, Combat and Operational Stress First Aid (COSFA).
• Section 2 Keep Growing as a Leader. Creating Time and Space, Having Effective Conversations, Leadership Self-Awareness.
• Section 3 Staying in the Fight. Spread the Truth, Stress Decision Flowchart, Responding with Compassion, Follow Through, Warfighter Mental Readiness, The Upward Spiral, Suicide Prevention Quick Tips for Leaders, The Downward Spiral, Criteria for Notification to Command, Commanders' Communication with Medical, The Warm Hand Off, Marine Requested Evaluation, Command Requested Evaluation, The Mental Health Roadmap.
• Section 4 Arsenal of Resources. Behavioral Health Mobile and Web Resources, Commander Assets, Force Multiplying Resources, Clinical Tools Outside of The Command, Other Non-Military Services.

Connection to Marine Corps doctrine

• MCO 5300.17A. Marine Corps Combat and Operational Stress Control (COSC) Program. Foundational policy framework for COSFA and the stress continuum.
• MCO 1720.2A. Marine Corps Suicide Prevention Program (SPP).
• MARADMIN 470/22 and follow-on suicide-prevention guidance.
• 39th Commandant's Planning Guidance (August 2024). Quoted in the playbook foreword.
• Marine Corps Total Fitness framework. Mental fitness is one of the four pillars.

Status

Version 3 released 14 March 2025. Hosted on the MCCS Miramar media library. Current as of audit on 16 May 2026.