The Six Functional Areas

Why the Six F's Anchor Every Session

Per MCO 1500.61MCO 1500.61 paragraph 4.a.(2)(d), six functional areas frame leader development.MCO 1500.61 4.a.(2)(d) A Marine pulled forward in only one or two areas grows lopsided. Read across all six in every initial counseling session and at least four in every follow-on.

The Lejeune Leadership Institute publishes Discussion Guides for each F at usmcu.edu/lli. Pull those when you need fresh prompts.

Fidelity

Faithfulness to one another, the Corps, and the Nation. Core values, leadership traits, ethical conduct.

Ask the Marine.

• Where did your conduct test your values this quarter?
• What ethical decision did you watch a peer face?
• How does your off-duty conduct hold up against the on-duty standard?

Watch for.

• Fraternization risk inside the unit.
• Social media patterns at odds with the standard.
• Withdrawal from unit traditions and history.

Send the Marine to.

• Chaplain for value clarification.
• Senior NCO mentor for heritage and traditions.
• Command climate review when patterns emerge.

Fighter

MOS proficiency, PME, billet readiness, on and off duty education, communication skills.

Ask the Marine.

• What part of your MOS feels weakest right now?
• Where are you on your MOS Roadmap?
• What PME milestone is next on the timeline?

Watch for.

• Skill atrophy after deployment.
• PME drift after a missed cycle.
• Weak APES record going into a board.

Send the Marine to.

• Career planner for board prep.
• Marine Corps University and MarineNet for distance PME.
• Off-duty education office for credential pathways.

Fitness

Physical, mental, spiritual, and social health.

Ask the Marine.

• Where is your PFT and CFT trend over the last year?
• How is your sleep, your stress, your social connection?
• What spiritual or moral resource grounds you?

Watch for.

• Body composition trend climbing toward the line.
• Isolation from peers and the unit.
• Alcohol or behavior shifts signaling stress.

Send the Marine to.

• Force Fitness Instructor for performance training.
• Chaplain for spiritual fitness.
• Behavioral Health and COSC for combat stress.
• Substance Abuse Counseling Center as needed.

Family

The bedrock relationships behind every Marine.

Ask the Marine.

• Is your RED-S accurate today?
• Is the NAVMC 10922NAVMC 10922 current after every dependent change?
• Is your Family Care Plan in place for sole or dual-military situations?

Watch for.

• Outdated 10922 after marriage, birth, divorce.
• Missing DD-93 or wrong beneficiary.
• Family Care Plan gaps at deployment alert.

Send the Marine to.

• Family Readiness Officer for unit support.
• School Liaison for dependent education.
• EFMP coordinator for special needs.
• Marine Corps Family Team Building for new spouses.

Finances

Disciplined personal financial responsibility.

Ask the Marine.

• What is your TSP contribution rate?
• What is your emergency fund balance?
• Any debt you would not want a creditor letter to surface?

Watch for.

• Payday loans or high-rate credit cycling.
• Missed allotments or BAH discrepancies.
• GTCC delinquency.
• Bankruptcy traffic at the command.

Send the Marine to.

• Command Financial Specialist for budget building.
• Personal Financial Management Program at MCCS.
• Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society for emergency assistance.

Future

Goal setting across the other five F's. Reenlistment intent. School selection. Civilian credential plan. Transition timeline.

Ask the Marine.

• Where do you see yourself in five years?
• What are you reenlisting for, or what is your civilian plan?
• What SMART goal owns the next 90 days?

Watch for.

• Vague answers to long-term questions.
• Mismatched timelines between school, deployment, and EAS.
• No plan past EAS within 24 months of separation.

Send the Marine to.

• Career planner for reenlistment and school selection.
• Transition Readiness Program at 365 days from EAS.
• The SMART goals leaf inside this branch for the framework.

How to Carry the F's into the Notebook

Reserve a section in your Marine Leader Notebook for each F. Note the Marine's last answer, the next question, and the resource you sent the Marine to. The notebook is not paper drill.MCO 1500.61 5.b.(1) Use it as the memory anchor between sessions.