Marine and Family Programs Overview and Authorities

Start Here If You Are New to MF

MARINE AND FAMILY PROGRAMS BRANCH (MF) at HQMC operates a wide ecosystem of support programs for Marines and their families. MARINE CORPS COMMUNITY SERVICES (MCCS) is the installation-level delivery arm. The UNIT, PERSONAL AND FAMILY READINESS PROGRAM (UPFRP) is the unit and family readiness umbrella. MF programs cover. CASUALTY ASSISTANCE (CACO, LTAP, Gold Star, Funeral Honors, Repatriation, Investigation Tracking). FAMILY SUPPORT (EFMP, CYP, SLP, MCFTB, IR&R, Sponsorship). FINANCIAL READINESS (PFMP). CAREER SERVICES (FMEAP, SkillBridge, COOL, USMAP, TRP, Volunteer). EDUCATION AND RESILIENCE (LSP, VolEd, Library, CREDO, Marine for Life). Programs are delivered through your installation MCCS, your Family Readiness Officer (FRO), and HQMC headquarters offices for specialized cases. Per MCO 1754.9MCO 1754.9 and Marine Corps Community Services policy.

This page walks you through the MF framework from your seat as the Marine. By the end you will know.

• The MF Branch organization at HQMC
• Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) at installations
• The UPFRP umbrella for family readiness
• Program categories and where each fits
• How to find programs at your installation
• Who to contact for what
• Coordination with other parent groups (Life Events, Separations, Pay)
• Why MF matters for readiness

Every fact on this page comes from MCO 1754.9MCO 1754.9, MCO 1770.1MCO 1770.1, MCO 3040.4MCO 3040.4, MCO 1740.13MCO 1740.13, MCO 1700.30MCO 1700.30, and HQMC Marine and Family Programs Branch published guidance.

What MF Branch Is

The Marine and Family Programs Branch (MF) is a HQMC branch under the Manpower and Reserve Affairs Department (M&RA). MF operates programs that support Marines and their families across the lifecycle.

MF Branch Organization

MF Branch operates several subdivisions and program offices.

• HQMC Casualty Section
• Long Term Assistance Program (LTAP)
• Investigation Tracking
• Repatriation Program
• Marine for Life Network
• Family Readiness Services
• Children, Youth, and Teen Programs
• Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)
• Personal and Professional Development
• Behavioral Health
• Substance Abuse and Treatment

MF Coordination

MF coordinates with.

• Manpower and Reserve Affairs (M&RA) for personnel decisions
• HQMC Manpower for dependency adjudications
• Chaplain Corps for spiritual support and CREDO
• Naval-Marine Corps Relief Society for emergency financial assistance
• DoD Joint Family Support Assistance Program for cross-service coordination
• Veteran Affairs (VA) for transition and survivor benefits

Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS)

MCCS is the installation-level delivery arm for many MF programs.

What MCCS Provides

• Family services (counseling, financial readiness, family advocacy)
• Child and youth programs (CYP, school age care, family child care)
• Career and education services (FMEAP, education centers, libraries)
• Recreation and fitness (gyms, pools, athletic programs)
• Retail and dining (commissary, exchange, restaurants)
• Community events and morale activities

Where MCCS Is Located

Most installations have a central MCCS office plus distributed delivery points. Visit your installation MCCS office for a map of services and locations.

MCCS Funding

MCCS is partially funded by appropriated funds (taxpayer dollars) and partially by non-appropriated funds (NAF, generated by MCCS retail and recreation revenue). This affects program availability and pricing.

The UPFRP Umbrella

The Unit, Personal and Family Readiness Program (UPFRP) per MCO 1754.9MCO 1754.9 is the umbrella framework for unit and family readiness.

UPFRP Components

• Information, Referral and Relocation Program (IR&R)
• Marine Corps Family Team Building (MCFTB)
• Personal Financial Management Program (PFMP)
• Sponsorship Program
• Family Readiness Officer (FRO) at each unit
• Family Readiness Volunteers
• Volunteer Program

UPFRP At Your Unit

• Each Marine Corps battalion, squadron, or equivalent unit has a Family Readiness Officer (FRO).
• The FRO is the primary point of contact for family readiness matters at the unit level.
• The FRO coordinates with installation MCCS for delivery of services.
• The FRO supports deployment and family readiness training.

UPFRP And Family Care Plan

The Family Care Plan (FCP, NAVMC 11800NAVMC 11800) is administered through UPFRP. See Family Care Plan (FCP).

Program Categories

Casualty Assistance

For Marine death and serious injury.

• Casualty Assistance Program (CAP). HQMC Casualty Section, CACO assignment.
• Survivor Benefits and Long Term Assistance Program (LTAP). Sustained assistance to next of kin.
• Military Funeral Honors. Ceremonial honors per Marine standards.
• Repatriation Program. Marines unaccounted for from previous conflicts.
• Casualty Investigation Tracking. LODD per JAGMAN, command investigations.

Family Support

For active families with specialized or routine needs.

• Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). Special medical and educational needs.
• Child and Youth Programs (CYP). Childcare and youth programs.
• School Liaison Program (SLP). School transitions for military children.
• Family Readiness Services (UPFRP). MCFTB, IR&R, Sponsorship.

Financial Readiness

• Personal Financial Management Program (PFMP). Financial counseling, debt management, budgeting.

Career and Education

• Career Services. FMEAP, SkillBridge, COOL, USMAP, TRP, Volunteer Program.
• Education Services and Resilience. LSP, VolEd, Library, CREDO, Marine for Life Network.

How to Find Programs at Your Installation

Step 1. Visit Your MCCS Website

Each installation has an MCCS website with directory of programs and contact information. Search "MCCS [installation name]".

Step 2. Contact Your Family Readiness Officer

Your unit Family Readiness Officer (FRO) knows the available installation-level resources and can connect you to specific program coordinators.

Step 3. Use Marine Corps Community Services Search

The central MCCS website at usmc-mccs.org provides program directories searchable by location.

Step 4. Direct HQMC Contact for Specialized Cases

For complex or specialized cases (EFMP coordination, casualty matters, FCP policy), direct HQMC office contact may be appropriate.

Who to Contact for What

Routine Family Matters

• Family Readiness Officer (FRO) at unit
• Installation MCCS

Casualty (Marine Death or Serious Injury)

• HQMC Casualty Section. 800-847-1597 (24/7).
• LTAP. 866-210-3421 ext 2 or LTAP@usmc.mil.
• Repatriation. 866-210-3421 Option 1.

EFMP

• Installation EFMP Coordinator at MCCS
• HQMC EFMP at hqmc.efmp@usmc.mil

Financial Counseling

• Installation PFMP at MCCS
• Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society for emergency assistance

School Issues

• Installation School Liaison Program (SLP) coordinator at MCCS

Childcare

• Installation CYP at MCCS

Career and Transition

• Installation Career Resource Center at MCCS
• Transition Readiness Program (TRP) coordinator at MCCS

Coordination With Other Parent Groups

Life Events Parent Group

MF coordinates with Life Events for FCP, dependency, and DEERS matters. See Life Events Overview and Authorities.

Separations and Retirement Parent Group

MF coordinates with Separations for transition (TRP, SkillBridge) and survivor benefits at retirement death.

Pay and Entitlements Parent Group

MF Personal Financial Management Program (PFMP) coordinates with pay matters. See Pay and Entitlements.

Reenlistments and Extensions Parent Group

MF coordinates indirectly through Career Counselor and Family Readiness considerations during reenlistment decisions.

Why MF Matters For Readiness

Family Readiness Equals Mission Readiness

A Marine whose family is unsupported is not mission-ready. MF programs reduce family stressors that distract from operational focus.

Casualty Response Defines Trust

How the Marine Corps treats families of fallen Marines defines institutional trust. The Casualty Assistance Program is a sacred obligation.

Career Lifecycle Support

From accession through transition, MF programs touch most major life points. Marines who use MF programs throughout their careers report higher satisfaction and retention.

Force Resilience

CREDO, Behavioral Health, PFMP, and family support all contribute to force resilience. Resilient Marines stay in longer, perform better, and transition more successfully.

Cross References

• For specific casualty assistance, see Casualty Assistance Program (CAP and CACO)
• For survivor support, see Survivor Benefits and Long Term Assistance Program (LTAP)
• For investigation tracking, see Casualty Investigation Tracking
• For funeral honors and repatriation, see Military Funeral Honors and Repatriation
• For special needs families, see Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)
• For childcare, see Child and Youth Programs (CYP)
• For school transitions, see School Liaison Program (SLP)
• For unit-level family readiness, see Family Readiness Services (UPFRP)
• For financial counseling, see Personal Financial Management Program (PFMP)
• For career and employment, see MF Career Services
• For education and resilience, see MF Education Services and Resilience
• For Family Care Plan in Life Events, see Family Care Plan (FCP)

Quick Reference

• Branch. Marine and Family Programs (MF) at HQMC.
• Installation arm. Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS).
• Unit umbrella. Unit, Personal and Family Readiness Program (UPFRP) per MCO 1754.9MCO 1754.9.
• Casualty hotline. 800-847-1597 (24/7).
• LTAP. 866-210-3421 ext 2.
• Repatriation. 866-210-3421 Option 1.
• EFMP HQMC. hqmc.efmp@usmc.mil.
• Primary unit contact. Family Readiness Officer (FRO).

Records To Keep

• Family Readiness Officer contact information
• MCCS program enrollment confirmations
• EFMP enrollment documents (if applicable)
• FCP documents (annual recertification)

If you have a question about a specific MF program, use the cross references above to navigate to the relevant leaf. For unit-level questions, your Family Readiness Officer is the right starting point.