POLICY LETTER 2-99
From: Commanding Officer
Subj: ADMINISTRATIVE WITHHOLDING OF PRIVILEGES (AWOP) / FOCUSED ACADEMICS
Ref: (a) JAGINST 5800.7C
Purpose. To promulgate the policy for the administrative withholding of privileges and focused academics.
Privileges and Liberty: Liberty is defined as
permission to leave the duty station. Regular liberty is not a
privilege and cannot be withheld administratively as a corrective
or punitive measure except as authorized by the UCMJ. However, in
accordance with the reference, it is necessary to the efficiency
of the naval service that official functions be performed and
that certain work be accomplished in a timely manner. Therefore,
it is also sometimes necessary for Marines to be physically
present outside of normal working hours to accomplish missions
that should have been completed during the normal work day. For
that reason, working hours may be extended for the purposes of
accomplishing assigned tasks. Provisions for doing this are
covered in the Leave and Liberty Policy Letter.
Privileges and Performance: As a corrective measure,
privileges such as the wearing of civilian attire, consumption of
alcohol, and other privileges may be withheld.
Academic Performance: "Academic performance"
includes the extent to which students maintain an acceptable
grade point average (GPA), remain attentive in the classroom (to
include not sleeping in class or other disruptive behavior),
participate meaningfully in class activities (to include
inspections and formations), and satisfactorily complete
assignments.
Military Development: In this environment, it is
essential that leaders maintain consistency in the military
development of their subordinates. In pursuit of effective
instruction pursuant to this development, corrective action in
the form of administrative withholding of privileges and focused
academics is sometimes necessary. Correction of problems with the
wearing of appropriate civilian attire, off-base liberty
behavior, abuse of privileges, execution of military duties and
unsatisfactory academic performance are examples of developmental
issues that might bear corrective action.
Corrective Nature: The administrative withholding of
privileges and focused academics are not punishments but are
corrective measures that can be imposed to help Marines improve
the performance of their professional duties. The use of these
measures implies that the Marine has the potential to correct
his/her performance without the use of more formal corrective or
punitive measures. Once imposed, these measures remain in effect
until performance demonstrates that the subject Marine can
sustain work satisfactorily while enjoying these privileges.
Focused Academics: The normal working day for Marines on
Focused Academics begins at 2200 and ends at 1630 during the
normal work week. The normal work week begins at 2200 on Sunday
and ends at 1630 on Friday. Therefore, regular liberty hours
extend from 1630 to 2200 during the normal work week and is
unlimited in duration during the weekend. Special liberty and out
of bounds passes will not be authorized. Marines on Focused
Academics will check in and out on liberty with the Squadron Duty
Officer. Assignment to Focused Academics does not preclude
measures taken in the schoolhouse or the administrative
withholding of privileges to correct deficincies.
The following criteria for placement on focused academics is
GPA-dependent. Marines will be placed on Focused Academics if
their GPA falls below the following course averages:
AD Division: 75%
AL/PR Div: 86%
AL/AME Div: 80%
AM Division: 70%
AO Division: 80%
AS Division: 80%
EAF Division: 70%
Aircrew Div: 2.5 daily performance grade point average (5.0
scale)
Withholding Notification: Each Marine having
privileges withheld will be notified in writing by an officer
authorized to issue such withholding, and will contain the
following at a minimum: the name, rank, and division of the
subject Marine, the issue that requires corrective action, the
specific privileges to be withheld, and the date or specific
conditions under which privileges will be returned to the subject
Marine. The letter will be endorsed by the Marine acknowledging
the withholding of privileges and by the officer authorized to
issue the withholding upon the return of privileges. Copies of
letters withholding privileges will be routed to the Commanding
Officer via the Squadron First Sergeant when a Marine has
privileges withheld and returned.
Authority to Withhold Privileges: In accordance with the
reference, the authority to withhold a privilege rests with the
level of authority empowered to grant that privilege. The
Commanding Officer is the authority empowered to grant privileges
subject to this Policy Letter.
Violations: Any Violation of the conditions of an set
forth in this Policy Letter may result in disciplinary action.
R. S. HARPER