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