Last week, the Commandant of the U. S. Marine Corps, Department of the Navy, banned the display of the Confederate flag aboard Marine Corps bases for purposes other than historical reference and a few other specifically enumerated exemptions.
The text of MarAdmin 331/20 is in all-caps. I’m guessing this is a tradition that dates back to when these things were sent by telegraph. Now they’re available on the official Marine Corps website (link for MarAdmin 331/20). Here’s a condensed version, with a link added at the end:
R 052137Z JUN 20
MARADMIN 331/20
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC IL//
SUBJ/REMOVAL PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG//
REF/A/DOC/CMC/20APR20//
REF/B/DOC/DOD/20NOV15//
AMPN/REF A IS COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS LETTER OF 20 APRIL 2020, REF B IS DODI 5200.08 CH3 DATED 20 NOVEMBER 2015, SECURITY OF DOD INSTALLATIONS AND RESOURCES AND THE DOD PHYSICAL SECURITY REVIEW BOARD//
POC/D. AHN/LTCOL/JAD/TEL: 703-614-2510/EMAIL: DAVID.AHN@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THIS MARADMIN DIRECTS MARINE CORPS COMMANDERS TO IDENTIFY, AND REMOVE THE DISPLAY OF THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG OR ITS DEPICTION WITHIN WORK PLACES, COMMON-ACCESS AREAS, AND PUBLIC AREAS ON THEIR INSTALLATIONS.
2. APPLICABILITY. THIS MARADMIN APPLIES TO THE TOTAL FORCE.
3. PURPOSE. … THE MARINE CORPS SHALL REMOVE THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG FROM ALL INSTALLATION PUBLIC SPACES AND WORK AREAS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT OUR CORE VALUES, ENSURE UNIT COHESION AND SECURITY, AND PRESERVE GOOD ORDER AND DISCIPLINE.
4. DEFINITIONS.
4.A. THE TERM “CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG” REFERS TO THE BATTLE FLAG CARRIED BY CONFEDERATE ARMIES DURING THE CIVIL WAR ...
4.B. THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION.
4.B.1. DISPLAYS WHERE THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG IS DEPICTED, BUT NOT THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE DISPLAY. FOR EXAMPLE, WORKS OF ART, EDUCATIONAL, OR HISTORICAL DISPLAYS DEPICTING A CIVIL WAR BATTLE WHERE THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG IS PRESENT, BUT NOT THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE WORK.
4.B.2. STATE FLAGS WHICH INCORPORATE THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG.
4.B.3. STATE ISSUED LICENSE PLATES WITH A DEPICTION OF THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG.
4.B.4. CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS’ GRAVE SITES.
4.B.5. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SPECIFY EVERY POSSIBLE EXCEPTION THAT MAY APPLY. COMMANDERS ARE EXPECTED TO APPLY THEIR BEST JUDGMENT INFORMED BY THE SPIRIT AND INTENT OF THIS MARADMIN. IF A COMMANDER ENCOUNTERS QUESTIONABLE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE COMMAND STAFF JUDGE ADVOCATE SHALL BE CONTACTED FOR LEGAL REVIEW AND ADVICE.
5. ACTION.
5.A. AUTHORIZED INSPECTION LOCATIONS. ALL WORK PLACES, COMMON-ACCESS AREAS, AND PUBLIC AREAS. WORK PLACES AND COMMON-ACCESS AREAS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
5.A.1. OFFICE BUILDINGS, FACILITIES, NAVAL VESSELS, AIRCRAFT, GOVERNMENT VEHICLES, HANGARS, READY ROOMS, CONFERENCE ROOMS, INDIVIDUAL OFFICES, CUBICLES, STORAGE ROOMS, TOOL AND EQUIPMENT ROOMS, WORKSHOPS, BREAK ROOMS, GALLEYS, RECREATIONAL AREAS, COMMISSARIES, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS EXCHANGES, AND HEADS.
5.A.2. SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION FACILITIES AND OTHER SECURE FACILITIES.
5.A.3. OPEN-BAY BARRACKS, SHIPBOARD BERTHING, AND COMMON AREAS OF BARRACKS AND BACHELOR QUARTERS.
5.A.4. ALL MARINE CORPS SCHOOL HOUSES AND TRAINING FACILITIES ...
5.A.5. ALL AREAS IN PUBLIC OR PLAIN VIEW. ...
5.B. LIMITATIONS.
5.B.1. THIS DIRECTIVE DOES NOT APPLY TO THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE MARINE CORPS (NMMC), OR THE MUSEUMS AT MCRD SAN DIEGO, MCRD PARRIS ISLAND, OR ON ANY OTHER INSTALLATIONS WHICH ADDRESS THE CIVIL WAR FROM A NEUTRAL, HISTORICAL, OR EDUCATIONAL PERSPECTIVE, AND ARE THE APPROPRIATE VENUES FOR SUCH SYMBOLS.
5.B.2. COMMANDERS WILL NOT INSPECT INSIDE ASSIGNED INDIVIDUAL BARRACKS ROOMS/LIVING QUARTERS, ASSIGNED DESK DRAWERS, ASSIGNED CABINET DRAWERS, ASSIGNED LOCKERS, BACKPACKS, PRIVATE AUTOMOBILES, GOVERNMENT-OWNED/GOVERNMENT OPERATED HOUSING AND PPV HOUSING.
5.B.3. IN EXECUTING THIS MARADMIN, LEADERS SHALL APPLY THE DEFINITION IN PARAGRAPH 4.A NEUTRALLY AND OBJECTIVELY, AND SHALL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THEIR OWN PERSONAL VIEWS OR OPINIONS, OR THAT OF ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP.
5.C. REMOVAL OF THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG.
5.C.1. COMMANDERS SHALL ISSUE LAWFUL ORDERS TO REMOVE THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG IAW WITH THIS MARADMIN.
6. ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE.
6.A. THE AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO CONDUCT THESE INSPECTIONS RESIDES WITH INSTALLATION AND UNIT COMMANDERS. ALL INSPECTIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DIRECTION CONTAINED IN THIS MARADMIN.
6.B. COMMANDERS MUST EXERCISE BEST JUDGMENT AND DISCRETION CONSISTENT WITH THIS MARADMIN WHEN CONDUCTING INSPECTIONS. COMMANDERS ENCOUNTERING QUESTIONABLE SITUATIONS SHALL CONSULT WITH THEIR STAFF JUDGE ADVOCATE, WHO MAY CONSULT WITH HQMC, JUDGE ADVOCATE DIVISION, CIVIL & ADMINISTRATIVE LAW BRANCH (JCA), (703) 614-2510, AS APPROPRIATE.
6.C. DEPICTIONS OF THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG AS DEFINED IN THIS MARADMIN MAY BE FOUND AT HTTPS:(SLASH)(SLASH)WWW.HQMC.MARINES.MIL/SJA/BRANCHES/CIVIL-AND-ADMINISTRATIVE-LAW-BRANCH-JCA/.
7. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY LIEUTENANT GENERAL JOHN J. BROADMEADOW, DIRECTOR, MARINE CORPS STAFF.//
I’m not sure how this applies to the Navy in general (I first searched for “NAVMC,” but I think those mostly come from admirals).
The VoteVets petition text reads:
The Marines have officially ordered the removal of all Confederate symbols and flags in public areas.
VoteVets is renewing our calls for the Army, Navy, and Air Force to do the same and requesting the Army rename 10 bases that bear the name of Confederate generals.
As hundreds of thousands of people across the country take to the streets to demand justice for Black Americans, the Army, Navy, and Air Force must take the important step to remove these symbols of hate. Add your name if you agree.
This suggests that VoteVets had already lobbied the Marine Corps to ban the Confederate treason flag. Or maybe they addressed the Secretary of the Navy, hoping he would issue an order for all corps of the Navy.
Hopefully now the Army, Air Force and Navy will follow suit. Click here to sign the petition.