1. Independent Duty Funds (IDF) and Family Readiness Funds
Marine Forces Reserve
Independent Duty Funds (IDF) and Family Readiness Funds
Required Training Course
For
Responsible Officers (ROs)

2. Independent Duty Funds
Background:
Independent Duty Funds (IDF) are authorized non-appropriated funds (NAF) to support the recreational needs of active duty Marines and families permanently assigned to units detached from command elements and not located aboard DoD owned property
IDF are NOT authorized for units who are located aboard military installations or other DoD owned property
Ref: MCO P B

3. Eligibility for IDF Active duty Marines who are:
permanently assigned to units detached from command elements
are NOT tenant activities located aboard military installations, or other DoD owned property
and are not required to be supported by separate DoD regulation or inter-Service agreement

4. How are funds allocated?
The Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) Board of Directors approved a NAF provision for Marines on Independent Duty
Active duty Marines permanently detached from DOD installations but located within a 30-minute/30-mile radius of a military installation, shall receive $40 per Marine per year
All others receive $130 per Marine per year
Family Readiness Funding is provided for Selected Marine Corps Reserves (SMCR) at a rate of $17.50 per Marine per year
These amounts include the increase of family
readiness funds.

5. How are funds allocated?
Both IDF and Family Readiness Funds are subject to the policies and procedures in:
MCO P B
IDF are not intended to be used to purchase items and equipment that are authorized Appropriated Funds (APF) and Family Readiness Funds are strictly limited to support the Unit Personal & Family Readiness Program and for items such as food or entertainment that are not entitled to APF.
INDEPENDENT DUTY FUNDS AND FAMILY READINESS FUNDS
SHALL NOT
BE COMINGLED

6. Who can request IDF & Family Readiness Funds?
The unit Commanding Officer (CO) or assigned MCCS IDF Responsible Officers (RO)
The RO must:
be appointed in writing by the Command CO – original appointment letter kept on file at the unit
Appointment letter copies must be forwarded to: and
complete training within 30 days of assuming duties
Any changes to the RO
shall be communicated
to MFR MCCS and MRF
immediately

7. Sample RO Appointment Letter
(MUST BE ON OFFICIAL UNIT LETTERHEAD)
1000
Designator
Date
From: Commanding Officer,
To: Responsible Officer (Name and rank, )
Subj: APPOINTMENT AS THE MARINE CORPS COMMUNITY SERVICES
(MCCS) RESPONSIBLE OFFICER FOR INDEPENDENT DUTY FUNDS
Ref: (a) MCO P B
Per the reference, you are hereby appointed as the MCCS Responsible Officer for Independent Duty Fund account #______. The reference also contains information pertaining to request and liquidation of subject funds.
You will complete the electronic MFR required training within 10 days of this appointment.
This appointment will remain in effect until you are transferred or relieved in writing.
//CO//

8. How to request IDF and Family Readiness Funds?
Submit unit requests (see sample for approved format) to CMC (MRF) for Independent Duty and/or Family Readiness Fund expenditures via the unit CO, at least 30 days prior to the event
Requests may be faxed to CMC (MRF) at (703) OR (703) – ATTN: ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE MANAGER OR ed to: with an electronic approval attached
If there are questions regarding the use of the IDF, forward them to MCCS, MFR Headquarters or
call

9. (MUST BE ON OFFICIAL UNIT LETTERHEAD)
Sample Request Letter
(MUST BE ON OFFICIAL UNIT LETTERHEAD)
1700
Unit
Date
From: Responsible Officer, Independent Duty Funds
To: Commandant of the Marine Corps, Personal and Family Readiness Division (MRF)
Via: Unit Commander
Subj: REQUEST FOR NONAPPROPRIATED FUNDS
Ref: (a) MCO P B
In accordance with the reference and as authorized, the following funds are requested:
Purpose:
Total Amount Requested:
Date of Event:
Date Funds Desired Locally:
Total Number of Military Personnel Attending –
AD # total:
AR# total:
SMCR# total:
Name of authorized representative to whom check should be made payable:
Contact name and phone number:
Account/RUC number:
//Signature of Responsible Officer//
FIRST ENDORSEMENT
From: CO
To: Commandant of the Marine Corps, Personal and Family Readiness Division (MRF)
Forwarded, recommending approval.
//CO//

10. What are the duties of the Responsible Officer?
Maintain accountability for IDF accounts
Ensure requests for IDF are in compliance with current policy (recreation enhancement i.e. unit activities such as picnics, parties, and other recreational or entertainment events as authorized by MCO P B (para & 1314); CMC (MRF). Funds may also be used to support Unit Family Readiness Program and Marine Corps Family Team Building program activities.
If there are questions regarding the use of the IDF, forward them to MCCS, MFR Headquarters. Submit ALL unit requests to CMC (MRF) for independent duty and/or Family Readiness Fund expenditures via the unit Commanding Officer, no less than 30 days prior to the event .

11. What are the duties of the Responsible Officer? (continued)
Submit unit expenditure reports, with copies of supporting documentation to CMC (MRF), not more than 10 calendar days after the event. Reports may be faxed to CMC (MRF) at (703) OR (703) – ATTN: ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE MANAGER OR ed to:
Receipts must match expenditure requests - i.e. original request was for movie theater tickets. Receipts must be for the movie theater tickets not a family day.
Return unused funds, by check, not more than 10 calendar days after the event to the MR lockbox located at:
SEMPER FIT & EXCHANGE SERVICES DIVISION
P. O. Box
Atlanta, GA

12. Responsible Officer must
Maintain original receipts and records of transactions for two years following the year of expenditure
Legible/scanned receipts ed to the RO are acceptable
*** Your files will be subject to periodic audits conducted by MCNAFAS ***

13. How often can funds be requested?
Funds may be requested at any time as long as there are funds in the units account.
Allocations will be spent either:
quarterly
semi-annually
They can NOT be saved for a single annual event
I.E.- Marine Corps Birthday Ball
NOTE: Any unused IDF will revert to CMC on 31 January of each year. Funds will not be carried forward into the new NAF year.

14. How can funds be spent?
Funds should be used in support of unit activities such as, but not limited to:
Picnics
Parties
Family dinner/functions
Other entertainment events authorized by the reference and MFR (MCCS)

15. Receiving and Returning Funds
The use of FedEx is not standard protocol
ROs will comply with the DoD Mail Policies
Preferred mail carrier is USPS
*** DoD Official Mail Manual M ***

16. Recap IDF is NAF funding approved by MCCS BOD
Only independent duty eligible Marines rate IDF
COs and ROs MUST request funds
Funds MUST be requested 30 days in advance
IDF will NOT be spent on one annual event
Proper documentation will be submitted and kept at appropriate levels (Unit) for 2 years.
Mail carrier is USPS

17. Complete the attached training certificate
Maintain a copy of the certificate with the appointing letter and forward a copy to MFR/ MCCS at and CMC (MRF) at

18. Unit Name: ___________________
City, State:________________________
RUC:________________________