Command Chronology Program

Command Chronology Program Overview

 Highlights on Command Chronologies from the Director of History Division

Submit command chronologies as a single, optical character recognition (OCR), portable document format (PDF) document directly to History.Division@usmcu.edu. If higher headquarters requires a copy, the unit must still submit a copy directly to History Division.

The document must be signed by the actual unit commander (not "Acting" or "By Direction") to validate the report as an official record. Actual signatures are required because digital signatures introduce personally identifiable information (PII).

The Section ii narrative does not need to be 20 pages long. For many units, a 4-5 page narrative is perfectly acceptable. More important than a long narrative is a good selection of documents enclosed within Section IV. Ideally, these enclosures should provide detail for the major events mentioned in the Section II narrative and listed in the Section III chronology.

Links to websites, SharePoint pages, or articles are not permanent and are not acceptable as Supporting Documents in this permanent record.

The Command Chronology is a report to the Commandant of the Marine Corps covering the significant events of designated Marine Corps organizations. This is a permanent record that is created at the unit and retained in the Archives Branch, History Division on behalf of the Commandant of the Marine Corps. These reports are also accessed into the National Archives and are the only Marine Corps records made available to the American public through this requirement. The Command Chronology is vital to documenting the history of the United States Marine Corps.

Command Chronologies are permanent records of the United States Government, as mandated by Marine Corps Order 5750.1H, SECNAV Manual M5210.1, and the National Archives and Records Administration.

The purpose of the Command Chronology Program is to:

1. Generate resources for the evaluation of current plans, policies, and procedures
2. Develop source materials for historical analysis and transmission of the Marine Corps’ heritage
3. Create permanent record of the Marine Corps’ experience and achievement

The Command Chronology will:  

1. Provide a concise review of the experiences of the command
2. Reflect the specific mission and tasks assigned to the command
3. Document all significant programs, policy decisions implemented, and unit readiness
4. Be presented in sufficient detail to convey the unique and distinctive qualities of the command

Successful execution of this program depends upon the inherent commitment of commanders, staff members, and individuals involved to be sensitive to historically significant developments, to safeguard the history and traditions of the Corps, and to be well versed in the spirit and intent of Marine Corps Order 5750.1H. 

Command Chronologies support the Marine Corps and Marines—active duty and retired—on a number of levels. These documents are used every day by:

• Department of Veterans Affairs to process benefit claims
• Marines, including the students of the various schools of the Marine Corps University
• Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC)
• Force Structure Review Groups
• Military Awards Branch for supporting documentation on awards
• National Museum of the Marine Corps and History Division
• Scholars such as historians as a basis for analytical research
• Veterans
• Authors of literary publications
• Students
• News reporters
• Genealogists

Command chronology Format

The Command Chronology consists of four mandatory sections to assist with accurate reporting. Command chronologies submitted without all four sections are incomplete. 

Section I - Organization Data:  Commander signed cover page and organizational data.
 

Section II - Narrative Summary:  Commander’s perspective summarizing the events during the reporting period. 
 

Section III - Sequential Listing of Significant Events:  Chronological list of significant events that occurred during the reporting period.
 

Section IV - Supporting Documents:  Includes documents and reports that amplify, clarify, and/or complete understanding of the Narrative Summary.

Section I - OrganizationAL Data 

Cover Page

Standard Letter format consisting of:  Unit Letterhead, From line, To line, Via line, Subject line, Reference line, Enclosure line, Paragraph, and Signature Block.

The Commanding Officer’s signature equates his/her affirmation that the content of the Command Chronology is a true historical record of the unit’s activities. The report must be signed by the actual unit commander (not "Acting" or "By Direction") to validate the report as an official record. Actual signatures are required because digital signatures introduce Personally Identifiable Information (PII).

SECNAV M-5216.5 DON Correspondence Manual 

History Division Example Cover Page

Organizational Data

The organizational data includes the full official Unit Designation, the time period covered, all geographic locations during report period, a listing of principle staff members and subordinate commanders with inclusive dates, and TO&E for both equipment and personnel.

History Division Example Organizational Data

Checklist

1. Cover page in Standard Letter format
2. Signature of Commanding Officer on cover page
3. Signature of Commanding Officer on cover page
4. Official Unit Designation
5. Time period covered
6. Geographic location(s)
7. Listing of principle staff members and/or subordinate commanders with inclusive dates
8. TO&E for equipment and personnel

Section II - Narrative Summary

Section II - Narrative Summary is a written summation of the administrative, operational, and logistical experiences of the command during the given reporting period.

Written from the Commander’s viewpoint, the Command Chronology must be presented in sufficient detail to convey the unique characteristics and qualities of the command. Command Chronologies should highlight the most significant accomplishments and/or problems with emphasis on approaches and techniques used to achieve success. This section must reflect the specific missions and tasks assigned to the command, the status and readiness throughout the period, and the command goals and accomplishments. All significant programs and policy decisions adopted or implemented during the reporting period should be fully defined. Changes in facilities, acquisition of new equipment, tests of equipment or doctrine, contributions to the evolution of doctrine, and problem areas should also be included in the report. The objective is to ensure that the report covers all aspects of the command, even those that may be temporarily detached. In short, document who, what, when, where, why and how of the command activities. Events in this section are to be supported by references to supporting documents.

Checklist

This checklist is by no means exhaustive or exclusive, but the items listed in it should be addressed and well defined within the narrative summary.

1. Is the Command Chronology written from the commander's viewpoint? The command chronology should not read like an award application. Reports have been written as if they are from staff members and subordinate commanders to the commanding officer. The Command chronology is written from the Commanding Officer reflecting the units place in USMC hierarchy to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. 

2. Is there sufficient detail to convey the unique operational, logistical and administrative characteristics and qualities of the command?

3. Were the most significant accomplishments and/or problems, with emphasis on approaches and techniques used to achieve success highlighted?

4. Does the report cover all aspects of the command, even those that may be temporarily detached?

5. Were supporting documents referenced to provide clarity and completeness?

6. Does the report reflect the specific missions and tasks assigned to the command?

7. Does the report describe the status and readiness throughout the period, and the command goals and accomplishments?

8. Are significant programs and policy decisions adopted or implemented during the reporting period fully defined? 

9. Are changes in facilities, acquisitions of new equipment, tests of equipment of doctrine, contributions to the evolution of doctrine, and problem areas included?

Best Practices Example Documents

History Division Example Narrative Summary

Sample Narrative Summary - CLB-5 - October 2023 - March 2024

Section III - Sequential Listing of Significant Events

Section III - Sequential Listing of Significant Events includes the details of the significant events which occurred during the reporting period. The "who, what, where, when, why, and how" is to be provided in sufficient depth that the entry stands on its own.

TIP FOR STAFF HISTORIAN

Start the Command Chronology by completing this Sequential List of Significant Events first. Compile the Supporting Documents based on the Significant Events during the reporting period. Ensure the sections submitting content to the Narrative Section to include these significant events and their Supporting Documents on these Significant Events.

Checklist - Sequential Listing of Significant Events

These are Significant Events that are to be reported in the Command Chronology:

1. Combat operations/actions
2. Humanitarian operations/actions
3. Activation, deactivation, re-designation
4. Change of operational and/or administrative control 
5. Geographic relocation
6. Alerts, deployments and landing/training exercises
7. Significant command and staff actions
8. Command relations with other military organizations
9. Modification to plant and facilities (primarily non-operating force organizations)
10. Ceremonies and awards
11. Civic action and community relations

History Division Example of Sequential Listing of Significant Events

History Division Example Sequential Listing of Significant Events

Sample Section III - CLB-5 - October 2023 - March 2024

Submission guidelines

The Command Chronology must be sent from the unit to the USMC History Division, Archives Branch and the chain of command per MCO 5750.1H. 

Command Chronologies are to be submitted to USMC History Division as a single, optical character recognition (OCR), portable document format (PDF) document directly to History.Division@usmcu.edu.

Electronic Submission

Command Chronology electronic submissions can be sent via email or DoDSAFE (https://safe.apps.mil/) to History.Division@usmcu.edu.

1. Single PDF document that includes all four sections
2. OCR’ed PDF document
3. PDF Document Title to identify Unit and Reporting Period
4. Supporting documents are to be submitted within the PDF as part of Section IV

Submission Timelines (MCO 5750.1H, App A, Ann 5, as modified by MARADMIN 509-14)

Monthly – Due on 15th of each month, covering activities of previous month. Monthly Command Chronologies are required for Units engaged in military operational and/or humanitarian deployments.

Semi-Annually – Semi-annual Command Chronologies cover October - March and April - September and are due within 90 days of the end of the reporting period. The October - March report is due NLT 30 June and April - September report is due NLT 31 December.

Annually – Annual Command Chronologies follow the fiscal calendar (October - September) and are due 90 days after the reporting period 31 December.

5750 Marine Corps Historical Program - Functional Area Checklist

The Command Chronology is a critical component of the Marine Corps Historical Program. Though the Historical Program is not currently designated as one of the Critical or Required Evaluation (CoRE) Functional Areas, commanders and commanding generals are encouraged to use the IG checklist to monitor and promote compliance within their commands.

Common findings from inspections include:

• Commands are not submitting Command Chronologies in a timely manner.
• Commands are not submitting Command Chronologies directly to History Division and keeping a receipt to document their acceptance into the Marine Corps Archive.
• Commanders are not signing their Command Chronologies.
• Historical Summary Files (HSF) are not being maintained; the Command Chronology is a major component of the HSF. 

The Functional Area Checklist (FAC) for Marine Corps Historical Program 5750 outlines the requirements that are listed in the MCO 5750.1H. Staff Historians can use the FAC 5750 as a checklist to maintain the unit Historical Program.

MCO 5750.1H

Functional Area Checklist 5750

RESOURCES FOR Compliance

The USMC History Division provides support and training to the Staff Historian. Contact History.Division@usmcu.edu or call (703) 784-4685.

Command Chronology Submission Status Report

The commander and Staff Historian can view the status of the Command Chronology at the Archives Branch using the monthly Command Chronology Submission Status Report.

Command Chronology Submission Status Report – December 2024

Document Library

• Marine Corps Order (MCO) 5750.1H

• 5750 Marine Corps Historical Program Functional Area Checklist

• MARADMIN (TBA)

Command chronology submission status report

The commander and Staff Historian can view the status of the Command Chronology at the Archives Branch using the monthly Command Chronology Submission Status Report.

Command Chronology Submission Status Report – December 2024

The Command Chronology Submission Status Report will be updated monthly. Please contact the USMC History Division, Archives Branch at History.Division@usmcu.edu or (703) 784-4685.