MCO 1020.35 governs the authority, process, and conditions for awarding and involuntarily removing the Marine Special Operator Insignia.
View MCO 1020.35 on armypubs.army.mil
MCO 1020.35 defines Marine Special Operators and assigns awarding, removal, and reclassification authorities for the 0370 and 0372 PMOS. It establishes removal conditions, retention exceptions, and administrative requirements for MSOI removal.
Applies to: This Order is applicable to the Marine Corps Total Force.
Upon assignment of the 0372 and 0370 primary military occupational specialty (PMOS), Marines are authorized to wear the insignia per the guidance in reference (a). (paragraph 1)
Marine Special Operators are defined as Special Operations Officers (SOO) with the 0370 PMOS, and enlisted Critical Skills Operators (CSO) with the 0372 PMOS. (paragraph 3)
COMMARFORSOC is granted the authorization to award and remove the MSOI. (paragraph 3)
In cases where CSOs successfully complete an enlisted commissioning program and are commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, although they are no longer classified as a 0372 CSO, they are authorized to retain their MSOI. (paragraph 3)
MSOI removal is administrative in nature and shall not be used as a punitive measure or as a substitute for required disciplinary and/or administrative action. (paragraph 3)