{"id":22970,"date":"2019-05-23T18:32:20","date_gmt":"2019-05-23T18:32:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/05\/23\/citing-survey-fatigue-the-corps-cuts-command-climate-surveys-to-1-a-year\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:39:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:39:10","slug":"citing-survey-fatigue-the-corps-cuts-command-climate-surveys-to-1-a-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2019\/05\/23\/citing-survey-fatigue-the-corps-cuts-command-climate-surveys-to-1-a-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Citing \u2018survey fatigue\u2019 the Corps cuts command climate surveys to 1 a year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Marines take a number of surveys<\/a> from health assessments, command climate to safety issues, and now Marines are telling their commands they\u2019ve had enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a recent Marine administrative message, the Corps says it is reducing the number of required command climate surveys to just one a year \u2014 citing recent feedback from the fleet that has spotlighted \u201csurvey fatigue<\/a>,” the message reads<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before the new climate survey policy, a commander, depending on the unit, had to crank out the following: Commandant\u2019s Command Climate Survey, or CCCS, Ground Climate Survey, Command Safety Assessment Survey, Maintenance Climate Assessment Survey, and the Administrative Support Personnel Assessment Survey, according to Maj. Craig Thomas, a spokesman for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those surveys were in addition to the command climate survey mandated by the fiscal year 2013 annual defense legislation, known as the Defense Organizational Climate Survey, or DEOCS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnder this construct, a unit in full compliance with all survey requirements for an 18-month command tour would take 5 DEOCS, 3 CCCS, and at least 3 additional surveys, and possibly as many as 6, depending on the type of unit,\u201d Thomas told Marine Corps Times in an emailed statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thomas said the new policy removes the CCCS survey and leaves in place the DEOCS as the only required climate survey. The two surveys, he added, generally covered the same climate factors and removing one would not result in the loss of valuable feedback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the Corps is looking to cut back on command climate surveys, they have been important tools for commanders to view how Marines perceive the command and issues within the unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Issues with command climate have also resulted in the removal of numerous Marine commanders for abusive, discriminatory or toxic work environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the new Marine administrative message comes on the heels of the firing of four Marine commanders over the past several weeks. However, two of those incidents appear to be related to alcohol, and another may be linked to a training fatality.<\/p>\n\n\n\t