LtCol Grzincic is the Regional Victim and Witness Liaison Officer (RVWLO) for MCI-West and acts as the Commander, MCI-West's manager for the VWAP in the USMC Western Region. Maj Steven Evans is the Installation Victim and Witness Liaison Officer (IVWLO) for MCB Camp Pendleton and acts as the Commander, MCB Camp Pendleton’s manager for the VWAP aboard the installation. In that capacity, Maj Evans chairs the VWAP Council, manages and maintains a list of all unit Victim Witness Assistance Coordinators and other base Victim Witness Representatives, tracks all services provided and is the central point of contact for the installation program.
Pursuant to Marine Corps Directives, each office or agency which provides services to victims and witnesses (see list below) appoints a Victim Witness Assistance Representative and each unit (Battalion and Squadron level and above) appoints a Victim Witness Assistance Coordinator (VWAC). The VWAC and other representatives are responsible for that unit or office’s part of the base VWAP.
Maj Evans can be contacted at 760-763-5209.
About
MCB Camp Pendleton’s Victim and Witness Assistance Program (VWAP) is designed to ensure victims and witnesses of crime are treated with fairness and dignity and are afforded their rights throughout the criminal justice process – from the first report of a crime through any period of confinement adjudged by a court-martial. The Marine Corps VWAP instruction is MCO 5800.16
Mission
The Marine Corps executes a professional Victim and Witness Assistance Program in order to reduce the trauma, frustration, and inconvenience experienced by victims and witnesses of crime; inform victims of their statutory rights; and assist victims and witness in understanding the military justice process.
Victim’s Rights
(1) To be treated with fairness and respect for the victim's dignity and privacy.
(2) To be reasonably protected from the accused.
(3) To be notified of any decision to dispose of an allege offense at court-martial, NJP or ADSEP proceedings.
(4) To be present at all public court-martial, NJP, and ADSEP proceedings, unless the court or legal advisor, after receiving clear and convincing evidence, determines that testimony by the victim would be materially affected if the victim heard other testimony at the proceeding. This right does not obligate the government to pay for expenses incurred by the victim to be present.
(5) To be reasonably heard at any public proceeding involving release, plea, sentencing, or parole of the accused. This right does not obligate the government to pay for expenses incurred by the victim to be present.
(6) To confer with the attorney for the Government in the case.
(7) To receive information about the conviction, sentence, confinement, and release of the accused.
(8) To be notified of the apprehension of an accused, the initial appearance of an accused before a military judge, the release of the accused pending court-martial, any escape of the accuse, and the time and location of any trial, NJP, or ADSEP proceedings (including entry of guilty pleas and sentencing).
(9) To proceedings free from unreasonable delay.
(10) To receive available restitution.
MCB Camp Pendleton’s Unit Victim and Witness Assistance Coordinators
A Unit VWAC is the command’s primary point of contact for victim and witness assistance matters. In conjunction with the VWLO, VWACs coordinate victim and witness assistance matters within their unit. Victims and witnesses should not hesitate to contact their unit’s VWAC for more information, assistance, or to help get in contact with victim and witness assistance services.
Regional Victim Witness Liaison Officer LtCol Grzincic 760-725-9700
Installation Victim Witness Liaison Officer Maj Evans 760-763-5209
MCI-W H&S Bn GySgt Torres 760-725-0512
Base Services For Victims and Witnesses
Victim Legal Counsel
The Marine Corps Victims’ Legal Counsel Organization is fully committed to providing legal advice, representation to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and other serious crimes, in order to protect victims’ rights at all stages of the military justice process.
760-207-8833
Chaplain
MCB Camp Pendleton Chaplain's offer counseling, religious ministries, and related services to victims & witnesses upon request. 760-725-4700
Legal Assistance
The MCB Camp Pendleton Legal Assistance Office provides legal assistance for family matters such as divorce and child support and can provide referral to civilian attorneys when needed.
760-725-6558
Prosecution/Military Justice Office
The MCB Camp Pendleton’s Military Justice Office provides legal advice and support to all MCB Camp Pendleton’s tenant commands in the prosecution of Marines and sailors in general, special, and summary courts-martial. Rights and services afforded by the military justice office to victims and witnesses during the criminal trial process include: the right to be present at all public court proceedings, the right to be contacted about the proposed dismissal of any and all charges, the right to be consulted on decisions not to prosecute, the right to be contacted regarding the proposed terms of any negotiated plea, and the right to be notified of the acceptance of a guilty plea, or any conviction, sentencing and imprisonment of the accused.
760-760-4165
MCB Camp Pendleton Criminal Investigation and Law Enforcement
NCIS, CID, and PMO provide investigative services for criminal offenses. Criminal investigators and law enforcement personnel are responsible for providing victims and witnesses of crimes with the initial information under the VWAP and ensuring they have points of contact for all available services and assistance under the VWAP.
NCIS : 760-725-5158
CID : 760-763-2796
PMO : 760-763-2796
Sexual Assault Response Coordinator
SARC coordinates all the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) activities about MCB Camp Pendleton and is a point of contact for victims of sexual assault.
760-500-1707
Medical
MCB Camp Pendleton’s Naval Hospital provides medical services for military personnel and dependents.
760-725-1288
Marine Family Services
Behavioral Health – 760-719-3312
Victim Advocacy Program – 760-500-1707
Family Advocacy Program- 760-725-9051
For more details on Marine Family Services, Marine & Family Support (usmc-mccs.org)
Crime Victim Compensation Funds
California Victims Fund Website: CalVCB - CA Victim Compensation Board
Local civilian services
Rape Crisis & Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-787-3224
California victim services unit: 877-433-9069
California Office of Child Abuse Prevention: 916-651-6960
San Diego County Department of Social Services: 866-262-9881
San Diego County Victim Advocate: 619-531-4041
Orange County Victim Advocate: 714-834-3600
Additional Resources
For additional resources, links, and forms, visit the VWAP site at HQ Marine Corps by clicking here.
Directives
Department of Defense Instruction 1030.2 - Victim and Witness Assistance Procedures
Department of Defense Instruction 1342.24 - Transitional Compensation for Abused Dependents
Department of Defense Instruction 6400.07 - Standards for Victim Assistance Services in the Military Community
Secretary of the Navy Instruction 5800.11B - Victim and Witness Assistance Program (VWAP)
Marine Corps Order 1752.5C - Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program
Marine Corps Order 5800.16 - Victim-Witness Assistance Program
Psychological health is a leadership responsibility
Physical wellness is tied to combat readiness, and combat readiness is tied to leadership. When Marines are injured in training or combat, we do all we can to quickly evacuate them for treatment and assist in their recovery. But psychological wellness is also central to combat readiness; yet, some wrongly tell subordinates our Corps does not care about their psychological health - that it is better to return to Iraq without first looking after their welfare. This view is contrary to Marine Corps policy and it runs counter to the principle that Marines take care of our own.
Similarly, there is often a stigma attached to psychological health issues (combat operational stress, PTSD, etc.). A recent Department of Defense Task Force on Mental Health report noted that nearly half of all Marines deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan thought their leadership would treat them differently if they sought counseling. This finding suggests a leadership failing at multiple levels. At the individual level, whether we stigmatize something is a personal choice. And at the unit level, it is an unfortunate example of accepting reduced combat effectiveness. Marines bear a responsibility to address this stigma. Ask yourself: "Is a squad at peak combat effectiveness when its leader is afraid to address mental health issues associated with earlier tours to Iraq?" I don't think so.
Combat affects us in various ways. Afterwards we need time to heal and many things influence our recovery. When we are physically wounded, our recovery is influenced by the type and severity of the injuries, infection, age, etc. There is also a psychological burden associated with combat. That recovery period is influenced by our individual experiences, biological and psychological make-up, age, relationships, etc. But just as physical illnesses or injuries can be treated or repaired, so too can psychological injuries.
Marines are uncompromising in our belief that we take care of our own. Yet, failing to support Marines who should see mental health professionals for post-combat stress issues and stigmatizing psychological wellness violates this practice. We do ourselves, our Marines, our families and friends, and our Corps a disservice when we fail to exercise our leadership responsibilities. Marines take care of our own, and psychological health is a leadership responsibility.
There are many ways to assist yourselves, your Marines and your families during the post-combat psychological recovery period. These include unit surgeons, chaplains, the SACO, the Naval Hospital, the Deployment Health Clinic, Military OneSource, and various MCCS programs, to include Marine & Family Services Counseling Services, CREDO and CSACC. For information on these and other civilian and military resources, see Marine Corps MCCS Counseling Services.
USEFUL INFORMATION/RESOURCES
What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can occur after you have been through a traumatic event. A traumatic event is something horrible and scary that you see or that happens to you. During this type of event, you think that your life or others' lives are in danger. You may feel afraid or feel that you have no control over what is happening.
Anyone who has gone through a life-threatening event can develop PTSD. These events can include:
Combat or military exposure
Child sexual or physical abuse
Terrorist attacks
Sexual or physical assault
Serious accidents, such as a car wreck.
Natural disasters, such as a fire, tornado, hurricane, flood, or earthquake.
After the event, you may feel scared, confused, and angry. If these feelings don't go away or they get worse, you may have PTSD. These symptoms may disrupt your life, making it hard to continue with your daily activities.
What treatments are available?
Today, there are good treatments available for PTSD. When you have PTSD dealing with the past can be hard. Instead of telling others how you feel, you may keep your feelings bottled up. But talking with a therapist can help you get better.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one type of counseling. It appears to be the most effective type of counseling for PTSD. There are different types of cognitive behavioral therapies such as cognitive therapy and exposure therapy. There is also a similar kind of therapy called eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) that is used for PTSD. Medications have also been shown to be effective. A type of drug known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which is also used for depression, is effective for PTSD.
Resources
Please follow any of the links below for more information on PTSD and resources available to servicemembers and their families.
MCCS Counseling Services
Military One Source
National Center for PTSD
Suicide is defined in the dictionary as the act of killing oneself intentionally. The reasons behind these attempts are numerous; some may attempt suicide to escape a situation that they think is impossible to deal with. The following is a list of indications that a Marine may be considering suicide:
- Talking about dying, disappearing or harming oneself
- Giving away ones' belongings
- Seeking information about how to die and looking to obtain means to commit suicide
- Loss of activities previously enjoyed. Loss of a relationship, loss of job or money
- Facing a situation of humiliation or failure
- A sudden, unexpected switch in personality or emotions
- Tempting fate by taking reckless or impulsive risks that could lead to death
- Insomnia, often with early waking or oversleeping, nightmares|
- Loss of appetite and weight, or overeating
- Feeling worthless, shame, overwhelming guilt or self-hatred
- Expressing a sense of hopelessness
If you believe a Marine or Sailor you know may be contemplating suicide, ask the question and seek assistance from your chaplain.
Resources
Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
DESTRESS Line - 1-877-476-7734 - Speak anonymously with a live person
Command Chaplains
MCCS Counseling Services
National Center for PTSD
Military One Source
SEE SOMETHING WRONG... SAY SOMETHING RIGHT...
The Department of Defense has taken steps to increase suicide prevention efforts. They have ordered command stand downs, mandated classes on suicide prevention, and encouraged leadership to ensure that all commanders are taking care of the Service members under their care.