a. Eligible Personnel.
Marines possessing the 8511 MOS who have served in an 8511 billet are eligible to receive the MCDIR. In addition, Marines in the following billets are eligible to receive the award:
(1) Recruiting Training Battalion - CO/XO/S-3/SGTMAJ
(2) Officer Candidate Company - CO/XO/First Sergeant Company Gunnery Sergeant/Platoon Commanders
b. Award Criteria.
(1) Drill Instructor. Marines assigned to drill instructor duty (MOS 8511) will be eligible to receive the ribbon upon completion of a successful tour of duty. A Marine who extends beyond the basic tour of duty will be eligible for the award upon completion of the extension period. Marines returning for subsequent tours as drill instructor will be eligible for subsequent awards upon completion of each tour.
(2) Additional Billets. Marines assigned in those billets listed in paragraph 23a above will be eligible to receive the ribbon upon completion of a successful assignment.
(3) Posthumous Awards. The MCDIR may be awarded posthumously without regard to period of service.
c. Definitions.
For the purpose of determining eligibility for this award, the following definitions apply:
(1) Drill Instructor. Duty performed in an 8511 MOS billet as set forth in the Table of Organization.
(2) Prescribed Tour of Duty
(a) Drill Instructor. The Marine’s projected detachment date from drill instructor duty is considered the end of a qualifying tour of duty. Personnel who transfer prior to their original projected rotation date are authorized to receive this award if they completed a minimum of 20 months (for those who received their 8511 MOS before December 1996) or 30 months (for those who receive their 8511 MOS on or after 1 December 1996) for drill instructor duty. Personnel who were transferred due to Relief for Cause or Relief for Good of the Service from Drill Instructor duty are not eligible for this award.
(b) Those Marines serving in the additional billets as outlined in paragraph 23a above are required to serve a total of 18 cumulative months in those billets in order to be eligible for the ribbon.
(3) Successful Tour. A successful tour is defined as completing the prescribed tour of duty as outlined in paragraph 23c(2).
d. Waivers.
Request for waiver of eligibility criteria or questions regarding a successful tour of duty should be sent to the Commanding General of the respective Marine Corps Recruit Depot, or in the case of Officer Candidate School to the President, Marine Corps University/Commanding General, Education Command, for decision.
e. Precedence and Subsequent Awards.
The MCDIR will be worn after the MCRR and before the MSGR. Second and subsequent
awards will be denoted by 3/16-inch bronze stars. The award consists of a ribbon bar only. No citation or certificate will be issued.
f. Retroactive Awards.
The MCDIR will be awarded retroactive to 06 October 1952.
g. Awarding Authority.
Authority to award the MCDIR is delegated to commanding officers. The two digit code for entry into SRB/OQR is DI.
