FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT & CEO
Dear MCA Member,
The fall season is upon us and the Marine Corps Birthday is just a few weeks away. I encourage all of our readers to visit MCAs homepage where we have placed the Commandant's message in honor of the 232nd birthday of our Corps prominently at the very top and center. Read his message. It will motivate you! And, if you are still not quite ready to go to the ball, you have another reason to visit MCA's web site. There is still a brief window of time where MCA can help with your medal mounting and birthday ball supplies. Don't delay though. Visit today at www.mca-marines.org.
October was a great month for MCA. On the eleventh, MCA in conjunction with the Plans, Policies and Operations department at HQMC, co-hosted the 4th annual MCA Ground Awards Dinner to honor the professional achievements of some truly remarkable Marines. Serving as the guest speaker, General James T. Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps, provided some brief but inspirational comments before recognizing the 2006 Marines of the Year from each of the 4 Marine Divisions and awarding the Leftwich Trophy for Inspirational Leadership to the Marine Captain selected for that honor. The evening was MCA's best-attended professional event to date and earned very positive comments from the enthusiastic attendees. Click here to read an event summary, and to see more pictures. MCA is very grateful to the Commandant for taking time from his busy schedule to help officiate and also to our event sponsors and to Mr. Ross Perot for their generous support.
Always a staunch MCA supporter, General Conway was also on hand as the featured speaker at our 24 October MCA Luncheon at Camp Lejeune. Well attended, the lunch provided a great occasion for the extended Marine community in the Jacksonville area to get together and enjoy some good old-fashioned Marine camaraderie. Again, we thank General Conway for his time and his support and we also thank our East coast area representative, Al Karle, and our MCA Bookstore staff at Camp Lejeune for their efforts organizing a well-run luncheon.
As always, thanks for your support of the professional association for all Marines.
Semper Fidelis,
Les Palm
Major General, USMC (Ret)
President and Chief Executive Officer
Visit one of our four locations:
QUANTICO, VA
715 Broadway Street
703-640-0136
CAMP LEJEUNE, NC
Building 84, Hadnot Point Exchange Annex
910-451-7500
CAMP PENDLETON, CA
Vandegrift Avenue, Building T-1100
Main Exchange Complex
760-385-0383
PARRIS ISLAND, SC
Bldg 283, Boulevard De France
843-522-9440
To order, Call (Mon-Fri 0800-1630 EST) Toll Free: 866-622-1775
OR
Check Out Our ONLINE STORE
Featured Items for October:
US MARINE KEY &
MAIL CABINET
Misplaced keys can be a major annoyance in anyone's life. But we have the answer! Get yourself organized with our simple but oh so practical key cabinet and you can move on to other, more vexing annoyances. Rendered in finely finished wood the cabinet features a screened USMC emblem on the door with six sturdy key hooks for your growing key collection and an angled partition to hold your mail until you are ready to deal with it. Approximate size is 12 1/4" L x 4" W x 18 1/4" H.
103764
Member Price: $54.00
Non-Member Price: $60.00
THREE WEDGE SET
IN WOOD BOX
Elegantly boxed in classy, cherry finish wood, our finely balanced set of hard driving wedges will improve the competitive edge on anyone's golf game. With heads angled at 60, 56 and 52 degrees, our three wedge set gives enviable flexibility as well as precision control for the more difficult shots. And, see for yourself -- they look great too and come complete with an Eagle, Globe, and Anchor on the head to give you just a little extra moto while knocking around the links. Drop ships from manufacturer. Allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. Special order, non-returnable and cannot be gift-wrapped.
103654
Member Price: $179.10
Non-Member Price: $199.00
FALLUJAH, WITH HONOR
2nd Edition
A host of great books have been written about the ongoing conflict in Iraq. Fallujah With Honor, the epic story of the November 2004 battle against insurgents in Fallujah is one of the best of them. A deeply personal story of the gallant Marines of the First Battalion, Eighth Marines, the book accurately details the bitter fighting in hotly contested urban terrain at the center of the scheme of maneuver to take out the insurgents during the second battle of Fallujah. Gritty, Fallujah With Honor is hard to put down.
192872406X
Member Price: $25.16
Non-Member Price: $27.95
*All Prices Subject To Change.
RETAIL OR MEMBERSHIP PROBLEMS?
If you experience problems with our Online Store, with telephone orders or with your membership, the following phone numbers can get you the assistance you need:
(Mon-Fri 0800-1630 EST)
1-866-622-1775
(Mon-Fri 0800-1630 EST)
1- 888-237-7683
MEMBERSHIP / RENEWAL NOTICES
Through the month of December, members who renew their membership by the 10th of the month following receipt of their FIRST renewal notice, will automatically get their names included in a random drawing to win a bottle of USMC Semper Fi Cologne. Our lucky September winners are:
Invoice Category: Thomas Hart from Forest Hills, New York
Renewal Category: Sgt Vernon R. Martin, USMC Veteran from Lititz, Pennsylvania<
Congratulations to our winners! Enjoy the cologne.
www.usmccologne.com
Most membership associations are able to go out on the open market and buy lists to solicit new members. But because MCA is in the business of supporting the military, we are unable to obtain access to these types of lists.
That's why we'd like to encourage you and our other MCA members to sign up your Marine friends and acquaintances as MCA members. In return, we'll add 3 months onto your membership for each new membership you sell! Plus for every 100 new members MCA receives through our new Recruit a Marine program, we'll enter your name in a drawing to win one of the following 3 prizes!
1st Prize - $100 MCA Gift Certificate
2nd Prize - $50 Pre-Paid American Express Card
3rd Prize - $25 Pre-Paid American Express Card
It's easy to recruit a new member! Go to MCA's website here: (https://www.mca-marines.org/JoinMCA/step1.aspx ) to find our membership application form. Simply print out and forward the membership application to your fellow Marines and remind them to write your name on the "Sponsor's Name/Who Introduced You to MCA" line! Feel free to forward your friends an overview of member benefits as well:
If you need assistance with recruiting new members, please contact our marketing department at 703-640-0174, 1-800-336-0291, ext. 374, or email promotions@mca-marines.org and we'll be happy to help you! If your friends have any questions before signing up, they're welcome to contact these numbers as well.
There's no limit to the number of new members you can sign up. Get enough Marines signed up and you may not have to pay to renew your membership for years! The membership extension(s) will be added as soon as we receive payment from your membership recruits.
Thanks in advance for your support in helping us recruit new MCA members! Your membership in MCA is greatly appreciated!THE MARINE SHOP
Visit Us In Person Or Online:
The Marine Shop
300 Potomac Ave
Quantico, Virginia
(703) 640-7195
www.marineshop.com
The Marine Shop is the Corps' most prestigious provider of professional Marine uniforms and accessories and has been helping Marines look their professional best since 1962.
We also carry a complete line of "The Marine Shop" exclusive Polo shirts.
Check out our different styles online at www.marineshop.com.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!
The Marine Shop now offers the 10% member discount to all customers who are MCA Members.
Correction. In last month's edition we ran a picture of actor Kevin Bacon in a set of Alphas from the Marine Shop. Our caption incorrectly identified his new movie as Taking Chase. The new movie's actual title is Taking Chance. We regret the error.
Stay connected with the Corps through membership in the professional association for all Marines. Membership includes a subscription to either the print and/or online edition of one of MCA's flagship magazines: either Leatherneck or Marine Corps Gazette. And if you really want to keep up with the Corps you will want to get them both!
MCA's new printer guarantees timely delivery of the print edition magazines, but the Online edition of both magazines is ALWAYS available earlier. AND, choosing the Online-Only edition for your subscription saves you money. In fact it saves you 15% so we urge all members to switch to online delivery of your Leatherneck or Marine Corps Gazette when you renew. You will get your magazine early -- and still keep all of your MCA Benefits! And the great thing is that the online editions provide exactly the same content as the paper magazines, but have additional features such as searchable archives and hot linked key words throughout allowing further reading on a variety of interesting topics. Choosing the paper editions of MCA's flagship magazines allows access to the online versions as well.
PLUS your membership qualifies you for the 10% MCA member discount on all books and gifts.
If you are not a subscriber to either or both of the Marine Corps Association's flagship magazines yet, it's not too late to get on board. Call toll-free 866-622-1775, or go online at: https://www.mca-marines.org/JoinMCA/Step1.aspx.New members mention code NEMTNA07. Renewals mention code REMTNA07.
The November Gazette is a larger than usual issue that contains several articles on Marine Corps history and traditions. Included in the November issue is the annual Schultze essay. This year it is a provocative piece by Col T.X Hammes USMC (Ret) on the changed nature of warfare where the media is the battlefield of choice for insurgents. In addition, you will find as an insert the just published Maritime Strategy. This unique document, which was signed by the Chief of Naval Operations, the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard outlines the future security environment and how the sea services will respond.
The professional journal for ALL Marines, The Marine Corps Gazette is now entirely accessible ONLINE so members can read it anywhere they can access the Internet. We encourage all members to switch to the Online-Only option when renewing, a great value because you save 15% and still get the same high quality magazine but you get it earlier. And -- you get it with expanded features only available online. This is a great deal! Give an Online-Only subscription to Gazette as a gift to someone special.
The Marine Corps Birthday issue of Leatherneck is a mix of yesterday and today -- keeping in mind the significance of not only the Marine Corps Birthday, but also the fact that this November marks the 90th anniversary of Leatherneck, Magazine of the Marines. A heads up, this is a large issue, so stand by for some good reading.
The Commandant's Birthday message is included, as is traditional, but we also have an article penned by the Commandant, "Noncommissioned Officers Will Win This War." Retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel Art Brill accompanied the Commandant on a tour of West Coast installations for Leatherneck to write: "Touring West Coast Marine Units With the Commandant." These, and the annual 16-page insert, "Senior Leaders of Our Corps-2008," as well as a special article on the Marines of Boston highlighting what they do for Marines, will grab your attention.
A Marine Raider article, "The Battle at Asamana" by a 2d Raider Battalion leatherneck who was there; an article on Civil War Marines by noted historian Colonel Joseph H. Alexander, USMC (Ret); a Vietnam article on Operation Essex; an Iraqi update from a recently returned Marine captain and our "definitive" guide to SOS make this a well-rounded Birthday issue that will be a collector's item -- Leatherneck's way of saying "Happy Birthday, Marines."
If you are not a subscriber to either or both of the Marine Corps Association's flagship magazines yet, it's not too late to get on board. Call toll-free 866-622-1775, or go online at: www.mca-marines.org/JoinMCA/Step1.aspx.
The MCA Career Center exists to support Marines. ALL Marines are welcome. We encourage all transitioning Marines who are searching for employment to let our Career Center help you.
The MCA Career center has an expanding bank of resumes and continues to grow in influence with dynamic companies seeking Marines to employ. Marine job seekers do NOT have to be MCA members to post their resume with the MCA Career Center. Any Marine who posts with the Career Center has full access to search all of the jobs and can apply, too.
Companies and businesses seeking high quality employees can't do better than a highly motivated and reliable Marine and the MCA Career Center helps find them. Contact us now with your job openings. We offer unlimited job postings and resume searches for 3, 6, and 12-month increments and we offer significant discounts for members and MCA sponsors!
Click on the Career Center to get details on the posted positions, to post your resume, or to post a job for your company.
MCA WEB SITE
Click here to visit MCA's dynamic website and while there check out our Schedule of Events section to see the latest MCA professional events. Scroll down the homepage to see the latest pictures of award winners MCA's Awards program has supported. Did you know that the Marine Corps Association's Awards program provided over $200,000 worth of performance, academic excellence, leadership and related awards to Marines and sailors serving with Marines? Click here to learn about MCA's Awards program!
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS:
Sponsoring professional events of interest to Marines is the chief way we perform our ongoing mission of providing professional development opportunities for Marines. Following is a list of the key events coming up. Visit here for the complete schedule and additional information.
Book Signing - Camp Lejeune, NC
On Friday, 2 November, MCA will host John Poole author of Dragon Days for a book signing at the MCA Bookstore at Camp Lejeune. For more information, visit our web site or call the bookstore staff at (910) 451-7500.
Book Signing - Quantico, VA
On Friday, 16 November MCA will host James Brady, author of The Coldest War: A Memoir of Korea and also Why Marines Fight for a book signing at the MCA Bookstore at Quantico. For more information, visit our web site or call the bookstore staff at (703) 640 0136.
MCA Ridiculous Days Sale -- MCA Building - Quantico, VA
In our last edition we announced our Ridiculous Days sale would be held in conjunction with Halloween but we have decided to change the date.
On 15-16 November, MCA will slash prices to absolutely ridiculous levels on a large inventory of discontinued merchandise. Stand by for some amazing savings on unique professional books, hats, apparel, specialty gifts, china and much more. If you are in the Washington, D.C. area you won't want to miss this. Help us get ridiculous and join the frenzy in the MCA Building atrium.
Thanks for Visiting MCA at Modern Day Marine Expo
We would like to thank our many visitors to the MCA booth at the Modern Day Marine Expo at Quantico. MCA held a raffle for our booth visitors during the expo and we are pleased to announce the results:
Congratulations to all of our raffle winners! We hope to see many more visitors next year!Cliff Magee, of Quantico, VA won the Costume
M.W. Johnson of Dumfries, VA won an Ipod
Rick Thomas of Ruby, VA won a computer flash drive.
Paul Meagher of Arlington, VA also won a flash drive.
Jaziel Gallegos a member of Weapons Training Battalion at Quantico also won a flash drive.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SPONSORS
THANKS TO OUR 2007 PLATINUM SPONSORS:
PLATINUM GOLD:
PLATINUM SILVER:
PLATINUM
BRONZE:
And to our Individual Event Sponsors:
Gold: Harris, Oracle, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Smartronix
Silver: EMA, MITRE, Oracle, Raytheon, Impact Resources Technologies
Bronze: Alion Science & Technology; AM General; AT&T Government Solutions; BAE Systems; BearingPoint; Bell Helicopter/Textron; Boeing; CACI, Int'l; Cisco; Columbia Research; CTC; Deloitte Consulting; EFW, Inc.; Eagan, McAllister Associates, Inc.; Exeter; Force Protection; General Dynamics ATP; General Dynamics IT; Hartford Insurance; Honeywell; IBM; International Truck; Keane Federal Systems, Inc; L-3 Titan; MDS-PRAD Technologies Corporation; The Meltzer Group; Merrill Lynch; Mitre; Oshkosh Truck Corp.; Professional Solutions; R. Phillips Enterprises; Raytheon C4; Raytheon (Quantico Ofc); SAIC; Sprint; SRA International; Stanley, Inc.; Talley Defense Systems; Tandberg; Telos; Thales Communications; Verizon; Wackenhut Services; Whitley, Bradley & Brown, Inc.; W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Corporate Sponsors: Bank of America; DHS Systems; Earl's Body Shop; First Citizens Bank; JOEMC; Logis-Tech; Main Street; Marine Federal Credit Union; MCAS Beaufort FCU; Pacific Marine Credit Union; Spectrum; Supply Core
Special thanks to Battelle, L3, ITT and General Dynamics for their sponsorship of the Marines of the Year Awards at our recent MCA Ground Awards Dinner and for their support of other MCA events.
The Marine Corps depends on MCA support for programs for which appropriated funds cannot be used. In turn, MCA's professional development support of Marines depends on corporate sponsorships. We hope you will encourage your company to get involved in 2007 Marine Corps Association events.
For more information on how to become an MCA corporate sponsor, please contact LeeAnn Mitchell at l.mitchell@mca-marines.org.
In addition to a subscription to one or both of our flagship magazines and member discounts on books, gifts and uniforms at MCA bookstores and the Marine Shop, MCA membership includes access to great deals from a number of well known companies providing our members with travel and computer discounts and special deals on credit cards and insurance policies.
These benefits might not meet your needs or desires. Help us help you! Tell us what type of member benefits you would like us to offer. Email us at promotions@mca-marines.org with your suggestions.
Turning Travel Disasters into Minor Bumps in the Road
As generous as TRICARE and many TRICARE supplement programs are, too many military families have discovered startling gaps in benefits while traveling or on PCS moves. Now you can help fill those holes with the valuable benefits found in MCA's exclusive Emergency Assistance Plus (EA+) Program. Imagine...
- You're on a family vacation to Yellowstone when your child spikes a sudden fever. Should you just keep an eye on it or find the nearest emergency room?
- You return to your hotel after a busy day of sightseeing only to discover your luggage and your identification have been stolen. Where do you turn?
- You're hurt in an auto accident hundreds of miles from home. What happens to your family while you're in the hospital?
Much like emergency roadside assistance for your car, MCA's EA+ Program stands by you with an iron-clad safety net of benefits designed to kick in during some of the most common travel emergencies encountered by military families.
PLUS, as a MCA Member, you and your family are guaranteed acceptance in MCA's EA+ Program.
Click here to see how you can get help turning travel disasters into minor bumps in the road with MCA's EA+ Program.
MCA
MASTERCARD AVAILABLE TO YOU NOW....
COMPUTER SAVINGS
Apple
Member Purchase Program
Apple continues to improve the Member Purchase Program (MPP) for MCA members. Check out the new MPP Store and when you get there, click on the graphic entitled “Exclusive Offer for EPP Customers.” Members will easily find and view all exclusive MPP offers on this page.
Dell also gives quality discounts to MCA Members. Throw out your clunky old junk and make way for a kicking new Dell.
Visit www.dell.com/USMC or
call 1-866-257-4711. Member ID: DS62593492
MARINE TRIVIA QUESTION
Q. I was very LOUD, swam fairly well in calm water, climbed better and carred more "stuff" than my close competitors and my two-part unofficial name sounds (incorrectly as it turns out) like it starts with a Greek letter and ends with the name of a nimble horned creature that was the bottom half of a demi-god noted for playing pipes and drinking to excess. Articulated, and connected to the ground 6 ways I am long gone due to complexity and propensity for breakdown with rough or untutored usage. What is my unofficial name and what did I do?
The first person to e-mail the correct answer to comments@mca-marines.org will receive an exclusive MCA Coin. Please include your name and address in your e-mail. Good luck!
SPECIAL NOTICE for the MCA Today Triviaphiles! Send MCA a trivia question and if we use it, we will send you an MCA Coin as well. When you submit your trivia question please also provide us with the answer and also with a source. Include your name and address on your email so we can send your prize. Thanks in advance for the help!
Here's September's trivia question for ready reference:
Q: Movie star, best selling author and talented sailor, his lack of a high school diploma kept him from a Navy commission but proved no bar to gaining a Marine officer commission. Later won a Silver Star medal while serving as a Marine in the OSS in the Balkans. Returned to acting following the war, he later appeared in a cameo role as a corrupt police chief who was memorably shot in the face while eating in an Italian restaurant. Who am I?
A: Sterling Hayden
Congratulations to Bill Hurley from Hyannis, MA for being the first one to respond with the correct answer. Bill, we will send you your MCA Coin shortly!
The September Trivia questions generated lots of interest. Well over 150 triviaphiles responded and most did so with the correct answer. The most popular wrong answer was Robert Ryan, which was very interesting because he and Sterling Hayden strongly resemble each other. MANY pointed out that Sterling Hayden actually played a corrupt police captain rather than a police chief. Many thanks for the clarification. Unfortunately NO ONE responded with a trivia question suggestion. We know you all have some great zingers! Share the love! We favor quirky, zany and semi obscure kind of USMC lore. Help us out and get an MCA Coin!!!!
Speaking of zany and in the spirit of "Semper Gumby", one of the trivia responders closed his message with this absolutely awesome homily that is just too good not to share:
COMMENTS? Please address your feedback to comments@mca-marines.org
MCA MAILING LIST. Would you like to be on the MCA Email mailing list? Send your name, address and email address to customercare@mca-marines.org. Nominate your friends while you are at it...
Semper Fidelis!
LeeAnn Mitchell
Director of Marketing and Communications
comments@mca-marines.org