FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT & CEO
Dear MCA Member,
On behalf of the Marine Corps Association, I wish all Marines a very happy 232nd birthday! MCA greatly appreciates the service and sacrifices Marines have made throughout our long and eventful past, through our turbulent present and also into the future of our country. We at MCA hope all Marines were able to celebrate the pageantry, contributions and history of our Corps at an appropriate birthday celebration on this momentous occasion, and for those currently serving in harm's way on behalf of our nation and unable to celebrate, we thank you most sincerely and remember you in our prayers. Happy birthday Marines!
The holiday season rapidly approaches. MCA's bookstores and our dynamic Online Store are poised to help you with all of your gift giving needs as always. In addition to a constantly changing and improving selection of the kind of specialty gifts and books Marines want and need, MCA has something new that will help take the uncertainty out of seasonal gift giving this year. Check out our brand new MCA Gift Card. You set the limit above the $10.00 minimum but the card recipient makes the choice of the gift selection. A GREAT concept, and, they are easy to get, easy to send in the mail and can be easily used at all of MCA's great bookstores. No fuss-no muss. Read more about the new MCA Gift Card at our website here and while you are there, check out our professional events schedule, visit the individual homepages of both of our flagship magazines, Marine Corps Gazette and Leatherneck and take a few minutes to browse around our Online Store.
After having the most successful year of professional events ever, MCA is in the midst of making plans to expand upon the success we enjoyed in 2007. It was an amazing year. We were fortunate to feature the Commandant of the Marine Corps at dinners and luncheons around the Corps to include the MCA Ground Awards Dinner, which also brought out Mr. H.Ross Perot to help present the annual Leftwich Trophy for Outstanding Leadership. MCA developed two entirely new professional dinner events including the new MCA-MCCDC Dinner with a combat decision making theme and the new MCA Annual Dinner which featured the Honorable Dr. Robert M. Gates, Secretary of the Navy, as our guest speaker. Our events uniformly drew huge crowds and many of them also attracted considerable 
outside interest. MCA's professional events are items of great and increasing significance and definitely in keeping with our mission of providing professional development to Marines. As amazing as 2007 was, we are working hard with our sponsors to make 2008 even better. In that light, I urge all of our members and all of our MCA Today readers who are in the vicinity of any of our professional events to attend. You will be glad you did.
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 November:
MARINE NUTCRACKER
Decorative holiday nutcrackers have become popular collectibles over the last couple of years but ours work as well as look good. Both of our crackers are proudly decked out to the absolute nines in sharp looking Marine dress blues so that they lend a suitably festive air to anywhere you put these charming accents. Both of ours stand smartly at attention, but eagerly ready to step off boldly and wade into a bowl of holiday nuts. Our larger 14-inch model carries an NCO sword with commanding authority and specializes in walnuts and brazils. Our slightly smaller 10-inch version positively radiates martial splendor and betrays a lust for pecans. Get both and start working towards a fire team. Bring on the nuts!
103692 - Marine Nutcracker Small
Member Price: $12.60
Non-Member Price: $14.00
103961 - Marine Nutcracker with Sword
Member Price: $23.40
Non-Member Price: $26.00
ORNAMENTS
Holidays are all about traditions, which works great for Marines -- who are also all about traditions and not at all shy about enjoying old-fashioned holiday cheer! Our lovely hanging ornaments look holiday festive as well as traditional enough for any Marine. Designed to accent a fresh green, Yule season tree or to grace a holiday window with cheery, bright colors, our finely wrought glass ornaments feature an elegant spiral design that showcases the design motifs instantly recognizable to any Marine. Set against either a patriotic "Old Glory" or a proud USMC flag background our ornaments proudly display either an eye catching Eagle, Globe and Anchor or a pleasing uniform design that will gladden the heart of any Marine. Get one of each and start a collection for your holiday decorations!
MCA stocked up on these holiday accents but they are already moving fast! Available while supplies last.
102411 - Ornament Old Glory
102412 - Ornament Marine Corps Flag
102413 - Ornament Marine Uniform
Member Price: $16.20
Non-Member Price: $18.00
FIRST TO FIGHT: AN INSIDE VIEW OF THE U.S. MARINE CORPS
A gritty, no holds barred and highly intimate history of the turbulent development of the Marine Corps as the premier amphibious, expeditionary and counter insurgency fighting force in the world as told by one of the key players who had a bird's eye view and central role in that evolution from the Banana Wars to Vietnam. Compelling and readable, sample one page and it will be clear why our current commandant made this the marquee selection on the USMC Professional Reading Program.
1557504644
Member Price: $17.06
Non-Member Price: $18.95
Visit our ONLINE Store at the MCA website for much, much more. It is a great place to browse for Christmas and holiday gifts from the comfort of your home. Shop early for Christmas with us and let us take the hassle out of shipping your gifts!
*All Prices Subject To Change.
Special Notice! MCA's first annual "Ridiculous Days Sale" at the MCA Building's central atrium in Quantico has been extended allowing more of our members to scarf up on some great deals. So, if you are in the Quantico/Northern Virginia area, drop in to see us on Friday, 30 November and Saturday, 1 December. There is still an amazing inventory of one of a kind specialty gifts and a huge selection of discontinued and clearance professional military education books at slashed prices. The prices were marked down to around cost at the start of the sale but are now being sold for half the sticker price yielding a HUGE savings. Join the Frenzy for the last 2 days of the sale!
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
Renew early and win a chance to win some terrific cologne! Through December, members renewing their membership by the 10th of the month following receipt of their FIRST renewal notice, will automatically get included in a drawing to win a bottle of highly popular USMC Semper Fi Cologne. Our lucky October winners are:
Invoice Category: Mr. D. E. Pitts of Humble, Texas
Renewal Category: Sgt Daniel D. Kuehl, USMC (Ret) of Hustisford, Wisconsin
Congratulations to our winners! Enjoy the cologne.
www.usmccologne.com
Most membership associations can go out on the open market to buy mailing lists they can use to solicit new members. But because MCA is in the business of supporting the military, we can't get these types of lists.
That's why we'd like to encourage ALL MCA members to get your Marine friends and acquaintances to join you as MCA members as well. In return, we'll add 3 more months onto your membership for each new membership you arrange! 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 new members! Go to MCA's website here: (https://www.mca-marines.org/JoinMCA/step1.aspx) to find our membership application. Simply print out and forward the membership application to your fellow Marines and remind them to write your name on the line that says "Sponsor's Name/Who Introduced You to MCA!" Feel free to forward your friends an overview of member benefits as well:
http://www.mca-marines.org/benefits.aspIf 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.
Stay warm, and comfortable while looking stylish in The Marine Shop's fleece apparel collection:
Check out the Marine Shop's extensive inventory of uniforms, accessories, formal and informal wear and specialty gifts online at www.marineshop.com.
The Marine Shop is pleased to now offer the 10% member discount to all Marine Shop customers who are MCA Members.
Membership in the professional association for all Marines is a GREAT way to stay connected to the Corps. Membership includes a subscription to either the print and/or online edition of one of MCA's flagship magazines: either Marine Corps Gazette, the professional journal of U.S. Marines or Leatherneck, magazine of Marines. 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 editions are ALWAYS available earlier. AND, choosing the Online-Only subscription option 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.
And remember that your membership qualifies you for the 10% MCA member discount on all books and gifts at all MCA bookstores, at the MCA Online Store and also at the Marine Shop.
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 NEMTNB07. Renewals mention code REMTNB07.
As December rapidly unfolds, we all look forward to our holiday season, bearing in mind that we have Marines deployed, Marines preparing to deploy, a hard working supporting establishment and committed families bearing the burdens of service to our democracy.
The December issue of Leatherneck recognizes and highlights the successes of deployed Marines (War on Terror department), unveils new insights on the service rifle caliber controversy (.458 SOCOM round, “Is Bigger Better?), describes the improved training programs and reorganization at the School of Infantry-West (“Cream of the Corps: School of Infantry-West Stands Up Advanced Infantry Training Battalion”), defines the significant contributions of the Marine Corps Community Services to the Corps’ single Marines (“Single Marine Program: Oh, To be Young, Single and a Marine!), emphasizes the need for the Commandant’s professional reading program (“Read a Book, Get Ahead”) and also closes out a two-part historical essay with “Civil War Marines: Four Frustrating Years.”
There is something for anyone and everyone who wants to know what’s going on in the Corps today and also, learn more about how the Corps was shaped by those who went before.
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 December Gazette has several leadership articles that are thought provoking. One written by a young sergeant contends that tattoos are not the issue we need to worry about, rather that the key thing is ensuring that only the right Marines are promoted to the NCO ranks. Another article challenges the markings that commanders assign for proficiency and conduct marks. The feature article for December’s Gazette articulates changes the author feels are necessary to accomplish naval forward presence in a changed world.The MCA Career Center exists to support Marines. ALL Marines are welcome. We encourage all transitioning Marines who seek 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 this year? Click here to learn about MCA's Awards program!
MCA PROFESSIONAL EVENTS:
Sponsoring professional events of interest to Marines is the chief way we perform our ongoing mission of providing professional development opportunities for Marines. Right now MCA is planning a busy 2008 event schedule with professional dinners and lunches featuring dynamic guest speakers from the Corps' and the nations top leaders. Additionally, we also plan on continuing to bring first-rate writers of military history and world affairs to our MCA Bookstores for meet the author and book signing events.
Following is a list of the key events we have planned so far. Visit here for the complete schedule and additional information.
30 Nov 2007
MCA Trunk Show & Meet the Artist Sale
MCA Bookstore Camp Lejeune, NC
Meet artist Tom Butler and check out an array of beautiful new prints, hand painted boxes and chests. Tom will be pleased to autograph any of his prints you purchase.
5 Dec 2007
Book Signing
MCA Bookstore Camp Lejeune, NC
On Wednesday, 5 December 2007 MCA will host Colonel Wesley L. Fox USMC (Ret), author of Marine Rifleman, Forty-Three Years in the Corps and his new book Courage and Fear: A Primer for a book signing at the MCA Bookstore at Camp Lejeune from 1100-1300. For more information, visit our website or call the bookstore staff at (910) 451-7500.
19 Dec 2007
Book Signing
MCA Bookstore Quantico, VA
On Wednesday, 19 December 2007 MCA will host Colonel Wesley L. Fox USMC (Ret), author of Marine Rifleman, Forty-Three Years in the Corps and his new book Courage and Fear: A Primer for a book signing at the MCA Bookstore at Quantico from 1200-1400. For more information, visit our website or call the bookstore staff at (703) 640-0136.
14 May 2008
MCA C4 Awards Dinner
Doubletree Hotel, Arlington, VA
Guest Speaker-TBD
20 August 2008
MCA-MCCDC Dinner
Clubs at Quantico, Quantico, VA
Guest Speaker-TBD
18 September 2008
MCA Ground Logistics Awards Dinner
Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA
Guest Speaker-TBD
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SPONSORS
The Marine Corps Association Sincerely Thanks Our Sponsors For Their Generous And Enthusiastic Support!
Our sponsors helped make MCA’s 2007 professional event schedule the BEST Ever!
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
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 2008 Marine Corps Association events.
MCA would like to extend a HUGE thank you to our 2007 sponsors. This year saw us add the MCCDC Dinner and the MCA Dinner (featuring Secretary of Defense, Dr. Robert M. Gates as the speaker), in addition to our golden standards - the C4 Awards Dinner, the Ground Logistics Awards Dinner, and the Ground Awards Dinner.
2008 will see a few changes in our schedule. Instead of a Ground Dinner, we'll have a Ground Report event which will commence with a luncheon, followed by the Ground Report, and then a reception following the report. For more details and updated dates, please check out our schedule for 2008 at the following link: www.mca-marines.org/events.asp
A new sponsorship opportunity has been added for those who enjoy seeing people have a good time at our receptions. We thought it would be nice to feature hors d'oeuvre stations at future events.
And we're always looking for companies to help us feed the band, too!
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.
Exclusive MCA Privilege Saves You 20% - 50% On Dental Care, Eye Exams, Chiropractic Visits and More
As a Marine Corps family, the services of Tricare paired with a good Tricare Supplement go a long way toward handling the cost of your medical care. But what about treatments like chiropractic, dental care, prescription drugs, eye doctor appointments or hearing exams that are usually NOT fully included?
MCA has an exclusive money-saving option for you.
Called MCA Gold, this specially negotiated discount program card is a smart
money enhancement to MCA’s excellent Tricare supplement program. With the MCA Gold Discount Card, you’ll cut costs on:
- Dental check-ups, fillings, and even major dental surgery
- Eye exams and glasses or contact lenses
- Visits to chiropractors
- Diabetic supplies
- Hearing exams
Of course, as an MCA Member, you and your family enjoy GUARANTEED ACCEPTANCE in the MCA Gold Discount Card program.
Check out the MCA Gold Discount Card and see how this discount card can help reduce your out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Disclosures:
1. THIS PLAN IS NOT INSURANCE.
2. The plan provides discounts at certain health care providers for medical services.
3. The plan does not make payments directly to the providers of medical services.
4. Plan members are obligated to pay for all health care services but will receive a discount from those health care providers who have contracted with the discount medical plan organization.
5. Discount Medical Plan Organization and administrator: CAREINGTON International Corporation, 7400 Gaylord Parkway, Frisco, TX 75034; phone 800-441-0380.
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. Recklessly brave, always outspoken and frequently embroiled in political controversy, this well decorated Marine and outspoken anti-interventionist once rather infamously described his career as a Marine in these statements "In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism." And "Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents." Who am I ?
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 October's trivia question for ready reference:
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?
A: The M561 Gama Goat, which was a 6 wheeled 1 1/4 ton motor vehicle designed to carry cargo over rough terrain.
Congratulations to Eric Kaiser of Neptune, New Jersey for being the first one to respond with the correct answer. Eric your MCA Coin is on the way!
Once again, our MCA Trivia Contest generated a lot of interest and we keep seeing a lot of "Regulars" who submit a response every month. About 70 contest submissions this month with only 3 incorrect answers. Virtually everyone who submitted an answer incorrectly spelled "Gamma" with two M's as though it was named after the third letter of the Greek alphabet rather than the one M it got from warping the name of one of the engineers who designed it. (Gama Goat is the unofficial nickname of the M561 after Roger Gamount who was the inventor of the powered articulated joint that helped the Goat with its nimble maneuverability.) Not a hugely loved piece, we were not surprised when many contestants included sarcastic comments about the Goat with their answers. In that light, we found it shocking that there are several rather elaborate websites affectionately devoted to the Goat. Go figure!
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