My name is Donna Jones; I currently live in V.A., I work for the Marine Corps Association.  I am married to active duty Marine officer Major William R Jones and I am the lucky mother of a beautiful little boy.

What are the rules on the use of calling cards in the Marine Corps?  What are the requirements for having cards made?  When & how are they used?

The calling card is not unique to the Marine Corps, first employed in 15th century China and then later in France in the early 1800's.  It quickly spread throughout Europe, and then became vastly popular in the United States.

A brief history of the “calling card”

"Calling" was a somewhat ritualized version of the fine old custom of "visiting". There were certain fixed rules laid down by society, which might apply, to a resident in a small town with the same force as in a large city. Calling cards were carried by the "well-to-do" ladies who made a point to "go calling" on friends and family on a specified day of the week or month, depending on their location and proximity to neighbors.  They are also known as "visiting cards." 

The cards served a number of social purposes, such as a means of introduction, to further acquaintanceship, to express congratulations or condolences and to provide notices of arrival or departure. Card etiquette had stringent rules to prevent awkward situations. Socialites desiring a relationship with a particular person or family dropped off a card and returned home. The receiver replied with their own card in a few days, inviting the initiator back for an in-person visit. If the aspiring socialite received the answering card sealed in an envelope or did not receive a return card, it meant to maintain social distance.

Ediquette and use of the calling card in the Unioted States Marine Corps

As written in the Marine Officer’s Guide  7th Edition

Types of Calls

Offical  - rendered only between commanding officers, officers of state, and officers’ messes. 

Personal – exchanged between officers and their families.

Selecting Cards

Give your full name
Show your full rank in the lower right corner. Avoid abbreviations.
Either engraved (preferred) or printed cards suffice these days.
Avoid fancy typeface. Prefered types are shaded antique Roman , solid Roman or Ideal Script.

“Name and rank are engraved no larger than 9/64” for the capital letters”, “Rank and service, in the lower righthand corner of the card, are printed in letters 7/64” high”.

“The rank of general and field grade officers preceeds the name, where as the rank of company officers must be engraved one line above the service designationin the lower righthand corner of the card. First and second Lieutenants may use the rank designation of Lieutenant”.

If married you may have a  joint famliy card, which lists your rank (but not the Marine Corps), with a legend such as this: Lieutenant and Mrs. Fuller Barnet Henderson.

Leaving of Cards

Formal calls – When you pay or return a formal call
As an unmarried officer – paying or returning a call, leave one card for your host, one for your host’s wife, and not more than one extra for other adult ladies in the household-a ceiling, that is, of three cards.
If you are calling as a married couple – you leave cards on the basis just described. Your spouce may leave a card for each adult in the household.

General Rules

Never leave more than three of any single card

When you call in person (which is in most cases), follow the custom and turn down the top-lefthand corner of your card(s).

For further information please refer to the Marine Officer’s Guide  7th Edition

You may have calling cards made for you at:

www.marineshop.net

http://www.marineshop.net/page.cfm/How-To-Order.../CustomOrders.html