Dear MCA Member,

I am pleased to report that our May 2008 MCA Ground Combat Element Luncheon was as enjoyable as it was informative. The program started with some introductory comments and an overview by LtGen Richard F. Natonski, Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations. Following his comments, each of the four Marine Division Commanding Generals provided remarks on the status and focus of the Division. While many of the concerns expressed were universal, it was interesting to note the differences posed by geographic, organizational and varying mission factors. The luncheon concluded with a lively question and answer session. Professional Development at its best, I offer the sincere appreciation of the Marine Corps Association to all of the General Officers for providing their thoughtful perspectives at this forum.

I encourage all of our readers to take the time to visit MCA's web site HERE where you can click on links to see more pictures and also view a video of the presentation.

Please visit the Schedule of Events page on our web site HERE regularly as well, in order to keep abreast of the schedule and to stay current with date changes. MCA's professional events keep getting better and are "Must Attend" events for serious Marine professionals. Our next major event in the Washington, D.C. area is the MCA Ground Logistics Awards Dinner in September at which the Corps' top logisticians for 2007 will receive the professional recognition they so richly deserve. I hope you will check our schedule, mark your calendar and plan on attending -- AND I hope to see you there!

MCA's flagship magazines developed some interesting new initiatives that our readers should definitely check out! Our June edition of Marine Corps Gazette features a great article discussing the Marine rifle company structure in current operations and bundles eight other articles since 1951 from Gazette archives which address similar issues. Click HERE to check it out. Leatherneck now features a "Today in USMC History" daily update on its homepage complete with an article on the showcased event pulled from Leatherneck's extensive archives for our eager history buffs! The article frequently includes exciting illustrations and includes multiple, easy to use options for sending the complete article to friends and colleagues. Click HERE to see it! (Scroll down to bottom of right column.)

It is turning into a very busy summer for MCA headquarters at Quantico. On the weekend of 7 June we integrated the Marine Shop, the Corps' most prestigious provider of Marine uniforms and accessories into our MCA Quantico Bookstore. A temporary measure lasting over the summer, this allows the Marine Shop to continue providing uninterrupted customer service during the remodeling. The remodeling project will be complete by mid September with the Marine Shop grandly reopening with a totally new look. If you are in the area in September we cordially invite you to our Grand Reopening! We will be sure to provide notice here and on our web site as the remodeling is completed.

Arist renderings of the remodeled Marine Shop.

As always, thanks for your support and do let me hear from you. You can do that by emailing MCA at comments@mca-marines.org.

Semper Fidelis,

Les Palm
Major General, USMC (Ret)
President and Chief Executive Officer

The July Gazette contains two provocative articles that should engender debate. The first is "wBridging the Gap" by GySgt Richard Choquette He argues that the training and education of the infantry platoon sergeant is inadequate when compared to that of the infantry lieutenant. In addition, Col "Sam" Mundy and Maj Bob Sotire in "MEU plus MSOC:Trying to keep the SOC in MEU (SOC)" make a persuasive case that the command relationships between the MEU and its special operations company has to be improved.

We invite all our readers to check out the online edition of Marine Corps Gazette. The online magazine edition provides exactly the same content as the print magazine, but has exciting additional features including searchable archives and hot linked key words allowing further reading on a variety of interesting topics.

Remember that all print readers also have access to the online version of the Gazette. In addition, online only subscribers will save on their dues as we forgo the expense of printing and mailing the paper magazine.

Coming up in your July issue of Leatherneck, there are two historical features, "'Semper FI!' One Marine's Story From Chi Chi Jima" and "Vietnam: Bobby and Tommy-Two Boyhood Friends, Two Medals of Honor," plus some old photos from the bottom of readers' footlockers in our "Corps Album." These, plus a feature dedicated to "Gyrene Jokes" submitted by our readers, an update on the Toys for Tots Foundation and photographs from the May, Andrews Air Force Base Joint Service Open House and a special, 4 July, America's birthday, magazine cover, make this issue one you won't want to miss.

We thrive on membership so if you renew your membership early when renewal time comes up we will give you a chance to win some great Semper Fi Cologne!

Here is the deal... Renew by the 10th of the month after receiving your FIRST membership renewal notice and we will automatically include your name in a drawing to win a bottle of highly popular and fine smelling USMC Semper Fi Cologne.

Our lucky May winners are:
Invoice Category: Major John F. Griffin, USMC from Walpole, MA
Renewal Category: Colonel Frederick D. Shroyer, USMCR from Charlotte Hall, MD

Marine Corps Association ONLINE Store
MCA's ONLINE Store carries the best professional reading of interest to Marines and features the complete USMC Professional Reading Program list, as well as detailed histories of the Corps. We also offer reading on hot topics like the war on terror, counter insurgency warfare, leadership and a host of other subjects. MCA's ONLINE Store has what Marines need to read!

Marine Corps Association Book Stores
To order, Call ( Monday -- Friday 0800-1630) Toll Free: 1-888-237-7683

Visit MCA's Book Stores at Quantico, Camp Lejeune, Camp Pendleton and Parris Island.
Click Here for Addresses.

Visit Us In Person Or Online:
The Marine Shop
300 Potomac Ave
Quantico, Virginia
(703) 640-7195
www.marineshop.com
*Currently Co-Located with MCA's Quantico Bookstore due to Renovations*

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.

Visit our web site to see the extensive inventory of uniforms, accessories, formal and informal wear and specialty gifts we offer!

The Marine Shop's Hand Built Alphas and Trousers for Women Marines Provide the Perfect Fit and Commanding Presence Expected in All Marines!

Whether you are a Marine, looking for a job OR an employer looking for a responsible, highly motivated Marine to Employ...

We Can Help!

Click here to visit MCA's Career Center!

MCA's Career Center has a wealth of jobs in a large variety of fields available throughout the United States and also overseas and our large and growing resume bank is a treasure trove for employers who need the highest quality employees.

Featured Jobs for June:
Click on the link to check them out in detail

Strategy Execution Consultants - New York, NY - McKinney Rogers Strategy Execution Consultants
http://careers.mca-marines.org/jobdetail.cfm?job=2916022

Military Police Small Group Leader - Various / Israel - DynCorp
http://careers.mca-marines.org/jobdetail.cfm?job=2908811

Business Development Director - Burlington, MA - Raytheon
http://careers.mca-marines.org/jobdetail.cfm?job=2905128

The I.R.S. Sees You As One: Shouldn't Your Life Coverage Do The Same Thing?

Exclusive MCA Program Helps Married Members Save As Much As 50%

You file taxes jointly. You share checking accounts and credit cards. So why should you pay TWO TIMES for your family's life insurance?

Now you can drastically reduce your life insurance costs -- with MCA's 2-in-1 Life Plan.

In a nutshell, it's a big financial break for married MCA members:

1. Instead of paying two premiums for two separate life policies for you and your spouse, you can now build a family financial safety net of up to $200,000.00 -- payable if something happens to either you or your spouse.
2. And if the worst were to happen... and you and your spouse were both lost in an accident, your loved ones would collect full benefits for each of you (up to $400,000.00 cash benefits).

Plus, you can rest assured that there are NO military war clauses or exclusions. This is rock-solid affordable protection -- not available on the civilian market -- tailored to the needs and budgets of today's military families.

Click this link for more information on MCA's 2-in-1 Life Plan today. There's no need to pay two premiums for two different policies when you can lower your life insurance bills by as much as 50% with the MCA 2-in-1 Life Plan.

Since 1951, Grantham University has contributed to the formal education of thousands of military service members and veterans. Its degree programs are flexible, portable and designed so you can fit education into your life instead of arranging your life around your education. In a new partnership initiative, Grantham offers all MCA employees, members and their families a special tuition rate of $250 per credit hour. Required textbooks and software are covered, at no additional cost to the student, by a Textbook and Technology Grant. Grantham offers associate, Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in a range of academic disciplines. For more information, please visit: www.grantham.edu/mca.

The ultimate all-in-one iMac desktop computer is now even faster and offers the most powerful graphics ever available in an iMac. At speeds up to 3.06GHz, the latest-generation dual-core Intel processors powering iMac are faster than ever, offering greater performance for everything from enhancing photos to playing games and more.

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

Advertise on MCA's Home Page! With over 90,000 loyal members and 75,000 web site visits each month, MCA's web site has the reader traffic to get you the visibility you need! If you would like a banner ad to promote your business or organization on our home page send your request to promotions@mca-marines.org .

MCA's 2009 Membership Directory. Here's some good news for MCA Members! Last published in 2005, the new 2009 Membership Directory will be published in time for Christmas of 2008! A great way to keep a line on your Marine Buddies who are MCA members and to help them to keep track of you too, they also make a great present!

Our Directory partner, Harris Connect Company, has been contacting MCA members by postcard since mid may and will send out additional postcards in June for orders and to frame individual membership profiles that will appear in the directory. Follow-up phone calls from Harris Connect will start in late June and end on 18 August 2008. Note that 18 August 2008 is the last date that members can verify, update and reserve a copy of the directory. Remember that this year, members can include color photos in the directory.

Correction. In the May 2008 edition of MCA Today, we announced that MCA would assist in the sponsorship of the Colonel Justice M. Chambers Award, which would be presented annually to a company grade officer serving with the 4th Marine Division or 4th Force Service Support Group. We took the verbiage directly from the Marine Corps Order establishing the award which was written prior to the establishment of the 4th Marine Logistics Group which subsequently replaced the 4th FSSG. We regret if this caused any confusion.

Oversight. CONGRATULATIONS TO Marine Wing Communication Squadron 28!
The May 2008 edition of MCA Today also congratulated the 2007 C4 awards recipients who were recognized at our recent MCA C4 Awards Dinner, but omitted one key recipient. The recipient of the LtCol Kevin M. Shea Memorial Unit of the Year Award was Marine Wing Communication Squadron 28. MCA regrets the omission and congratulates MWCS-28 for their service and professionalism that led to their selection.

COMMENTS? We value our reader's input. What do you like, or not like and what would you like to see in MCA Today? Send your comments and suggestions to: comments@mca-marines.org.

MCA MAILING LIST. Would you like us to add any of your Marine buddies to our address list? Send the name, address and email address for those you would like us to add to our mailing list to customercare@mca-marines.org. We will be delighted to send them MCA Today each month to help them stay connected.

Semper Fidelis!

LeeAnn Mitchell
Director of Marketing and Communications
comments@mca-marines.org