FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT & CEO
Dear MCA Member,
A belated Happy 233rd Marine Corps Birthday to all of you. I hope everyone paused on our special day to reflect on the history and traditions of our great Corps and to rededicate ourselves to preserving legacy of those that have gone before us.
All our visitors to our renovated Marine Shop have been pleased with the new look of MCA's flagship. Not only do we continue to sell quality uniforms and accessories with outstanding service, but The Marine Shop now has our entire inventory of professional books, as well as opportunities to view our signature magazines online and choose from an inventory of high end gifts and apparel. We have also held 2 great book signings since its opening with Bing West, author of The Strongest Tribe and Fred Haynes, author of The Lions of Iwo Jima.
MCA closes out our 2008 Professional Event Schedule with the MCA Ground Awards Dinner on 4 December. The dinner features General James L. Jones Jr., USMC (Ret), former Commandant of the Marine Corps and Supreme Allied Commander Europe as our guest speaker and serves as the opportunity to recognize the professional achievements of some of our best young leaders. The award recipients are each Marine Division's Marine of the Year, and also include recipients of the Leftwich Trophy for Outstanding Leadership awarded to the selected Marine ground MOS Captain from the active duty component, the Chambers Award for Outstanding Leadership presented to the selected company grade officer from the Reserve component and finally the Hulbert Trophy for Outstanding Leadership, which honors the selected Marine Gunner of the year. We hope you will join us for this great evening.
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
MCA's New One-Stop Shopping CenterSAVES YOU MONEY! For super deals on a HUGE range of consumer products try out MCA's One-Stop Shopping Center Today! Including access to Name Brand clothing, electronics, apparel, pet supplies, travel, fine dining and a range of other sought after products, MCA's One-Stop Shopping Center is a portal that connects YOU with great deals ONLINE that you can't get through the companies' websites, offering convenience and significant savings to the shopper who uses it. And the good news is, when you use the service, you not only SAVE money on high quality products but your purchase directly helps support MCA's Awards Program which provides professional recognition to Marines all over the Corps. You can't beat that. Click on the link above to check it out today!
and more!
Advertise in MCA Today! MCA Today has over 44,000 loyal readers each month and is a great place to advertise. If you would like us to include a promotional ad for your business or organization in a monthly edition of MCA Today send your request to promotions@mca-marines.org .
Staying connected to the Corps is important to Marines. The best way to stay connected and keep informed about the Corps' ongoing activities and on-going story is to join the Marine Corps Association -- The Professional Association for ALL Marines!
MCA membership includes a print or online subscription to one or both of MCA's flagship magazines: Marine Corps Gazette, the professional journal of U.S. Marines and /or Leatherneck, magazine of Marines.
MCA's membership options are flexible and recognize the special needs of Marines who face extended deployments and problems with late mail delivery. To that end, MCA now offers an ONLINE-ONLY membership, which allows ONLINE access to BOTH magazines and all regular membership benefits at about 24% off the print edition membership rates. With this option deployed Marines don't have to worry about late mail delivery and can access both magazines online from anywhere in the world. We strongly urge all active duty Marines to consider this option when they join or renew their membership. For deployed Marines, this is the way to go!
Marine Corps Gazette and Leatherneck feature high quality, interesting and creatively illustrated articles written largely by Marines about Marines. Both are tremendous vehicles for keeping current with professional issues and the Marine Corps story. Our Online magazine editions provide the same content as the print editions, but have enhanced features only available in a web based format. These include complete, searchable archives extending back to 1916, PODCASTS, interactive discussion boards where ANY reader can join the debate and hot linked key words that allow additional reading on favorite topics.
Your membership dues, directly support the MCA Awards Program, which provides incentive awards to over 7,000 Marines annually for professional and academic achievement. MCA is the largest awards provider in the Corps, so if you know a Marine who got an award, chances are that MCA's Awards Program provided it with support from YOUR membership!
If you are not a member now, we encourage you to join us. Call toll-free 866-622-1775, EMAIL us at mca@mca-marines.org, or go online at: http://www.mca-marines.org/joinrenew.asp. MCA memberships also make great Christmas and birthday gifts!New members mention code NEMTNB08. Renewals mention code REMTNB08.
Leatherneck has kept its readers connected to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and will continue with articles from the front and progress reports. For our upcoming December issue, we'll also pay tribute to those Marines who have gone before in an article on the First Marine Division at Chosin Reservoir in 1950, an article on Medal of Honor Marine -- Staff Sergeant Karl G. Taylor Sr. SSgt Taylor was killed during the Vietnam War's Operation Meade River in December 1968 charging an enemy position to save his Marines and an article on the newly-established Marine Gunner of the Year award. The Henry Lewis Hulbert Trophy for Outstanding Leadership by a Marine Gunner will be presented for the first time on 4 December at the annual Marine Ground Awards Dinner. The award is named after the Corps' first Marine Gunner, Henry Lewis Hulbert, who was killed in action at the Battle of Blanc Mont on 4 October1918, in France.
The December Gazette has a focus on leadership. Three award winning articles focus on practical leadership using both contemporary and historical examples. In Capt. Nate Packards first place Hogaboom Writing contest essay he writes about the finest leader with whom it was ever his pleasure to serve. Who that person is may surprise you. LtCol Jason Bohm writes about the leadership of George Washington and how his example could apply to a modern day Marine battalion commander in Iraq. Finally Sgt Charles Van Acker writes about his own maturation as a leader and the importance of "eliminating the toxic leader from the equation." In addition, we have a provocative article that has as its thesis the lack of support by the Navy of the naval surface fire support mission. There is something for all our readers in the December issue.
MEMBERSHIP / RENEWAL NOTICES
Members are MCA's lifeblood. And, the more members we have, the more resources we have for supporting Marines! But, here is another reason for you to stick with us. Renew your membership early when renewal time comes up and 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 enter your name in a drawing to win a bottle of highly popular USMC Semper Fi Cologne. And, to increase your odds, our drawing will have two winners each month.
Our lucky October winners are:
SSgt Donald W. Morrison of Hypoluxo, Florida
Daniel D. Petty of Phillips, Wisconsin
www.usmccologne.com
Marine Corps Association ONLINE Store
MCA's ONLINE Store carries the best professional reading of interest to Marines and also features specialty gifts for Marines. From high quality apparel displaying Marine logos, to prints, plaques, jewelry and other items, we have what Marines want.
Browse our ONLINE Store from the comfort of your home! Check it out at:
WWW.MCA-MARINES.ORG
Featured Gifts for Marines
USMC DECANTER SET
Our elegant heavy crystal decanter proudly displays a vivid, full color Marine Corps emblem and includes two "Rocks" glasses. Perfect for storing and dispensing your favorite spirits.
104064
Member Value Price: $68.04
Non-member Price: $75.60
USMC BLAZER BUTTONS
Let your blazer show off your Marine Corps pride with our USMC Emblem Button Set. Gold-plated brass buttons feature the Marine Corps emblem and comes in a boxed set for gift giving including 3 large buttons and 6 sleeve buttons.
103836
Member Value Price: $109.35
Non-member Price: $121.50
LARGE BULLDOG PRINT
A Marine bulldog in impeccable dress blues flanks the Marine's Prayer on our matted and gold framed print to make a showy yet reverent accent piece for your wall. Dimensions - 31" x 21" Gift wrapping is not available for this product.
102611
Member Value Price: $135.00
Non-member Price: $150.00
USMC CRYSTAL BOWL
An etched Eagle, Globe and Anchor graces the front of our elegant hand-cut crystal bowl. At 5 3/4" x 4" high it is perfect for mints and salted peanuts at get-togethers for Marines. This is a special order, non-returnable item and requires 2-3 weeks for delivery.
103848
Member Value Price: $112.50
Non-member Price: $125.00
Marine Corps Association Book Stores
To order, Call ( Monday - Friday 0800-1630)
Toll Free: 1-888-237-7683
Fax: 703-630-1446
Email: customercare@mca-marines.org
Visit The MARINE Shop in Quantico and MCA's Book Stores at Camp Lejeune, Camp Pendleton and Parris Island.
Click Here for Addresses
NEED HELP WITH 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
Due to the holidays, call volume is high, so please be patient or email us at:
customercare@mca-marines.org
THE MARINE SHOP
The MARINE Shop - MCA's Flagship Store!
Whether you need the highest quality, most expertly tailored Marine uniforms, the best and latest professional reading or a special gift a Marine will treasure The MARINE Shop is the place you want to go!
And, for a Special Gift Your Marine will Treasure this Holiday Season...
You Can't Get More Special than a Marine Sword
The MARINE Shop features the finest Mameluke and Marine NCO Swords with all the Required Accessories.
MCA Cordially Invites YOU to visit The MARINE Shop in person and Online:
The MARINE Shop
300 Potomac Ave
Quantico, Virginia
(703) 640-7195
www.marineshop.com
The Marine Shop offers member value pricing to all MCA Members on most items.
MCA Career Center
Helping Marines find employment and employers find Marines!
Click here to Check It Out NOW!
We post exciting, new U.S and Overseas jobs frequently at MCA's Career Center and we constantly update a large database filled with resumes from highly experienced Marines seeking responsible employment. If you are looking for a job or a successful Marine to fill a position, MCA's Career Center is the resource for you!
Marines AND their dependents seeking employment are welcome to use MCA's Career Center free of charge and don't have to be MCA members to do so!
Featured Jobs for November:
Click on the link to check them out in detail
Program Manager-Logistics Distribution - Washington DC - HQMC I&L
http://careers.mca-marines.org/jobdetail.cfm?job=3027763
Test Manager III - Stafford, VA - BAE
http://careers.mca-marines.org/jobdetail.cfm?job=3027630
Counter IED Trainer/SME - Afghanistan - NEK Advanced Securities Group
http://careers.mca-marines.org/jobdetail.cfm?job=3026746
MCA PROFESSIONAL EVENTS:
MCA sponsors dynamic professional events with top Marine, and civilian leaders as guest speakers. We hold events in the Washington, D.C. area and in the vicinity of all our MCA Bookstores as a means of providing Marines with unique professional development opportunities. Here are our last professional event on our busy and highly successful 2008 schedule. Visit our web site here regularly to stay abreast of updates, to get additional information and to see event photos and review guest speaker comments.
The MARINE Shop
Quantico, VA
Dr. E Bruce Heilman, author of An Interruption That Lasted a Lifetime: My First Eighty Years.
MCA Ground Awards Dinner
Crystal Gateway Marriott,
Arlington, VA
Guest Speaker - General James L. Jones Jr, USMC, (Ret) and includes award presentations to the Marines of the Year from each of the 4 Marine Divisions and presentation of the Leftwich, Chambers and Hulbert trophies for Outstanding Leadership.
13 Dec &
15 Dec 2008
1130-1300
Both Days
MCA Bookstore
Camp Lejeune, NC
Gene Duncan, author of Green Side Out, Brown Side Out, and Dunc's Almanac
Your key MCA membership benefit is your subscription to one or both of MCA's flagship magazines, Leatherneck and / or Marine Corps Gazette. Both magazines help you to stay connected to the Corps and keep you informed about the current issues Marines face. This benefit, just got better, because no matter what kind of print or Online subscription you chose MCA NOW gives you ONLINE access to BOTH magazines as well.
In addition to your subscription, membership means other benefits including Member Value Pricing at MCA's stores, including our The MARINE Shop, MCA's Flagship Store as well as MCA's ONLINE Store. Member Value Pricing means MCA members receive exclusive member discounts on our extensive selection of books, specialty gifts and on many uniform items. Membership also enables access to great deals from well-known companies who provide our members with computer discounts and special deals on credit cards, insurance policies, rental cars, travel and educational programs.
Check out the links below for additional information. AND, help us help you! Tell us what other member benefits you would like us to offer. Email us at promotions@mca-marines.org with your suggestions.
30-SECOND SAFETY NET QUIZ
Here's a quick quiz to see if you're ready to meet today's real-life challenges:
1. Ever leave your seat belt unbuckled -- especially for short trips near home?
If you answered "yes," you're not alone. We've probably all given in to the "it's-just-around-the-corner" mentality. Unfortunately, because deadly accidents often happen just a few miles from home, that error in judgment can be a costly one for you and your loved ones. Buckling in the benefits of Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance Coverage can be a smart move for young families.2. Is it important to you that your kids have a good education?
Then make sure you help protect your family with coverage that can help pay college tuition if you can't be there to take care of the bills yourself.3. Do you have a mortgage on your house?
Make sure your spouse has a solid cash benefit plan earmarked to pay it off if you die in an accident. It could make all the difference in staying in the neighborhood and home they love.
If you answered "yes" to any of the questions above, it might be a good idea to check out MCA's Accidental Death and Dismemberment Plan today.
Your acceptance is guaranteed.* There's no medical exam. No health questions required.**
Take a look now to see why MCA's Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance Program is so affordable for Marine Corps families or call 1-866-340-4360 today.
*Disclosure: Benefit Reduction at age 70.
**Your acceptance is guaranteed...no health questions.
All Benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of the policy. Policies underwritten by Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company, Simsbury CT.06089, detail exclusions, limitations, reduction of benefits and terms under which the policies may be continued in force or discontinued.
Policy Form # 7582 A2(11116)
20750
Are you looking for a great way to save some money on tuition for you or your children? Look no further than MCA's special program with Grantham University. You'll save up to 25% on the tuition hours and earn a first rate education at the same time.
TUITION SAVINGS IDEA - A great way to save even if you or your children are enrolled at another school is to take some of those college courses on-line - instead of all of them at a brick and mortar university! And, did you know you can save money on testing and time in the application process as well at Grantham because they don't require either the ACT or the SAT in the admissions process!
COMPUTER SAVINGS
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 PC and make way for a kicking new Dell.
Visit www.dell.com/USMC or
call 1-866-257-4711. Member ID: DS62593492
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SPONSORS
The Marine Corps Association Sincerely Thanks Our Sponsors For Their Generous Support!
---------------------------------- PREMIER DIAMOND: ----------------------------------
---------------------------------- PREMIER GOLD: ----------------------------------
---------------------------------- PREMIER SILVER: ----------------------------------
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BRONZE: ----------------------------------
------------------- And to our Individual Event Sponsors: -------------------
Platinum: Nammo Talley
Gold: Harris, Smartronix
Silver: EMA, MITRE, Impact Resources Technologies
Bronze: AFCEA; Alion Science & Technology; AT&T Government Solutions; BAE Systems; Bell Helicopter; Boeing; CACI, Int’l; Cisco; ClearedJobs.net; Columbia Group; CTC; CSC; Deloitte Consulting; DFW Marine Families; DSC; EG&G; Elbit Systems of America; eNTEGRITI; Exeter; FLIR; Force Protection; Fox News; Geico; Gyrocam; Hartford Insurance; Honeywell; Kollsman; L-3 Titan; Microsoft; Motorola; Nammo Talley; Navistar; Professional Solutions; R. Phillips Enterprises; Rheinmetall; Rockwell Collins; SAIC; Shee Atika Tech; Sodexo; SRA International; Stanley, Inc.; Tandberg; Telos; Tesoro Corp.; Tompkins Builders; Wackenhut Services; The Weekly Standard; Whitley, Bradley & Brown, Inc.; W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Corporate Sponsors: First Citizens Bank; Logis-Tech; Pacific Marine Credit Union; Spectrum
The Marine Corps has many important needs for which taxpayer-appropriated funds may not be used and that is where non-profit organizations like the Marine Corps Association fill a critical role. A key case in point is the MCA Awards Program. This program is totally funded by member dues and sponsor support and gives the Marine Corps the resources to recognize the professional achievements of Marines in a large variety of worthy circumstances.
Annually, the MCA Awards program provides leadership, performance and academic recognition to over 7,000 deserving Marines and sailors with funding provided by member and corporate sponsor support.
Additionally, another key initiative shouldered by the Association, the MCA Professional Events program provides professional development opportunities with key Corps and national level leaders with partial funding provided by corporate sponsors. MCA welcomes your company's support and involvement in our 2009 Marine Corps Association events schedule.
For information on becoming a corporate sponsor, contact LeeAnn Mitchell at l.mitchell@mca-marines.org.
MARINE TRIVIA QUESTION
Q. Born of the cataclysmic forces of unrestrained vulcanism and the scene of epic, and equally cataclysmic strife, fittingly, my name means sulfur, and I am in places over 50 feet higher than I was during the conflict where I became known to the world and, to this day, I remain a revered iconic symbol for the Corps. What am I?
A. _________________________________
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!
Here's our October trivia question reprinted for ready reference:
Congratulations to Glenn E. Johnson, Shortsville, New York for being the first correct answer!Q. This war horse commanded at every level in combat from Platoon, Company, Battalion, Regiment and Division, was awarded the Navy Cross and a Silver Star in the Great War, served at Guadalcanal, Tinian and Iwo Jima in World War II, ultimately became a 4-Star General and Commandant of the Marine Corps and following his tenure as CMC reverted to 3-Star to continue to serve on active duty and was re-promoted to General upon retirement. Who is he?
A. General Clifton B. Cates, USMC.
COMMENTS? Suggestions for the improvement of MCA Today are always welcome. Send your comments and suggestions to: comments@mca-marines.org and we will strongly consider them.
MCA MAILING LIST.Get on our mailing list! It's EASY to do and helps you stay connected! Send us your name, address and email address for those you would like us to add to customercare@mca-marines.org. We will be delighted to send you, and anyone you nominate, MCA Today each month to help you stay connected.
Semper Fidelis!
LeeAnn Mitchell
Director of Marketing and Communications
comments@mca-marines.org