Commanders’ Forums, including battlefield studies, guest speakers, and other venues that help Marines develop their professional tactical, operational, and strategic acumen and provide opportunities for Marines to learn firsthand the lessons of history and their application to the issues of today. This program provides the most latitude and creativity to commanders and their senior enlisted leaders and provides the most impact to their Marines.

The Marine Writing Program encourages open dialogue and critical discussion on topics important to Marines and the Marine Corps today through a variety of essay contests for all ranks. The program continues to evolve and this year, with the recent passing of LtGen Bernard “Mick” Trainor, a new writing award was established in his name. A “Marine’s Marine” with a remarkable career that spanned both military and journalistic endeavors, he was known as an exemplary leader and a man of strong moral character, and this award will inspire others to follow in his footsteps.

Another of our writing awards is specifically linked to Leatherneck — Magazine of the Marines, and supported by one of our donors. While our other awards are open to Marines of all ranks, the Leatherneck Writing Award is restricted to enlisted Marines in the hopes of encouraging our younger leathernecks to write for our publications. Twenty-seven entries were received for this year’s competition, and for the third year in a row, the winning essay was written by a lance corporal. Lance Corporal Kyle Daly wrote an outstanding essay on the legacy of LtGen Holland M. “Howlin’ Mad” Smith, which will be published in the October issue of Leatherneck. It is inspiring to see what our young Marines can accomplish when given the opportunity, and those opportunities are provided by your generous donations.

The Unit Library Program provides books from the Commandant’s Professional Reading List to enable Marines to read and study military classics, current topical books, and other works of historical significance. The study of the profession of arms is critically important to Marines of all ranks, and each year we send additional copies to unit libraries around the Corps to ensure even more books are available to Marines. Our goal is to expand this program into downloadable audio books, but this is only possible with your support.
A great example of the impact of our Unit Library Program is in the Officer Candidates School quarterly professional military education and communications program. The Commanding Officer of OCS, Col Ahmed “Will” Williamson, and his sergeant major, Sergeant Major Lance Harrell, asked their junior officers and staff noncommissioned officers for input on recommended books and topics for discussion. Their recommendations were built into an annual plan in which the Marines of the OCS staff read and discuss selected books in monthly small groups, write essays and have quarterly discussions, culminating in a unit professional dinner. MCAF has provided significant support to their efforts by furnishing the books for this leadership development program, publishing some of the essays in Leatherneck or the Marine Corps Gazette, and sponsoring a guest speaker or author at these dinners. Your support makes this possible.

Marine Excellence Awards recognize the achievements of Marines throughout the Corps, whether they are Recruit Honor Graduates, outstanding Marines in specific military occupational specialties or Marines of the Year from each Marine division, among many others. Many of our annual awards are presented at Marine Corps Association & Foundation Professional Dinners, often by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps or other senior Marine Corps leaders. These awards are tangible examples of just how amazing the young men and women are in our Corps and are only possible because of your generosity.