In January of 2020, the Office of the Secretary of Defense determined that the Marine Corps Association meets the eligibility requirements to be a National Military Association, one of only two organizations with that distinguished designation affiliated with the Marine Corps. While the Marine Corps Association was led in its early years by active duty leaders of the Corps, changes in law and policy required the Association to transition into a Non-Federal Entity and restricted any active officers from the governance structure of organizations like ours. We have followed ethical regulations governing relations between the service and “NFEs” and have been working through the Office of the Secretary of Defense with the close support of the Commandant and the Secretary of the Navy to strengthen and formalize our relationship with the Corps.
We hosted the first annual meeting of the Marine Corps Association in September in Alexandria, Virginia. With almost one hundred members, sponsors and donors in attendance, the meeting was also live streamed to members throughout the world. We were privileged to have General David H. Berger, Commandant of the Marine Corps, as our guest speaker and his appreciation for the Marine Corps Association and our mission was evident.

“This is a huge day,” said General Berger. “This [the Marine Corps Association] is not just an organization over to the side, in the bleachers, ‘call us when you need us.’ I think this is woven into the fabric of the Marine Corps.” He mentioned how pleased General John A. Lejeune would be with the Association’s designation. “I believe he’d be pretty happy with the intellectual edge Marines are driving towards and happy at what you’re doing to support them.”

The membership of the Association will meet annually, virtually if necessary, in order to ensure we are the foremost partner of the Corps’ leaders in professional development and support to Today’s Marines.