MCRA Blog

Oldest Living WWII Veteran Celebrates His 112th Birthday with Drive-By Party in New Orleans

By Greta Bjornson

Oldest Living WWII Veteran Celebrates His 112th Birthday with Drive-By Party in New Orleans
Sunday, September 19, 2021 / BlogNews

Lawrence Brooks, the nation's oldest living WWII veteran, marked his 112th birthday with a celebration outside his Louisiana home

Temporary hike in BAH imminent for some troops, families caught in housing crunch

By Karen Jowers and Davis Winkie

Tuesday, September 14, 2021 / BlogLegislative News

Military members and families affected by surging housing costs in 56 areas around the country may soon get relief through a temporary hike in their Basic Allowance for Housing.

DoD officials had not officially confirmed the initiative to Military Times by publication time, but the start is imminent, according to a Pentagon source with knowledge of the discussions. The temporary BAH hike has been approved by DoD personnel officials and is scheduled to take effect Oct. 1, the source said.



Corps to fire ship-sinking missile in Pacific as ‘demonstration of force’

Philip Athey

Corps to fire ship-sinking missile in Pacific as ‘demonstration of force’
Sunday, August 15, 2021 / BlogNewsMarine Corps/DoD News

The Marine Corps will launch a Naval Strike Missile at a scrapped U.S. Navy hull Sunday as a demonstration of the force that future Marine artillery units may be able to bring to the fight.

Another 16 million veterans can get these DoD travel deals

Karen Jowers

Another 16 million veterans can get these DoD travel deals
Tuesday, July 27, 2021 / BlogVA News

An additional 16 million veterans are now eligible to use the Defense Department’s discount travel site, under an expansion announced today by DoD’s American Forces Travel and Priceline.


LAND NAVIGATION AWARD PRESENTED

"Maj Keith Wells Award"

LAND NAVIGATION AWARD PRESENTED
Thursday, July 15, 2021 / Blog


President Nominates New Marine Corps General Officers

Thursday, March 11, 2021 / Blog

The MCRA is excited to announce that the president has made the following nominations for GENERAL OFFICER in the Marine Corps:

Brig. Gen. Jay M. Bargeron has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Bargeron is currently serving as president, Marine Corps University, Training and Education Command, Quantico, Virginia.

Brig. Gen. Brian W. Cavanaugh has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Cavanaugh is currently serving as assistant deputy commandant, programs and resources, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.

Brig. Gen. Dimitri Henry has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Henry is currently serving as director, J-2, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

Brig. Gen. Ryan P. Heritage has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Heritage is currently serving as commanding general, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego; and commanding general, Western Recruiting Region, San Diego, California.

Brig. Gen. Christopher A. McPhillips has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  McPhillips is currently serving as commanding general, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan.

Brig. Gen. Robert B. Sofge Jr. has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Sofge is currently serving as deputy commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, Camp Smith, Hawaii.

Brig. Gen. Matthew G. Trollinger has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Trollinger is currently serving as deputy director, Politico-Military Affairs (Middle East), J-5, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.

Col. Joseph R. Clearfield has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Clearfield is currently serving as assistant chief of staff, G-3, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.

Col. Mark H. Clingan has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Clingan is currently serving as chief of staff, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

Col. Simon M. Doran has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Doran is currently serving as special assignment officer, Royal Air Force, British Armed Forces, London, United Kingdom.

Col. Walker M. Field has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Field is currently serving as military fellow, Council on Foreign Relations, New York, New York.

Col. Anthony M. Henderson has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Henderson is currently serving as director, concepts and plans, Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.

Col. Michael E. McWilliams has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  McWilliams is currently serving as executive assistant for deputy commandant, installations and logistics, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.

Col. Matthew T. Mowery has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigad


VA finance program makes breakthrough helping thousands of Veterans receive secure benefit payments

Thursday, March 11, 2021 / Blog

WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Veterans Benefits Banking Program (VBBP) reached a new milestone with more than 50,000 Veterans having switched to receiving their monetary benefits through direct deposit.

VBBP was created in partnership with the Association of Military Banks of America (AMBA) and works with the Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) to leverage their combined consortium of military-friendly, federally insured financial institutions to help Veterans acquire a secure bank account.

Veterans who do not have an account with a financial institution must receive their benefit payments through a paper check or pre-paid debit card, which puts them at an increased risk for fraud and subject to high service fees.

“At any given time, there are more than 175,000 Veterans without a bank or credit union account,” said Acting Under Secretary for Benefits Veterans Benefits Administration Thomas Murphy. “It is VA’s responsibility to ensure Veterans and their families get the benefits they have earned — on time, every time. VBBP is just one way we are working to make that happen.”

Since the program’s inception in December 2019, the number of Veterans who rely on paper checks and pre-paid debit cards for their benefits has steadily decreased. While services available will vary among financial institutions, VBBP makes it easier for Veterans to choose a bank or credit union based on how these services align with their individual banking needs.

VA, AMBA and DCUC do not endorse any bank or credit union and Veterans are not required to use a VBBP bank or direct deposit to receive their monetary benefits. 

Learn more about VBBP or find a participating financial institution.

Paul K. Hopper
Col  USMC (Ret)
National President
Marine Corps Reserve Association
(214) 693-6249

 


Final Location of Charles Lindbergh Mural

The SD Chapter was instrumental in keeping the Charles Lindberg mural from being destroyed

Thursday, March 11, 2021 / Blog

The SD Chapter was instrumental in keeping the Charles Lindberg mural from being destroyed. Until recently, the mural was maintained at Lindbergh Field, San Diego, CA. The airfield authorities did not want it anymore. 


Final Location of Charles Lindbergh Mural

Thursday, March 11, 2021 / Blog

The SD Chapter was instrumental in keeping the Charles Lindberg mural from being destroyed. Until recently, the mural was maintained at Lindbergh Field, San Diego, CA. The airfield authorities did not want it anymore. 


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