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The mission of the MCRA is to serve members of the Marine Corps Reserve through promotion of professional development, advocacy for the Marine Corps Reserve, furthering the relevance and value of the Marine Corps Reserve and its individual members, and advancing the interests of the total United States Marine Corps in order to preserve the security of the United States.


The Marine Corps 250th Celebration

The Association is proud to support the celebration of the Corps' 250th anniversary.

 

 

Celebrating Freedom: A Veteran's Perspective on the 4th of July

As the vibrant colors of red, white, and blue begin to adorn our neighborhoods, and the tantalizing scent of summer cookouts fills the air, we approach the 4th of July. For many, it's a cherished day of festivities and family gatherings. But for those of us who have worn the uniform, this holiday carries a much deeper, more profound significance.

On July 4, 1776, a group of courageous leaders took a truly audacious step, declaring our independence from tyranny. Who could have known that this fledgling country, born from such a bold act, would one day blossom into the envy of the world? This Declaration of Independence laid the groundwork for a nation founded on the principles of liberty, justice, and self-governance – ideals that resonate just as powerfully today.

And from those foundational moments, our nation's defenders emerged and the Marine Corps, has been an integral part of this country's story since the very founding of our nation. Marines have stood ready to defend those sacred ideals, serving with unwavering loyalty and courage through every challenge our nation has faced. We understand, perhaps more than most, the immense value of the freedoms enshrined in that historic document. We've seen firsthand the cost of liberty, carrying the weight of that understanding with us always.

As we celebrate the 249th birthday of our country, this 4th of July takes on even greater meaning. It's a powerful reminder of our origins and the incredible journey our nation has embarked upon.

So, as you celebrate this Independence Day, we urge all Americans to stop and be truly thankful. Be thankful not only for the incredible privilege of living in this country but also for the countless individuals who have been, and continue to be, willing to defend this way of life.

The 4th of July is more than just fireworks and barbecues; it is a profound celebration of what it means to be an American. It is a day to remember our origins, to honor those who have protected our way of life, and to recommit ourselves to the ideals of liberty and justice for all.

From all of us at The Marine Corps Reserve Association, we wish you a safe, meaningful, and very Happy Independence Day. God Bless America.

The Tun Update 

To be totally honest, The Tun will not be open on 10 November 2025. Dispite all the efforts, the matter of fact is The Tun Legacy Foundation does not have the necessary funds/ support from Marines as hoped. Yes it is disappointing, however it does not mean progress has not been. One of the means by shich The Foundation is hoping to raise additional funds is kicking off the "1775 Club."  So if you want to see The Tun rebuilt? Or do you want to make a toast to the Corps in The Tun®? Learn more about The Club and how to join, click here.

Memorial Day 2025

I CAME HOME
One came home to tears of Joy
One came Home to tears of sorrow

One had a parade with cheers of Joy and Relief
One had a Procession with tears of Grief and Suffering

One felt the warm embrace of their Loved Ones
One had feelings of loss, broken dreams and loneliness

One made plans for their future lives together
One had lost dreams and fear for their future

Why did I come home when so many did not?
Those of us who served in Combat and came home have
feelings of guilt for those who will never come home

SgtMaj Joseph A Staudt
Memorial Day 2025

Predictable Budgets, Readiness, Recapitalization Top Priorities for Reserve Components

Modernizing equipment, improving readiness and securing predictable funding for the next fight remain top priorities for the reserve components of the U.S. military, senior leaders told lawmakers yesterday.

"I thank the subcommittee for its continued support, especially through the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account," LtGen Anderson said "For the Marine Corps Reserve, NGREA is not just a funding line, it's a warfighting requirement. These funds allow us to field and sustain the platforms, communication systems and equipment that Marines need to train as they fight. READ FULL STORY    To view his opening remarks, click here.

House Armed Services Committee Testimony on Marine Corps Readiness

As part of his written testimony before the House Armed Services Committee on May 6, 2025, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Christopher J. Mahoney reaffirmed the Marine Corps Reserve’s role as a combat-ready, integral part of the Total Force.

As the Marine Corps modernizes and operational tempo increases, the Marine Corps Reserve Component remains an integral part of the total Force. Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES) has increasingly activated units to provide operational relief to the Active Component (AC). In FY24, support to the AC nearly doubled over FY23 with 600 activations supporting joint force commanders in Southwest Asia, South America, Africa, Europe, and the Pacific. In FY25, activations will more than double FY24 levels, with nearly 1,500 Reserve Marines, approximately 4% of the Reserve Component (RC), activating to support Global Force Management commitments.  read here.

National Military Family Association's Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship Application

The National Military Family Association is the leading nonprofit organization committed to strengthening and protecting military families. The mission of this scholarship program is to help prepare military spouses for meaningful employment and to better contribute to their family’s financial security. The second batch of scholarship checks are stamped and ready to mail to 77 hard-working military spouses! We are thrilled to be able to award almost $80,000 in donor-funded scholarships for the fall semester!

Could you use a scholarship? Applications are open through June 30, apply here.

Calling All Members! Be Part of MCRA History: Centennial Oral History Project!

Get ready to make history! As the Marine Corps Reserve Association approaches its monumental 100th Anniversary on November 10, 2026, we're embarking on a special project to commemorate this incredible milestone: an "Oral History" book, created in partnership with Publishing Concepts!

Imagine your stories, your experiences, and your memories as a member of the MCRRA preserved for generations to come. This commemorative book will be a tapestry woven from the personal narratives of our dedicated members, offering a unique and intimate look at the Association's century of service and camaraderie. CLICK HERE to learn more about the project.

 

USMCRA Benefactors

The Association would like to acknowledge those who have committed to supporting The Association at the Benefactor level. Their support will fulfill our promise to the men and women who sacrifice for our freedom - Today - Tomorrow. Become a Benefactor Today!

MCRA BY LAWS, effective Oct 2023

To read the current MCRA By-Laws, members should click here.

 

CORPORATE SPONSORS

MARADMINS OF NOTE

1. UPDATE TO THE ARMED FORCES CLASSIFICATION TEST RETEST REQUEST PROCESS MARADMIN 250/25

2. IMPLEMENTING POLICY ON PRIORITIZING MILITARY EXCELLENCE AND READINESS VOLUNTARY SEPARATIONS MARADMIN 239/25

3. RESULTS OF THE FY25 4TH MARINE AIRCRAFT WING (MAW) ADVERSARY SQUADRON PILOT (ASP) SELECTION BOARD MARADMIN 238/25

4. ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESERVE SERGEANTS MAJOR SLATE FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2025/2026   MARADMIN 230/25 

5. NONCOMPETITIVE CORPORAL TO SERGEANT RECRUITER PROMOTIONS FOR THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE COMPONENT MARADMIN: 229/25   

 

MCRA LATEST PODCAST 

The MCRA latest PODCAST focuses on the career ofCol David Leighton, USMCR (Ret). In this PODCAST we will hear why Dave joined the Marine Corps; his training to become a Marine and a Naval Aviator. Listen to what Vietnam was like during the Corps' first "Advisory" mission in 1961. We hear about the Corps build-up and flying combat missions in 1966. Dave will also discuss the Association from the 1970s to today. This is a PODCAST you do not want to miss, from an American warrior who has served his country for over 60 years. Col David Leighton PODCAST

       

We now have 11 new PODCASTS for your enjoyment. Please listen and leave a comment to improve our content. Best, we would appreciate it if you were to share. 
SPOTIFY PODCASTS    MCRA YOU TUBE PODCASTS

MCRA MEMBERSHIP TRI-FOLD 

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USMCRA
/ Categories: Legislative News

Court rules VA must pay disability benefits to ‘blue water’ Vietnam veterans

WASHINGTON — A federal court ruled Tuesday that the Department of Veterans Affairs cannot deny disability benefits to thousands of Vietnam veterans who claim exposure to cancer-causing chemical defoliants simply because those vets served in the waters off the country’s coastline, and not inland.

The ruling marks a major victory for so-called “blue water” Navy veterans who have fought the department for years over the denials. VA officials have said the existing scientific evidence doesn’t justify the presumption of toxic exposure for the group and have strongly opposed legislative efforts to overturn their decision.

But the 9-2 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit overturns past court opinions backing up VA, saying that Congress never intended to exclude servicemembers in the seas around Vietnam when they awarded presumptive benefits for certain illnesses related to Agent Orange exposure.

Under current department rules, the blue water veterans can receive medical care for their illnesses through VA. But to receive disability benefits — worth up to several thousand dollars a month — they must prove that their ailments are directly connected to toxic exposure while on duty.

That’s not the case for other Vietnam veterans, who are presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange and other defoliants known to cause serious and rare cancers.

So while a veteran who served on the shoreline could receive disability payouts after contracting Parkinson’s Disease or prostate cancer, another vet who served on a ship a few miles away would have to provide evidence of direct contact with hazardous chemicals.

Advocates have said that, given the time that has passed since the war, obtaining such proof is impossible and unfair. In their ruling, the federal judges agreed.

“These statutes cast no doubt on our conclusion that, by using the formal term ‘Republic of Vietnam,’ Congress unambiguously referred, consistent with uniform international law, to both its landmass and its 12-nautical-mile territorial sea,” the ruling states.

If VA officials opt not to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court in the next 90 days — or if the court decides not to hear the case — the result means that up to 90,000 blue water veterans could see disability payouts as early as this year.

In a statement, VA spokesman Curt Cashour said the department is reviewing this decision and “will determine an appropriate response.”

Advocates hailed the news as a major step ahead in their effort to win benefits for the aging veterans.

“This is a big win,” said John Wells, retired Navy commander and the executive director of Military-Veterans Advocacy, which helped file the lawsuit. “We want to work with VA on how to implement this as painlessly as possible, but making sure these veterans get all they deserve.”

Bart Stichman, executive director of the National Veterans Legal Services Program, said the decision “unequivocally rights a wrong that is a terrible injustice to all veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange in the waters of Vietnam.”

Legislation that would have awarded presumptive status to the blue water veterans was blocked by a small group of senators at the end of last year, disappointing advocates who saw the legislative momentum as their best chance for a victory in years.

Now, instead of granting the benefits to veterans, lawmakers may be forced to scramble new bills to cover the cost of the court-ordered awards.

Congressional Budget Office officials had estimated that awarding the benefits to the blue water veterans could total about $1.1 billion over 10 years, but VA officials have insisted the total is closer to $5.5 billion. Disagreements over whether to use new home loan fees to pay for the costs stalled the previous legislation.

If the court order stands, VA will be forced to cover the costs regardless of whether an offset is agreed upon, a potential drain on the department’s annual budget. Several new bills on the issue are already pending before Congress, and the chairmen of both the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees have promised to deal with the topic quickly this year. In a statement, Senate chairman Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., said that he was pleased with the court decision and would work closely with VA on the next steps.

The full decision is available at the appeals court’s web site.

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NEW MEMBER JOB PORTAL
The Association has joined forces with Bluu Kazi to provide a job placement platform. This platform is now live. This platform is dedicated to assisting Marines in finding new opportunities, building connections and discovering educational opportunities. Members will be able to upload resumes, search current opening positions, and receive educational assistance to prepare you for your transition to civilian life or to prepare you for a transition to a different line of work. Simply click on the photo above and begin your new journey.

 
 

 

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