There was discussion among the group as to candidates for the role of Junior Vice Commandant. Paul Strehan was suggested as a good candidate. Since Paul was not in attendance, it was agreed that a discussion of the role would be had with Paul as to whether or not the role would be assumed by him. In the meantime, the position is listed as open and candidates are being sought out.

The Commandant then announced that he had a previous offer from a local Marine to accept the Adjutant Paymaster office and would pursue that offer unless anyone in attendance was interested. That position remains open. [Bob Messinger accepted appointment as Outer Banks Detachment, Adjutant Paymaster 24Nov06.]

Lee Baronet, a long-time member of the Virginia Beach, John A. Lejeune Detachment No. 332 and experienced MCL Detachment officer, indicated a willingness to accept appointment as the Detachment Judge Advocate. The Commandant affirmed that appointment.

The Sergeant-At-Arms position appointment was deferred pending discussions between the Commandant and Detachment members. [Robert Yanacek, Charter member, volunteered to serve as Detachment Sergeant-At-Arms and was officially appointed by Detachment Commandant on 20 November 2006. Thanks, Robert.]

After a brief discussion by the group regarding Outer Banks Detachment operations, i.e., meeting schedules/locations, community activities, member recruitment, etc. the Commandant requested that attendees pay their first year dues, sign the official Application For Charter, and commit to making the Detachment a success.

It is anticipated that the next Detachment meeting will take place in late January. Details will be announced at a later date. It was reiterated that attendance at the Charter presentation meeting is a historical event; one necessitating the attendance/signature of all Detachment members.

A brief prayer was offered by Chaplain Strauss, the Commandant extended thanks to Commandant, Cooper and Junior Vice Commandant, Simonowitch for their assistance and the meeting was officially adjourned [1130].

NOTE:

Volunteers are needed for the positions of Junior Vice Commandant, and Adjutant Paymaster. Please contact Doug Wendling, 252-457-0409 to volunteer TODAY!

We few, we precious few.

We who have shed our blood

together, shall forever be…

A BAND OF BROTHERS

Wm Shakespeare

What does it take to form a new Detachment?

A Detachment has its beginning before it is chartered. There is the process of finding members who are interested in promoting the purposes of the Marine Corps League, and there is the process of organizing to become a viable organization. Once chartered, the real work for the Officers and members begins. The goal of every new Detachment is to grow, expand programs, enlist the participation of all members, remain a dynamic and meaningful organization and enjoy the fellowship of Marines and eligible FMF Corpsmen. That should also be the goal of every Detachment in the Marine Corps League.

The primary factor in attaining this goal is leadership. Along with leadership are initiative, commitment, perseverance, teamwork, and competence. In reality, the members of the organization will probably not have all the experience and knowledge necessary to readily and immediately tackle all the issues at hand. That’s where the initiative, commitment, perseverance and teamwork are important. With those traits, officers and members can learn and experience what they are going to need to know to succeed. Knowledge and experience to attain competence will not happen immediately. Training, information, and assistance from other Detachments and/or the Department can help fill the void.

With the above thoughts in mind, WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO FORM A DETACHMENT? Normally, one or more Marines must take the lead in contacting potential eligible members and scheduling a meeting to discuss the interest and the feasibility of forming a new Detachment. If one or more of these individuals has had prior experience in the League, they would be better qualified to relate the hardships, rewards and advantages of starting up a new Detachment. Even with prior League experience, many steps must be taken that they may never have been involved in. That makes the requirement for patience and teamwork essential.

Uniforms

The Marine Corps League does have uniform regulations, but uniforms are not required. Like other veteran organizations, we generally just buy the cover, with the Marine Corps emblem. Other uniform gear is optional. [MCL Ship’s Store: Cover $20; EGA $3.50]

USMC Rules For Combat

1. Be courteous to everyone, friendly to no one.

2. Decide to be aggressive ENOUGH, quickly ENOUGH.

3. Have a plan.

4. Have a back-up plan, because the first one probably won’t work.

5. Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet.

6. Do not attend a gunfight without a machine gun whose caliber stars with either a 5 or a 7.

7. Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammo is cheap. Life is expensive.

8. Move away from your attacker. Distance is your friend. (Lateral and diagonal movement are preferred.

9. Use cover and concealment as much as possible.

10. Flank your adversary when possible. Protect yours.

11. Always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.

12. In ten years nobody will remember the details of caliber, stance, or tactics. They will only remember who lived.

13. If you are not shooting, you should be communicating and reloading.

14. Someday someone may kill you with your own weapon, but they should have to beat you with it because it is empty.

15. And, above all…don’t drop your guard.

Finally, never ever forget, Friendly fire ISN’T!!!

Marine Barracks Washington, Washington D.C. (Nov. 13, 2006) –

Gen. James T. Conway became the 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Monday, after assuming command from Gen. Michael W. Hagee during a passage of command ceremony here. Hagee’s retirement ceremony took place earlier Monday morning, ending 42 years of distinguished military service.

By Cpl. Aaron K. Clark, Marine Barracks 8th & I "Throughout all the postings and assignments I have had, the one thing I am most proud of is that since 1968 I have been called a U.S. Marine," said Hagee. Secretary of Defense, Donald H. Rumsfeld, was present for the retirement and the passage of command ceremony. "(Hagee) left behind a Marine Corps that under his watch has become the best-trained, the best-led, and the best-equipped force in history," Rumsfeld said. He also noted Hagee has led the Marine Corps during some of the organization’s most challenging times, citing the Marines’ hard fighting in Fallujah, Ramadi and other parts of western Iraq. "Heroes are not in short supply," Rumsfeld said of today’s Marines. "We can say with pride that many of this nation’s greatest young people are those who proudly wear the eagle, the globe and the anchor." Conway, a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1970, where he held a variety of platoon and company commander billets. As a field grade officer, he taught tactics at The Basic School, served as operations officer for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to include contingency operations off Beirut, Lebanon, commanded Battalion Landing Team 3/2 during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and served as commanding officer of TBS. As a general officer, Conway has served as the commander of the First Marine Expeditionary Force (1-MEF) during two combat tours in Iraq, the president of the Marine Corps University at Quantico, Va., and the Director of Operations, J-3, on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, where he served prior to becoming Commandant of the Marine Corps. "The raw courage, the selflessness, the teamwork demonstrated by this young generation is absolutely unbelievable," said Conway. "I would suggest that our services, our Corps and our nation are in great shape for a long time to come." Conway takes the helm as Marines continue to engage enemies on the frontlines of the Global War on Terrorism. "This is going to take awhile," he said of ongoing operations in Iraq. "With your support there is only one outcome, and that is victory."

Inputs wanted…

This newsletter, the first for Outer Banks Detachment, is the sole handiwork of the Detachment Commandant. The thinking, at the moment, is to issue six (6) newsletters a year, i.e., Jan-Feb, Mar-Apr, May-Jun, Jul-Aug, Sept-Oct, and Nov-Dec. We’ll always be on the lookout for items pertinent to our local Detachment, The Marine Corps League and/or the Marine Corps for use in the newsletter. Member news is welcomed.

Please forward items for use in the newsletter to dwcustomclubs@msn.com or mail to Doug Wendling, 581 Hunt Club Drive, Corolla, NC 27927-2204.

We may decide to establish a Detachment website in the future… Give it some thought and let your ideas be known.

Questions for future discussion:

What would you suggest should be the Detachment’s major community focus for 2007? How do we get there?

Recruiting ideas?

What should the Detachment meeting schedule be? Day of the Week? Time? Location?

Should the Detachment conduct fundraising events in the community? How often? What do we earmark the funds for?

Should Detachment dues be increased, given the $6 increase enacted by MCL national? [See below]

The Down East Detachment has several local ‘Sponsors’… Should this Detachment seek sponsors, as well?

Others?

Marine Corps League Membership Dues

The National Budget & Finance Committee annually recommends the dues fees for approval by the Marine Corp League Convention Delegates.

National: $17 [New member] National: $23 [New Member]

$12 [Renewal] $18 [Renewal]

State: $ 3

Detachment: $ 5

As long as we get all the signatures we need and submit our Charter application/Dues Transmittal before the end of the year, Outer Banks Detachment members will save the $6 for their first year! Please help to make that happen…

Assuming the State (Department) dues remain at $3, Detachment income per member would drop to $4 annually.

ONCE A MARINE, ALWAYS A MARINE!

If you haven’t visited the new National Museum of the Marine Corps yet, you’re missing a jewel! Be sure to schedule an entire day… The Museum is THAT big. And, it is well done!

SEMPER FI!

Note: This document is meant to be a communications vehicle of the Marine Corps League, Outer Banks Detachment. Contents have not been approved by, nor edited by the Marine Corps League or the United States Marine Corps. Should you wish to be removed from the distribution of this document you are encouraged to email your request to dwcustomclubs@msn.com.