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Once a Marine ...... always a Marine.

River Valley Detachment #1248
Fort Smith, Arkansas

"The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps." — Eleanor Roosevelt, 1945 "The difficult we accomplish with ease. The impossible takes a while." "Adapt. Improvise. Overcome." "All men are created equal, then some become Marines." "It cannot be inherited nor can it ever be purchased. You and no one alive can buy it for any price. It is impossible to rent and it cannot be lent. You alone and our own have earned it with your sweat, blood and lives. You own it forever — the title: United States Marine." "And they live tradition; the United States Marine bears upon his shoulders the nation's past and the nation's hope for the future." — Hanson W. Baldwin "Through this hatch will pass the finest, most respected fighting man in the world: A United States Marine." "Once a MARINE, always a MARINE." "The safest place in Korea was right behind a platoon of Marines. Lord, how they could fight." — Major General Frank E. Lowe, U.S. Army "You earned the title 'Marine' upon graduation from recruit training. It wasn't willed to you, it isn't a gift. It is not a government subsidy. Few can claim the title, no one may take it away. It is yours forever." — Tom Bartlett, Leatherneck Magazine "Civilians cannot and will not understand us because they are not one of us. The Corps — we love it, live it and shall die for it. If you have never been in it, you shall never understand it." "The Marines have landed and the situation is well in hand." — Richard Harding Davis "Come on you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?" — Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly "I have just returned from visiting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world." — General Douglas MacArthur, U.S. Army "Not as lean, not as mean, but still a Marine." "At Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue." — Admiral Chester Nimitz, U.S. Navy "You cannot exaggerate about the Marines. They are convinced to the point of arrogance, that they are the most ferocious fighters on earth — and the amusing thing about it is, they are." — Father Kevin Keany, 1st Marine Division Chaplain, Korean War "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem." — President Ronald Reagan, 1985 "I proudly served my country in a noble cause. I never faltered. I made personal sacrifices to keep my nation free. Brave Marines of the past are proud of me. I am one of the few and the proud. I am a Marine."

Uniform Regulations

To ensure that you are properly wearing the Marine Corps League uniforms, all members should familiarize themselves with the National Bylaws, Enclosure 3. The Ship's Store manager will assist you in ordering any of the uniform items mentioned on this page.

The Basic Cover

THe minimum Marine Corps League uniform is the basic cover. While wearing the basic cover, you are considered to be "in uniform" and "under arms". The basic cover is the single most important part of the uniform, without which no other part of the uniform is authorized to be worn.

No pins, ornaments or ribbons are authorized to be worn on the MCL cover. Nothing is authorized on the MCL cover except the Marine Corps emblem on the left side and approved identification strips or embroidering on the right side.

The Casual Uniform

The casual uniform consists of the red blazer with MCL gold buttons and MCL pocket crest, white shirt, black tie with Marine Corps or MCL gold tie bar, black trousers, black socks and black shoes and the red MCL cover.

The white shirt should have a standard collar; no button-down collars. The black tie is the so-called "chief's tie". Black trousers should be plain front, no pleats. Black shoes should be Oxford type and buffed to a high luster or Corfam type.

Up to three full size DOD or Marine Corps League medals may be worn on the red blazer. See National Bylaws, Enclosure 3 for proper placement of full-size medals.

The Undress Uniform

The undress uniform consists of a long or short sleeve white aviator type shirt with shoulder epaulets, flap pockets and military creases. The Marine Corps League patch is worn centered on the left sleeve 11/2 inches down from the shoulder seam and the field forward flag is worn centered on the right sleeve 11/2 inches down from the shoulder seam. The "sunburst" collar devices are worn on each collar centered 1/2 inch from both edges with the anchor points facing inboard and the eagle's wings parallel to the deck.

The Marine Corps League red name tag should be worn centered 1/8 inch above the right breast pocket. Ribbons and badges may be worn centered 1/8 inch above the left breast pocket. Ribbons may be either Department of Defense or Marine Corps League ribbons -- they cannot be mixed.

When the long sleeve shirt (the same aviator style as the short sleeve shirt) is worn, the black tie and gold tie bar are also worn.

The Dress Blue Trousers with NCO red stripe and Marine Corps khaki web belt with Marine Corps brass buckle are worn with the Undress Uniform. Black socks and black shoes are worn with the undress uniform. As an alternative to the Dress Blue Trousers, the black trousers approved for the Casual Uniform may be worn. A black leather belt with either the large square MCL buckle or the MCL ratcheting buckle should be worn when wearing black trousers.

The MCL red cover is worn with the Undress Uniform.

The Ceremonial Uniform

The Ceremonial Uniform consists of Dress Blue Trousers, the khaki Marine Corps short sleeve (Charlie) shirt or khaki Marine Corps long sleeve (Bravo) shirt. Both shirts will have the MCL patch and field forward flag on the left and right sleeves and the "Sunburst" collar devices on the collars. When the long sleeve (Bravo) shirt is worn, the Marine Corps khaki tie with Marine Corps gold tie bar is also worn. The Marine Corps khaki web belt with Marine Corps brass buckle, black socks and highly polished (or Corfam) black shoes and the MCL red cover complete the Ceremonial Uniform. Ribbons worn with the Ceremonial Uniform should be MCL ribbons only — no DOD ribbons are to be worn.

White gloves may be also worn if all members of the ceremonial party are wearing them.

The Formal Uniform

The Formal Uniform will consist of the basic Red Cover, as with all other uniforms. The shirt will be a white, pleated shirt with a standard collar and no ruffles. The shirt will be worn with gold cuff links and gold studs. The tie will be a black military style bow tie.

The red mess jacket is worn with this uniform. However, due to the high cost of the red mess jacket, the red blazer may be worn as an option. A gold cummerbund or gold vest will be worn with this uniform.

Black tuxedo pants are worn with the Formal Uniform, but black trousers are an acceptable alternative. The belt and buckle can be either of the blets worn with the casual uniform.

Miniature medals, either DOD or MCL (never mixed) may be worn on the red mess jacket or red blazer. See National Bylaws, Enclosure 3 for the proper positioning of miniature medals. Wearing of the pocket crest is optional with the Formal Uniform.

Associate Member Uniforms

The regulations for Associate Member Uniforms are the same as those for Regular Member Uniforms except as follows:

  • The Marine Corps Emblem on the basic cover is replaced with the "sunburst device".
  • The sunburst insignia on shirt collars is replaced with the 1/2" by 1/2" MCL insignia.
  • On the Casual Uniform, the pocket crest is not worn.
  • The "associate" rocker is added to the Marine Corps League patch on the white shirt.
  • Dress Blue Trousers may be worn, but without the NCO red stripe.

©2010 Ryan Stockwell for Marine Corps League Detachment #1248
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