About The Marine Corps League
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Members of the Marine Corps League join together in camaraderie and fellowship for the purpose of
preserving the traditions and promoting the interests of the United States Marine Corps, banding
together those who are now serving in the United States Marine Corps and those who have been
honorably discharged from that service that they may effectively promote the ideals of American
freedom and democracy, voluntarily aiding and rendering assistance to all Marines, FMF Corpsmen
and former Marines and FMF Corpsmen and to their widows and orphans; and to perpetuate the
history of the United States Marine Corps and by fitting acts to observe the anniversaries of historical
occasions of particular interest to Marines.
History
The Marine Corps League perpetuates the traditions and spirit of ALL Marines and Navy FMF
Corpsmen, who proudly wear or who have worn the eagle, globe and anchor of the Corps. It takes
great pride in crediting its founding in 1923 to World War I hero, then Major General Commandant
John A. Lejeune. It takes equal pride in its Federal Charter, approved by An Act of the Seventy-Fifth
Congress of the United States of America and signed and approved by President Franklin D.
Roosevelt on August 4, 1937. The League is the only Federally Chartered Marine Corps related
support and encouragement of the active duty and Reserve establishments of the U. S. Marine Corps.
Today, the League boasts a membership of more than 76,000 men and women, officer and enlisted,
active duty, Reserve Marines, honorably discharged Marine Veterans and qualified Navy FMF
Corpsmen and is one of the few Veterans Organizations that experiences increases in its membership
each year.
The Marine Corps League is headed by an elected National Commandant, with 14 elected National
Staff Officers who serve as trustees. The National Board of Trustees coordinates the efforts of 48
department, or state, entities and the activities of over 1000 community-based detachments located
throughout the United States and overseas. The day-to-day operations of the League are under the
control of the National Executive Director with the responsibility for the management and direction of
all programs, activities, and affairs of the Marine Corps League as well as supervising the National
Headquarters staff.
The prime authority of the League is derived from its Congressional charter and from its annual
National Convention held each August in different major U.S. cities throughout the nation. It is a
not-for-profit organization within the provisions of the Internal Revenue Service Code 501(c) (4), with a
special group exemption letter which allows for contributions to the Marine Corps League, its Auxiliary
and subsidiary units, to be tax deductible by the donor.
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