About the League

The Marine Corps League was founded by Major General Commandant, John A.  Lejeune, in 1923 and chartered by an Act of Congress on August 4, 1937.  Its membership of 60,000 is comprised of honorably discharged, active  duty and Reserve Marines with 90 days of service or more, and retired  Marines. It includes officer, enlisted, male and female members.

The Marine Corps League is headed by an elected National Commandant,  with 14 elected national staff officers who serve as trustees. Day to  day operations are under the control of an executive director who  supervises the day-to-day performance of the national headquarters  staff, located at 8626 Lee Highway in Fairfax, Virginia.

The prime authority of the League is derived from its charter and from  its annual national convention held in August in different major U. S.  cities throughout the nation. The National Commandant has operational  control over the National Headquarters staff and the National Board of  Trustees, who in turn coordinate the efforts of 47 department, or State  entities, and the activities of over 812 community-based detachments  located throughout the United States and overseas.

The League is classified as a veterans / military service organization and  was formed for the purposes of promoting the interests of the U. S.  Marine Corps; to provide camaraderie and assistance to Marines, as well  as to their widows and orphans; and to preserve the traditions of the U. S. Marine Corps. It is a not for profit organization within the  provisions of Internal Revenue Service Code 50l (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.

League members participate in: 
- The Veterans Administration Voluntary Service Program, an assistance program for hospitalized veterans
- A national Service Program, which provides assistance to veterans in a wide area of matters relating to their military service

The League also: 
- Awards scholarships 
- Sponsors a National Youth Physical Fitness Program 
- Provides membership incentives 
- Participates in patriotic functions and provides representation to the U. S. Congress in legislative matters affecting the U. S. Marine Corps, national security and veterans benefits through its National  Legislative Committee and its National Legislative Officer 
- Participates in Toys for Tots and other community based programs

Mission Statement

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. This is accomplished by banding  together those who are now serving in the United States Marine Corps and those who have been honorably discharged from that service; voluntarily aiding and rendering assistance to all Marines and former Marines and  to their widows and orphans, and by perpetuating the history of the  United States Marine Corps through fitting acts to observe the  anniversaries of historical occasions of particular interest to Marines.