About the Marine Corps Association Foundation
The Marine Corps Association Foundation provides excellence awards and professional reading material, but we also provide unique professional military education events.
Gunnery Sergeant Derek Smith, explained the impact of his participation in the competition to win a trip to the iconic WWII Marine Corps battle site of Tarawa: "The amount of information I learned about Tarawa through this competition is more than I have ever learned about any one battle. The ability to see where the battle took place, the aftermath of the battle, and the relics that are left behind is truly remarkable and something that every Marine should experience."
These are the life changing types of professional development experiences your loyal support makes possible, and it helps Marines today honor those who came before them.
The Marine Corps Association Foundation helps Marines learn lessons from the past and apply them to the challenges they face today.
Some might imagine it difficult to draw relevant lessons from old battles, but one unit commander described it best, after he had taken his unit to a Civil War battlefield with support from MCAF, when he told us: “I watched the faces of my SSgts and GySgts as the "lights came on" at different stops along our route, as they realized the opportunities and decisions taken or lost by the leaders, and the individual efforts of the men to take advantage or recover from those decisions. As a CO, this was one of my best days in command…this tour made my SNCOs better critical thinkers, increased the morale of my enlisted leaders, and made my squadron better.”
The Marine Corps Association Foundation provides thousands of awards to Marines each year to recognize exceptional performance across the Corps and to honor Marines of all ranks.
The Leftwich Trophy, awarded in memory of LtCol William G. Leftwich, USMC, is presented annually to a Marine Captain from the ground combat arms community.
Capt. Benjamin M. Middendorf, 2012 recipient, said "It's humbling. I don't feel like I did anything different than any of the other company commanders that were out there. The award is bigger than any one man. It represents what Marine officers are about."
For more information please visit our website.