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Maj. Gen. Robert "Boomer" Milstead , CG, Marine Corps Recruiting command and, as a brigadier general, was Director of Information, has been tapped for a third star as head of Manpower and Reserve Affairs, located at Quantico, VA.  According to the December 14 announcement he will become one of seven deputy Commandants and will lead the Corps' efforts retain, promote and set assignments for Marines.

CCHQ has received word that the Master Sergeant selection board has named five new E-8s in both Public Affairs and Combat Camera.  A big Oorah! for all 10.  Those selected: Public Affairs: Brenda Varnadore, Demtrio (Joe) Espinosa, Arsenio (Sonny) Cortez, Jonathan Cress, Fred Zimmerman Combat Camera: Daniel Schrubb, Bert Lowry, Jefferson Edouasie, Timothy McMann, Diane Pugh

, President of the USMCCCA Joe Rosenthal Chapter cuts the USMC 235th anniversary Birthday cake during the Nov. 15th meeting at the Oakland, Alameda Yacht Club. Receiving the cake was USMC (ret)  were among the guests at the DINFOS Birthday Ball.  Diehl, a career infantry officer, is a 1988 USMCCCA DPA recipient and was a guest speaker for the 2009 Annual Conference in San Antonio.  (Photo by Claire Kelly) , shown here with former Dickson recipient Ma

Betsy Judge wrote: It was wonderful reading all the traffic between the Birthday and Veteran's Day and reconnecting with so many of you. When Joe pointed out this photo in our Wall Street Journal this a.m., I thought of how lucky we are to be alive and how many other Marines have paid the price for us. I did not know Megan very well, but learned she was one hell of a Marine. May she and all others rest in peace.

Gen. James F. Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps and Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent, sergeant major of the Marine Corps lead a formation run of more than 400 Marines on the Marine Corps' 235th birthday Nov. 10, 2010. Amos spoke to the Marines at the Marine Corps War Memorial and said no matter the clime or place Marines have always found time to celebrate their birthday.

Sgt. Miguel Carrasco of DINFOS let us know that  fellow combat corresponent Cpl. Eugenio Montanez   sustained injuries during combat operations in Afghanistan and is currently at the National Naval Medical Center in Besthesda. His wife and mother are present with him. Recently, he received his Purple Heart from the Commandant and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps. That really helped to life his spirits, but future visits will help get him through this rough time. He was wit

The Director’s Cut: DivPA’s Monthly Newsletter to the Marine Corps’ PA Community is now online you can download it here Marines – It is with solemn regret that I note the death of 20-year-old LCpl Ralph Fabbri , combat camera Marine, who was killed in action last month in Afghanistan. I did not know Ralph personally, but mourn his death and honor his family's sacrifice within the greater public affairs community. His loss is a reminder to all of us of the lethality of our pro

Jack Paxton , Executive Director, is currently on vacation and out of country until about October 1. If you have called about a conference receipt and you registered on line, call PayPal at 888.221.1161 and they should be able to get you one. If you registered with me at the conference you will have to wait until I return to my office as I have no way of getting one to you while in travel status. If you have called to activate your membership or to request information, please

A few familiar CC faces showed up at the Ft. Meade Chow Hall Monday Sept. 13 where executive director Jack Paxton addressed about three dozen new DINFOS students on his favorite subject:  our Association.  Front row, left to right, are:  Maryland Chapter President Sgt. Miguel Carrasco, Bob Jordan,  Evi Cox-Jordan and Pat Paxton; back row:  Staff Sgt. Chance Haworth, Jack Paxton, Gunnery Sgt. Joe Espinosa, Keith Oliver and Capt. Clark Carpenter.  (Photo by Rick Corral).

Executive Director Jack Paxton and wife, Pat , visited Defense Information School Monday Sept. 13. DINFOS Marine Detachment CO, Capt. Clark Carpenter, hosted the couple at the Ft. Meade Chow Hall where Jack shared his CC recruiting pitch to a bevy of new Leatherneck students.  (Photo by Rick Corral).

2010 Conference Schedule for Sgts and Below 2010 Conference for Senior Leaders 2010 Conference Schedule For All Hands Monday, August 23—Travel and Check In 1300 Registration open at Boardroom on Mezzanine level near Ballrooms 1500 Staff NCO Call at Lake Tahoe 1500 Officer Call (TBA) 2000 Hospitality Suite Opens Tuesday, August 24 0700 Registration open at Boardroom on Mezzanine level near Ballrooms 0800–0830 Admin remarks/Chief’s Remarks USMCCA President’s Remarks Director’s

Marines – The most significant threat to U.S. national security is the national debt. This economic crisis has the potential to affect everything from immigration to our negotiating leverage as a great power – his must be solved. This is not my analysis, but that of national leaders in the Executive and Legislative Branches. How the Nation got in this situation, and how to fix it, is a political question. As professional communicators, it’s on this landscape that we find ours

Lance Cpl. Clark and a couple other Marines were featured on both The New York  Times' "Lens" and "At War" blog   for their photography. Pretty exciting. Some photographers spend their entire lives shooting and don't get featured by the Times. --Mark Fayloga

When not working on the website, I am a page designer for the New York Times International Weekly and the Large Print Weekly ... so imagine my interest when during a budget meeting last week, an article on Combat Artists came up. Featured prominently in the story was our own,  First Place Combat Art winner Sgt Kristopher Battles , Historical Division, Quantico. It was printed in the  Sunday Arts & Leisure section of the New York Times, July 18. You can read the article here

NASHVILLE -- U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association member Robert Wynkoop is pinned by his grandfather John H. Wynkoop in a ceremony at Vanderbilt University, May 14. Wynkoop received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant through the Meritorious Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP). Wynkoop is a past merit award winner to include the 2002 Outstanding New Writer and the 2004 Broadcast Journalist of the Year. He attended Vanderbilt University where he re

Story by Lance Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde Afghanistan – When the infantry Marines of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, were first told they were getting a combat camera Marine attached to their platoon for Operation Moshtarak's push into Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, they didn't know what to expect. "I thought, 'he's obviously not a grunt. He's been to (Marine Combat Training). He's got the basics down, but maybe he has no idea what's going on,'" said Lanc

Congratulations to the first place merit award winners: First Place Illustration: LCpl Micheal Hollingsworth, ComCam, Quantico First Place Combat Art: Sgt Kristopher Battles, Historical Division, Quantico First Place Layout and Design:   PFC Jacob Banks, ComCam, Quantico First Place Layout and Design (civilian): Sharon McPeak, Camp Johnson, NC First place winners are encouraged to attend the USMCCCA Merit Awards banquet in Reno, NV on 26 Aug.  Each will receive a plaque fr

(From Left) Lance Cpl. Jerrick Griffin, 1st MLG (FWD) combat correspondent; Staff Sgt. Jennifer Brofer, 1st MLG (FWD) Public Affairs Chief; 2nd Lt. Jeremy McLean, 1st MLG (FWD) Public Affairs Officer;  and Lance Cpl. Khoa Pelczar, 1st MLG (FWD) combat correspondent, are currently deployed to Afghanistan. The Marines deployed in March with 1st MLG (FWD) to Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

When MajGen. Richard "Boomer" Milstead pinned on his second star last July, I reminded the former Director of Information that he owed me a new challenge coin to replace the one he had given me in Los Angeles several years ago, when he was a Brigadier and Director of Information.  The-now Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruiting Command owned up May 12 when he visited Orlando, FL to speak to a start-up squadron of the Marine Corps Aviation Association.