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Check out our new and improved DINFOS Web site . This is one of several initiatives to “practice what we preach” at the schoolhouse. Soon the schoolhouse will be physically expanded to accommodate 30 percent more students and resident instructors. But first, the Public Affairs Leadership Dept (PALD) must be relocated into trailers so current cubicle spaces may be converted into classrooms. It’s not just your grandfather’s DINFOS anymore. Old classes have been revised and upd

CC LtCol. Riccoh Player holds one of the most unique jobs in the Marine Corps, that of a Legislative Fellow on Capitol Hill in Washington.  We asked him recently about the job and what made it interesting for him. "I've been assigned to the Veterans Affairs Committee with specific duties on the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation.  My tasks include, but are not limited to, tracking the VA Claims backlog, answering constituent questions, concerns and complaints, and

The first issue of "In The Black," produced by the Division of Public Affairs, intended to align understanding and communication on topical issues reflecting CMC's communication priorities. The first issue focuses on readiness and reset in support of ACMC's readiness testimony this week. "In The Black" will be distributed on a monthly basis and available for download here .

The Director’s Cut: DivPA’s Monthly Newsletter to the Marine Corps’ PA Community is now online you can download it here Marines – January is here! Hit the ground running! Part of the end state in the Director’s Guidance “Share the Courage” discusses the PAO’s role on the staff. It says that we…“actively participate in operational planning and provide sage counsel in a variety of issues across the command.” One of the great things about being a PAO is that we get to work on al

Welcome to final edition of the NYC Public Affairs monthly report for 2009.  The material in this report provides information to Marines and friends of Marines in New York to help tell the Marine Corps story and create opportunities.  As always, we look forward to your input as well. We look forward to a productive 2010 and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! OVERVIEW: November and December proved to be busy months consumed with a great deal of community relation

CC Russ Thurman writes: My publisher, FMG Publications, conducted a promotion in 2009, which offered new subscribers to GUNS Magazine a free one-year membership to the National Rifle Association. New subscribers, who already were NRA members, and others, were given the opportunity to donate the membership to active duty military personnel. Many did. Those free NRA memberships are now available. There is no purchase necessary and FMG Publications won't share or sell the new me

Don O'Neal, USMCCCA Foundation President reminds us that CC Bill Hendricks, now deceased, was one of the  Toys for Tots program founders, and the program continues as a legacy to his memory... so do what you can.

I have sad and unfortunate news to pass. An icon of Combat Camera passed away last night. Ralph Anderson , Director of Combat Camera Quantico passed yesterday evening after suffering a heart attack. I'm sure that there were few that did not know Mr. Anderson, he was well liked and respected. Many of us had grown up under his tutelage and direction as young Marines. He will be missed. Details on the services will be passed along when we get word.   -Michele A. Kurland, Deputy

The Director’s Cut: DivPA’s Monthly Newsletter to the Marine Corps’ PA Community is now online you can download it here Marines - What a privilege it is to serve in our Corps at this historic time. The President's announcement of his Afghanistan Strategy affects Marines across the Corps and has public affairs offices buzzing from coast to coast. The Chairman conducted a short-notice visit to the Carolina MAGTF, and our Marines did a good job hosting him and challenging him w

Dear Family, Friends and Co-workers:    January 9th and 10th 2010 will be very special days for me and a little guy named Austin in Tennessee. I am going to be running the Disney Goofy Race and a Half Challenge in Orlando, Florida as part of Team ASK (Athletes for Special Kids). For the Goofy Race and a Half Challenge, I'll have to run a Half Marathon (13.1 miles) on Saturday, and then a Full Marathon (26.2 miles) on Sunday, for a total of 39.3 miles in two days. I'm not run

by SSgt Luis Agostini , LoHud.com I thought I’d be heading back to my home camp without really getting outside of the wire and into the Afghanistan that I pictured, that I had been preparing for so long. I wouldn’t be in danger, for that day at least, but I wanted to get out again. In the meantime, the Marine I am supervising, combat correspondent Cpl. Zachary Nola , was getting ready to cover a memorial for a Marine who was killed a few days earlier. The Marine was from the

Combat correspondents currently deployed with RCT-7 in Afghanistan: LCpl. Walter Marino, SSgt. Luis Agostini and LCpl. Dwight Henderson. Let's remember all of our CCs, where ever they are, this Thanksgiving.

From the Headquarters Marine Corps Ball held Nov. 14, 2009 are Fallujah '06 veterans and their wives: Colonel Bryan and Tracey Salas, Major Shawn and Monique Turner, and LtCol Riccoh and Shelly Player. Col Salas is currently serving as the director of Public Affairs, Maj Turner serves on the Asia-Pacific Desk at the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, and LtCol Player is beginning a Congressional Fellowship program at Headquarters Marine Corps.

Demetrio J. Espinosa, Sr., father of GySgt. Demetrio J. "Joe" Espinosa, Jr. , died in Austin, Texas on Oct. 24. A two-tour Vietnam Marine, the senior Espinosa was active in church and civic affairs, including leadership posts in the Lions Club and Knights of Columbus.  He attended the 2008 USMCCCA Conference in San Antonio with son, Joe, who serves as the NCOIC of DINFOS' Public Affairs Leadership Department. The Association's heartfelt prayers go out to the entire Espinosa