The DSA Governing Board is slated to meet next week on 26 August 2023.  The focus of the meeting will be to review proposed changes to the Constitution and By-laws which have thus far been submitted by our membership, one of which is amending Article III of the Constitution so as to pointedly acknowledge and include those support personnel who are currently eligible to join the DSA.  The proposed changes would read as follows:

– a) (Amend to read) “Provide a means to further the camaraderie established among Marines who have distinguished themselves in the Marine Corps Competition-in-Arms program, as well as those Marines who have indefatigably supported the United States Marine Corps Shooting Team as Armorers and Ammunition Technicians.”

– c) (Amend to read) “Act as a vehicle by which Distinguished Marine Shooters and those dedicated Marines who supported the USMC Shooting Team as Armorers and Ammo Technicians can maintain continued contact with one another.”

The Board will also address the future requisite changes to our Membership Application so as to reflect Article III new wording if the above amendments are ultimately passed by the Distinguished Shooters Association Membership.

It takes 2/3 of the membership respondents to make changes to the Constitution.

The window of opportunity for submitting any additional suggestions to our Association President, Danny Burke, is fast closing. …The meeting of the Board of Governors is now only one week away!

Many thanks to those who have sent, or will be sending “Get Well!” cards to Coach Carlson (who is recovering from a stroke which he suffered on 17 June). Coach Carlson’s Wife says that he loved the many cards sent to him!! “Thank you!” to all for sending encouraging words and thoughts to him as it will no doubt help to fuel his resolve as he continues to improve with constant therapy in the hospital. …word has it that he stood for the first time earlier this week — so thank you, and many blessings on our Association Members who have rallied and responded with their support!

Semper Fi!

Hey, Folks! MSgt. Claire Carlson is in rehab after suffering a stroke on Saturday, 17 June.  His Wife has told Captain Bartlett that her Husband (Coach Carlson) would love to receive “Get Well” cards, so please let’s rally and respond with encouragement and support by sending cards to him at his home address (which is listed in our Membership Directory).

Thank you, and Semper Fi!

On Memorial Day let us remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our Country.

COMPETITION IN ARMS: THE MODERN MARINE

In an effort to build practical and dynamic shooting skills, the Marine Corps has over time shifted its focus within the Competition in Arms Program (CIAP).  The link above (“COMPETITION IN ARMS: THE MODERN MARINE”) gives us a glimpse of what the thrust of the program is today, while below you will find a few links to additional brief videos that will give some of us “old-timers” a little more insight into what’s going on these days within the Marine Corps Marksmanship Competition (MCMC) Program. The videos are ones produced by the Marine Corps Shooting Team in preparation for the FY 2023 Competition in Arms Program (CIAP), and as such are from last year (2022).

“The shot that never happened is as useless as the shot that never hits.”

(A quote from one of the videos posted on the USMC Shooting Team’s Facebook page.)

In this link (What is a MCMC?) Sgt. Cardenas of the Marine Corps Shooting Team explains what “MCMC” is.

In this next link (MCMC Authorized Gear vs. Unauthorized), Sgt. Cardenas reviews what gear can be used at a MCMC.

And finally, in this clip (Cross Training) from August 2022, “…members of the Shooting Team conducted cross training with Marines from the Advanced Marksmanship Training Program, in order to increase their knowledge, skills and lethality.  During this training, they shot USPSA…” (United States Practical Shooting Association) “…and gas gun rifle style competitions with night vision, utilizing both active and passive aiming.”

(Quote is from the USMC Shooting Team’s Facebook page.)

NOTE:  I will continue to seek video links which will provide informational videos that will hopefully be of interest to our Association members while also giving us insight into the direction that the Corps has moved in an effort to make the Marine in the field more lethal and assuredly successful in accomplishing the Mission.

the BADGE Newsletter, Volume IX – April 2023, is now available on our website.

Simply click on “the BADGE Newsletter” link at the top of this web page, and it will take you to the page on our site which provides a link to our current (April 2023) newsletter, as well as a link to a scanned copy of  last year’s newsletter (May 2022).

REUNION 2023

Photo by Carole Ellison

If you have any photos that you would like to contribute to our “2023 Reunion” photo album on PhotoBucket, please send your pics to:

jo.mcdsa@gmail.com

Contributors thus far to our 2023 Reunion album:  Carole Ellison, & Donnie Heuman

…It isn’t “last call” yet, but, it soon will be! 

If you haven’t yet lined yourselves up to attend the Reunion on Saturday, 01 April 2023, time is still on your side! 

RSVP to Danny Burke (MCDSA President), ASAP!

b12daniel@aol.com

(NOTE: Attendees at the Reunion, and only attendees, will have the opportunity to participate in the raffle for a CMP AR-15 Upper donated by Alan Baker of Baker Precision Firearms in Pearce, Arizona.)

Our upcoming Reunion on 01 April should be a humdinger — we currently have over 120 who are planning to attend!

IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO ADD YOUR NAME TO THE LIST – RSVP NOW!

(RSVP MCDSA President Danny Burke at:  b12daniel@aol.com )

***Get in on an opportunity to reconnect with folks while enjoying great chow and a PRESENTATION BY MSGT. CAPKO (SNCO OF TEAMS) WHICH WILL FILL IN THE OLD-TIMERS ON HOW THE MARINE CORPS’ REGIONAL AND CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES ARE BEING RUN TODAY! (MSGT. CAPKO’S PRESENTATION IS TO INCLUDE BOTH A POWER POINT AND A VIDEO.)***

Also, whereas participants in the Marine Corps Championship Matches will be in training all day (and night) on Saturday, the 1st of April, and they therefore will not be able to check out our Association’s Reunion, the MCDSA will be hosting a cookout for the 80 or so competitors on Sunday, 2nd of April, at noon on Range 2, under the 600-yard line pavilions.

If you can see a way to be part of the MCDSA membership who will be hosting the cookout for Active-duty Marines on Sunday, it would probably prove to be a stellar opportunity to connect with the current generation of Marines who are both pursuing Marksmanship Excellence and currently serving our Country!