Marine Corps Association Foundation

The marine excellence awards program was established to recognize the professional achievements of marines and sailors (serving in marine corps units) and to recognize superior performance in marine corps officer and enlisted formal schools. These awards are also given for exceptional written work. Awards are a valuable incentive and an appropriate means of recognizing marines and sailors who excel in their commands, formal schools, and leadership courses. Mcaf is the largest contributor of awards given to the u.s. Marine corps. Each year mcaf gives awards to approximately 3,500 deserving marines and sailors, 94 percent of which go to enlisted men and women. These are just a few of the awards given to outstanding marines: the honor graduate from drill instructor school, recruit training awards (honor graduate recruit, high shooter and high physical fitness test), the basic officer training course honor graduate, officer candidates school honor graduate, and staff noncommissioned officer academy honor graduate). In 2024, over 3,500 marines received awards recognizing their excellent performance and their creative and persuasive written work.

The commanders' unit library program provides commanders with funds to establish and sustain their unit professional library when the utilization of appropriated funds is not practicable. The program allows commanders to select books from the marine corps commandant's professional reading list, which all marines are required to read during their service in the corps. The book list contains timeless military classics as well as recent books on emerging areas of interest in current military operations and cultural understanding. Some units with unique and emerging capabilities (e.g. Unmanned vehicles/drones, cyberspace operations) can receive books specific to their mission. In 2024, 127 marine corps units (battalions, squadrons, regiments, groups, etc.) received books to enhance their unit libraries, making professional reading available to over 39,000 marines. In total in 2024, the marine corps association foundation spent over $1,700,000 in support of approximately 51,000 marines.