MCRA News

Honoring Robert Middleton: A Lifetime of Dedication and Achievement

Honoring Robert Middleton: A Lifetime of Dedication and Achievement
Monday, January 6, 2025 / BlogNews

The National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC) proudly celebrates Robert Bernard Middleton II, our esteemed Treasurer, on receiving two monumental accolades: an Honorary Doctorate and the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Gold Medal Award from the White House.

VA begins early-stage planning for the next Federal Electronic Health Record rollout in mid-2026, continues ongoing improvement efforts at existing sites

Washington, DC

Monday, January 6, 2025 / BlogNewsVA News

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it is beginning early-stage planning to deploy the Federal Electronic Health Record (EHR) system to four Michigan facilities – Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Detroit, and Saginaw – in mid-2026.

This decision comes after VA made critical improvements to the EHR system during a pause in deployments announced in April 2023, which has helped the system better serve Veterans and clinicians – and resulted in improved Veteran trust at all sites that use the EHR. These improvement efforts will continue unabated while VA begins early-stage deployment efforts in Michigan.


National Defense Authorization Act

FY 2025

Wednesday, January 1, 2025 / NewsMarine Corps/DoD News

The President of the U.S. signed into law H.R. 5009, the “Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025” (the “Act”).  This Act authorizes fiscal year appropriations principally for the Department of Defense, Department of Energy national security programs, Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, and the Intelligence Community.  This bill provides vital benefits for military personnel and their families, and includes critical authorities to support our country’s national defense, foreign affairs, and homeland security.  

To read the Congressional Research Service report, click here

Joint (House & Senate) explanatory statement to accompany the "Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and NDAA for FY2025


By: Ray Elliott

Col Dave Severance, "My Iwo Jima Sagas"

By: Ray Elliott
Tuesday, December 31, 2024 / NewsPublications/Resources

MY IWO JIMA SAGA is the just-published, first-hand account by the commander of E/2/28 that raised two American flags atop Mount Suribachi during the World War II battle in February 1945 — a bloody campaign that was immortalized in the Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph by Joe Rosenthal that helped inspire a war-weary nation to victory.

Col. Dave E. Severance, USMC (Retired), spent subsequent years of his life preserving and defending the truth about that seminal battle against those who would fabricate and perpetuate their own made-up roles in being a part of its history. Erroneous claims would find their way into the media or prompt inquirying family descendants to reach out in search of more information, only to be disappointed to learn that their family member did not tell the truth and, for whatever reason, felt the need to weave a tale for their own glorification — or at least in the minds of their families. Severance did not ask for, nor want, that burden, but felt a deep sense of obligation to protect and defend his men and their true role in history — especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Before he died on Aug. 2, 2021, at age 102, Severance entrusted the draft of his remembrances of the historic flag-raisings and his documentation of the numerous false claims he refuted to Tales Press for future publication.

With Sadness

Passing of Norman Besheer

With Sadness
Tuesday, December 31, 2024 / News


250 Years of Unwavering Loyalty to Our Nation

US Mint: Marine Corps 250th Anniversary Coin

250 Years of Unwavering Loyalty to Our Nation
Tuesday, December 31, 2024 / NewsMarine Corps/DoD News


Marine Corps 250

The Corps approaches 250th Anniversary

Tuesday, December 31, 2024 / Marine Corps/DoD News

HQMC will begin the 250th celebration on Super Bowl Sunday and continue through the year. An effort to commemorate the 250th Birthday of the United
States Marine Corps. The effort will be led by Headquarters Marine Corps and executed by an assigned Task Force. The endeavor will involve partnerships with the DoD, Navy, and service-related civilian affiliates, as appropriate, to collectively honor the past 250 years and bring inspiration to the next 250. Marine Corps 250 effort began in 2023 and culminates in 2025.


Tricare West Info

Action Required before January 1, 2025

Sunday, December 15, 2024 / NewsVA News

Don't risk losing coverage - update your payment information today.

Unless you pay using military allotments, you must update your payment information to TriWest Healthcare Alliance before January 1, 2025, to maintain coverage.

If you live in six states that are currently in the East Region that will move to the West Region, you will be required to provide your payment information to TriWest Healthcare.
Don't risk losing coverage - update your payment information today.

Unless you pay using military allotments, you must update your payment information to TriWest Healthcare Alliance before January 1, 2025, to maintain coverage.

If you live in six states that are currently in the East Region that will move to the West Region, you will be required to provide your payment information to TriWest Healthcare. 


By Karen Jowers

Eligible veterans get easier access to military bases under new rules

Wednesday, December 4, 2024 / BlogNews

The more than 4 million veterans who are eligible for certain on-base benefits may have an easier time getting into military installations, under new rules announced by the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.

The Tun™ Groundbreaking

OLD TOWN Philadelphia, PA

The Tun™ Groundbreaking
Friday, November 29, 2024 / BlogNews

“Happy Birthday!” was the greeting on Sunday, November 10, 2024, when 3,000 people gathered on 2nd Street in Philadelphia’s Old City to celebrate the United States Marine Corps’ 249th birthday and the groundbreaking of The Tun™. The historic Tun was established in Philadelphia in 1693, just 250 yards from where The Tun™ Groundbreaking and Marine Corps Birthday Block Party took place. Although The Tun™ has not stood since 1781, it is well known to Marines worldwide.


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