"Waltzing Matilda"
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Welcome. Semper Fi. FMDA was born in 1947. At present, we have about 4,000 listed members but intend to bring in many more from among those who served all during the post-Vietnam years no matter in what role and no matter where. Serving is serving.

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For many of these younger Marines, our members can be a unique source of help with regard to jobs or interacting with the VA or coping with the often insidious mental and emotional cost of having served, etc. Our bedrock value lies in helping each other.

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Known as The Old Breed, the First Marine Division has fought in (and been posted to) "every clime and place" since we were activated in early 1941. We have earned a highly illustrious record but no combat success is won in the absence of pain and death.

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The Band Played Waltzing Matilda - John McDermott

There may be no passing of the FMDA "Torch" to the next generation of leaders. The sad fact is, no such "next generation" now exists within our ranks to accept the torch. Our most urgent priority is to recruit this next generation.

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ASAP! Let's Roll!

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Having paid their share of that price, our long-time members are ready and willing to assist new members who have also paid their share of what it costs to serve as a Marine or serve in support of us. We are Brothers and Sisters. We enrich Each Other. Each Other.

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If FMDA is to shape a future that is significant, we must return to the healing and benevolent focus of the past. Our Bylaws don't define our purpose in that way. Instead, socializing in honor of the Corps is the first of four definitions of our purpose. We are better than that.

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And so...with candor and transparency, FMDA must Regroup, Adjust, and Rebuild in order to more effectively Enrich the lives of both current and future members. This is a challenge we've left oddly unattended for many years. We must address it right now.

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We've been searching over the course of many months now to find the most expedient ways to grow and reenergize FMDA. Our challenge is daunting, urgent, and crystal clear––to bring in waves of younger folks ASAP. Fact: we are doomed if we don't. Period.

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Regroup. Adjust. Rebuild. Enrich. These are the watchwords that FMDA must embrace and carry out if we hope to reenergize our appeal and rise to the challenge we face. The alternative is fateful: to keep on "aging out," stay in a spiral of decline, and expire.

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This set of observations can't be much of a surprise. Our predicament is that younger cohorts of First Mar Div Marines fail to discern the value in FMDA that we ourselves too often fail to discern or capitalize on. Past time for us to Regroup and Adjust and Rebuild.

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FMDA APPLICATION FORM

1st Recon Battalion Association members please join FMDA