About us

The First Detachment of the Marine Corps League is a chartered 501 (C4) nonprofit organized to raise funds for local community service programs that enhance the lives in the communities the detachment serves. Money raised benefits and supports our neighbors in Worcester and Sussex counties on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Delaware. Projects like our Youth Physical Fitness Program, Toys for Tots, the Semper Fi & America’s Fund, Believe in Tomorrow and other deserving charities have benefited families and individuals since our founding in 1989.

We meet monthly at the American Legion Post in Ocean City at 11 a.m. on the 4th Wednesday. The Post is located at 2308 Philadelphia Avenue (Coastal Highway). Serving Marines and Marine Veterans, and serving FMF Navy Corpsmen, FMF Navy Corpsmen Veterans are invited to attend our meetings and social gatherings after the meeting to learn about the benefits of joining the First State Detachment and serving our community. Serving of the other U.S. military services and the Merchant Marines, and patriotic Americans who did not have the opportunity to serve in the military also are invited and are eligible for membership in the Detachment.

There are two membership categories. Regular Member and Associate Member. Regular members are Marines, Marine Veterans, or FMF Navy Corpsmen.

Regular membership is open to Marines who are serving or who have served honorably in the United States Marines Corps on active duty for no less than 90 days, or who are currently serving in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and have earned no less than 90 Reserve Retirement Credit points. Regular membership is also open to U.S. Navy Corpsmen who have trained with Fleet Marine Force (FMF) units in excess of 90 days and have earned the Marine Corps Device or Warfare Device worn on the service ribbon authorized for FMF Corpsmen.

Associate Membership is open to serving members of all other U.S. Military services, and the U.S. Merchant Marines.