Ventura County Detachment 597
Officers, Staff and Committees

2007 Officers and Staff

Mark Shuster, Commandant Inaugural Message

NROTC Honor Graduate, June 1991 Commissioned Second Lieutenant, June, 1991 Upon completion at The Basic School and joined the 2nd Marine Division, March 1992 Motor Transport Platoon Commander with 1st Bn, 2d Marines, 2d MarDiv - March 92 to August 94 Participated in Operations RESTORE HOPE and CONTINUE HOPE in Somalia, post Gulf War security operations in Kuwait & Saudi Arabia Regimental Motor Transport Platoon Commander for 2d Marine Regiment, 2d MarDiv - August 94 to April 95 Deployed to the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, December 94 Executive Officer, Recruiting Station Springfield, Massachusetts, May 95 - July 97 Promoted to Captain on August 1995 Assistant G-4 Logistics Officer, I MACE (MEF Augmentation Command Element), I MEF, Camp Pendleton from March 98 to May 99 Honorable Discharge from Marines December 1999 Personal awards include the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal Returned to Reserve Officer status with Weapons Co. 2/23 with the rank of Captain Became the Battalion Executive Officer & Headquarters Company Commander for Mobilization Training Battalion, School of Infantry (West) Promoted to Major June 06

Ruy Pena Sr. Vice Commandant	1984 MCRD, San Diego, CA, Echo Co., Platoon 2077 1984-1988 Pvt- Active Duty, NBC School, HQ Bn, 1st MarDiv, Cpl- Active Duty, NBC NCOIC 2nd Bn/5th Marines, Camp Pendleton 1990-1993 Sgt- Reserve, NBC NCOIC HQ Btry, 5th Bn/14th Marines, Los Angeles, CA 1993-2004 Sgt –GySgt - Reserve, Interrogator-Translator, 31st ITT, Los Angeles, CA / Camp Pendleton, CA GySgt - Reserve, Counterintelligence Specialist/Agent, Detachment 3, MARFORRES, Camp Pendleton, CA Served in Operation Iraqi Freedom I (OIF-I) with 1st Intelligence Bn, attached to 1st Bn/7th Marines 2004-2006 MSgt- Reserve, Marine Advisor, IMA Detachment, CECOS, Port Hueneme, CA 2006- present MSgt, Reserve, MTU, Recruiting Sub-Station, Orange, CA
Jose de la Cruz Jr. Vice Commandant
Anthony Saunders Judge Advocate
Glenn FieryAdjutant/Paymaster	Commissioned Second Lieutenant Dec, 1970 Jan 71 TBS 4-71 TAD Company Commander, Computer Sciences School Co., H&S Bn between TBS and Computer Sciences classes. Company Gunny was a platoon sgt. in my OCS company Stationed Parris Island Nov 71 - Nov 72. Had the illustrious distinction of being the only Second Lieutenant on the Depot for three months Promoted to First Lieutenant Feb 71 Stationed Camp Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa Nov 72 until separation Nov 73
Jim Britton Jr. Vice Past Commandant
Garrett Craw Chaplain	Served 1985-1993 Duty stations: Quantico, VA , Twenty-Nine Palms, CA MOS: Field Radio Operator (2931), NBC (5711) Honorable Discharge from Marines February 1993 Received MS Educational Administration from National University , 1998 Received MA Theological Studies from Covenant Theological Seminary, 2006 All league members and family members if you need any assistance please feel free to e-mail me at pastor@SaintAndrewsCC.net
Matthew Gonzalez Sergeant-At-Arms
Fiona Detachment Mascot	Pedigree Devilish Dog (PDD) 100% BULL Dog Duty stations include: fire hydrants, neighbor's front yard, and under the table Favorite duty station: Din Din Bowl Combat experience: watching cats being chased by rottweilers watching rottweilers being chased by cats watching cats being crushed by mechanized vehicles (OORAH!) Favorte war series: Rin Tin Tin Favorite movies: Shaggy Dog, Lassie Come Home, Old Yeller, Beethoven Things I miss the most: My Tail Things most proud of: My girlish figure Favorite slogan: Things are always looking up

Committee Assignments

Al Lansdale Color Guard Commander	Enlisted March 5, 1962 and graduated boot camp Regimental Honor Platoon # 322 MCRD Reported to Camp DelMar A Company 3rd Amtrac Btn. Mounted out as part of 5th MEB to blockade Cuba and prepare for invasion Returned to Pendleton served in base MP's and was separated Mar 1965 as Corporal E4 Other military duties include: Glendale Army National Guard in 1974, as Staff Sergeant (E6) and Naval Reserve in 1978 as PN 1 E6
Glenn Fiery Interum Newsletter Editor
Maxine MacGregor, Newsletter Circulation
Matthew Gonzalez, Historian
Glenn Fiery V.A.V.S./Veterans Service Representative
Glenn Fiery, Awards Committee	Committee Members include: Al Lansdale - Vice Chair Dick Rogge Conrad Wright Mark Shuster - Defacto (non voting)
Glenn Fiery, Webmaster

Officer and Staff Duties

Below is a synopsis of responsibilities of the Officers and Staff as they pertain to our detachment. Some office descriptions may vary slighty from other detachments. These descriptions are for general information and are not intended to be all inclusive of the responsibilities for a given office.

Commandant - Elected, Member of the Board of Trustees

The Commandant is the Chief Executive Officer of the detachment Board of Trustees, primary contact for the community and is responsible for the activities and financial standing of the detachment.. He/she presides at meetings, represents the detachment at functions, formulates and develops programs to improve detachment operations and achieving goals, appoints staff officers and committees.

Sr. Vice Commandant - Elected, Member of the Board of Trustees

He/she gives assistance and support to the Commandant, is second in command of the detachment, presides in absence of Commandant at meetings or events and prepares for succession to the Commandant's office.. The SVC chairs committees as requested by the Commandant, performs special tasks as requested by the Commandant assists in two way communications between members and officers.

Jr. Vice Commandant - Elected, Member of the Board of Trustees

The JVC is usually primarily responsible for recruiting and retention of members, should be familiar with the operations and projects of the detachment, be a spokesman to the Board of Trustees on what members are looking for from the organization. He/she promotes special events aimed at enhancing membership, maintain contact with other veterans organizations and generate interest in the Marine Corps League.

Judge Advocate - Elected, Member of the Board of Trustees

The JA provides legal counsel and opinions on the by-laws, policies, corporate regulations and parliamentary procedure for the detachment. He/she must see that the policies, voted issues, and procedures are in conformance with the by-laws and policies of the detachment, department, and national levels. The JA participates in the writing or modification of the by-laws and renders opinions based on the policies, by-laws, or precedents of the detachment. The Commandant may direct the JA to perform periodic reviews of procedures and finances to assure compliance with detachment policies and procedures.

Jr. Past Commandant - Appointed, Staff

The JPC assists in providing continuity from one administration of officers to the next. His/her experience should be utilized for the purposes of educting and assisting officers.

Adjutant - Appointed, Staff

The Adjutant is the recording secretary for detachment meetins and affairs and is responsible for official notifications to members. He/she must keep accurate minutes of meetings, prepare and transcribe minutes for permanent record of the detachment and assure that resolutions are maintained as corporate records. The Adjutant is responsible for the offical correspondence, bulletins and other written communications of the detachment. He/she prepares and submits the "Installation of Officers Report", may assist in the completion of the "Membership Transmittal" forms, prepares a variety of other forms that go to department and national levels, and signs certificates of awards. The Adjutant is typically chairman of the Awards Committee.

Paymaster - Appointed, Staff

The Paymaster acts as corporate controller of the detachment funds and is responsible for the accounting of revenues and expenditures. He/she must keep accurate fiscal records, responsible for banking and financial accounts, signer on fiscal and banking documents, makes fiscal and financial reports at meetings, receives dues and forwards transmittals to department and national levels, and handles tax and licensing functions of the detachment.

Sergeant-At-Arms - Appointed, Staff

The SA is responsible for the physical set up and clean up of the meeting facilities, maintain order at the business meetings, participates in the presentation and honoring of the Colors at meetings and ceremonies, and greet and introduce members, guests and program participants. He/she must determine the qualifications for members to attend meetings and exuse those who are not qualified.

Chaplain - Appointed, Staff

The Chaplain tends to the needs of members and members families during periods of distress, illness and/or death. The Chaplain is called on to offer invocations and prayer at meetings and ceremonies. He/she may participate in funeral arrangements and publicize needs of the sick. The Chaplain prepares notification to department and national levels regarding deceased members of the detachment.

Historian - Appointed, Projects Officer

The Historian is primarily responsible for the historical records of the detachment. He/she may solicit photography, biographical sketches and other items of value that tell the detachment's history.

Newsletter Editor - Appointed, Projects Officer

The Newsletter Editor is to prepare the newletter on a monthly basis about what is going on in the detachment. The Editor should solicit articles from officers and members and include the calendar of events for the detachment.

Color Guard Commander - Appointed, Projects Officer

The CGC is responsible to select and train members for the Color Guard. He/she is to plan and coordinate events with parade committees, veterans organizations and other community groups.

Veterans Administration Volunteer Services (V.A.V.S.)/Veterans Service - Appointed, Projects Officer

The VAVS coordinator's primary goal is to spend time at the VA Hospitals on visitation, planning and coordinating events, and soliciting donations of funds needed by occupants of the Hospital. He/she should provide direction to various veteran assistance programs.