The Military Order of the Devil Dogs was formed in the Copley Plaza Hotel, Boston during the 1939 National Convention of the Marine Corps League. The Order is a faternal society within the Marine Corps League, to provide relaxation to those hard-working Leaguers who have been selected for membership by the Devil Dogs. Membership is by invation only through the sponsorship of a full-fledged Devil Dog. A Marine Corps Leaguer has been an active member of the league for at least two years before he can take his initiation at a National Convention only. Before this he must become a Mongrel in a local Pound and then a Pup at a State Pack Convention. In addition to the hilarious fun of Devil Dog affairs, the Order also engages in rendering service to the League and promoting Marine Welfare Programs.

The Name "Devil Dogs" was applied to the Marines by the Germans during the first World War because of their ferocious fighting at Belleau Wood and Cheteau Thierry, where the gallant Fifth and Sixth regiments were spearheads of the Allies counter-attack that smashed the German Drive on Paris and from which the Germans never recovered. That's why the Germans cursed the Marines as "Teufel-Hunden" (Devil-Dogs).