The culture of theUnited States Marine Corps is widely varied but unique amongst the branches of theUnited States Armed Forces.[1] Because members of the Marine Corps are drawn from across the United States (andresident aliens from other nations),[2] it is as varied as each individual Marine but tied together with core values and traditions passed from generation to generation of Marines. As in any military organization, the official and unofficial traditions of the Marine Corps serve to reinforce camaraderie and set the service apart from others. The Corps' embracement of its rich culture and history is cited as a reason for its highesprit de corps.[3]
Many traditions and customs of the Corps are officially recognized through orders, histories, and ceremonies; some are even embodiedwithin the uniform itself.
The Marine Corps Core Values ofHonor,Courage, andCommitment have gained increased prominence in recent years.[4][5] As an emphasis on performing morally on and off duty, the concept of core values has infiltrated into many aspects of Marine life, beginning inrecruit training and continuing into combat.[6] This "warrior ethos" provides guidance to Marines in difficult ethical situations and acts as a reminder to provide good order and discipline.[7]
TheMarines' Hymn dates back to 1919 and is the oldest official song in the U.S. Armed Forces.[8] It embraces some of the most important battles of the Corps at that time, includingChapultepec andDerna.[9] Subtle changes and unofficial verses have been added as thehistory of the Corps grew.[10]
The official Marine Corps emblem is theEagle, Globe, and Anchor, sometimes abbreviated "EGA". Adopted in its present form in 1868 byCommandantJacob Zeilin, it derives partially from ornaments worn by the Continental Marines and theBritish Royal Marines and is usually topped with a ribbon reading "Semper Fidelis". The original eagle was acrested eagle found in the Americas, not thebald eagle that appears in the current emblem. The eagle stands on theWestern Hemisphere and holds in its beak a scroll bearing the motto "Semper Fidelis", though the scroll is sometimes omitted from uniform insignia. An anchor fouled with rope stands behind the globe, and while it generally points to the viewer's left, it can be found reversed when paired so that the anchors continually face the other.[11] The eagle stands for a proud country, the globe signifies worldwide service, and the fouled anchor signifies naval tradition. The use of the emblem became official when the seal was adopted in 1955.[12]
On 22 June 1954, PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower signed anexecutive order which approved the design of an official seal for the United States Marine Corps. The seal had been designed byFelix de Weldon at the request, and with the assistance, of the CommandantLemuel C. Shepherd, Jr.[13]
The seal consists of the traditional Marine Corps Eagle, Globe, and Anchor emblem in bronze; however, a bald eagle replaced the crested eagle depicted on the 1868 emblem and is depicted with wings displayed, standing upon the western hemisphere of the terrestrial globe and holding in his beak a scroll inscribed with the Marine Corps motto "Semper Fidelis" with the hemisphere superimposed on a fouled anchor. The seal is displayed on a scarlet background encircled with a navy blue band edged in a gold rope rim and inscribed "Department of the Navy, United States Marine Corps" in gold letters.[12]
Coincident with the approval of this seal by the president, the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor emblem centered on the seal was adopted in 1955 as the official Marine Corps Emblem. The blue signifies naval ties, while the scarlet and gold are the officialMarine Corps colors.[14][15] They appear ubiquitously in the Marine Corps, particularly on signage. They also form the base colors of theflag of the United States Marine Corps.
The Marine motto "Semper Fidelis" means "always faithful" inLatin.[15] This motto often appears in the shortened form "Semper Fi"/ˌsɛmpərˈfaɪ/. It is also the name ofthe official march of the Corps, composed byJohn Philip Sousa. It was adopted in 1883 when CommandantCharles McCawley added it to the seal, before which the traditional mottos were"Fortitudine" (With Fortitude);"By Sea and by Land", a translation of theRoyal Marines'"Per Mare, Per Terram"; and"To the Shores of Tripoli", which was later revised to"From the Halls of the Montezumas to the Shores of Tripoli" and formed the first lines of the Marines' Hymn.[16]
The recruiting slogan of "A Few Good Men" (as opposed to theplay andfilm) derives from aContinental Marines recruiting poster:
The Continental ship Providence, now lying at Boston, is bound on a short cruise, immediately; a few good men are wanted to make up her complement." (Marine Captain William Jones, Providence Gazette, 20 March 1779.)[17]
The modern recruiting slogan is "the few, the proud, the Marines."[17] TheRifleman's Creed is a similar concept as the motto but offers a more modern look at doctrine. It explains to a recruit the importance of his or her weapon but also emphasizes the moral motivations behind using it.
Though the Marines have a lot of mottos and slogans. Their unofficial slogan is, "Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome." They are trained with this slogan to be able to deal with all obstacles and serious situations they must face.[10]
Two styles of swords are worn by Marines. The Marine Corps officers' sword is aMameluke sword, similar to the Persianshamshir presented to Lt.Presley O'Bannon after theBattle of Derna during theFirst Barbary War.[9] After its adoption in 1825 and initial distribution in 1826, Mameluke swords have been worn by Marine officers ever since, except during the period 1859–1875, when they were required to wear theArmy's Model 1850 Foot Officers' Sword. Upon returning to the traditional sword, many officers gave their Army swords to their seniornon-commissioned officer (NCO), creating the basis for the NCO sword.[18] Generally, Marines are the only branch where enlisted members regularly carry a sword (the Army authorizes platoon and first sergeants to carry aModel 1840 sword during some ceremonies,[19] while theChief of Naval Operations authorizedchief petty officers and above to carry an optional ceremonialcutlass with dress uniforms in 2010[20]).
The Marine Corps birthday is celebrated every year on 10 November, when on this date in 1775, theSecond Continental Congress raised two battalions of Marines.Tun Tavern is regarded as the location of the first marines to enlist under CommandantSamuel Nicholas.[21] Prior to 1921, Marines celebrated the 11 July 1798 recreation of the Corps (it having been disbanded following the end of theRevolutionary War) with little fanfare. Then, Marine Corps Order 47 was published by CommandantJohn A. Lejeune:[22]
MARINE CORPS ORDERS
No. 47 (Series 1921)HEADQUARTERS U.S. MARINE CORPSWashington, November 1, 1921
759. The following will be read to the command on the 10th of November, 1921, and hereafter on the 10th of November of every year. Should the order not be received by the 10th of November, 1921, it will be read upon receipt.
- On November 10, 1775, a Corps of Marines was created by a resolution of Continental Congress. Since that date many thousand men have borne the name "Marine". In memory of them it is fitting that we who are Marines should commemorate the birthday of our corps by calling to mind the glories of its long and illustrious history.
- The record of our corps is one which will bear comparison with that of the most famous military organizations in the world's history. During 90 of the 146 years of its existence the Marine Corps has been in action against the Nation's foes. From the Battle of Trenton to the Argonne, Marines have won foremost honors in war, and in the long eras of tranquility at home, generation after generation of Marines have grown gray in war in both hemispheres and in every corner of the seven seas, that our country and its citizens might enjoy peace and security.
- In every battle and skirmish since the birth of our corps, Marines have acquitted themselves with the greatest distinction, winning new honors on each occasion until the term "Marine" has come to signify all that is highest in military efficiency and soldierly virtue.
- This high name of distinction and soldierly repute we who are Marines today have received from those who preceded us in the corps. With it we have also received from them the eternal spirit which has animated our corps from generation to generation and has been the distinguishing mark of the Marines in every age. So long as that spirit continues to flourish Marines will be found equal to every emergency in the future as they have been in the past, and the men of our Nation will regard us as worthy successors to the long line of illustrious men who have served as "soldiers of the Sea" since the founding of the Corps.
JOHN A. LEJEUNE,Major General Commandant
75705--21
The celebrations were formalized by CommandantLemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. in 1952, outlining the cake cutting ceremony, which would enter the Marine Drill Manual in 1956. By tradition, the first slice of cake is given to the oldest Marine present, who in turn hands it off to the youngest Marine present, symbolizing the old and experienced Marines passing their knowledge to the new generation of Marines. Lejeune's message is also republished annually.
Close Order Drill is heavily emphasized early on in a Marine's training. Formal ceremonies, such as the Marine Corps Birthday Ball, a change of command, or a retirement, will almost always incorporate some form of close order drill. The Marine Corps uses close order drill to teach discipline by instilling habits of precision and automatic response to orders, increase the confidence of junior officers and noncommissioned officers through the exercise of command and give Marines an opportunity to handle individual weapons.[23]
TheMess Night is a borrowed tradition of ceremonial dining.[24] Originally aBritish Army tradition, it has become an honored tradition of enjoying drink, good food, and fellowship with a Marine's comrades,[25] as well as honoring those who have perished in battle.[26]
Except for the annual celebration of the Marine Corps Birthday, no social function associated with the smaller of America's naval services is more enjoyed, admired and imitated than the mess night."[27]
Marines have a high reverence for their history, indoctrinating recruits and continually expanding the topic in the professional education Marines attend throughout their careers. TheHistory Division, a subunit of theTraining and Education Command, records, archives, researches, analyzes, and presents the history of the Corps.[28]
Several Marine Corps museums have been established, most notably theNational Museum of the Marine Corps atMarine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. Additional Marine history can be found at theFlying Leatherneck Aviation Museum, theMCRD San Diego Command Museum, theMarine Corps Air-Ground Museum, theMarine Corps Legacy Museum, theParris Island Museum, theWWII/Korea LVT Museum, and theWaterhouse Museum.
Memorials also serve as a way to preserve history. One of the most iconic memorials is theMarine Corps War Memorial inArlington National Cemetery, a statue recreated from the iconic photoRaising the Flag on Iwo Jima. Other memorials to Marines (sometimes including other services) include two of the many statues namedIron Mike (Belleau, France andParris Island, South Carolina), theUSSArizona Memorial,Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium at theUnited States Naval Academy, as well as many period specific military memorial around the country where Marines participated in fighting, such as theNational World War II Memorial and theVietnam Veterans Memorial.
The Corps has many unofficial traditions, promulgated by many Marines and some Marine-based organizations (such as theMarine Corps League,Marine Corps Association, andYoung Marines) or media (such as theMarine Corps Gazette,Leatherneck Magazine, orMarine Corps Times). Each service refers to their servicemembers differently (e.g., Army has soldiers, Navy has sailors, Air Force has airmen, Space Force has guardians). Although "soldiers" (and to a lesser extent, "sailors") are thought to be a catch-all for servicemembers, servicemembers in the Marine Corps are referred to as "Marines".[29]
Marines have been given many genericnicknames:
The Marine Corps places a high institutional value on physical readiness, preparing the individual's body for the rigors of combat.[36] Mandatory participation in three hours weekly of physical exercise, termed "Physical Training" or PT, is considered a minimum starting point; further fitness is rewarded by better evaluation scores, which increase promotability, as well as benefits for winning athletic competitions. In addition, height and weight standards andbody fat percentage ensure that Marines are fit and present a good military appearance. Chronic lack of physical fitness can be grounds for administrative punishment and even discharge in extreme situations. ThePhysical Fitness Test andCombat Fitness Test are performed annually to assess a Marine's fitness, and higher scores weigh in his or her favor for promotions.
To encourage physical training, CommandantJames T. Conway authorized a newphysical training uniform based on atracksuit and the development of the Combat Fitness Test to better simulate the specific stressors of combat.[37][38]
For decades, Marines learned a variety ofmartial arts and other methods of hand-to-hand combat, but these were irregular processes that varied greatly between units and eras. Eventually, the Corps solidified its various teachings into theLINE combat system, but its inherent inflexibility was evident. In 2001, the Marine Corps initiated a new program, calledMarine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP). Because of an expectation that urban and police-typepeacekeeping missions would become more common in the 21st century, placing Marines in even closer contact with unarmed civilians, MCMAP was implemented to provide Marines with a larger and more versatile set of less-than-lethal options for controlling hostile but unarmed individuals. It is also a stated aim of the program to instill and maintain the "warrior ethos" within Marines.[7] The Marine Corps Martial Arts program is an eclectic mix of different styles of martial arts melded together and consists ofboxing movements,joint locking techniques,opponent weight transfer, groundgrappling,bayonet, knife andbaton fighting, non-compliance joint manipulations, and blood restrictionchokes. Marines begin MCMAP training in boot camp, earning the first of five belts.
The Marine Corps, like any other branch of the military, is most visible by the public through public affairs organizations and several presentation units. Dedication to proficiency in drill is a hallmark of theSilent Drill Platoon,Marine Band, and theDrum and Bugle Corps. In addition, the Corps released periodic recruiting commercials, often about one annually. The traditional tagline for the commercials is "The Few, The Proud, The Marines." While Marines do not have installations across the United States (unlike the Army and Air Force, Marine installations are concentrated in California, North Carolina, and the national capitol region), the direct link for most Americans to the Corps is the Marine recruiter, often recognizable in theDress Blue uniform.
Marines make popular subjects for works of fiction. The Marine Corps has beendepicted on many films, television shows, innumerable books, and even video games. Much of the Marines image is the result of carefully crafted public relations; PresidentHarry S. Truman said the Marines have "a propaganda machine that is almost equal toStalin's."[39]
Since 2001,Gallup polls have asked "Which of the four major branches of the armed forces are the most prestigious?." Every year of the Gallup poll has shown that the American public regards the Corps as the most prestigious of the four branches of the armed forces of theDepartment of Defense.[40] However, when ranked by importance, it did not score well until it tied the Army and Air Force in 2004, with the increase being attributed to theIraq War.[41]
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