"Semper Fidelis" - "Always Faithful"

Of the four branches of the U.S. military that fall within the Department of Defense (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines), the United States Marine Corps is by far the smallest. Yet the Marines have taken on some of the toughest missions military planners can throw at them, and have developed a unique military culture that thrives on challenge and hardship. In fact, all Marines proudly declare that there are no "former" or "ex" Marines - a Marine stays a Marine for life.

The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the air, using the mobility of the United States Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States. The Marine Corps is a component of the United States Department of the Navy, often working closely with naval forces for training, transportation, and logistics; however, the Marine Corps is a separate branch.

In this article we'll look at why there is a Marine Corps, how it's structured, the history behind the Corps, how to join, life inside, and leaving. Marine Corps Purpose The modern Marine Corps is focused on “force projection;” specifically, the projection of U.S. military power from Navy ships onto hostile landing areas. Marines have spearheaded amphibious assaults and gained footholds for American troops throughout U.S. history. They secure or set up advance bases from which the Army and Air Force can operate. In addition, the Marines can be used for “other duties as the President may direct,” according to the 1834 Marine Corps Law. The Marines operate in a state of readiness for combat unmatched by units in other military branches. A Marine unit has everything it needs to leap right into combat, including logistical support and close air support. Plus, the Marines keep units stationed on Navy ships that are “on float” around the world. That puts them closer to potential trouble spots than troops stationed in the United States

Unofficial traditions and customs

Marines have several generic nicknames:

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- Devil Dog

"Devil Dog is a motivational nickname for a U.S. Marine. It is said to be based on the apocryphal use of "Teufelshunde" by German soldiers to describe Marines fighting in World War I.

has several oft-disputed explanations, but the tradition has expanded to include the bulldog's association with the Corps, especially as a mascot.

"Marine Corps History, Customs, and Courtesies". U.S. Marine Guidebook. United states Marine Corps. 2010. p. 37. ISBN 978-1-60239-941-9. "Marines fought like teufel hunden, legendary wild, devil dogs that at one time roamed the forests of northern Germany"

Myers, Thomas (1988). "Hearts of Darkness". Walking Point: American Narratives of Vietnam. Oxford University Press, USA. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-19-505351-7. "He reminds his charges that "at Belleau Wood the Marines were so vicious that the German infantrymen called them Teufel-Hunden – 'devil dogs'"

"Waseleski, Michael (2009). To Lead by the Unknowing, to Do the Unthinkable. AuthorHouse. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-4389-5676-3. "the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments earned the nickname of “Teufel Hunden” (devil dog) by the Germans in World War I during the 1918 Château-Thierry campaign near the French village of Bouresches, the Battle of Belleau Wood"

- gyrene

"Rottman, Gordon (2011). "GI and Gyrene Jargon US Army and Marine Corps Slang". FUBAR F***ed Up Beyond All Recognition: Soldier Slang of World War II. Osprey Publishing. p. 49. ISBN 978-1-84908-653-0. "based on Chinese pronunciation of Marine"

is rarely used any longer and has dropped out of popular use

- Leatherneck

"Rottman, Gordon (2011). "Marine Corps History, Customs, and Courtesies". U.S. Marine Guidebook. United states Marine Corps. 2010. p. 37. ISBN 978-1-60239-941-9." In 1804 the Secretary of the Navy ordered Marines to wear black leather stock collars when on duty"

refers to a leather collar formerly part of the Marine uniform during the Revolutionary War period

- Jarhead

Rottman, Gordon (2011). "Rottman, Gordon (2011). "GI and Gyrene Jargon US Army and Marine Corps Slang". FUBAR F***ed Up Beyond All Recognition: Soldier Slang of World War II. Osprey Publishing. p. 51. ISBN 978-1-84908-653-0. "Most likely it was the pillbox cap and high stiff collar making a Marine appear similar to a Mason jar.

has several oft-disputed explanations.

Some other unofficial traditions include mottos and exclamations:

- Oorah is common among Marines, being similar in function and purpose to the Army's Hooah and the Navy's hooyah cries. Many possible etymologies have been offered for the term.

- Semper Fi is a common greeting among serving and veteran Marines. It is short for the Marine Corps Motto "Semper Fidelis"

- Semper Fi, Mac was the preferred form of the greeting in times past.

- Improvise, Adapt and Overcome has become an adopted mantra in many units.

Santamaria, Jason A.; Vincent Martino, Eric K. Clemons (2005). The Marine Corps Way: Using Maneuver Warfare to Lead a Winning Organization. McGraw-Hill Professional. p. 149. ISBN 978-0-07-145883-2. "Long before Hollywood popularized it, Marines used the phrase to reflect their preference for being a fluid, loosely reined force that could spontaneously react to rapidly changing situations, rather than a rigid outfit that moved in a specific direction with a precise plan."

Veteran Marines

The Corps encourages the idea that "Marine" is an earned title and most Marine Corps personnel take to heart the phrase "Once a Marine, Always a Marine". They reject the term "ex-Marine" in most circumstances. There are no regulations concerning the address of persons who have left active service, so a number of customary terms have come into common use:

- "Ex-Marine" is used in reference to persons removed from the Corps with a less than a full and honorable discharge, especially those dishonorably discharged. Persons wishing to avoid this issue address these individuals by name with no reference to the Corps.

- According to one of the "Marine Corps History, Customs, and Courtesies". U.S. Marine Guidebook. United states Marine Corps. 2010. p. 37. ISBN 978-1-60239-941-9. "In 1804 the Secretary of the Navy ordered Marines to wear black leather stock collars when on duty"

- "Marine" is acceptable and considered complimentary by most Corps personnel.

- "Veteran Marine"; "Prior-service Marine" or "Former Marine" is acceptable in referring to anyone who has been honorably discharged from the Corps.

- "Retired Marine" is generally reserved for those who have completed 20 or more years of service and formally retired or those who have been medically retired.

- "Sir" or "Ma'am" is appropriate and respectful, but should be limited to addressing officers and warrant officers. Non-commissioned officers are commonly referred to by their last rank.