Once a Marine, Always a Marine

Those who face and overcome the challenges of recruit training or Officer Candidates School prove themselves worthy of earning the title Marine. Once earned, the Marine becomes part of an elite family of men and women with the will to win against any adversary. Marines are bound by their shared commitment to a common cause: fighting and winning every battle for our Nation.

Connect with Marine Corps Recruiting:


About the United States Marine Corps:

The Marine Corps defends the people of the United States at home and abroad. Within every Marine is the willingness to engage and determination to defeat any adversary, and it is this fighting spirit that allows us to fight and win our Nation’s battles.

The mission of the United States Marine Corps is made up of three promises: We make Marines, we win our Nation’s battles, and we develop quality citizens prepared to fight and win battles.

You don’t join the Marines—you become one, forged in the crucible of training aboard our recruit depots on Parris Island, South Carolina, and in San Diego, California, or through the dedication required of officer candidates at Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Virginia. Beyond the physical requirements, aspiring Marines must prove they have the honor, courage, and commitment to face and defeat any obstacle.

Today, more than 180,000 enlisted Marines and 23,000 Marine Officers serve in active duty or reserve forces on bases and in communities around the world, proudly carrying with them the core values of the Marine Corps.

[arttrombley]

  My father sent his 130lb. boy to the Marine Corp. in Dec. 1965 and in May 1966 got back a 170lb. Man. 
I stepped off the plane, walked right past my father, did an about face and tapped him on the shoulder. He looked me in the eye and said: my God, what did they do to you?.
I replied, they made a man of me. 
  In more ways than one that was true. When the Marine Corp was finished training me, I was a leader, not a follower, a doer not a watcher, a man always ready to pull his own weight, not a slaker.
 Everything these Marines said in this video is true, becoming a United States Marine is indeed a transformation.
  Semper Fi Brothers & Sisters

[macuse]

Self sacrifice, faithfulness, and long suffering are a few traits of Marine training that have helped me greatly in life

[bettymerritt]

I have been. Out since 1965. 58 years and I am still hard core. I get up each day, 50 sit ups, push ups, weights, exercise ball, leg lifts the whole exercise takes 1 hour . I am 83 years old and ain't no body going to slow this old Marine down. Semper Fiedis

[tritondriver]

Everyday, I wake up, I am so proud to be a U.S. Marine ! "96-02" Semper Fi ! Till I Die !

[decad]

Graduated from P.I. Feb.27 1985..3rd Btn. I co. Plt. 3015...Much respect for you Seals, Rangers and Recon..God bless all our men and women in uniform past and present..God bless America...

[anthonyeasterling]

The Best Choice I ever made. The USMC literally transform me into the Man I am today. When I enter a room my presence is immediately known.

[Eruditeization]

The Marines are good people. I was Air Force and Navy. ( I served in both ) It was always good to meet and talk with a Marine.

[treeoneseven]

In my next life, I'm going to be a Marine, again. ~Semper Fi!

[wtfd]

I can remember standing on the yellow footprints like it was yesterday. We joined because we wanted to be the best...the Marine lifestyle is un-like any other. My time was from 86-89. 0351 SEMPER FIDELIS brothers and sisters.

[Annimaster]

Good luck and stick with it. You'll want to cry, quit and regret your decision... once you are finish with bootcamp you will treasure every moment of both crap and happy during your Marine Corps career. Plus you will have an instant bond with every Marine you meet. Good Luck recruit!

[CHUUMPASS]

man, i feel motivated and empowered just from watching clips about the Marines!

greetings in admiration and friendship to the American Forces from germany.

[stevedolan]

Enlisting in the Corps was the best thing I did for myself. Lessons learned last a lifetime. USMC 1966-1970.

[raybonds]

in 1968 i joined the corps. i was 19 and had 2 years of college. wanted to do something different. Parris Island was DIFFERENT. if you've seen full metal jacket you have an idea. vietnam was bad, but i was prepared. you don't complete training, you endure it. the proudest and happiest day of my life was leaving that damned island. wouldn't do it again, but I AM and will always be a United States Marine.

[timcronin]

Almost 74, still love rocknroll & USMC (core values & all that!)

[TheWeezy]

respect to everyone who is serving our great nation

[gliceriaruggless]

The sacrifice that they are all into is just so amazing!!! That  is even away from their own family with such uncertain  time, to be with them again!  They are the heroes!

[jarheadairsoft]

I'm in the JROTC sir, and I wanted to thank you for your service. They may not earn the right, but if they don't earn it later in life, then they didn't earn it at all.

[jpturner]

The Corps changed my life.

Semper fi and Merry Christmas my Brothers.

The fewer...the prouder (0321) ‘73...81

[ThenewguyYT]

I plan to join in four years after high school.

[sixgun]

An experience that I hated and I loved... but I would do it over again in a heartbeat. God, Unit, Corps, Country. 1981-1985, CEM Platoon, 7th Comm. Bn., 3rd Mar. Div., Okinawa, Japan. Semper Fi.