Happy 249th Birthday, U.S. Marine Corps! 

The U.S. Marine Corps turns 249 years-old today. On November 10, 1775, the Continental Congress adopted a resolution to create a Marine force composed of two battalions. Since then, the Marines have been “from the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli” and many other places as well.   

You probably know that the Marines’ motto is Semper Fidelis, or Semper Fi for short. It means “always faithful” in Latin. It signifies a Marine’s loyalty both to the U.S. Marine Corps and to the United States. However, Semper Fi didn’t become the Marines’ motto until 1883. During its first century of existence, the Marines had a few unofficial mottos. These included “to the shores of Tripoli,” which commemorates the Marines’ service in the First Barbary War, Fortitudine (meaning “with courage”), and Per Mare, Per Terram (“by sea and by land”), which the Marines borrowed from the British Royal Marines.  

No Marine has ever become president, but several have made it in politics. Former Secretary of Defense James Mattis and former White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly were both U.S. Marine Corps generals. U.S. Secretaries of State James A. Baker and George P. Shultz, Senator John Glenn (who first gained fame as an astronaut), and legendary political consultant James Carville also served in the Marines. Several baseball hall-of-famers are veterans of the Marines, including Rod Carew, Roberto Clemente, Eddie Collins, Bill Veeck, and Ted Williams. Marines who made it in Hollywood include Gene Hackman, Harvey Keitel, Lee Marvin, Steve McQueen, and George C. Scott. Comedians Drew Carey and Rob Riggle were Marines, as was the late, great Jonathan Winters. If you are old enough to remember Captain Kangaroo (Bob Keeshan), he was a Marine. Several famous musicians served in the Marines, including country legend George Jones, hip-hop artist Shaggy, and “The March King,” John Philip Sousa. Marines who made it in the business world include Tom Bell (Taco Bell), Tom Monaghan (Dominos), Bob Parsons (GoDaddy.com), and Fred Smith (FedEx).  

The Marines are the smallest of the four U.S. armed services in the U.S. Department of Defense, with 172,600 active-duty personnel. To put the size of the Marine Corps in perspective, the U.S. Army is around two-and-a-half times larger with 442,300 troops. But compared to most of the world’s militaries the Marines are a giant. Countries that have armies smaller than the Marines include Israel, Italy, Nigeria, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom.  

I asked Colonel Wilfred Rivera, a Marine Corps officer spending a year as a visiting military fellow in CFR’s David Rockefeller Studies Program, to recommend readings for those wanting to learn more about the Marines. Here are Col. Rivera’s suggestions:  

Jason A Santamaria, The Marine Corps Way: Using Maneuver Warfare to Lead a Winning Organization (2005). A lesser-known gem for business and leadership enthusiasts, Santamaria explores how the Marine Corps’ maneuver warfare doctrine can be applied to business and organizational leadership. He builds on the principles of flexibility, adaptability, and initiative that have been at the heart of Marine Corps success in combat, showing how these same ideas can help lead businesses to victory in the competitive world. 

Nathaniel Fick, One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officer (2005). Former Marine Captain Nathaniel Fick’s memoir is an insightful look at the process of becoming a Marine officer, exploring the grueling training and expectations that shape those who lead Marines. The memoir offers a candid examination of leadership, duty, and the challenges of leading a group of highly trained warriors. 

Bing West. No True Glory: A Frontline Account of the Battle for Fallujah (2005). West, a former Marine and combat journalists, recounts the battle for Fallujah, one of the most intense engagements during the Iraq War. He presents a nuanced portrayal of the fight and the Marines involved, providing insights into military tactics, the psychology of combat, and the moral and ethical challenges that soldiers face. 

Colonel Rivera is a personal fan of the movie The Great Santini (1979). Based on a on a novel of the same name by Pat Conroy, the film tells the story of Lt. Col. Bull Meechum, who is played by Robert Duvall. Meechum is a Marine officer known for his tough, authoritarian parenting style, and his strained relationship with his family. His strict discipline and expectations reflect the military ethos but also bring emotional and personal conflicts to the forefront. The film explores themes of discipline, sacrifice, and the effects of military life on personal relationships. The portrayal of a Marine’s internal and external struggles makes it a compelling, if emotionally complex, look at the demands of the Corps. 

Oscar Berry assisted in the preparation of this post.