Pizza box: There are three levels of rifle and pistol qualification, and badges are earned depending on the degree of proficiency: Expert, Sharpshooter and the lowest, Marksman. Because of its shape, the Marksman Weapons Qualification Badge is called the pizza box.
The United States Navy was created (as the Continental Navy) in October 1775. A month later, the founding fathers realized there should be a group dedicated to defending those ships. A committee of the Continental Congress called for formation of two battalions of marines and charged Samuel Nicholas to make it happen. He set up shop in Tun Tavern in Philadelphia and became the Corps' first recruiter.
The Marine Corps originally started as an infantry branch within the Navy, patterned after the British Royal Marines. Organized to protect ships from mutinies and to establish beachheads during invasions, the Marines from the beginning were trained as riflemen -- soldiers of the sea. In movies ("Master and Commander" for example) the Marine detachment wears the red blouses and the British naval officers wear blue. Marines were often dispatched to the crow's nests in early naval conflicts, to shoot at the enemy sailors from above.
Rivalry between branches
The Marine Corps is a separate branch of the U.S. armed forces but is a department of the Navy. As you might expect, there is a degree of competition and rivalry between the two services. The Navy calls Marines 'bellhops' (referring to the dress blues they wear); the Marines reply "We like to think we're the men's department of the Navy." The ribbing isn't limited to the Navy: A serviceman standing around with his hands in his pockets is wearing "Army Gloves"; Air Force uniform design earns them the nickname Bus Drivers.
Uniform
Cover: Headgear. Not a cap. Not a hat. Marine covers look different from Army covers.
Covered and uncovered: When wearing and not wearing headgear, respectively. Covers are not worn indoors unless the Marine is carrying a weapon.
Blood Stripe: The red stripe down the sides of blue NCO and officer trousers. When a Marine earns the rank of corporal (the first of the noncommissioned officer ranks) he or she can then wear that stripe. The bloodstripe honors the high fatality rates of the NCOs in the Battle of Chapultepec in 1847 in Mexico.
Barracks cover: Fabric-covered frame cap, worn green with the service uniform and white with the dress uniform. Traditionally, officers wear this with the quatrefoil and gilt devices that increase with rank.
Quatrefoil: An officer's cover has "egg salad" on the visor and a "quatrefoil" on top. The quatrefoils helped the sharpshooters in the crow's nest (aboard masted sailing ships) know whom NOT to shoot. Quatrefoils meant OUR officers.
Hashmark: Service stripe worn on the uniform sleeve by enlisted men and women for completion of four years of honorable service in any of the U.S. armed services and Reserves.
Bootbands: How do the trousers stay up on the calf? A twisted elastic band with hooks on each end, worn around the calf. The trouser legs are tucked up and under the boot band.
Trousers and blouses. Uniform tops and bottoms are not called shirts and pants.
Nicknames
Who Was books coming out in 2022?
Upcoming Book Releases 2022 Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry. The Prisoner by B. A. Paris. We Are the Light by Matthew...
The following nicknames are among those commonly heard: leatherneck, devil dog, sea soldier, warrior, hard charger and jarhead.
Jarhead: Has several supposed origins: The regulation "High and Tight" haircut resembles a mason jar; another is that the Mason Jar Co. stopped making glass jars and made the helmets for Marines during World War II.
Devil Dog: Name given to the Marines who fought in Belleau Wood, France, in 1918. The German forces said the Marines fought like "Hounds from Hell" ("Teufel Hunden" in German).
Leatherneck: The Marine Corps Dress Blue uniform has a stiff collar that derives from a stiff leather "stock" issued to Marines starting in 1798. It began as a military fashion trend, something that improved a serviceman's bearing by keeping the chin high. In 1872 the collar was no longer part of the uniform but was issued to Marines who fought in the Philippine-American War (1899-1902) as protection against neck wounds and decapitations by sword.
Terminology
Fighting hole, not foxhole: Foxes hide in holes. Marines fight from any position. A hole dug in the ground for protection is called a fighting hole.
Fighting withdrawal, not retreat: Marines who have to reposition in a fight do not retreat, they withdraw fighting. The breakout from the Chosin Reservoir (Korea) in December 1950 is an example of a fighting withdrawal.
KA-BAR: Fighting/utility knife first issued during World War II. Seen on the hips of the Marines raising the flag at Iwo Jima.
MRE: Meal, Ready-to-Eat. An easy to carry, field expedient pack of food. Replacing the boxed or canned rations of old, typical contents include an entree, side dish, crackers, peanut butter/cheese spread, dessert, instant coffee/tea, candy, matches, toilet paper, spoon, and a flameless heater to heat the main entree. While everything in an MRE can be eaten cold, it usually tastes better warm. Usually. Sometimes referred to as "Meals Rejected by the Enemy," "Meal, Rotten to Eject," "Meals Rarely Eaten," "Meal, Reluctant to Exit." Marine Corps Espresso can be made by mixing the instant coffee and tea, along with the cocoa powder and sugar packet.
Paradise Island: Nickname for Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. Hollywood Marines is the term for recruits trained at MCRD San Diego.
Pizza box: There are three levels of rifle and pistol qualification, and badges are earned depending on the degree of proficiency: Expert, Sharpshooter and the lowest, Marksman. Because of its shape, the Marksman Weapons Qualification Badge is called the pizza box.
Scrambled eggs: Gold oak leaf embroidery found on an officer's barracks cap visor and mess dress cuffs.
Seabag: Bag used to carry one's personal belongings. "Duffel bag" is an Army term not used by Marines. When Marines travel, they often carry everything they own in a seabag.
Semper Fi: shortened version of "Semper Fidelis," the motto of the Corps.Latin for "Always faithful."
Smokey: Brown campaign cover worn by drill instructors, so named because of the similarity to the hat worn by Smokey Bear.
Square(d) away: To be in a neat and regulation appearance.
What are the 5 spiritual powers?
The five are faith, effort, mindfulness, concentration and wisdom.
Brain strap: Elastic strap used for securing eyeglasses during rigorous activities such as physical training. Usually found on BCG's (birth control glasses), named for their less than attractive style which prevents any interest from the opposite sex.
Eagle Globe and Anchor: Insignia representing America, worldwide service and naval tradition. (See top left.)
Drill: Close order drill. An integral part of boot camp, learning how to perform as a team and obey commands are two purposes. But it is also how large groups of Marines can be moved efficiently and in an orderly way from one location to another. The large parade deck where the drilling happens in boot camp is called the grinder.
Ooh rah: Spirited cry (or bark, really) commonly used to respond to a verbal greeting or as an expression of enthusiasm. The bark varies by branch.
Dark Green/Light Green: Regarding skin tone, Marines are not black or white or red or yellow-skin -- only different shades of green.
Greens: Camouflage service utility uniforms in reference to their color. Desert cammies are called chocolate chips.
High and tight: Nickname for a common variant of the buzz cut, where the hair is clipped very close. Another name is the "Zero-to-Two," meaning the sides are cut at clipper setting "zero" and the longest hairs on the top of the head are about 2 inches long. After recruits step off the bus at boot camp, one of the first stops is the depot's barber. All of the hair is cut off at clipper setting zero. The haircuts last about 10 seconds. The barbers gruffly ask, "Do you have any warts or moles on your scalp?" because if you say nothing, any lump or bump is coming off.
Mascot: The spiked collar- and Smokey-wearing bulldog has become the Corps' mascot. Many a Marine proudly wears this snarling face on shirts, caps and tattoos.
Grunt or ground pounder: Infantryman. Every job in the Marine Corps has a number designator. The job number for infantry is 0311. Grunts sometimes refer to being in the infantry as "Oh-Three-Walkalot."
Cannon-cocker: Artilleryman. "Pull string, go boom!"
Dress Blues
The Marine Corps dress blue is a striking and elegant uniform, incorporating over 200 years of tradition and history. The cover is topped with an eagle globe and anchor emblem, with two more on the collar. The blouse is dark blue gaberdine material, fitted to be snug. It is worn over a simple T-shirt. NCOs and officers wear the bloodstripe on the trousers. The NCO sword is worn by the enlisted ranks; officers carry the Mameluke Sword, dating back to 1805 when Marine 1st Lt. Presley O'Bannon was presented with a sword after a victory in the Barbary Wars (the Shores of Tripoli).
Text and Illustrations by Chris Morris | The Plain Dealer
United States Marine, 14th Marine Regiment, 1987-1995
Survivalist Pro
Photo: Kevin Malik
Promotion
Promotion
Promotion