United States Marine Corps: August 2012

Iwo Jima

Photograph by Joe Rosenthal. Raising of the US flag on top of Mt. Suribachi (5 marines 1 Navy corpsman)

Iwo Jima was America's first attack on Japanese home islands. The USMC invaded on February 19, 1945. The Japanese had their army heavily stationed all through out the Island with 22,000 soldiers present. The USMC's plan was to overtake 3 airfields. The Marines were able to overcome the Japanese with tremendous Naval and Air support. This was said to be the only United States Marine battle where our casualties exceeded the Japanese, all though the Japanese death rate was 3X ours. There were 22,000 Japanese soldiers on the island at the beginning of the battle. By March 26, 1945, the USMC had only 216 Japanese prisoners, the rest determined to be dead or missing. This was one of the proudest moments and battles of the USMC history and will never be forgotten.

USMC Snipers

"The deadliest weapon in the world, is a Marine and his rifle"

Women in the Marines

Women have been a part of the USMC since 1918. The secretary of the Navy allowed women to enroll in 1918. The first woman to become a marine was a woman by the name Opha Mae Johnson who was enlisted on August 13, 1918 where she would be put to the task for clerical duties. The USMC women reserve was started in Feb. 1943. On June 12, 1948 the Women's Armed Services Integration act was passed, which granted women permission. In 1950 the women reserves were prompted for the Korean war with the total of women serving being 2,787. By the time Vietnam came 2,700 women served over seas and stateside. In 1975 the USMC approved women's assignments except infantry, artillery, armor, and pilot/air crews. In the years 1990-91 over 1,000 women were deployed for Desert Storm. Today 6.2 % of the USMC is made of women.

Marine Corps Emblem

The emblem represents the USMC by showing the three elements of what they stand for fighting by land combat, sea combat, and air combat. The globe in the center of the emblem stands for the USMC fighting on land, the anchor standing for the marines fighting at sea, and the eagle representing the marines fighting in the sky.

Semper Fi

Semper Fi is short for the Latin word Semper Fidelis. This means "always faithful." It is known as the motto for the USMC. The USMC adopted the saying in 1883 by Colonel Charles McCawley. It is also the title of the official march of the USMC. It is very common to see the shortened version of Semper Fidelis all of USMC apparel, tattoo's, banners, flags, etc. It is the official slogan of the USMC. OORAH!

Weapons

Non-lethal

assault rifle (m4sir001)

cs gas
m6/m7 series chemical grenade
m84 stun grenade
sting grenade

Bladed Weapons

m7 bayonet
Ka-Bar (for marines who do not have a bayonet compatible weapon)

Pistols

Assault Rifles

Sniper Rifles (m40 & as3)

m16
m4 Carbine
m27 infantry automatic rifle

Marksman rifles

Sniper

frag grenade

mk11 mod 0
m40
Barret m82

Sub Machine Gun

Colt 9 mm

Machine guns

grenade launcher

m2 HB
m240 G
m249

Hand Grenades and Grenade Launchers

humvee

frag grenade
an-m14 hand grenade
smoke grenade
stun grenade
flash grenade
m203 40 mm grenade launcher

Artillery

ka-bar

m198 155 mm medium howitzer
high mobility artillery rocket system

Vehicles

Humvee
Jeep

USMC Rankings

Officer Rankings

Company-Grade Officers

Second lieutenant 0-1
First lieutenant 0-2
Captain 0-3

Field Officers

Major 0-4
Lieutenant Colonel 0-5
Colonel 0-6

General Officers

Brigadier General 0-7
Major General 0-8
Lieutenant General 0-9
General 0-10

War Time and Special Grades

Fleet Admiral 0-11(war time)
Admiral of the Navy 0-12(special grade)

Field Rankings

The Purple Heart

The purple heart is an award given to a service man or woman serving in any American military branch that has been wounded or killed as result of enemy action. The award is given to soldiers in the name of the president of the US after April 5, 1917. The purple heart is the oldest military award still given to this day. It dates back to August 7, 1782, being presented by president George Washington, who had named it the Badge of Military Merit at the time. If a service man or woman is killed or wounded from any enemy action it is automatic they will receive a purple heart. All though it is automatic the presentation of the purple heart must still be reviewed to make sure such injuries were due to enemy action. The purple heart is a great honor and award and recipients are extremely proud.

History of USMC Warfare

Vietnam War

American Revolution : 1775-83
Franco-American Naval War: 1798-1800
War of 1812: 1812-1815
Creek War: 1813-14
War of Texas independence: 1836
Mexican-American war: 1846-48
US civil war: 1861-65
Spanish-American war: 1898
World War I: 1914-1918
World War II: 1939-45
Korean War: 1950-53
Vietnam War: 1960-75
Bay of pigs invasion: 1961
Grenada: 1983
Persian Golf War: 1990-91
Intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina: 1995-96
Invasion of Afghanistan: 2001
Invasion of Iraq: 2003

All though there are some wars on this list no body knew the marines served in, the marines have served in just about every American conflict dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

Boot Camp

Before marines become true marines, they must undergo extremely tough and physical training. This training is known as boot camp. In boot camp there are drill instructors who discipline and teach the marines. The drill instructors are usually always screaming or yelling at someone for something, to toughen their marines up. There are two places where these boot camps are located. One being Paris Island, South Carolina. The other being in San Diego California. The recruits west of Mississippi are more likely to be sent to the San Diego boot camp. The recruits in the east are sent to Paris Island in South Carolina, which is also where women are sent to train to become marines. While in boot camp you are not only expected to be in tip top physical shape, but also the amount of studying that is done is a large amount. On the non training days, your are training mentally, it may be how to take a part and put back together your weapon. Also it is highly recommended to start training well in advanced before arriving at boot camp. If you come in out of shape you will be placed in the PCP program (the physical conditioning platoon.) This is usually a 21 day program, but you are not allowed to be out of the program until you can do 3 pull ups, 40 sit ups in 2 minutes, and run 3 miles in 28 minutes.

United States Marine Corps

The United States Marine Corps began by the finding of the continental marines, November 10, 1775 in Philadelphia. The US Marines are one of the most feared military branches across the world. The US Marines are a very important part of Foreign policy for Americans because of their ability to respond to any American crisis

or foreign crisis immediately. The USMC is also a branch of the United States Navy.

By the early 20th century the US Marines became very highly respected in feared across the world, participating and leading America in just about every war or conflict America has been involved with.

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