Do Marine Officers and SNCOs carry the swagger stick tradition?

2019-08-01T11:40:40-04:00

The reason I ask is that SNCOs are the keepers of customs and traditions, and I found the issue of the swagger stick an interesting one.

There was a post a few years ago regarding the swagger stick for Marine Officers and SNCOs. I did some research into its origins from the Roman Empire's vine staff. It was carried by centurion's. It is even mentioned in the classic literature Ovid: "the good general commits the [vine staff] to one to command one hundred." This alluded that General's gave Commanders the authority over the physical discipline and command of their troops via the staff.

I was searching for a gift for a prior service Marine, who is now an Army Engineer Officer, and found a British engineer swagger stick used during WWI to gift him. It was through this research that I found that some European militaries still carry it as a sign of command.

However, according to the Marine Corps Times, Commandant Randolph M. Pate encouraged its use as recent as 1960, but Commandant Gen. Louis H. Wilson banned the carry of them while in uniform in 1977.

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/did-any-officers-and-or-staff-ncos-carry-a-swagger-stick

Did Any Officers And/Or Staff NCOs Carry A Swagger Stick??? | RallyPoint

Swagger Sticks were very popular when I served but today's Marines probably never heard of them.

Response by SFC Michael D. made Aug 1 at 2019 12:57 PM

2019-08-01T12:57:22-04:00

I thought only the Brit's did that.

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Aug 1 at 2019 2:37 PM

2019-08-01T14:37:08-04:00

I have never see one .

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2019 2:55 PM

2019-08-01T14:55:15-04:00

I never saw one, but I'm not Ole Corps. The ROK Marines do, or did in 1990 when I was there. They are some hard Marines, and can handle themselves. I saw training at the ROKMC Division base near Pohang and it was used frequently.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Aug 1 at 2019 8:29 PM

2019-08-01T20:29:27-04:00

I wasn't aware that General Wilson banned them, but General Shoup basically did away with them in January, 1960. Shoup had little use for frivolity and emphasized uniforms and equipment that was useful in combat or the field. Upon assuming his duties as CMC, he issued a statement to the effect that if you felt the need for a swagger stick, you could carry it. He did not carry one and the general attitude became the stick was a phallic symbol only necessary for those who were not otherwise equipped and carrying them died out almost immediately.
Although I never carried it, I did buy one off a clearance table at the Quantico PX as an historical curiosity. Don't know what happened to it over the years, but as I said, I never felt the need to carry it!