Posted on Dec 30, 2013
Should former Marines who join another service give up the Title?
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I first joined the Army and after my enlistment, I joined the Marine Corps. I no longer call myself a Soldier, but a Marine. Should former Marines give up the title of Marine once they join another branch of service? It's analogous to a woman taking the name of her husband, then once the marriage has ended, she re-marries and takes her new husband's name. Me, I'm married to the Corps!
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Responses: 358
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Why? They went through the hardship of bootcamp and training. Now with that said they would not be able to use the Title while being active in another service.
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Can always be a Marine in his or her heart, but when you move from one ranch to another the brand gets changed. What is the old saying,"a rose is still a rose by any other name"!!??
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OK - so ROAST me, but here's a simple thought -
As they say, grave headstones list the date you were born and the date you died, but people are judged one their accomplishments between those dates. Nobody is born a Marine, so I can reliably say that one's life must be comprised of much more than the limited time spent AS a Marine.
And, just because you WERE a Marine does not mean that you continue to live today with the honesty, integrity and reliability that's normally associated with the uniform (nor is it a guarantee that you EVER did).
In fact, if you lived every day as a civilian with the same vigor and preparedness, and with the same disregard for downrange danger as a Marine, then you should be a hugely accomplished civilian, with "Marine" being a part you can barely see in your rear view mirror.
I've worn three uniforms, but at the end of the day, I'm only a PERSON who's been built with the parts that I accumulated during life.
It's what I do with my background, integrity, commitment to God and country, my family and other veterans, and my demonstrated reliability of always being there to cover my colleague's back that now matters.
I will be judged more on what I do tomorrow, rather than what I did (or "who" I was) yesterday.
As they say, grave headstones list the date you were born and the date you died, but people are judged one their accomplishments between those dates. Nobody is born a Marine, so I can reliably say that one's life must be comprised of much more than the limited time spent AS a Marine.
And, just because you WERE a Marine does not mean that you continue to live today with the honesty, integrity and reliability that's normally associated with the uniform (nor is it a guarantee that you EVER did).
In fact, if you lived every day as a civilian with the same vigor and preparedness, and with the same disregard for downrange danger as a Marine, then you should be a hugely accomplished civilian, with "Marine" being a part you can barely see in your rear view mirror.
I've worn three uniforms, but at the end of the day, I'm only a PERSON who's been built with the parts that I accumulated during life.
It's what I do with my background, integrity, commitment to God and country, my family and other veterans, and my demonstrated reliability of always being there to cover my colleague's back that now matters.
I will be judged more on what I do tomorrow, rather than what I did (or "who" I was) yesterday.
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MSgt Brad Campbell
Your concept, or theory is in line with the old adage, "What got me there, won't get me here." While I agree, we cannot abandon what we know, this is the center of our soul, or belief, and our ethos that guide us in our current "lives." I think way too many former Marines, soldiers, sailors, and others link way too much to their pasts, or do they? Depends on what they do, the respect they receive from their service, and what they hold dear. It is an age old question, and one to ponder, and I thank you for your service to three services if i've read this right; however, I would disagree in that my integrity, honesty, and reliability are likely stronger now than when I was in the Corps. At any rate, everyone has an opinion, and they are all valuable, thank you for sharing yours.
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MSgt (Join to see) I am that Marine you speak of in your question. I am a Marine (5 years Active Enlisted, 3 years Drilling IRR). I am also an Army Officer. I left the Marines after 8 years and took a 6 month hiatus. I then enlisted in the Army, joined ROTC and received a Commission. My time in the Marine Corps shaped my entire life including my Army Career. I can honestly say that I have only achieved what I have in life because of the lessons I learned in boot camp.
If the Corps fundamentally believes in Once a Marine, Always a Marine, and that we take a civilian, a mere recruit worthy of nothing, and forge them into a Marine you can’t then come out later on and say if you leave the service and join another branch you are no longer one of us. In every unit that I have served in the National Guard, I have served with other Marines. We all stand out, we know who we are and it comes from the Boot Camp experience. The bond that was forged and shared either in San Diego or Parris Island does not depart us because change the uniform we wear, just like it doesn’t change when we stop wearing a uniform. The brotherhood doesn’t cease to exist because I wear the ACU vis the MarPat.
If the Corps fundamentally believes in Once a Marine, Always a Marine, and that we take a civilian, a mere recruit worthy of nothing, and forge them into a Marine you can’t then come out later on and say if you leave the service and join another branch you are no longer one of us. In every unit that I have served in the National Guard, I have served with other Marines. We all stand out, we know who we are and it comes from the Boot Camp experience. The bond that was forged and shared either in San Diego or Parris Island does not depart us because change the uniform we wear, just like it doesn’t change when we stop wearing a uniform. The brotherhood doesn’t cease to exist because I wear the ACU vis the MarPat.
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No. It is an earned title, like that of a Doctor... when a Doctor retires or moves on from their practice, they still keep the title that their Phd earned them, why should Marines stop using their earned title? I've been a Veteran civilian since 1985, but I am still a Marine because I earned the right to be so.
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I'm in the army with a lot of former marines I don't care as long as they do their job but everybody always reflects on their glory days ie high school, college, or previous jobs
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With all due respect, that's a ridiculous question.
It's like asking "should people who are 30 years ole ever give up the fact they were once 20 years old?
I've served wearing the uniform of the Army, Navy and Marines. That's not a "title", it's merely a fact.
Keeping honest with the facts ... well, it keeps people transparent and honest.
"Titles" should not be so important. Service to country - and SERVICE (active or veteran) should be the "title" we endeavor to be recognized for. After all, only about 2% of the US population has professionally served.
It's like asking "should people who are 30 years ole ever give up the fact they were once 20 years old?
I've served wearing the uniform of the Army, Navy and Marines. That's not a "title", it's merely a fact.
Keeping honest with the facts ... well, it keeps people transparent and honest.
"Titles" should not be so important. Service to country - and SERVICE (active or veteran) should be the "title" we endeavor to be recognized for. After all, only about 2% of the US population has professionally served.
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I have great respect to anyone who joins the service, leaves, then comes back. I've known plenty of Marines who swapped over to the Army. Once a Marine, always a Marine. Works with all the other services too.
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