Should the saying "every Marine a rifleman" be changed?

The "every Marine a rifleman" means more than most have addressed. It also means that you understand how the Corps functions and conducts itself in extreme situations. Read your history books about the Corps. There have been many situations where the "remington raider" or the supply clerk stepped forward and assumed control, effectively using the assets, including personnel, around them to accomplish what had to be done. While you're looking, find the story of the pilot whose helicopter was shot down that assumed command of the infantry and recon Marines in the area and led them for five days against overwhelming odds back to the friendly lines. Could an infantry or recon officer have done better? We'll never know will we, but the guys he got back home had no complaints.

Be proud of what you've learned through your training, but never underestimate the effectiveness or capabilities of the Marine two steps behind you in the chow line.

The Marines
Nowadays get more infantry training than in my day. They all go through MCT. Good enough for me.

it's just a word big deal

They are a rifleman because that's how the Corps defines a rifleman. Being a rifleman does not make someone an infantryman. That's a different skill set.

NO

I'll go with a quote of name forgotten pilot's quote when asked. "I am a rifleman currently assigned to fly a jet." It's the attitude more than the weapon carried or serviced, the job assigned to feed or clothe or keep records that determines who is a rifleman. After active duty as a disbursing man, I joined a ready reserve infantry company, and found little if any difference between myself and others who joined to defend this country and its Constitution against ALL enemies, foreign or domestic. Our job is, always has been, always will be, to locate, close with, and destroy the enemy. That is what makes every Marine a rifleman.

I'm proud of my shooting skills, and continued the Corps tradition of wearing my marksmanship medals as an Army Warrant Officer (elsewhere detailed on this site).
The truth of "every Marine a rifleman" was made clear to me long before I enlisted by the experience of my older brother (a career Marine) in Korea. He was then a Gunnery Sergeant, serving in his career field of Personnel. Even so, he was proud to qualify as an expert rifleman every year.
When all hell broke loose with the Red China troops streaming over the Yalu River, he dropped his typewriter and grabbed his M-1.
He had a twisted right pinky finger. He caught a piece of shrapnel there while in a firefight, pulled it out with his teeth, and resumed engaging the enemy. He never asked for a Purple Heart, even though he was most certainly wounded in combat with the enemy. He considered it too minor a wound for such a decoration.
I leave to your imagination what he thought of Sen. Kerry and his three Purple Hearts, awarded to Kerry without so much as one light duty chit for all three "wounds".
Semper Fi.

I'm no Marine so I'll stay out of this one.

I think more emphasis should be placed on infantry training for all MOS's. I came in under Al Gray and this was beginning to come to the fore then . Any marine can end up in combat , even us Airedales so it's important.

As a former Army 12B (Combat Engineer), I don't think the Marine Corps should "deep six" that motto " Every Marine is a rifleman" because that is what sets you apart from us Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Coasties. In the Army, we still do have people in other MOS fields that do not see themselves as rifle carrying soldiers but as that particular MOS and don't envision themselves defending their FOB or outpost against an organized attack but tours in Iraq and Afghanistan changed that. You Marines, albeit your MOS have been trained to be basic riflemen and therefore, your infantry side of the house can confidently know, they will have back-up even if the Marines are not up to the standards of a well trained 0311.