Posted on Apr 13, 2016
Should the saying "every Marine a rifleman" be changed?
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A commonly thrown around term is "Every Marine is a rifleman" I strongly disagree with this statement as I am an 0311 Rifleman. I do agree that every Marine is expected to know how to shoot and qual annually with a rifle. Doesn't mean they're a rifleman. What does everyone else think?
Posted in these groups: 
Marines
Political Correctness
Marines Political Correctness
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 200
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I would rid of this but the reason I believe they haven't yet is due to tradition and culture.
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Capt Walter Miller
Which leads me to conclude that you don't know what you are talking about besides being an Air Force POG.
Walt
Walt
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Capt Mark Strobl
SrA Edward Vong - Eddie, Eddie, Eddie... Usually one says "Danger Close" before drawing fire upon oneself.
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Sgt Dan Catlin
When you enlist in the Maines and finish basic infantry school then you can comment and maybe be heard. Tradition and culture do play a role. It's a culture that says no mater who you are you run to the fire. A tradition still practiced where you can get yanked from your cushy job and billeted with or temporarily support the infantry. AF is a different culture, and one I don't understand. But unless you are a Marine you cannot understand that culture!
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Every Marine may not be an infantryman, but every Marine is, was, and always with be, a rifleman.
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Every Marines a rifleman no matter the MOS, regardless every Marine spends two weeks at the range then qualifies. Regardless of your MOS and your sitting at a FOB in some shit hole and the base gets hit, you grab your rifle and go to your assigned position. Your now a rifleman, it’s basically a given secondary MOS, you have the ability to save your life or perhaps another. Can other branches say that?
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For my MOS was Ch53 Helicopter Crew Chief. If I had been shot down on a mission my weapon would have been an M16 and Thats why I thank the USMC for the training on so many weapons!!!!
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LCpl, I have decided to try to comment in a positive fashion, omitting the language that I hope is still acceptable in my beloved Marine Corps, but which perhaps may be unacceptable in this forum. To do away with what you suggest, I can't even repeat it, would have John Basilone, Chesty Puller, even R. Lee Ermy turning over in their graves. Good Lord, boy, if we no longer consider every Marine a rifleman, we may as well just do away with the Corps itself, or worse...make it part of the Army. And at the very least, our motto would morph into Sometimes Fidelis 'cause our cooks and communicators and supply clerks and motor transport personnel and...well you get the idea...no longer can be called upon to come to the aid of what you consider the true grunts, our 0300s. We're all 0300s in spirit and in practice when necessary. Geez, I've got to quit voicing my opinion after a couple glasses of wine. Just pulling your leg, LCpl. Semper Fi.
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Every Marine is a rifleman. It might not be a primary MOS, but it’s still applicable. I get most don’t ruck up every week or every month, but as long as it’s required to know how to handle your rifle it applies.
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