Posted on Mar 8, 2017
When someone is medically retired and unable to complete recruit training, can they still be considered a Marine?
6.07K
64
37
2
2
0
Posted in these groups: H&S Bn, HQMC
Marines
Marines
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 18
13
13
0
No......just signing up, doesn't make you a Marine. You have to be able to pass all the requirements and be standing tall on graduation day before you can call yourself a Marine.
(13)
(0)
8
8
0
Not quoting any MCO here, but generally in the Corps, if you didn't make it through boot camp, you aren't a Marine. Regs technically will say you are, you're on the enlistment rolls, getting meals, lodging, pay, medical, etc & whatever separation paperwork you get sure comes from HQMC, but you didn't get through initiation. You may even rate lifetime VA bennies, but just use then and don't be trying to tell war stories at the Marine Corps League or VFW.
Just how it is.
Just how it is.
(8)
(0)
Sgt (Join to see)
MSgt George Cater Until graduation, we were nothing but maggots, shitbirds, and other names I won't mention.
(3)
(0)
4
4
0
No
According to a 1913 edition of Service Etiquette - When Commandant Biddle started the current centralized recruit training for Marines in 1911, a two part tradition was established. Enlisted recruits did not become Marines until they completed recruit training. The second part of the tradition has been unobserved and forgotten in the post-WWII era. That second part was that Officers serving with the Marines are also not Marines, unless they had served as an enlisted man prior to 1911 and gone through post or duty station recruit training, or after 1911 had completed centralized boot camp as an enlisted man.
The officers that had not earned the title Marine as enlisted men were Naval (NOT NAVY) officers, who were considered Lieutentant of Marines, Captain of Marines, etc. etc. The second part of the tradition has been unobserved and forgotten in the post-WWII era.
Way more than anyone really wanted to know.
According to a 1913 edition of Service Etiquette - When Commandant Biddle started the current centralized recruit training for Marines in 1911, a two part tradition was established. Enlisted recruits did not become Marines until they completed recruit training. The second part of the tradition has been unobserved and forgotten in the post-WWII era. That second part was that Officers serving with the Marines are also not Marines, unless they had served as an enlisted man prior to 1911 and gone through post or duty station recruit training, or after 1911 had completed centralized boot camp as an enlisted man.
The officers that had not earned the title Marine as enlisted men were Naval (NOT NAVY) officers, who were considered Lieutentant of Marines, Captain of Marines, etc. etc. The second part of the tradition has been unobserved and forgotten in the post-WWII era.
Way more than anyone really wanted to know.
(4)
(0)
CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
Maj John Bell Thank you for that interesting bit of information. "XXXXX" of Marines has a certain cachet to it. The Marine Ball I attended was organized by a fellow who referred to himself as a 'Sergeant of Marines'.
(0)
(0)
4
4
0
No. They may be our biggest supporters, but they did not cross that finish line. If we make exceptions for one, we'd have to make exceptions for others. Where would you draw the line? Phase 3? Phase 2? What about that kid who jumped to his death the moment he got picked up by a platoon?
Wanting to be a Marine does not make one a Marine. They have to cross the finish line.
Wanting to be a Marine does not make one a Marine. They have to cross the finish line.
(4)
(0)
It is my understanding from every Marine I have ever known, that unless you are handed the emblem at the end of the Crucible, then you have not earned the title of Marine.
(3)
(0)
2
2
0
I always Heard, that until you completed Marine Boot Camp you were not a Marine
and when they got Booted out, they were at one time considered a "Baby Blue Marine"... CBS's Dan Rather was One...
and when they got Booted out, they were at one time considered a "Baby Blue Marine"... CBS's Dan Rather was One...
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
Yeah, we all know that. I got NJP in 3rd Bn PISC for Violation of an Order or Regulation by calling the little darlings by terms other than private and recruit. (Collateral damage from a larger investigation into hazing & maltreatment. Once the Regimental Spies start digging....)
But we are all splitting hairs on this. That's why I worded my answer the way I did. TECHNICALLY you're a Marine from the moment you swear in at MEPS. You're on the books, you have orders saying you're Private Shmuckitelly, USMC or (USMCR). If you die in a bus or plane crash on the way to PI or SD, you'll be buried in your blues, in Arlington if your mom wants. If God forbid, some jackwad terrorist blows up your bus, you'll get a Purple Heart. Ever see a prive go on emergency leave in boot camp? They run them down to Uniforms and get them a set of Greens tailored on the spot. They don't send them out the gate in civvies. (At least they didn't back then).
The facts are that if the prives AREN'T Marines, they couldn't even be there. The DI's would be tormenting civilians and the prives could tell them to F Off and even hit the DI and not even get any brig time. Remember, you gotta be under the UCMJ to be punished under it. If you're under the UCMJ, you are sure as hell in the Marine Corps.
Now, having said all that, as I said before, technical regs is one thing, and practical day to day life, terminology and viewpoint is another. That's why I say only the silliest fool boot dumbass would EVER argue being a Marine without graduating (or completing the Crucible nowadays).
Sgt (Join to see)
Sgt (Join to see) - SSgt Gary Andrews GySgt Stephen Anderson Cpl Justin Goolsby MSG (Join to see) MSG (Join to see) MSgt Mark Bucher Cpl Michael Oeser SSG Carlos Madden SGT Ben Keen
But we are all splitting hairs on this. That's why I worded my answer the way I did. TECHNICALLY you're a Marine from the moment you swear in at MEPS. You're on the books, you have orders saying you're Private Shmuckitelly, USMC or (USMCR). If you die in a bus or plane crash on the way to PI or SD, you'll be buried in your blues, in Arlington if your mom wants. If God forbid, some jackwad terrorist blows up your bus, you'll get a Purple Heart. Ever see a prive go on emergency leave in boot camp? They run them down to Uniforms and get them a set of Greens tailored on the spot. They don't send them out the gate in civvies. (At least they didn't back then).
The facts are that if the prives AREN'T Marines, they couldn't even be there. The DI's would be tormenting civilians and the prives could tell them to F Off and even hit the DI and not even get any brig time. Remember, you gotta be under the UCMJ to be punished under it. If you're under the UCMJ, you are sure as hell in the Marine Corps.
Now, having said all that, as I said before, technical regs is one thing, and practical day to day life, terminology and viewpoint is another. That's why I say only the silliest fool boot dumbass would EVER argue being a Marine without graduating (or completing the Crucible nowadays).
Sgt (Join to see)
Sgt (Join to see) - SSgt Gary Andrews GySgt Stephen Anderson Cpl Justin Goolsby MSG (Join to see) MSG (Join to see) MSgt Mark Bucher Cpl Michael Oeser SSG Carlos Madden SGT Ben Keen
(2)
(0)
MSgt George Cater
I know I went on for more than a few words, but I thought that was clearly my point.
S/F
SSgt Gary Andrews -
S/F
SSgt Gary Andrews -
(0)
(0)
Sgt (Join to see)
MSgt George Cater Great response Master Sergeant. I went through Boot Camp in 1968 and the DI's could do whatever they wanted or call us whatever their vivid imaginations could dream up.
(1)
(0)
MSgt George Cater
Same for me as a prive in 1970 & DI 73-76. The same Recruit Training SOP with few changes was around for decades, but the "observance" and enforcement varied significantly over the years. There are more rules in place now than ever and look at what 3rd Battalion was capable of recently (my old battalion!!!).
It's very sad that some NCOs can't train within the SOP and think they know better and say "it was good for me, so...".
We actually had a Series Gunnery Sergeant tell my series at a pickup brief, after the Bn & Co CO's & Series Commander left, "Okay, now that the zeroes have left, here's what we're going to really do". And young NCOs just eat that up and go out and get into trouble. God, I love the Marine Corps, but wish it could find a way to not have these crises every few years.
Sgt (Join to see) -
It's very sad that some NCOs can't train within the SOP and think they know better and say "it was good for me, so...".
We actually had a Series Gunnery Sergeant tell my series at a pickup brief, after the Bn & Co CO's & Series Commander left, "Okay, now that the zeroes have left, here's what we're going to really do". And young NCOs just eat that up and go out and get into trouble. God, I love the Marine Corps, but wish it could find a way to not have these crises every few years.
Sgt (Join to see) -
(2)
(0)
1
1
0
What does the 'Department, Component and Branch' say on your DD Form 214 OR who issues your retirement checks, LCpl Kenneth Bean?
(1)
(0)
LCpl Kenneth Bean
I had to go check, but that field says USMC-11. Mandatory separation and honorable service, for clarification. Sorry, but I don't know how to tag people, SGM.
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google