Is A Marine Who You Are Or Who You Were?

This is a very hot topic for some Marines (active and vets).

Most Marines, take earning the title of “U.S. Marine” very seriously and they carry it for life, while others, would rather leave that life behind them, for whatever reason. For me, I’m very much torn and let me explain my thoughts on this.

I earned the title in 1988 and was on active duty until 1998. Today, I’m still proud that I was a Marine, but if it wasn’t for my family, I honestly would have left that life behind me. My family keeps me in a constant supply of USMC shirts, hats, and other items to show that I am a Marine.

I just can’t think of myself as a real Marine. Yeah, I went to a real USMC boot camp (MCRD San Diego from March to May ’88). Yeah, I served all ten years honorably and was discharged by choice with an Honorable Discharge at the rank of E-6 / SSgt. Yeah, I deployed when and where I was ordered. But, I never saw combat, and thus, I feel like I’m not a real Marine. Granted, I didn’t have any real opportunities to serve in combat, with only two Marines from my unit (Marine Support Battalion Company Hotel, Homestead, Florida) being sent to Desert Shield / Storm.

September 11, 2001, like many Americans, I was pissed at what happened and I wanted payback, but it never crossed my mind that I could re-enlist again. At the time I was working as a Government civilian at an Intelligence organization for the Marine Corps, so I was doing my part, but not as a Marine, I was considered a “Marine Civilian”.

This weighs on me pretty heavily at times as I just don’t feel like I deserve or live up to the title “Marine“.

Lately, it seems like combat Marines are trying to put a wedge between them and the rest of the Corps that hasn’t seen combat. I fully understand that there are hundreds of MOSs and billets that are not combat MOSs, they are support billets and if it wasn’t for the support billets, then the combat Marines would not be as effective. My MOS was a support-type billet. I was in the Intelligence field, SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) actually.

But this post isn’t about combat vs non-combat Marines, it’s about how some Marines have adopted the philosophy that once you are out of the Corps, then you are out and you should drop all the Marine stuff, stop wearing the USMC hat and shirts and all that kind of stuff.

I disagree with that and feel that proud Marine veterans are part of the recruitment program for the Corps. I know that growing up, I saw Marine vets around me and that helped me decide that I wanted to be a Marine. Furthermore, I feel that if you earned the title, then you can wear Marine garb all you want, period, it is your personal choice and if someone doesn’t like it, then they can simply piss off, regardless if you saw combat or not.

You earned the title, be proud of that. After all less than 1% of the U.S. population has either served in the Corps or is serving today.