The Symbols of our Corps
McArthur: In the Marine Corps one of the first things you learn, no matter Officer or Enlisted, is our traditions, our history. It all starts with Tun Tavern, 1775, when the Marine Corps came alive.
Marine (off camera): The Marine Corps flag is one of the many prides of the Marine Corps. It embodies the emblem of the Marine Corps: the Eagle, the Globe and the Anchor.
Haynes: The Eagle represents our nation, the globe represents worldwide service and the anchor represents Naval traditions.
Smauley: The Eagle Globe and Anchor is a very prized possession. You receive the Eagle Globe and Anchor after the Crucible. That's the actual moment where you become a Marine.
Marine (off camera): Officers and Enlisted both are awarded swords in the United States Marine Corps. Officers carry the Mameluke Sword presented to Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon in Tripoli. The historical significance of the NCO sword is that in 1859 it was awarded to Marines by the Commandant of the Marine Corps for their leadership in battle.
Atoyan: I take an extreme amount of pride in my uniforms; every day that I put them on I think about what it means to me and how I earned it.
Valerio: NCOs and above wear that blood stripe on their leg, and it represents the bloodshed the Marines have faced in the past, and you're part of that, you're representing that.
Ward: In describing what it's like to continue to progress and get promoted in the Marine Corps, at each step you're promoted it's not a recognition of what you've done in the past, but an acknowledgement of what they think you're capable of in the future.
Atoyan: Each rank carries a great amount of responsibility and respect.
Marine (off camera): Ribbons are personal decorations or awards that represent things you've done in the Marine Corps or places that you've been in the Marine Corps.
Hooge: I'm proud to be a Marine because of the history and the tradition. You know, it goes so deep, and even just being in the Marine Corps eight years and what I've learned now, I've barely scratched the surface. It's an honor just to be a part of it.
