The United States Marine Corps. (USMC) is classified as one of the six branches of the United States Armed Forces. The president of the United States is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and forms military policy with the Department of Defense (DoD) along with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). All six branches of the armed forces are among the eight uniformed services of the USA.

The current and 38th Commandant of the USMC is General David H. Berger. The current Sergeant Major is Troy E. Black. The USMC is an amphibious assault force that carries out expeditionary and amphibious assault operations. Although the USMC is considered a part of the U.S. Department of The Navy (and has been since June 30, 1834, along with its sister branch the U.S. Navy) the USMC has its own aircraft, armor, infantry, and special operation forces.

The USMC was originally founded as The Continental Marines on November 10 1775 at the Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was formed by Captain Samuel Nicholas as a resolution by the Second Continental Congress to raise two Battalions of Marines. (George Washington did not want to give up some of his own men from the Continental Army to serve on ships) Samuel Nicholas was also in turn, the first Commandant of the USMC. November 10 is also recognized as being the birthday of the Corps. By December of 1775, Nicholas had already recruited and raised a regiment of 300 Marines. The Continental Marines were originally founded to serve as armed riflemen on naval vessels and to land on the beaches of wherever they were assaulting. Their first operation was the landing at New Providence during the Battle of Nassau. By the end of the American Revolution, the Continental Marines were disbanded in April of 1783. However the Corps. was reinstituted on July 11 1798 in preparation for the Quasi-War with France. It was then that congress had the name officially changed to the United States Marine Corps.

The Eagle, Globe, and Anchor (EGA) is the official emblem and insignia of the USMC. The globe and anchor signify worldwide service and sea traditions. The spread of the eagle is a symbol of the nation itself. In its beak, the eagle holds a ribbon in its beak bearing the words “Semper Fidelis” which is the official motto of the Corps. “Semper Fidelis” is often shortened to “Semper Fi” and is Latin for “Always Faithful” The emblem was adopted by the 7th Commandant, Brigadier General Jacob Zeilin, in 1868. Along with its own emblem, the Marines also have their own song, “The Marine’s Hymn.”  The first verse goes as follows:

“From the Halls of Montezuma

To the shores of Tripoli;

We fight our country’s battles

In the air, on land, and sea;

First to fight for right and freedom

And to keep our honor clean;

We are proud to claim the title

Of United States Marine.”

You can actually learn a lot about U.S. history by analyzing the lyrics. For example, the first line is a reference to the Battle of Chapultepec, during the Mexican-American War, where a force of Marines stormed Chapultepec Castle.

To this day the USMC remains strong with around 180, 958 active duty Marines and 38, 500 Marines in the reserves, ready to be called on if they are ever needed. The Corps. also has two main recruit training depots. Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California, and Parris Island in South Carolina and always remember, Semper Fi, do or die, Oorah, Oorah!!