FMFQO / FMFWO 101: Navy and Marine Corps History, Customs and Courtesies Fundamentals
"Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue"
- February 1945 - Battle on Iwo Jima - Largest all-Marine battle in history -Coined by Admiral Nimitz
Marine Corps Birthday
-10 November 1775
Discuss the origin of the Marine Corps
-10 November, 1775 in Philadelphia at Tun Tavern -By a resolution of the Continental Congress -"Raised two battalions of Marines" -First commandant was Capt Samuel Nicholas
"Leatherneck"
-1775-1875 -This nickname dates back to the leather stock, or neckpiece worn as part of uniform
Significance of the scarlet trouser stripe
-1798 - 1st appearance -Reappeared 1840 & 1859 -Legend - Represents the blood spilled at the Battle of Chapultepec, 1846
Significance of Quatrefoil
-1859 -Interwoven braid in shape of cross of figure eights, found on top of Marine officer barracks covers -To separate Marines for snipers
Marine Corps Emblem
-1868 - Adopted by Commandant, General Zeilin -Prior to adoption, Marines wore various emblems based on EGA -What we stand for, our past, and our future
Battle of Belleau Wood
-1918 - World War I -Marines vs. Germans -Genesis of "Devil Dogs"
"Devil Dog"
-1918 Battle of Belleau Wood -Germans called Marines "Teufelhunden" -Translated as "Devil Dogs"
Presley Neville O'Bannon
-1st Lieutenant -Battle for fortress of Derna (Tripoli) -Hoist flag in Eastern Hemisphere -Awarded Mameluke sword
Montford Point Marines
-20,000 African American Men trained there -1942-1949 -Served in battle in the Pacific -Paved way for diversity in the Marine Corps
Battle of Bladensberg
-AUG 1814 -103 Marines & 400 Sailors vs. 4,000 British Soldiers -Stopped 3 head-on attacks before being outflanked
Battle of Guadalcanal
-AUG 1942 -1st MARDIV -1st combat test of new amphibious doctrine -Turning point of war
"Semper Fidelis"
-Adopted 1883 -Latin for "Always Faithful"
Service Alpha "A" Uniform
-All green dress uniform, combo cover. -Prescribed for parades, ceremonies, social events, and as the uniform of the day. -Also Courts Martial, Official Visits, White House visits, Checking into Command -Equivalent to Navy Dress Blues / Dress Whites
Battle of Okinawa
-April 1945 -Largest action of WWII -MGen Roy S. Geiger assumed command of 10th Army Division - only Marine officer to command a field Army
Dress Blue Uniform
-Black Top, Blue Bottoms -Worn at high level events (Black Tie)
Archibald Henderson
-Brevet Brigadier General -39 years as Commandant of the Marine Corps -"Grand Old Man of the Marine Corps" (1820-1859) -Indian Wars; War with Mexico; Opening of China; Disorder in Central America
Margaret A. Brewer
-Brigadier General -7th & last director of Women Marines -1st woman general officer in Marines (11 MAY 1978)
Joseph L. Foss
-Captain - Pilot -Medal of Honor - Guadalcanal -Instrumental in taking airfield -2nd highest ace (26 kills)
Battle Colors/Standards
-Carried by FMF units -Units name followed by FMF -Streamers displayed below mast head
Organizational Colors/Standards
-Carried by supporting establishment commands -Scroll on flag says "United States Marine Corps"
Annie L. Grimes
-Chief Warrant Officer -3rd Black woman to become a Marine -1st to retire (full 20)
Ira H. Hayes
-Corporal -Battle of Iwo Jima - Raised flag on Mt. Suribachi -Pima Indian
Battle of Wake Island
-DEC 1941 -Fell to Japanese on 23 DEC 1941
Battle of Iwo Jima
-FEB 1945 -Largest all-Marine battle -Bloodiest - 23,300 casualties -"Uncommon valor was a common virtue"
Significance of French Fourragere
-For units cited 2 or more times in the French Orders -Only the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments have earned
"First to Fight"
-Forefront of every American war since founding -Entered the Revolution in 1775 -Carried out more than 300 landings on foreign shores -Record of readiness reflects pride, responsibility and challenge
"Esprit De Corps"
-Implies devotion and loyalty to the Marine Corps -Deep regard for its history, traditions and honor -Epitome of pride in a unit.
Battle of New Orleans
-JAN 1815 -General Andrew Jackson in command -British lost approx 2,000; US lost <100
2nd Battle of Khe Sanh
-JAN 1968 -Defended fire base against 2 NVA Divisions -Held-out for 2.5 months until enemy withdrawl
Battle of Hue City
-JAN 1968 -Tet Offensive; Near division sized unit of NVA -Fought in built-up area for the 1st time since the Korean War; no heavy weapons to minimize civilian casualties -City secured 25 FEB 1968
Battle of the Mariana Islands
-June & July 1943 -Landings on Saipan, Guam, & Tinian -LGen Holland Smith led 136,000+ Marines and Sailors -Greatest number of troops up to that time to operate in the field under a Marine commander
Service Bravo "B" Uniform
-Khaki blouse (long sleeve), tie, green trousers, garrison cover -Worn: duty, ceremonies, Friday -NOT worn for formal events -Equivalent to Navy winter working uniform
Service Charlie "C" Uniform
-Khaki blouse (short sleeve), green trousers, garrison cover -Worn: duty, ceremonies, Friday -NOT worn for formal events -Equivalent to Navy summer working uniform
Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller
-Lieutenant General -Nicaragua - "Tiger of the Mountains" -USMC mascot English Bulldog named for him
Gregory R. "Pappy" Boyington
-Major -VMH-214, Black Sheep Squadron -Top ace (28 kills)
John A. Lejeune
-Major General -13th Commandant (1920-1929) -1st Marine to command Army Division in combat (France, 1918)
Smedley D. Butler
-Major General -2 Medals of Honor - Veracruz & 1st Caco War
Navajo Code Talkers
-May 1942 - 1st 29 attended boot camp (1942-1945) -Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Peleliu, Iwo Jima -375-420 served as code talkers;
Molly Marine
-Monument in New Orleans -For women who serve, and have served -Dedicated 10 NOV 1943 -First statue of a woman in uniform in the US
Battle of Tarawa
-NOV 1943 -Japanese commander boasted - "100 years to take island" -Marines secured within 76 hours -Heavy losses paid (Due largely to reef)
Battle of Chosin Reservoir
-NOV 1950 -10 divisions of Chinese ct off Marines -Marines smashed 7 divisions -Retrograded all operable equipment, properly evacuated wounded and dead, & maintained tactical integrity
Significance of Mameluke Sword
-Officer's sword -Prince Hamet Bey presented to 1stLt Presley O'Bannon after actions in Tripoli -Gold hilt, Ivory handle, Curved blade
Significance of NCO sword
-Only NCOs in US military who still have the privilege of carrying what is considered an "officer's sword" -Rates as one of the oldest U.S.weapons still in use (behind Mameluke) -Limited to when in charge of troops on ceremonial occasions
Opha Mae Johnson
-Private -1st enlisted woman (13 AUG 1918) -"Skirt Marines" or "Marinettes"
Dan Daly
-Sergeant Major -2 Medals of Honor - Boxer Rebellion & 1st Caco War -Battle of Belleau Wood - "Come on, you sons of a bitch, do you want to live forever?"
John H. Quick
-Sergeant Major -Medal of Honor - Guantanamo Bay -Semaphoring for lift of naval bombardment
Guidons
-Small rectangular flags in MC colors -Carried by companies, batteries, or dets
Colors/Standards
-Specialized flags carried by units -Marine Corps is scarlet with gold fringe trim -Colors carried; Standards mounted
Marine Corps Birthday Customs
-The Drill and Ceremonies Manual -Formations and parades as practical -Read Lejune's birthday message -1st cake to oldest; 2nd to youngest
A in EGA
Anchor -Maritime Tradition -Fouled anchor
USMC Enlisted Ranks
E1 - Private - No Chevron E2 - PFC - 1 Chevron E3 - LCpl - 1 Chevron E4 - Cpl - 2 Chevrons, Cross Rifles E5 - Sgt - 3 Chevrons, Cross Rifles E6 - SSgt - 3 Chevrons, Cross Rifles, 1 Rocker E7 - GySgt - 3 Chevrons, Cross Rifles, 2 Rockers E8 - MSgt - 3 Chevrons, Cross Rifles, 3 Rockers E8 - 1stSgt - 3 Chevrons, Diamond, 3 Rockers E9 - MGySgt - 3 Chevrons, Gernade, 4 Rockers E9 - SgtMaj - 3 Chevrons, Star, 4 Rockers E9 - Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps - 4 rockers, EGA and 2 stars in center
FMFQO/FMFWO Insignia
EGA -Eagle Globe and anchor at the center, making that the wearer is a member of the Navy/Marine Corps team. Background -Surf waves crashing on the sandy beach (the littoral zone), the place where Sailors serve along side Marines. Reflects doctrine of the time "Operational Maneuver from the Sea (OMFTS)." Cross Rifles -Symbolize the warrior ethos and rifleman ethic that the FMFWO program is designed to instill in Sailors assigned to the Marine Corps. Scroll -Programs are a distinct part of Navy culture, it is appropriate our program be titled after the role in which Marine Forces are tied to the Navy.
E in EGA
Eagle -Proud Country -Crested eagle, not bald eagle -Spread eagle -Motto "Semper Fidelis" in beak
What is the Marine Corps Emblem?
Eagle Globe and Anchor -Emblem of USMC -Adopted in 1868 from British (Royal) Marines
G in EGA
Globe -Global Service -Western Hemisphere, shows that we are Americans
USMC Officer Ranks
O1 - 2nd Lt - 1 gold bar O2 - 1st Lt - 1 silver bar O3 - Capt - 2 silver bars O4 - Maj - gold oak leaf O5 - LCol - silver oak leaf O6 - Col - Eagle clinching arrows O7 - Brig Gen - 1 Stars O8 - Maj Gen - 2 Stars O9 - Lt Gen - 3 Stars O10 - General - 4 Stars
USMC Warrant Officer Ranks
W1 - CWO1 - 2 Red / 1 Gold W2 - CWO2 - 3 Red / 2 Gold W3 - CWO3 - 2 Red / 1 Silver W4 - CWO4 - 3 Red / 1 Silver W5 - CWO5 - 1 Red / Silver