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Rifleman's Creed
This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine. It is my life. I
must master it as I must master my life. Without me my rifle is useless. Without
my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than
the enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I
will. My rifle and I know that what counts in war is not the rounds we fire, the
noise of our burst, or the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that
count. We will hit.
My rifle is human, even as I am human, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn
it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its
accessories, its sights and its barrel. I will keep my rifle clean and ready,
even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other.
Before God I swear this creed. My rifle and I are the defenders of my country.
We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life. So be it, until
victory is America's and there is no enemy.
Noncommissioned Officer Creed:
I am an NCO dedicated to training new Marines and influencing the old. I am
forever conscious of each Marine under my charge, and by example will inspire
him to the highest standards possible. I will strive to be patient,
understanding, just, and firm. I will commend the deserving and encourage the
wayward.
I will never forget that I am responsible to my Commanding Officer for the
morale, discipline, and efficiency of my men. Their performance will reflect an
image of me.
Staff Noncommissioned Officer Creed:
I am a Staff Noncommissioned Officer in the United States Marine Corps. As such,
I am a member of the most unique group of professional military practitioners in
the world. I am bound by duty to God, Country, and my fellow Marines to execute
the demands of my position to and beyond what I believe to be the limits of my
capabilities.
I realize I am the mainstay of Marine Corps discipline, and I carry myself with
military grace, unbowed by the weight of command, unflinching in the execution
lawful orders, and unswerving in my dedication to the most complete success of
my assigned mission.
Both my professional and personal demeanor shall be such that I may take pride
if my juniors emulate me, and knowing perfection to lie beyond the grasp of any
mortal hand, I shall yet strive to attain perfection that I may ever be aware of
my needs and capabilities to improve myself. I shall be fair in my personal
relations, just in the enforcement of discipline, true to myself and my fellow
Marines, and equitable in my dealing with every man.
Drill Instructor Creed:
These are my recruits. I will train them to the best of my
ability. I will develop them into smartly disciplined, physically fit,
basically trained Marines, thoroughly indoctrinated in love of Corps and
country. I will demand of them, and demonstrate by my own example, the highest
standards of personal conduct, morality, and professional skill.
Core Values:
Honor: Honor requires each Marine to
exemplify the ultimate standard in ethical and moral conduct. Honor is many
things; honor requires many things. A U.S. Marine must never lie, never cheat,
never steal, but that is not enough. Much more is required. Each Marine must
cling to an uncompromising code of personal integrity, accountable for his
actions and holding others accountable for theirs. And, above all, honor
mandates that a Marine never sully the reputation of his Corps.
Courage: Simply stated, courage is honor
in action -- and more. Courage is moral strength, the will to heed the inner
voice of conscience, the will to do what is right regardless of the conduct of
others. It is mental discipline, an adherence to a higher standard. Courage
means willingness to take a stand for what is right in spite of adverse
consequences. This courage, throughout the history of the Corps, has sustained
Marines during the chaos, perils, and hardships of combat. And each day, it
enables each Marine to look in the mirror -- and smile.
Commitment: Total dedication to Corps and
Country. Gung-ho Marine teamwork. All for one, one for all. By whatever name or
cliché, commitment is a combination of (1) selfless determination and (2) a
relentless dedication to excellence. Marines never give up, never give in, never
willingly accept second best. Excellence is always the goal. And, when their
active duty days are over, Marines remain reserve Marines, retired Marines, or
Marine veterans. There is no such thing as an ex-Marine or former-Marine. Once a
Marine, always a Marine. Commitment never dies. |
