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136-767: The United States Marine Band is the premier band of the United States Marine Corps . Established by act of Congress on July 11, 1798, it is the oldest of the United States military bands and the oldest professional musical organization in the United States. Today, the Marine Band includes the Marine Chamber Orchestra and Marine Chamber Ensembles. The Marine Band is entirely separate from its sister military band,

272-402: A colour officer, one ensign or senior NCO holding the flag of their respective country as the national colour or the unit colour, and two enlisted personnel assisting the ensign. Active units, military academies, and guards of honour carry sabers in the colour guard, if needed, rifles may be substituted. The guard wears full or combat dress uniform. If there are multiple colour guards marching in

408-509: A comparatively minor role in the European theater . Nonetheless, they did continue to provide security detachments to U.S. embassies and ships, contributed personnel to small special ops teams dropped into Nazi-occupied Europe as part of Office of Strategic Services (OSS, the precursor to the CIA ) missions, and acted as staff planners and trainers for U.S. Army amphibious operations, including

544-691: A dignitary (such as the President of the Republic ) or a military leader (such as the Chief of the Defence Staff ). Colour guards of the Bundeswehr follow the old German traditions of a three-man colour guard team. A tradition stemming from the days of empire, the colour guard is made up of an ensign, usually a senior NCO (and historically a lieutenant), and two unarmed escorts. In Indonesia ,

680-422: A maneuver derived from the standard counter-column command, generally known as counter march or color reverse march , in order to keep the precedence of flags in order. Other drill movements performed by the colour guard include presenting arms , left and right wheel (turns) marches, eyes right (upon passing the reviewing stand during a parade), casing / uncasing the colour , and fixing/unfixing bayonets (by

816-588: A message from U.S. Representative Gordon L. McDonough . McDonough had urged President Truman to add Marine representation on the Joint Chiefs of Staff . President Truman, writing in a letter addressed to McDonough, stated, "The Marine Corps is the Navy's police force and as long as I am President that is what it will remain. They have a propaganda machine that is almost equal to Stalin's ." McDonough then inserted President Truman's letter , dated 29 August 1950, into

952-663: A parade at the same time, one guard is required to march directly behind the first guard. During the Soviet era, the Soviet flag was never allowed to be paraded by a military colour guard, with military and regimental flags only being paraded in colour guards. On occasion during the Soviet era, the Victory Banner was also used in colour guard teams, with the last known occasions being in 1975, 1977, 1985, 1987 and 1990. However, several post-Soviet armed forces have deviated/modified

1088-410: A regiment by a head of state during a ceremony, which was considered a high honour usually reserved for elite units, and colours may be inscribed with battle honours or other symbols representing former achievements. Due to the advent of modern weapons, and subsequent changes in tactics, colours are no longer used in battle but continue to be carried by colour guards at events of formal character. In

1224-770: A rigorous audition procedure. Members must satisfy additional security and physical requirements to be eligible. Selected band members serve under a four-year contract as active duty enlisted Marines and are subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and physical standards. Members of The President's Own and the United States Coast Guard Band are the only members of the United States Armed Forces not required to undergo recruit training and do not perform combat missions. Also, they are not assigned to any unit other than

1360-469: A sash, embroidered with the band's crest and the Marine Corps' battle honors, as well as miniatures of personal medals. Leaders: Drum Majors: Sousa composed several of his finest marches, including Semper Fidelis , while serving as director of the Marine Band. Thomas Powell Knox joined the Marine Band in 1961 as a trumpet player and moved to the arranging staff in 1966. Three years later, Knox

1496-781: A ship's landing force, manning the ship's weapons and providing shipboard security. Marine detachments were augmented by members of the ship's company for landing parties, such as in the First Sumatran expedition of 1832 and continuing in the Caribbean and Mexican campaigns of the early 20th centuries. Marines developed tactics and techniques of amphibious assault on defended coastlines in time for use in World War II. During World War II, Marines continued to serve on capital ships, and some were assigned to man anti-aircraft batteries. In 1950, President Harry Truman responded to

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1632-686: A single command provides a smoother implementation of combined-arms warfare principles. The close integration of disparate Marine units stems from an organizational culture centered on the infantry. Every other Marine capability exists to support the infantry. Unlike some Western militaries, the Corps remained conservative against theories proclaiming the ability of new weapons to win wars independently. For example, Marine aviation has always been focused on close air support and has remained largely uninfluenced by air power theories proclaiming that strategic bombing can single-handedly win wars. This focus on

1768-610: A strength of 2,400 officers and 70,000 enlisted. African-Americans were entirely excluded from the Marine Corps during this conflict. Opha May Johnson was the first woman to enlist in the Marines; she joined the Marine Corps Reserve in 1918 during World War I, officially becoming the first female Marine. From then until the end of World War I, 305 women enlisted in the Corps. During the Battle of Belleau Wood in 1918,

1904-463: Is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) that integrates a ground combat element , an aviation combat element , and a logistics combat element under a common command element . While the creation of joint commands under the Goldwater–Nichols Act has improved interservice coordination between each branch, the Corps's ability to permanently maintain integrated multielement task forces under

2040-523: Is celebrated as the birthday of the Marine Corps . Nicholas was nominated to lead the Marines by John Adams . By December 1775, Nicholas raised one battalion of 300 men by recruitment in his home city of Philadelphia. In January 1776, the Marines went to sea under the command of Commodore Esek Hopkins and in March undertook their first amphibious landing, the Battle of Nassau in the Bahamas, occupying

2176-549: Is enshrined in the United States Flag Code and U.S. law. In the U.S. military, individuals or units passing or being passed by uncased (unfurled) colours render honours when outdoors. Individuals who are not part of any formation begin the hand salute when the colours are six paces distant and hold it until they have passed six paces beyond the colours. Civilians are expected to stand at the position of attention with their right hand placed over their heart for

2312-568: Is recited, even though it's not mandated by law to do so, and finally the colour guard march off. Normally, the honour of being part of such colour guards—or as known in Mexico escoltas —is bestowed upon disciplined students with high grades in the latest school year (6th grade in elementary schools, 9th grade in middle schools, and 12th grade in high schools). Sometimes, though, students from lower years or with lower grades may be chosen. Some schools only employ female students. The layout consists of

2448-559: Is that they are of an expeditionary nature, using the mobility of the Navy to provide timely intervention in foreign affairs on behalf of American interests. The Marine Band , dubbed the "President's Own" by John Adams , provides music for state functions at the White House . Marines from Ceremonial Companies A & B, quartered in Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. , guard presidential retreats, including Camp David , and

2584-571: Is where the Union set up the artillery barrage to bombard Fort Pulaski. In April and May 1862, Marines participated in the capture and occupation of New Orleans and the occupation of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, key events in the war that helped secure Union control of the lower Mississippi River basin and denied the Confederacy a major port and naval base on the Gulf Coast . The remainder of

2720-564: The Congressional Record . Congressmen and Marine organizations reacted, calling President Truman's remarks an insult, and demanded an apology. Truman apologized to the Marine commandant at the time, writing, "I sincerely regret the unfortunate choice of language which I used in my letter of August 29 to Congressman McDonough concerning the Marine Corps." While Truman had apologized for his metaphor, he did not alter his position that

2856-515: The 38th Parallel until the 1953 armistice . During the war, the Corps expanded from 75,000 regulars to a force of 261,000 marines, mostly reservists; 30,544 marines were killed or wounded during the war, and 42 were awarded the Medal of Honor . The Marine Corps served in the Vietnam War , taking part in such battles as the Battle of Hue and the Battle of Khe Sanh in 1968. Individuals from

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2992-647: The Barbary pirates , when William Eaton and First Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon led 8 marines and 500 mercenaries in an effort to capture Tripoli . Though they only reached Derna , the action at Tripoli has been immortalized in the Marines' Hymn and the Mameluke sword carried by Marine officers. During the War of 1812 , Marine detachments on Navy ships took part in some of the great frigate duels that characterized

3128-459: The Colour of the institution. The Pataka are modeled from the former Dutch practice and is led by a colour sergeant positioned at the middle of the guard (rear of the ensign), while the ensign who carries the colour is usually a junior lieutenant (2nd Lieutenant or Ensign). For a battalion level, the colour is carried by a Sergeant / chief petty officer . In the case of a massed colour guard,

3264-564: The Commonwealth of Nations , including Australia , Canada , Jamaica , New Zealand , and the United Kingdom . A colour guard unit typically consists of the standard-bearer , who is of the rank of second lieutenant or equivalent (pilot officer or sub-lieutenant), positioned in the centre of the colour guard, flanked by two or more individuals, typically armed with rifles or sabres. A colour sergeant major typically stands behind

3400-574: The Continental Marines ) [REDACTED] Joint Meritorious Unit Award [REDACTED] Navy Unit Commendation [REDACTED] Valorous Unit Award [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Meritorious Unit Commendation [REDACTED] French Croix de guerre 1914–1918 [REDACTED] Philippine Presidential Unit Citation [REDACTED] Korean Presidential Unit Citation [REDACTED] Vietnam Gallantry Cross The United States Marine Corps ( USMC ), also referred to as

3536-564: The Department of State and the U.S. Marine Corps is nearly as old as the Corps itself. For over 200 years, Marines have served at the request of various Secretaries of State . After World War II , an alert, disciplined force was needed to protect American embassies, consulates, and legations throughout the world. In 1947, a proposal was made that the Department of Defense furnish Marine Corps personnel for Foreign Service guard duty under

3672-507: The First Battle of Bull Run performed poorly, retreating with the rest of the Union forces. Blockade duty included sea-based amphibious operations to secure forward bases. In early November 1861, a group of sailors and Marines landed in the towns of Port Royal and Beaufort, South Carolina. A few days later that task force captured nearby Hilton Head Island. A couple of weeks later a reconnaissance in force group captured Tybee Island. This

3808-570: The Haditha killings and the Hamdania incident . The Anbar Awakening and 2007 surge reduced levels of violence. The Marine Corps officially ended its role in Iraq on 23 January 2010 when it handed over responsibility for Al Anbar Province to the U.S. Army. Marines returned to Iraq in the summer of 2014 in response to growing violence there. Color guard As long as armies existed there

3944-628: The Joint Chiefs of Staff on matters relating to the Marines and established the structure of three active divisions and air wings that remain today. The beginning of the Korean War (1950–1953) saw the hastily formed Provisional Marine Brigade holding the defensive line at the Pusan Perimeter . To execute a flanking maneuver , General Douglas MacArthur called on United Nations forces, including U.S. Marines, to make an amphibious landing at Inchon . The successful landing resulted in

4080-519: The Maritime Pre-Positioning System was developed: Fleets of container ships are positioned throughout the world with enough equipment and supplies for a marine expeditionary force to deploy for 30 days. Two small manuals published during the 1930s established USMC doctrine in two areas. The Small Wars Manual laid the framework for Marine counterinsurgency operations from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan while

4216-714: The National Security Act of 1947 , three primary areas of responsibility for the U.S. Marine Corps are: This last clause derives from similar language in the Congressional acts "For the Better Organization of the Marine Corps" of 1834 and "Establishing and Organizing a Marine Corps" of 1798. In 1951, the House of Representatives' Armed Services Committee called the clause "one of the most important statutory – and traditional – functions of

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4352-466: The Normandy landings . By the end of the war, the Corps had expanded from two brigades to six divisions , five air wings , and supporting troops, totaling about 485,000 marines. In addition, 20 defense battalions and a parachute battalion were raised. Nearly 87,000 marines were casualties during World War II (including nearly 20,000 killed), and 82 were awarded the Medal of Honor . In 1942,

4488-617: The Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps . Marines were withdrawn in 1971 and returned briefly in 1975 to evacuate Saigon and attempt a rescue of the crew of the SS Mayaguez . Vietnam was the longest war up to that time for the Marines; by its end, 13,091 had been killed in action, 51,392 had been wounded, and 57 Medals of Honor had been awarded. Because of policies concerning rotation, more marines were deployed for service during Vietnam than World War II. While recovering from Vietnam,

4624-627: The Revolutionary War , on 3 March 1776, as the Marines gained control of Fort Montagu and Fort Nassau , a British ammunition depot and naval port in New Providence , the Bahamas. The role of the Marine Corps has expanded significantly since then; as the importance of its original naval mission declined with changing naval warfare doctrine and the professionalization of the naval service, the Corps adapted by focusing on formerly secondary missions ashore. The Advanced Base Doctrine of

4760-610: The Small Wars Manual . During World War I , Marines served as a part of the American Expeditionary Force under General John J. Pershing when America entered into the war on 6 April 1917. The Marine Corps had a deep pool of officers and non-commissioned officers with battle experience and thus experienced a large expansion. The U.S. Marine Corps entered the war with 511 officers and 13,214 enlisted personnel and by 11 November 1918 had reached

4896-838: The Tentative Landing Operations Manual established the doctrine for the amphibious operations of World War II . " Operational Maneuver from the Sea " was the doctrine of power projection in 2006. The United States Marine Corps traces its roots to the Continental Marines of the American Revolutionary War , formed by Captain Samuel Nicholas by a resolution of the Second Continental Congress on 10 November 1775, to raise two battalions of marines. This date

5032-583: The United States Department of the Navy since 30 June 1834 with its sister service, the United States Navy . The USMC operates installations on land and aboard sea-going amphibious warfare ships around the world. Additionally, several of the Marines' tactical aviation squadrons, primarily Marine Fighter Attack squadrons, are also embedded in Navy carrier air wings and operate from the aircraft carriers . The history of

5168-538: The United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps ("The Commandant's Own") and the 10 active duty Marine Corps field bands. The Marine Band has been uniquely known as " The President's Own " since 1801 due to its historical connection to the President of the United States. The relationship between the Marine Band and the White House began on New Year's Day 1801 when President John Adams invited

5304-487: The United States Marines , is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combined arms , implementing its own infantry , artillery , aerial , and special operations forces. The U.S. Marine Corps is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States . The Marine Corps has been part of

5440-597: The Washington metropolitan area at various events for military organizations, federal agencies, and associations. Events that the Marine Band participates in include: The Marine Band's early leadership consisted of a Drum Major and a Fife Major, who wore identical uniforms. The Drum Major was considered the Leader of the Marine Band, while the Fife Major's responsibility was to train the fifers . The first leader of

5576-427: The flag of France as the national colour, two non-commissioned officers assisting the ensign, and three enlisted personnel behind to guard the colour. The colour guards of France's military academies tend to wear swords; those of NCO schools, other educational institutions and active units carry rifles instead. This design is used in other countries with Francophone populations. French colour guards render honours on

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5712-481: The military of the United States , the colour guard carries the national colour and other flags appropriate to its position in the chain of command . Typically these include a unit flag and a departmental flag ( Army , Marines , Navy , Air Force , Space Force or Coast Guard , plus the National Guard Bureau ( Army and/or Air Force )). In addition to the flag bearers, who are positioned in

5848-610: The "Halls of Montezuma" in the Marines' Hymn. In fairness to the U.S. Army, most of the troops who made the final assault at the Halls of Montezuma were soldiers and not Marines. The Americans forces were led by Army General Winfield Scott . Scott organized two storming parties of about 250 men each for 500 men total including 40 marines. In the 1850s, the Marines engaged in service in Panama and Asia and were attached to Commodore Matthew Perry's East India Squadron on its historic trip to

5984-595: The "Navy's biggest contributions to the Marine Corps during WWII was the creation of the Seabees." Despite Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal 's prediction that the Marine flag raising at Iwo Jima meant "a Marine Corps for the next five hundred years", the Corps faced an immediate institutional crisis following the war because of a suddenly shrunken budget. Army generals pushing for a strengthened and reorganized defense establishment attempted to fold

6120-402: The 1990s. The Marine Corps fulfills a critical military role as an amphibious warfare force. It is capable of asymmetric warfare with conventional , irregular , and hybrid forces . While the Marine Corps does not employ any unique capabilities, as a force, it can rapidly deploy a combined-arms task force to almost anywhere in the world within days. The basic structure for all deployed units

6256-406: The 19th century was marked by declining strength and introspection about the mission of the Marine Corps. The Navy's transition from sail to steam put into question the need for Marines on naval ships. Meanwhile, Marines served as a convenient resource for interventions and landings to protect American interests overseas. The Corps was involved in over 28 separate interventions in the 30 years from

6392-476: The 2000s. Given a shared heritage with Austria and Turkey plus its own traditions, the modern Serbian Armed Forces maintains a colour guard component. Every unit of the Armed Forces has a colour company that includes the colour company commander and the colour guards; which includes one ensign, usually a subaltern officer, two armed senior NCOs serving as colour escorts, and two honour guard platoons guarding

6528-494: The 2023 Philadelphia Latino Film Festival. The film follows the journey of an all-female color guard team at Bel Air High School whose goal is to qualify for the 2020 WGI World Championships , which were ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic , with a performance dedicated to the victims of the 2019 El Paso Shooting . Contemporary Color is a 2016 documentary film directed by Turner Ross and Bill Ross IV. The film

6664-705: The Afghan Campaign since 2001, the Battle of Marjah , to clear the Taliban from their key stronghold in Helmand Province. After Marjah, marines progressed north up the Helmand River and cleared the towns of Kajahki and Sangin. Marines remained in Helmand Province until 2014. U.S. Marines served in the Iraq War , along with its sister services. The I Marine Expeditionary Force , along with

6800-869: The Air Force. Since 1981, the PLA has continued a tradition of the colour guard detail with the PLA flag leading the Beijing Garrison Honor Guard Battalion in military parades. In December 2017, the Beijing Garrison Colour Guard Company of the People's Armed Police , which is present during flag ceremonies in Tienanmen Square in Beijing carrying the national flag, was officially attached to

6936-628: The American withdrawal from Lebanon. In 1990, Marines of the Joint Task Force Sharp Edge saved thousands of lives by evacuating British, French and American nationals from the violence of the Liberian Civil War . During the Persian Gulf War of 1990 to 1991, Marine task forces formed for Operation Desert Shield and later liberated Kuwait, along with Coalition forces, in Operation Desert Storm. Marines participated in combat operations in Somalia (1992–1995) during Operations Restore Hope, Restore Hope II , and United Shield to provide humanitarian relief. In 1997, Marines took part in Operation Silver Wake ,

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7072-399: The Argentinean Armed Forces, the Color Guard is composed by a junior officer (normally the most junior in the unit) carrying the colors, accompanied by two senior NCOs with rifles, who provide the escort. The group is followed by a senior NCO carrying the regimental standard, with two junior NCOs (sometimes, privates) as escorts. In academies and schools, the colors are carried by the student of

7208-412: The British Army, the Royal Air Force, the Royal Marines and the Royal Navy have several types of colours, there are also colour guards for these colours and these colours and their colour guards are as follows: In the cavalry, the King's Standard or Guidon and the regimental/squadron standard or guidon (for the light cavalry only) are the equivalents to the King's and regimental colours. Colour guards in

7344-428: The British port of Nassau for two weeks. On 3 January 1777, the Marines arrived at the Battle of Princeton attached to General John Cadwalader 's brigade, where they had been assigned by General George Washington ; by December 1776, Washington was retreating through New Jersey and, needing veteran soldiers, ordered Nicholas and the Marines to attach themselves to the Continental Army . The Battle of Princeton , where

7480-408: The Corps continued its record of participation in foreign expeditions, including the Philippine–American War , the Boxer Rebellion in China, Panama, the Cuban Pacifications, the Perdicaris incident in Morocco, Veracruz , Santo Domingo , and the Banana Wars in Haiti and Nicaragua ; the experiences gained in counterinsurgency and guerrilla operations during this period were consolidated into

7616-445: The Corps hit a detrimental low point in its service history caused by courts-martial and non-judicial punishments related partially to increased unauthorized absences and desertions during the war. Overhaul of the Corps began in the late 1970s, discharging the most delinquent, and once the quality of new recruits improved, the Corps focused on reforming the non-commissioned officer Corps, a vital functioning part of its forces. After

7752-503: The Corps out for the brunt of a series of recommended cuts in late 2010. In light of budget sequestration in 2013 , General James Amos set a goal of a force of 174,000 Marines. He testified that this was the minimum number that would allow for an effective response to even a single contingency operation, but it would reduce the peacetime ratio of time at home bases to time deployed down to a historical low level. Marines and other American forces began staging in Pakistan and Uzbekistan on

7888-441: The Corps studied and developed amphibious techniques that would be of great use in World War II. Many officers, including Lieutenant Colonel Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis , foresaw a war in the Pacific with Japan and undertook preparations for such a conflict. Through 1941, as the prospect of war grew, the Corps pushed urgently for joint amphibious exercises with the Army and acquired amphibious equipment that would prove of great use in

8024-408: The Corps took on expeditionary duties in the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico , Key West , West Africa, the Falkland Islands , and Sumatra . Commandant Henderson is credited with thwarting President Jackson's attempts to combine and integrate the Marine Corps with the Army. Instead, Congress passed the Act for the Better Organization of the Marine Corps in 1834, stipulating that the Corps was part of

8160-427: The Corps's traditional missions, the Marines have renewed an emphasis on amphibious capabilities. The Marine Corps relies on the Navy for sealift to provide its rapid deployment capabilities. In addition to basing a third of the Fleet Marine Force in Japan, Marine expeditionary units (MEU) are typically stationed at sea so they can function as first responders to international incidents. To aid rapid deployment,

8296-399: The Department of the Navy as a sister service to the Navy. Commandant Henderson volunteered the Marines for service in the Seminole Wars of 1835, personally leading nearly half of the entire Corps (two battalions) to war. A decade later, in the Mexican–American War (1846–1848), the Marines made their famed assault on Chapultepec Palace in Mexico City, which would be later celebrated as

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8432-406: The Director of the Marine Band and the Marine Band Operations Office to schedule performances and ceremonies by the band, chamber orchestra, and chamber ensembles. The Marine Band also has a professional support staff (Library, Recording Lab, Stage Managers, and Stage Crew) and Administration, Public Affairs, and Supply offices. They work to coordinate, promote, and facilitate performances throughout

8568-449: The Ensign ( 1st Lieutenant /Lieutenant (junior grade) rank leads the formation. In the Army , the Horse Cavalry Detachment ( Detasemen Kavaleri Berkuda ) maintains a mounted colour guard unit. The uniform of the colour guard in Indonesia is all-white, wearing a white ceremonial combat helmet similar to the M1 helmet , white full dress uniforms , white leather flag carrier worn by the ensign, and white parade boots. The colour guard from

8704-404: The Far East. The Marine Corps played a small role in the Civil War (1861–1865); their most prominent task was blockade duty. As more and more states seceded from the Union , about a third of the Corps's officers left the United States to join the Confederacy and form the Confederate States Marine Corps , which ultimately played little part in the war. The battalion of recruits formed for

8840-421: The French practice. In the Mexican Armed Forces, National Guard and state police formations the colour escort squad is made up of: In Mexican schools, during flag ceremonies—or as known in Mexico juramentos a la bandera or honores a la bandera —the school's colour guard march around the schoolyard while the rest of the students and school staff sing the national anthem; once they finish, the pledge of allegiance

8976-440: The Marine Band performs in about 500 events every year including state funerals , state arrival ceremonies , state dinners , parades, concerts, and other social events. The Marine Band travels across the country each October and November during its fall concert tour, a tradition that began in 1891 under its most famous director, composer John Philip Sousa . The Marine Band recruits experienced musicians, selecting members through

9112-402: The Marine Band. Musicians of other Marine bands must attend boot camp and Marine Combat Training (MCT). The 'President's Own' band members wear rank insignia with a lyre replacing the standard crossed rifles. Commissioned officers are often drawn from within the band. However, auditions are open to members of all Marine Corps bands. Drum majors are career Marines and are selected from

9248-545: The Marine Corps began when two battalions of Continental Marines were formed on 10 November 1775 in Philadelphia as a service branch of infantry troops capable of fighting both at sea and on shore. In the Pacific theater of World War II , the Corps took the lead in a massive campaign of amphibious warfare, advancing from island to island . As of 2022, the USMC has around 177,200 active duty members and some 32,400 personnel in reserve . As outlined in 10 U.S.C.   § 5063 and as originally introduced under

9384-424: The Marine Corps field bands, as they are responsible for the military development of the band's members. As of 2010, the USMC spends about $ 10 million annually to support the band. In 2005, Sara Sheffield became the first female feature vocalist in the band's history. The Marine Band's performance schedule is coordinated by the Marine Band Branch of Headquarters Marine Corps Public Affairs, which works with

9520-489: The Marine Corps should continue to report to the Navy secretary. He made amends only by making a surprise visit to the Marine Corps League a few days later, when he reiterated, "When I make a mistake, I try to correct it. I try to make as few as possible." He received a standing ovation. When gun cruisers were retired by the end of the 1970s, the remaining Marine detachments were only seen on battleships and carriers. Its original mission of providing shipboard security ended in

9656-440: The Marine Corps". It noted that the Corps has more often than not performed actions of a non-naval nature, including its famous actions in Tripoli , the War of 1812 , Chapultepec , and numerous counterinsurgency and occupational duties (such as those in Central America, World War I , and the Korean War ). While these actions are not accurately described as support of naval campaigns nor as amphibious warfare, their common thread

9792-419: The Marine aircraft were destroyed, pilots continued the fight as ground officers, leading supply clerks and cooks in a final defensive effort. Flexibility of execution is implemented via an emphasis on " commander's intent " as a guiding principle for carrying out orders, specifying the end state but leaving open the method of execution. The amphibious assault techniques developed for World War II evolved, with

9928-549: The Marine mission and assets into the Navy and Army. Drawing on hastily assembled Congressional support, and with the assistance of the so-called " Revolt of the Admirals ", the Marine Corps rebuffed such efforts to dismantle the Corps, resulting in statutory protection of the Marine Corps in the National Security Act of 1947 . Shortly afterward, in 1952 the Douglas–Mansfield Act afforded the commandant an equal voice with

10064-673: The Marines along with Cadwalader's brigade were personally rallied by Washington, was the first land combat engagement of the Marines; an estimated 130 marines were present at the battle. At the end of the American Revolution, both the Continental Navy and Continental Marines were disbanded in April 1783. The institution was resurrected on 11 July 1798; in preparation for the Quasi-War with France , Congress created

10200-567: The Marines and U.S. media reported that Germans had nicknamed them Teufel Hunden, meaning " Devil Dogs " for their reputation as shock troops and marksmen at ranges up to 900 meters; there is no evidence of this in German records (as Teufelshunde would be the proper German phrase). Nevertheless, the name stuck in U.S. Marine lore. Between the World Wars , the Marine Corps was headed by Commandant John A. Lejeune , and under his leadership,

10336-557: The Marines had gained a reputation as expert marksmen , especially in defensive and ship-to-ship actions. They played a large role in the 1813 defense of Sacket's Harbor , New York and Norfolk and Portsmouth , Virginia, also taking part in the 1814 defense of Plattsburgh in the Champlain Valley during one of the final British offensives along the Canadian-U.S. border. The Battle of Bladensburg , fought 24 August 1814,

10472-796: The Marines of the Executive Flight Detachment of HMX-1 provide helicopter transport to the President and Vice President , with the radio call signs " Marine One " and "Marine Two", respectively. The Executive Flight Detachment also provides helicopter transport to Cabinet members and other VIPs . By authority of the 1946 Foreign Service Act, the Marine Security Guards of the Marine Embassy Security Command provide security for American embassies , legations , and consulates at more than 140 posts worldwide. The relationship between

10608-522: The Navy Seabees were created with the Marine Corps providing their organization and military training. Many Seabee units were issued the USMC standard issue and were re-designated "Marine". Despite the Corps giving them their military organization and military training, issuing them uniforms, and redesignating their units, the Seabees remained Navy. USMC historian Gordon L. Rottmann writes that one of

10744-548: The Nevada Cities Campaign. There was brutal fighting on Reno Hill, which was eventually captured by the Chinese. Although Reno was lost, the 5th Marines held both Vegas and Carson through the rest of the campaign. In this one campaign, the Marines suffered approximately 1,000 casualties and might have suffered much more without the U.S. Army's Task Force Faith . Marines would continue a battle of attrition around

10880-473: The PLA up to the parade of 1959, but with the ensign and escorts drawn from individual formations. Today, only honour guards are granted colour guard duty to represent the whole of the PLA. Being the senior-most branch of the PLA, the Ground Forces representative serves as the ensign in the service colour guard, with the officer to his/her right being from the Navy and the officer to their left being from

11016-578: The Taliban-held town of Garmsir in Helmand Province on 29 April 2008, in the first major American operation in the region in years. In June 2009, 7,000 marines with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2nd MEB) deployed to Afghanistan in an effort to improve security and began Operation Strike of the Sword the next month. In February 2010, the 2nd MEB launched the largest offensive of

11152-648: The U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division , spearheaded the 2003 invasion of Iraq . The Marines left Iraq in the summer of 2003 but returned in the beginning of 2004. They were given responsibility for the Al Anbar Province , the large desert region to the west of Baghdad . During this occupation, the Marines lead assaults on the city of Fallujah in April ( Operation Vigilant Resolve ) and November 2004 ( Operation Phantom Fury ) and saw intense fighting in such places as Ramadi , Al-Qa'im and Hīt . The service's time in Iraq courted controversy with events such as

11288-663: The US Joint Service Honour Guard of the Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region . All colour bearers of formations above company level must be, following US tradition, holding the rank of sergeant or above as a non-commissioned officer, while the colour escorts are lower ranking enlisted personnel. All wear full dress, service dress or battle dress uniforms. Since the National Day parade of 1978,

11424-779: The USMC generally operated in the Northern I Corps Regions of South Vietnam . While there, they were constantly engaged in a guerrilla war against the Viet Cong , along with an intermittent conventional war against the North Vietnamese Army , this made the Marine Corps known throughout Vietnam and gained a frightening reputation from the Viet Cong. Portions of the Corps were responsible for the less-known Combined Action Program that implemented unconventional techniques for counterinsurgency and worked as military advisors to

11560-518: The United Kingdom, with an ensign of second lieutenant rank (or equivalent), armed escorts, and a colour guard commander. All wear full dress uniform as a general rule. The practices of the colour guards for the armed forces of a number of post-Soviet states in the Commonwealth of Independent States are similar to one another, adopting the practice from the former Soviet Armed Forces . Colour guards from these states are typically composed of

11696-479: The United States Marine Band was William Farr, listed in historical records as having served as Drum Major from January 21, 1799. After the retirement of Drum Major Raphael Triay in 1855, then-Fife Major Francis Scala became Drum Major. On July 25, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln signed an Act of Congress to reorganize the Marine Band. This act abolished the rank of Fife Major (and in 1881,

11832-685: The United States Marine Corps. Marines had been enlisted by the War Department as early as August 1797 for service in the newly-built frigates authorized by the Congressional "Act to provide a Naval Armament" of 18 March 1794, which specified the numbers of marines to recruit for each frigate. The Marines' most famous action of this period occurred during the First Barbary War (1801–1805) against

11968-483: The United States practice after 1959 ), North Korea and Vietnam have adopted this variant of the Soviet system. A standard template for a colour guard formation in the Romanian Armed Forces follows French precedent but with the addition of a colour officer leading the formation. The front of the guard is made up of the ensign, a junior officer, flanked by two armed or unarmed escorts, together with

12104-669: The Vietnam War, the U.S. Marines resumed their expeditionary role, participating in the failed 1980 Iran hostage rescue attempt Operation Eagle Claw , the Operation Urgent Fury and the Operation Just Cause . On 23 October 1983, the Marine barracks in Beirut was bombed , causing the highest peacetime losses to the Corps in its history (220 marines and 21 other service members were killed) and leading to

12240-493: The addition of air assault and maneuver warfare doctrine, into the current " Operational Maneuver from the Sea " doctrine of power projection from the seas. The Marines are credited with developing helicopter insertion doctrine and were the earliest in the American military to widely adopt maneuver-warfare principles, which emphasize low-level initiative and flexible execution. In light of recent warfare that has strayed from

12376-409: The arms bearers). Liberation Day parade. The colour guard renders honours when the national anthem is played or sung, when passing in review during a parade, or in certain other circumstances. In these cases, the unit and departmental flags salute by dipping (leaning the flag forward). However, with the exception of a response to a naval salute, the United States national flag renders no salute. This

12512-849: The artillery units are technically the lead gun's crew and leader (except in the Honourable Artillery Company which uses both guns and colours) and there are no colour guards in the rifle regiments (nowadays The Rifles ), the Royal Gurkha Rifles (which use the King's Truncheon) and in the Royal Hospital in Chelsea. All of the RN's King's Colours are identical. Within the RN a colour guard unit consists of: A French colour guards typically includes one ensign holding

12648-498: The band in ceremonies, including the inaugural parade, and regularly leads the band in review for presidents and visiting heads of state and other dignitaries. The Drum Major wears a bearskin headpiece and carries a ceremonial mace used to signal commands to the musicians. The Drum Major also wears the officer's version of the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor (the Marine Corps emblem). The uniform also includes an ornate baldric , similar to

12784-561: The band to perform at the Executive Mansion. Later that year, Thomas Jefferson initiated the tradition of Marine Band performances by requesting that it perform at his inauguration. The Marine Band has played at every United States presidential inauguration since. President Thomas Jefferson gave it the title "The President's Own" in 1801. This terminology emulated a long-established British usage, where various military units were designated as "King's Own" or "Queen's Own". Today,

12920-547: The border of Afghanistan as early as October 2001 in preparation for Operation Enduring Freedom . The 15th and 26th Marine Expeditionary Units were some of the first conventional forces into Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in November 2001. After that, Marine battalions and squadrons rotated through, engaging the Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces. Marines of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit flooded into

13056-407: The center of the colour guard, there are two or more individuals who carry rifles and or sabres . This is a symbol that the flag (and its nation) will always be protected. In the U.S., traditionally, the unit's sergeant major is responsible for the safeguarding, care, and display of the organizational colours. The sergeant major is also responsible for the selection, training, and performance of

13192-472: The circumstance and subject to the orders of their commander, members may wear full dress or less formal uniforms . It is mandatory for all members of the colour guard to wear headgear, for example, a garrison cap , beret , or service cap . On occasion, certain colour guards can be horse - mounted . A US colour guard is made up of a "Color Sergeant" carrying the National Colours and serves as

13328-579: The coast, known as the Battle of Chosin Reservoir . The fighting calmed after the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, but late in March 1953, the relative quiet of the war was broken when the People's Liberation Army launched a massive offensive on three outposts manned by the 5th Marine Regiment . These outposts were codenamed "Reno", "Vegas", and "Carson". The campaign was collectively known as

13464-616: The collapse of North Korean lines and the pursuit of North Korean forces north near the Yalu River until the entrance of the People's Republic of China into the war. Chinese troops surrounded, surprised, and overwhelmed the overextended and outnumbered American forces. The U.S. Army's X Corps, which included the 1st Marine Division and the Army's 7th Infantry Division regrouped and inflicted heavy casualties during their fighting withdrawal to

13600-607: The colour from the rear also armed. Unlike in other countries the colour guard company wears either full or combat dress. The Guard of the Serbian Armed Forces has its colour company wearing dress uniform. In Sweden the colour guard can be composed in three distinct manners: Greater colour guard, smaller colour guard and an officers guard. Each regiment, or military unit that carries a colour, in Sweden sets up its own colour guard. The Swedish military rank of fänrik (and

13736-709: The colour guard is known as "Pataka" an abbreviation from the Indonesian term Pasukan Tanda Kehormatan which is the term used in various uniformed institutions including the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), the Municipal Police units , etc. The Pataka consists of white-uniformed 9 to 12 guardsmen which are present during ceremonial events carrying and escorting

13872-565: The colour officer, with three rear escorts behind the ensign. From 1949 to 1986 the Army of the Socialist Republic of Romania and Securitate followed Soviet practice in colour guard training and protocols. Since that year the old tradition was restored in the uniformed organizations and thus remains till today in the country. Colours of battalions and brigades are not provided with a colour guard at all since they were introduced in

14008-474: The colours carrying a pace stick . So, the formation (when the colours are combined on parade) is as follows: Aside from presenting arms and sabres, colour guards of the Commonwealth of Nations are expected to lower their flags to the ground in full and regular salutes in ceremonies and parades. Civilians should stand during such times and soldiers are expected to salute them when not in formation. As

14144-399: The command of present arms (présentez arme). On command, the two NCOs and three enlisted will execute present arms, whether it be by presenting their sabre vertically or by putting the right hand over the handle of their weapon while the ensign lowers the national colour/unit colour somewhere close to their legs. On some occasions, the flag is not lowered unless the guard is in the presence of

14280-433: The corresponding cavalry rank of kornett ) was originally intended for the holder of the company flag. This duty was considered so prestigious that an officer was necessary to carry it out. Today, it is a regular officer rank. A expanded colour guard composed of two commissioned officers, called fanförare (ensigns, literally carriers of the colour ) and eight enlisted personnel behind the colour or colours. This stems from

14416-522: The early 20th century codified their combat duties ashore, outlining the use of Marines in the seizure of bases and other duties on land to support naval campaigns. In 1987, the USMC Sea School was closed; in 1998, all Marine Detachments on board ships were disbanded. Throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries, Marine detachments served aboard Navy cruisers, battleships, and aircraft carriers. Marine detachments served in their traditional duties as

14552-611: The end of the American Civil War to the end of the 19th century. They were called upon to stem political and labor unrest within the United States. Under Commandant Jacob Zeilin 's tenure, Marine customs and traditions took shape: the Corps adopted the Marine Corps emblem on 19 November 1868. It was during this time that "The Marines' Hymn" was first heard. Around 1883, the Marines adopted their current motto " Semper fidelis " ( Always Faithful ). John Philip Sousa ,

14688-630: The evacuation of American citizens from the U.S. Embassy in Tirana , Albania. Following the attacks on 11 September 2001 , President George W. Bush announced the Global War on Terrorism . The stated objective of the Global War on Terror is "the defeat of Al-Qaeda , other terrorist groups and any nation that supports or harbors terrorists". Since then, the Marine Corps, alongside the other military services, has engaged in global operations around

14824-619: The fife was removed from Marine Corps instrumentation entirely), created the positions of Leader of the Band/Principal Musician, Drum Major, and authorized 30 musicians. Scala was the first Marine Band musician to receive the title "Leader of the Band"; John Roach was selected as Drum Major. The earliest recorded Second Leader of the United States Marine Band was Salvador Petrola. Marine Band cornetist Walter F. Smith, who had performed under 17th director, John Philip Sousa, became

14960-458: The first official Second Leader when an Act of Congress established the positions of First Leader and Second Leader of the Marine Band in March 1899. Many changes occurred during the Dwight D. Eisenhower administration. The titles First Leader and Second Leader were replaced by Director and Assistant Director. When Albert F. Schoepper was appointed as Director in 1955, a second Assistant Director

15096-471: The flag-bearer flanked by two escorts—the right and the left escort—on the rear there are two rearguards and finally to the right escort's right is the commander. Normally the shortest members happen to be the rearguards. They wear their school dress or athletic uniform. The Dutch armed forces have similar ranks corresponding to a colour guard, the vaandrig and kornet (aspirant officers who have not been sworn in yet). The colour guard practice mirrors that of

15232-531: The format of unit colour guards in ROCAF formations of battalion size (and of equivalent formations) is: Brigade-level colours (and above) are guided by the left and right escorts only. The joint service colour guard of the ROCAF General Headquarters, today as in the past, is similarly composed but is more larger, with its composition being Colour guards are used in the military throughout

15368-418: The honour and traditions of the regiment. The loss of a unit's flag was shameful, and losing that central point of reference could also make the unit break up. Therefore, regiments tended to adopt colour guards, a detachment of experienced or élite soldiers, to protect their colours. As a result, the capture of an enemy's standard was considered as a great feat of arms. Regimental flags were sometimes awarded to

15504-416: The honour guard battalion. Its colour guard squad follows the same format as the guard of honor colour guard squad. In Taiwan, the colour guard tradition of the Republic of China Armed Forces is modeled on the German, Russian and US practice. Until 1976, each military unit sported a singular stand of colours on parade, as opposed to the honour guard of the ROCAF, which is more aligned with the traditions of

15640-409: The infantry is matched with the doctrine of "Every Marine [is] a rifleman", a precept of Commandant Alfred M. Gray, Jr. , emphasizing the infantry combat abilities of every Marine. All Marines, regardless of military specialization , receive training as a rifleman , and all officers receive additional training as infantry platoon commanders. During World War II at the Battle of Wake Island , when all

15776-497: The members. The colour guard consists of enlisted members and is commanded by the senior (colour) Sergeant , who carries the National Colors and gives the necessary commands for movements and rendering honours during drill exercises or parade ceremonies. Being assigned to the colour guard is considered an honour due to the fact that these individuals present and carry the symbols of their unit and country. Depending on

15912-561: The military or police usually carries the Lee–Enfield or M1 Garand rifle, but sometimes the M16 , FN FAL or Pindad SS1 rifle is used. In Mexico , an Escolta de la bandera or Escolta is used to describe colour guards and flag parties in the Spanish language . In Mexico these formations are made up of six individuals: the flag party commander and the escort proper of around 5, following

16048-636: The musician and composer, enlisted as a Marine apprentice at age 13, serving from 1867 until 1872, and again from 1880 to 1892 as the leader of the Marine Band . During the Spanish–American War (1898), Marines led American forces ashore in the Philippines, Cuba, and Puerto Rico , demonstrating their readiness for deployment. At Guantánamo Bay , Cuba, the Marines seized an advanced naval base that remains in use today. Between 1899 and 1916,

16184-658: The practices of the former Soviet colour guard; evident with the colour guards of the Turkmen Ground Forces , and the Armed Forces of Ukraine , whose colour guards dip their flags as a form of salute. The customs practiced by the colour guards of the former Soviet Armed Forces was also adopted by the Mongolian Armed Forces , given the historical relationship between the two countries. Other countries such as Afghanistan , Cuba (replacing

16320-541: The provisions of the Foreign Service Act of 1946. A formal Memorandum of Agreement was signed between the Department of State and the Secretary of the Navy on 15 December 1948, and 83 Marines were deployed to overseas missions. During the first year of the program, 36 detachments were deployed worldwide. The Marine Corps was founded to serve as an infantry unit aboard naval vessels and was responsible for

16456-559: The same period, and the hand salute applies to uniformed organizations as well (specifically the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA ). Since recently, veterans are expected to hand salute the colours too, like their military counterparts including personnel not in uniform. " "On Guard: A Story of American Youth" is 2023 documentary film directed by Allen Otto and executive produced by Jim Czarnecki. The film premiered at

16592-427: The security of the ship and its crew by conducting offensive and defensive combat during boarding actions and defending the ship's officers from mutiny ; to the latter end, their quarters on the ship were often strategically positioned between the officers' quarters and the rest of the vessel. Continental Marines manned raiding parties, both at sea and ashore. America's first amphibious assault landing occurred early in

16728-491: The senior class with the highest marks, escorted by the two who follow him. In the Chinese People's Liberation Army , the colour guards include one ensign holding the flag of the People's Liberation Army as the national colour domestically or the flag of China when abroad, and two officers or senior NCOs assisting the ensign holding rifles. In the parades of the 1950s, this configuration was present in every unit of

16864-533: The time of king Gustavus Adolphus and the Thirty Years' War when all Swedish regiments had eight battalions. Each battalion contributed one soldier to the common colour guard. If one colour is carried the second officer serves as the colour officer. A smaller colour guard is composed of one commissioned officer and four enlisted soldiers. An officers colour guard is composed of three commissioned officers, one ensign and two officer escorts carrying sabres. In

17000-492: The unit commander, a unit or command colour bearer, and two colour escorts carrying rifles and/or sabres. If multiple colours are carried, multiple colour bearers may be needed. The U.S. colour guard is formed and marched in one rank at close interval. Since the National Colors must always be in the position of honour on the right, the colour guard must execute a special movement to reverse direction. It does not execute rear march, nor does it execute about face. Rather, it performs

17136-604: The upcoming conflict. In World War II , the Marines performed a central role in the Pacific War , along with the U.S. Army. The battles of Guadalcanal , Bougainville , Tarawa , Guam , Tinian , Cape Gloucester , Saipan , Peleliu , Iwo Jima , and Okinawa saw fierce fighting between marines and the Imperial Japanese Army . Some 600,000 Americans served in the U.S. Marine Corps in World War II. The Battle of Iwo Jima, which began on 19 February 1945,

17272-443: The war, which were the first and last engagements of the conflict. Their most significant contribution was holding the center of General Andrew Jackson 's defensive line at the 1815 Battle of New Orleans , the final major battle and one of the most one-sided engagements of the war. With widespread news of the battle and the capture of HMS Cyane , HMS Levant and HMS Penguin , the final engagements between British and U.S. forces,

17408-662: The world in support of that mission. In spring 2009, President Barack Obama 's goal of reducing spending in the Defense Department was led by Secretary Robert Gates in a series of budget cuts that did not significantly change the Corps's budget and programs, cutting only the VH-71 Kestrel and resetting the VXX program. However, the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform singled

17544-459: The year. The full band has a complement of about 130 members, although they all play together only rarely. A 42-piece band is used for all Pentagon and formal military arrivals and patriotic openers for significant events. Patriotic openers are 15 minutes of patriotic music, including the presentation and retirement of the colors , " The Star-Spangled Banner " ( national anthem ), and the "Marines' Hymn". Patriotic openers are performed throughout

17680-412: Was a need for soldiers to know where their comrades where. A solution to this problem was the carrying of colourful banners or other insignia. Such flags or banners either showed a personal symbol of the leader of said units or a symbol for the "state" they represented. Such banners or flags also came to represent a units identity and history. They were therefore treated with reverence as they represented

17816-408: Was added to the Marine Band leadership. Today, the Assistant Director positions are designated in two titles: Senior Assistant Director and Executive Officer, and Assistant Director. Also, the first "Soloist and Moderator" was appointed during the Eisenhower administration. William D. Jones, known as the original soloist with the new US Air Force Band and originator and director of the Singing Sergeants,

17952-529: Was appointed chief arranger and continued composing and arranging for the Marine Band until his retirement in 1985. Some of his more notable compositions include "God of Our Fathers" (commissioned for Ronald Reagan 's first inauguration) and "American Pageant", which was commissioned for Richard Nixon 's first inauguration. Knox arranged or composed over 300 pieces, many of which the Marine Band and other bands across America still played. United States Marine Corps 10 November 1775 (249 years) (as

18088-463: Was arguably the most famous Marine engagement of the war. The Japanese had learned from their defeats in the Marianas Campaign and prepared many fortified positions on the island including pillboxes and network of tunnels. The Japanese put up fierce resistance, but American forces reached the summit of Mount Suribachi on 23 February. The mission was accomplished with high losses of 26,000 American casualties and 22,000 Japanese. The Marines played

18224-413: Was not enough; Barney and Miller's forces were overrun. In all of 114 marines, 11 were killed and 16 wounded. During the battle Captain Miller's arm was badly wounded, for his gallant service in action, Miller was brevetted to the rank of Major USMC. After the war, the Marine Corps fell into a malaise that ended with the appointment of Archibald Henderson as its fifth commandant in 1820. Under his tenure,

18360-419: Was one of the worst days for American arms, though a few units and individuals performed heroic service. Notable among them were Commodore Joshua Barney's 500 sailors and the 120 marines under Captain Samuel Miller USMC, who inflicted the bulk of British casualties and were the only effective American resistance during the battle. A final desperate Marine counter attack, with the fighting at close quarters, however

18496-418: Was transferred by an Act of Congress to the USMC Band and given the title "Ambassador of Music". The Soloist and Moderator served as the senior enlisted member until 1972 when Schoepper and Jones retired. Today, the Drum Major serves as the senior enlisted member of "The President's Own" and is responsible for the band's appearance, ceremonial drill, and military decorum. The Drum Major is charged with directing

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