Marine Rifle Creed

When you are in the boot camp that is run by The United States Marine Corps, you wil be required to memorize the Marine Rifle Creed. This creed has been passed down from generation of recruits to generations of recruits. This short verse is something ALL recruits will memorize and possibly chant while in boot camp. What all recruits will soon learn is that your rifle is NEVER referred to as a gun, it is referred to as a weapon, or your rifle. The unprepared Marine recruit will refer to their M16 as a “gun” and then may get the privilege of running around the squad bay with one hand on their crotch their other hand on their rifle. As they run, they will chant “This is my rifle (M16) and this is my gun (crotch) this one is for killing (rifle) and this one is for fun (crotch).

The point you need to realize is that while in United States Marine Corps Boot Camp the recruit must give maximum care and respect to their M16. They will be required to love, master and care for it as if it were an extension of their own being. With all of the stress that exists in boot camp, the recruit may find them-self unable to memorize simple things that right now seem, and are simple to memorize. That is why we stress the importance of being prepared ahead of time and memorize the Marine Rifle Creed. By learning it before you report in, it will not seem so foreign to you and it will be one less thing to have to worry about.

The amount of things you need to memorize will be all encompassing and overwhelming while experiencing Marine Corps Boot Camp and The Marine Rifle Creed is but one tiny portion of the recruit training program. If you do not immerse yourself into preparing yourself for the boot camp experience that is soon approaching….you are a fool. Plain and simple, if you do not prepare your mind and your body for the grueling weeks of training ahead, you are a naive and unrealistic fool. If you think that is harsh sounding, you will hear much more when your tiny little feet step on those tiny yellow footprints for the first time. It is suggested that you spend the few bucks and purchase the comprehensive boot camp E-Course that is available to be down loaded right now at your computer. The amount of insight you will receive will blow your mind and the level of preparation you get could make the difference between being a Marine or a failure. Do what you want, it does not matter to us, as we will never know either way. Boot camp is a choice and we just hope that you prepare to succeed and that you understand that the sooner you prepare the better you will perform.

Either way, here is The Marine Rifle Creed as it was penned by Marine Major General William H. Reupertus following the attack on Pearl Harbor.

“This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.

My rifle, without me, is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will…

My rifle and myself know that what counts in this war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, nor the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit…

My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel. I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage as I will ever guard my legs, my arms, my eyes and my heart against damage. I will keep my rifle clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will…

Before God, I swear this creed. My rifle and myself are the defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. We
are the saviors of my life.

MarineCorpsBootCampSurvival.com

Marine Rifle Creed

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