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William Kimrey
Debock
English IV Honors
3/4/15
The Few, The Proud
Since the establishment of the United States Marine Corps the world has yet to see an
armed fighting force that has been more effective or shown more esprit de corp. No other branch
of the United States armed services has recruiting standards as high and as the United States
Marines, nor does any other branch put such an emphasis on physical fitness. Aside from its
recruiting standards, another aspect of the Marine Corps that sets it apart from the other branches
is its lengthy basic training and the broad spectrum of skills instilled in new recruits to ensure
they can handle anything thrown at them. Sharing this experience, along with learning to rely on
one another, ensures that Marines have an understanding of the concept of unity and teaches
them that they can always depend on their brothers in arms. These aspects are what makes the
United States Marine Corps the most prestigious and effective fighting force in the world.
The Marine Corps launches campaigns to deliver the message of the few, the proud to
the public annually, supporting the notion that the Marines only take the most qualified and the
best applicants. In fact, although there is no shortage of fresh bodies willing to join on a
moments notice, the greatest challenge in securing a place in the Corps lies not in how much
you are willing to give, but in whether or not you meet the qualifications to even be considered
for enlistment. It has been made clear that those who have ever experienced asthmatic symptoms,
ever shown signs of psoriasis or atopic dermatitis, attention deficit disorder, or even previous
cases of depression have no place in the Corps. Although these very common conditions are

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basis for disqualification, Marine recruiters are held to the same standard as any recruiter from
any other branch. According to Mark Thompson It's not surprising, then, that some recruiters
ignore red flags to enlist marginal candidates. Although not everybody who joins the Marine
Corps has qualities that endanger their enlistment, for many the real struggle begins before it has
started. Many of the policies in place are left over from decades ago, when conditions that are
considered trivial now, were absolute game changers. For instance, it is not unheard of for a
recruiter to tell an aspiring recruit to lie on their paper work to avoid disqualification, even
though the penalty for fraudulent enlistment can yield five years in prison and a felony on your
record. Thompson also recalls being told as a recruiter to tell them to lie and say they've
never had asthma like they told you. Many recruits are given this choice, to lie and take the risk,
or be turned away, before they even are given the chance to prove themselves to the Corps. These
high recruiting standards are just the first of many challenges recruits will face.
Once enlisted, recruits face training considered to be among the most demanding the United
States has to offer. There are only two places where the transformation from civilian to Marine
takes place, if you live on the east side of the Mississippi river, or are female, you will train at
Parris Island, South Carolina, if you live on the west side of the Mississippi river, you will train
at the Marine Corps base in San Diego, California. Longer than any other basic training in the
United States Military, Marine Corps boot camp is also infamous for being the most relentless.
Brendan Gibbons even explains the whole process as three months of stress, physical challenges
and rigid discipline. During this roughly fourteen week period, recruits are under close
supervision at all times and no error goes unpunished. Recruits face many trials to advance
through their training, from the high intensity physical conditioning, to qualifying as marksmen,
earning their tan belt in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, demonstrating how to respond

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to high amounts of pressure while tear gassed, and finishing The Crucible, which is the final
challenge recruits must overcome. These challenges are no small task, and as such reasonably
high attrition rates compared to other branches are to be expected, About one out of every 10
male recruits and one of every five female recruits won't make it through training. (Gibbons).
Fourteen weeks may seem unnecessary to members of other branches who were only required to
complete as little as nine weeks of training, but in the process of making Marines, every day is
essential to shape new recruits into functioning members of the core.
Marine Corps boot camp has a reputation for transforming recruits into fully functioning
members of the military. During graduation week in boot camp family members of recruits are
allowed to visit and catch up with their loved ones, whom of which have recently earned the title
of Marine. Parents are often shocked to see such dramatic changes in their now Marine, such as
slimmer and more toned bodies, and the way they carry themselves. By now Marines have
learned to tap into potential they never knew they had, "This recruit learned a lot about myself-what I could do with sheer willpower (Peterson). Marines have also, through a process of
stripping them of their individuality, gained a sense of unity and security through learning that
they can always depend on each other Theyll always have a Marine on their left and a Marine
on their right (Gibbons). This sense of belonging and brotherhood contributes to what makes the
United States Marine Corps the most effective fighting force, knowing they can depend on one
another, coupled with their ability to remain functional in situations involving high levels of
stress, combine to create a soldier of unmatched quality.
All of the trials and hardships aspiring Marines face, and the difficulty of their journey, is
what makes the Marine Corps what it is. Its selectiveness and the commitment required ensure
that not just anybody can claim the title of Marine, and only the most dedicated will succeed. Its

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diverse training is what sets it apart from its opposition and is the driving force behind its
success. Its tight-knit members and the way they are required to conduct themselves at all times
is what gives them prestige and makes them the most powerful fighting force in the world.

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Works Cited
Gibbons, Brendan. "Parris Island whittles Marines from recruits." Citizens' Voice, the (WilkesBarre, PA) 27 May 2014: Points of View Reference Center. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.
Peterson, Gordon I. "For Corps And Country." Sea Power 44.11 (2001): 42. MasterFILE Premier.
Web. 19 Feb. 2015.
Thompson, Mark. "The Dark Side of Recruiting." Time 173.14 (2009): 34-38. Academic Search
Complete. Web. 18 Feb. 2015.