United States Marine Corps

===Official traditions and customs===
As in any military organization, the official and unofficial traditions of the Marine Corps serve to reinforce camaraderie and set the service apart from others. The Corps's embrace of its rich culture and history is cited as a reason for its high ''esprit de corps''.<ref name="Estes"/> An important part of the Marine Corps culture is the traditional seafaring [[Glossary of nautical terms|naval terminology]] derived from its history with the Navy. "Marines" are not "soldiers" or "sailors".<ref name="DCNT925052">{{cite news|date=25 September 2005|title=Don't call a Marine a soldier or sailor|work=The News-Times|location=Danbury, CT|url=http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Don-t-call-a-Marine-a-soldier-or-sailor-62554.php|url-status=live|access-date=26 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525180208/http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Don-t-call-a-Marine-a-soldier-or-sailor-62554.php|archive-date=25 May 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Flags, USMC.png|thumb|alt=color artwork of an Eagle, Globe, and Anchor over crossed American and Marine flags|The Eagle, Globe and Anchor along with the U.S. flag, the Marine Corps flag and the Commandant's flag]]
The ''Marine Corps emblem'' is the [[Eagle, Globe, and Anchor]], sometimes abbreviated "EGA", adopted in 1868.<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Marine Corps Emblem|publisher=U.S. Marine Corps|url=http://www.uspharmd.com/usmc/mcega.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107114803/http://www.uspharmd.com/usmc/mcega.htm|archive-date= 7 January 2008}}</ref> The Marine Corps seal includes the emblem, also is found on the [[flag of the United States Marine Corps]], and establishes scarlet and gold as the official colors.<ref name=Customs_EmblemSeal>{{cite web|access-date= 11 October 2008|url=http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Customes_Traditions/Emblem_Seal.htm|title= Marine Corps Emblem and Seal|work= Customs and Traditions|publisher= Reference Branch, History Division, United States Marine Corps|url-status = dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219202302/http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Customes_Traditions/Emblem_Seal.htm|archive-date= 19 February 2007|df= dmy-all}}</ref> The Marine motto ''[[Semper Fidelis]]'' means ''Always Faithful'' in [[Latin]], often appearing as ''Semper Fi''. The ''[[Marines' Hymn]]'' dates back to the 19th century and is the oldest official song in the United States armed forces. ''Semper Fi'' is also the name of the [[Semper Fidelis (march)|official march of the Corps]], composed by [[John Philip Sousa]]. The mottos ''"Fortitudine"'' (With Fortitude); ''By Sea and by Land'', a translation of the [[Royal Marines]]' ''Per Mare, Per Terram''; and ''To the Shores of Tripoli'' were used until 1868.<ref name="Customs2">{{cite web|title=USMC Customs and Traditions|url=http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/hd/historical/Customs_and_Traditions.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070304212218/http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/hd/historical/Customs_and_Traditions.htm|archive-date=4 March 2007|publisher=History Division, U.S. Marine Corps}}</ref> {{listen|filename=Marines' Hymn (1944), by the Boston Pops.ogg|title=Marines' Hymn|description=The "Marines' Hymn" performed in 1944 by the Boston Pops.}}

{{listen|filename=John_Philip_Sousa_-_U.S._Marine_Band_-_Semper_Fidelis_March.ogg|title=Semper Fidelis March
|description=[[John Philip Sousa]]'s "[[Semper Fidelis (march)|Semper Fidelis March]]", the official march of the U.S. Marine Corps. Performed by the U.S. Marine Band in June 1909.}}

Two styles of swords are worn by marines: the officers' [[Mameluke Sword]], similar to the Persian [[shamshir]] presented to Lt. [[Presley O'Bannon]] after the [[Battle of Derna (1805)|Battle of Derna]], and the [[United States Marine Corps noncommissioned officer's sword|Marine NCO sword]].<ref name="ChenowethNihart" /> The [[United States Marine Corps birthday ball|Marine Corps Birthday]] is celebrated every year on 10 November in a cake-cutting ceremony where the first slice of cake is given to the oldest marine present, who in turn hands it off to the youngest marine present. The celebration includes a reading of Commandant [[John A. Lejeune|Lejeune's]] Birthday Message.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/Pages/Customs_Traditions/Birthday_Celebration.aspx |title= Marine Corps Birthday Celebration |publisher= USMC History Division |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070806095953/http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Historical/Customes_Traditions/Birthday_Celebration.htm |archive-date= 6 August 2007 |df= dmy-all}}</ref> Close Order Drill is heavily emphasized early on in a marine's initial training, incorporated into most formal events, and is used to teach discipline by instilling habits of precision and automatic response to orders, increase the confidence of junior officers and noncommissioned officers through the exercise of command and give marines an opportunity to handle individual weapons.<ref>{{cite web
 |title=Drill a Platoon Sized Unit
 |work=Student Handout
 |publisher=Marine Corps University
 |url=http://www.iiimef.usmc.mil/medical/FMF/FMFE/FMFEref/SC_0503_SH_Drill_(Platoon).doc
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070710044843/http://www.iiimef.usmc.mil/medical/FMF/FMFE/FMFEref/SC_0503_SH_Drill_%28Platoon%29.doc
 |archive-date=10 July 2007
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>