COMMITMENT

COMMITMENT is the spirit of determination and dedication found in Marines. It leads to the highest order of discipline for individuals and units. It is the ingredient that enables 24-hour-a-day dedication to the Corps and country. It inspires the unrelenting determination to achieve a standard of excellence in every endeavor.

Total dedication to Corps and Country.  Gung-ho Marine teamwork.  All for one, one for all.  By whatever name or cliche, 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. When times are tuff, you are tired and you don’t think you can continue, that’s when commitment prevails, you get a second wind and you overcome your situation as a Marine.

The truth lies in the individual Marine.  He (or she) did not join the Marines.  Roughly 40,000 try each year.  Those who survive the crucible of Marine basic training have been sculpted in mind and body.  They have become Marines.

   Once he has earned the title and entered the Brotherhood of Marines, a new warrior must draw upon the legacy of his Corps.  Therein lies his strength.  In return, the strength of the Corps lies in the individual Marine.  The character (often defined as "what you are in the dark") of these warriors is defined by the three constant Corps Values: honor, courage, and commitment.

The three Corps Values: honor, courage, commitment.  They make up the bedrock of the character of each individual Marine.  They are the foundation of his Corps.  These three values, handed down from generation to generation, have made U.S. Marines the Warrior Elite.  The U.S. Marine Corps: the most respected and revered fighting force on earth.

Comments

[Sssteve]

Man, that was awesome Captb. Great post!

[BiBi]

What can we do to help the cause?

[jordan]

The Marine Corps is as all-American as apple pie and baseball. Little boys in foreign countries dream of becoming US Marines. One I know of was a Chilean boy who made up uniforms and and fashioned guns from tree branches. He was adopted at 12 years old and was brought to America. He just returned from his third Iraq tour.

[Taco Bell]

"The U.S. Marine Corps: the most respected and revered fighting force on earth"

Amen Brother
S/F
Taco

[Bob C.]

Capt B,
In an article about LCpl Brent Zoucha USMC of Clarks NE, 19 years old, who died in Iraq 9 June 2006, “[F]amily friend and spokesman David Beck of Clarks... described the Zoucha family as fiercely competitive, “Second place just wasn't an option. I believe this drive to succeed is what led him to the Marines.”

Beck makes your point, Sir. May we never forget those whose commitment to our freedom paid the ultimate price!

Semper Fi,

[Russ C]

Capt B, speaking of honor, courage, and commitment...

what has happened in the Corps with Officers' commitment to their marines...at least with the top brass.

I wrote a post over at blackfive.net and I believe it applies to your most recent post as well. Here it is for all that care:

Does anyone remember a few years ago in 2000 when a Marine LCpl smuggled a Bahraini princess into the US and married her? Was he plastered as a bad guy all over the media?? Not at all...in fact the Commandant at the time, General Jones, said he would stand behind his Marines even if they made a bad decision. In the end LCpl Johnson was demoted to PFC and he and his new wife (the princess) were allowed to live in base housing on Camp Pendleton.

That's a far cry from the way CPL Bellile (singer of Hadji Girl) is being treated. LCpl Johnson violated federal laws and pissed off the entire government of Bahrain. Cpl Bellile simply sang a song well within his first ammendment rights. But now because this country is being manipulated by the leftist media in massive amounts, a Marine who sang a song, could have his career ruined because some left wing radicals at an organization called CAIR were offended by a song that was reported inaccurately!

There's a song out there by Toby Keith called "The Taliban Song." There is nothing in Cpl Bellile's song that is worse than in Toby Keith's song. Yet there is no media outcry about Toby Keith. Why isn't CAIR all over the news complaining about American country & western singers?

I served in the Marine Corps for a number of years and I am very proud of my service. The men and women I worked with are and were some of the finest individuals I've ever met in my life. Seeing a Marine brother persecuted because an Islamic left wing radical disagrees with his politics, makes me sick to my stomach.

Here is the contact information for Cpl Bellile's Commanding Officer. If you agree with my views on this (and the views of many Marines everywhere) please e-mail him and ask him to support his Marine. That's what an officer does for his men.

Robert E. Milstead, Jr.
Brigadier General, U.S. Marine Corps
Commanding General, 2D MAW

robert.milstead[at]usmc[dot]mil

Semper Fi!! The Marine Corps is a band of brothers...let's not forget our brother Cpl Bellile in his hour of need.

[dyzgoneby]

Capt B, I hope you don't mind, I linked back to this post from you.

There is so much I would like to say and comment, but I promised I would keep my mouth shut (at least for now). Your words so adequately say what I am feeling at this point.

I am very frustrated with the way the whole system is working for/against our Marines. The way the MSM has been portraying everything in Iraq the last few months, I know of way too many who are feeling the backlash from it.

I also feel some Marines, need to be reminded what the "Corps" Values are.

Thank you for everything you are doing for our Country.

Semper Fi!

[Sylvar Deskins]

My father became a Marine when he was just 17yo. That was so very many years ago. After serving two tours, he got injured and eventually passed away in 86 from health issues related to his exposure from agent orange.

I have to say reading what you have there brought tears to my eyes and made me just so much more proud to have his blood. What you wrote is 100% truth and I do not know anyone who said it more perfectly than you.

Thank you for what you and your brothers (and sisters) have done and continue to do for this country. I could only be so lucky to have the chance to become a Marine!

Semper Fi