"A Marine on duty has no friends." ~ Marine Corps proverb

“They say ‘you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink.’ In the Marine Corps, you make that horse wish to hell he had.” ~ USMC Drill Instructor

Band of Brothers
1.  All Marines are entitled to dignity and respect as individuals, but most abide by common standards established by proper authority.
2.  A Marine should never lie, cheat, or steal from a fellow Marine or fail to come to his aid in time of need.
3.  All Marines should contribute 100% of their abilities to the unit’s mission. Any less effort by an individual passes the buck to someone else.
4.  A unit, regardless of size, is a disciplined family structure, with similar relationships based on mutual respect among members.
5.  It is essential that issues and problems, which tend to lessen a unit’s effectiveness, be addressed and resolved.
6.  A blending of separate cultures, varying educational levels, and different social backgrounds is possible in an unselfish atmosphere of common goals, aspirations, and mutual understanding.
7.  Being the best requires common effort, hard work, and teamwork. Nothing worthwhile comes easy.
8.  Every Marine deserves job satisfaction, equal consideration and recognition of his accomplishments.
9.  Knowing your fellow Marine well enables you to learn to look at things “through his eyes,” as well as your own.
10. Issues detracting from the efficiency and sense of well being of an individual should be surfaced and weighed against the impact on the unit as a whole.
11. It must be recognized that a brotherhood concept depends on all members, “belonging” – being fully accepted by others within.>
~ “Band of Brothers” FMFPac concept by LtGen Charles Cooper, late 1970s.

"I have only two men out of my company and 20 out of some other company. We need support, but it is almost suicide to try to get it here as we are swept by machine gun fire and a constant barrage is on us. I have no one on my left and only a few on my right. I will hold." ~ 1stLt. Clifton B. Cates, USMC - in Belleau Wood, 19 July 1918

"We have two companies of Marines running rampant all over the northern half of this island, and three Army regiments pinned down in the southwestern corner, doing nothing. What the hell is going on?" ~ Gen. John W. Vessey Jr., USA, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the assault on Grenada, 1983

"I've always been proud of being a Marine. I won't hesitate to defend the Corps." ~ Jonathan Winters, comic and Marine

For a split second I was fearful because I knew I wasn't going to survive, but then I was OK because at least I was going out with a bang.

— Cpl Kyle Carpenter - MOH - answer to question "What's the moment that you feel most fearful on the battlefield and how did you overcome that" 06/16/2014

"Casualties many; Percentage of dead not known; Combat efficiency; we are winning." - Colonel David M. Shoup, USMC, Tarawa, 21 November 1943.

"We're not retreating, Hell! We're just attacking in a different direction!" — Gen. Oliver Smith | USMC

“We go forward with our heads held high, but look back and remember where we come from.” ~ Col. Michael Hudson | 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit