Rifleman's Creed
Encyclopedia
The Rifleman's Creed is a part of basic United States Marine Corps
doctrine. Major General
William H. Rupertus wrote it during World War II
, probably in late 1941 or early 1942. All Marines learn the creed at recruit training
and they are expected to live by it. Different, more concise versions of the creed have developed since its early days, but those closest to the original version remain the most widely accepted.
and Jarhead
, set in the Vietnam War
and Gulf War
respectively, and both which depict recruit training
.
The creed is heard in songs by Fear Factory
("Crisis"), Combichrist
("This Is My Rifle"), Suicidal Angels ("Battlefield"), Mos Def
("A Soldier's Dream"), Killarmy
("Under Siege"), and Feint ("Creed") It has received mention in several novels, including Cryptonomicon
and Old Man's War
.
A modified version of the first line of the creed is used in the 2010 game StarCraft II Wings of Liberty developed by Blizzard Entertainment
. If the user persistently left clicks on a Terran Marine unit, he responds by saying "This is my C-14 Impaler gauss rifle! There are many like it, but this one is mine!"
Another modified version of the first line of the creed was used in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
, again developed by Blizzard. Much like the Terran Marine in Starcraft II Wings of Liberty, if a Night Elf Huntress is persistently left clicked, she can say "This is my owl. There are many like it, but this one is mine."
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
doctrine. Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
William H. Rupertus wrote it during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, probably in late 1941 or early 1942. All Marines learn the creed at recruit training
Recruit training
Recruit training, more commonly known as Basic Training and colloquially called Boot Camp, is the initial indoctrination and instruction given to new military personnel, enlisted and officer...
and they are expected to live by it. Different, more concise versions of the creed have developed since its early days, but those closest to the original version remain the most widely accepted.
Original text
In popular culture
The creed has been featured in many different types of popular culture offerings. Most prominently, it has been depicted in war films about the Marine Corps, including Full Metal JacketFull Metal Jacket
Full Metal Jacket is a 1987 war film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick. It is an adaptation of the 1979 novel The Short-Timers by Gustav Hasford and stars Matthew Modine, Vincent D'Onofrio, R. Lee Ermey, Arliss Howard and Adam Baldwin. The film follows a platoon of U.S...
and Jarhead
Jarhead (film)
Jarhead is a 2005 biographical drama war film based on U.S. Marine Anthony Swofford's 1991 Gulf War memoir of the same name, directed by Sam Mendes, starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Swofford with co-stars Jamie Foxx, Peter Sarsgaard, and Chris Cooper. The title comes from the slang term used to refer to...
, set in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
respectively, and both which depict recruit training
United States Marine Corps Recruit Training
United States Marine Corps Recruit Training, commonly known as "boot camp", is a program of initial training that each recruit must successfully complete in order to join the United States Marine Corps...
.
The creed is heard in songs by Fear Factory
Fear Factory
Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band. Formed in 1989, they have released seven full-length albums and a number of singles and remixes. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, as well as steadily pioneered a combination of the styles death metal,...
("Crisis"), Combichrist
CombiChrist
Combichrist is a Norwegian Aggrotech band formed in 2003 by Norwegian Andy LaPlegua based in Atlanta.-Formation:The first material LaPlegua wrote was a few powernoise/techno crossover tracks under the moniker DRIVE...
("This Is My Rifle"), Suicidal Angels ("Battlefield"), Mos Def
Mos Def
Dante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
("A Soldier's Dream"), Killarmy
Killarmy
Killarmy is a hip hop group, also known through its affiliation with the Wu-Tang Clan It is one of the earliest and most successful of the many Wu-Tang affiliates along with Sunz of Man....
("Under Siege"), and Feint ("Creed") It has received mention in several novels, including Cryptonomicon
Cryptonomicon
Cryptonomicon is a 1999 novel by American author Neal Stephenson. The novel follows the exploits of two groups of people in two different time periods, presented in alternating chapters...
and Old Man's War
Old Man's War
Old Man's War is a science fiction novel by John Scalzi published in 2005. It was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2006. It was optioned by Paramount Pictures in 2011...
.
A modified version of the first line of the creed is used in the 2010 game StarCraft II Wings of Liberty developed by Blizzard Entertainment
Blizzard Entertainment
Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. is an American video game developer and publisher founded on February 8, 1991 under the name Silicon & Synapse by three graduates of UCLA, Michael Morhaime, Allen Adham and Frank Pearce and currently owned by French company Activision Blizzard...
. If the user persistently left clicks on a Terran Marine unit, he responds by saying "This is my C-14 Impaler gauss rifle! There are many like it, but this one is mine!"
Another modified version of the first line of the creed was used in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos is a real time strategy computer game released by Blizzard Entertainment on July 3, 2002 . It is the second sequel to Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, and it is the third game set in the Warcraft Universe...
, again developed by Blizzard. Much like the Terran Marine in Starcraft II Wings of Liberty, if a Night Elf Huntress is persistently left clicked, she can say "This is my owl. There are many like it, but this one is mine."
See also
- Airman's CreedAirman's CreedIn 2007, General T. Michael Moseley, Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, introduced the Airman's Creed. In a letter introducing the creed, Moseley wrote that one of his "top priorities" was to "reinvigorate the warrior ethos in every Airman of our Total Force." Thus, the intent of the creed was...
- Soldier's CreedU.S. Soldier's CreedThe U.S. Soldier's Creed is a standard that all United States Army personnel are encouraged to live by. All U.S. Army enlisted personnel are taught the Soldier's Creed during basic training, and recite the creed in public ceremonies at the conclusion of training...
- Sailor's CreedSailor's creedThe Sailor's Creed is a creed of the United States Navy, originally developed for the promotion of personal excellence.-Original version:The first version of the Sailor's Creed came from an idea in 1986 by Admiral James B. Watkins, Chief of Naval Operations, to form a group that would create a Code...
- Creed of the United States Coast GuardsmanCreed of the United States Coast GuardsmanThe Creed of the United States Coast Guardsman was written by Vice Admiral Harry G. Hamlet, who served as Commandant of the Coast Guard from 1932 to 1936...