Question

[challiwell]

I am not on this site much so I was put off when I logged in and the first thing I saw was the story on Dakota Meyers that starts off with "Former Marine" last time I checked there are NO FORMER Marines, am I correct?

[Burke7051]

I am not on this site much so I was put off when I logged in and the first thing I saw was the story on Dakota Meyers that starts off with "Former Marine" last time I checked there are NO FORMER Marines, am I correct?

Not necessarily, former Marine from what I understand refers to a retired Marine, or a Marine no longer on active service. Not everyone in this country understands the saying "Once a Marine, always a Marine".

[ChuckH]

I am not on this site much so I was put off when I logged in and the first thing I saw was the story on Dakota Meyers that starts off with "Former Marine" last time I checked there are NO FORMER Marines, am I correct?

No you are not correct...
There are no EX Marines except for Lee Harvey Oswald and Charles Whitman.

[Apache]

The only correct title is MARINE
Civillians do not understand but that is Thier loss

[ChuckH]

The only correct title is MARINE
Civillians do not understand but that is Thier loss

WE know that.. but in the civilian world they refer to us as "former".
When I hear that, I tell them I will be a Marine till the day I die!!!!

[Marine84]

Once one always one.

[SGT7477]

Once one always one.

,Semper Fidelis.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Basically, yeah. The 'former' is a better/quicker way of saying 'Honorably Discharged' Marine. But 'Marine' it is no matter what. However, as someone else said, civilians/press/non Marines can't quite get that concept, so you see the 'former' bit in front of the title.

One of those style points that is very, very difficult to change. Same way with putting the 'M' in 'Marine' in caps. We are the only branch that does that, but it's difficult to get everyone else to do it LOL

[cubawatcher]

I have educated the people-staff and students-at my high school that I am not a former Marine,but a Marine.I'm now introduced as this is Tom he's a Marine.Caps are not optional.It's a blast working with high school kids and having the opportunity to discuss the military with them.The majority of the kids out there are good-just a little different from 50 years ago.We've had some good Marines recruited from my school not to mention those that chose to enter the Army,Air Force and Navy.I'm proud of all of them for serving their country.

[O.R. Davis]

I thought it was now referred to as Active, Former Active, Reserve, or Retired, or Veteran No longer "X" Marine!

[silverdollar]

Once one always one.

That goes for A**holes too.