Are creeds useful? Do they actually serve any purpose?

Elite organizations function on a very specific exacting ethos known as a narrative. The local Elks, Knights of Columbus, ecetera have a narrative, but are not known for their legend. You say Rangers or Special Forces or SEALs and automatically there is a specific narrative, especially critical to its members. It is essential to the expectations of the group absent any other information and is critical to their cohesion and continued success. Part of that can be creeds. I personally don't want to memorize mindless stuff, but the creed that is part and parcel with the narrative, and you are kind of stuck with it. It's not isolated to the Airborne Elite, among Armored Cavalrymen, it is Fiddlers Green. You say Fidler's Green to any other spur holding Cavalryman and it is instant understanding and shared experience.

A creed recited by a piece of sh*t doesn’t change the fact that they’re a piece of sh*t.

I don’t have any of them 100% committed to memory, and I can’t say any of them have ever factored into any decision I’ve made. The NCO Creed, the Soldier’s Creed, hell even the Creed of the Spectrum Manager (yack) happen to align with values I brought into my service with me.

Is there a chance that having to learn a creed can change how someone thinks or acts in certain situations? Ehhhh...maybe. But human nature tells me that’s unlikely. You’re going to do what you do based on who you are and what examples have been set for you.

They sound pretty, they might put a scoop of hooah on your breakfast cereal, but the words mean only what you make them mean.

If the creed captures meaningful and useful components that can be applied to the mission I think they are useful. They may not be perfectly remembered or applied but the creed captures the essence of what we are trying to do. I will use the Marine Rifleman's Creed as an example.

This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.
Without me, my rifle is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will ...
My rifle and I know that what counts in war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, nor the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit ...
My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel. I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will ...
Before God, I swear this creed. My rifle and I are the defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life.
So be it, until victory is America's and there is no enemy, but peace!

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That is a lot to remember but even if you cannot recite it word for word, the creed tells you about the importance of a Marine and his rifle. That taking care of it, learning it's attributes and how to use it and care for it as your life will depend on it etc. is mission critical. The most important part of the Marine Corp is the Marine and his rifle. That is ingrained early. The time we spend learning it, cleaning it, shooting it etc. is reinforcement of the importance of the creed in practice.

You can add things like the Mission of the Marine Rifle Squad to this:

To locate, close with, and destroy the enemy by means of fire and maneuver, and to repel the enemy assault by means of fire and close combat.

It is the essence of the mission of the squad in a single sentence.

We also learn the Marine Corps Hymn, all three versus, word for word. We sing it every night when we hit the rack in boot camp. It is more than a song, it is a lesson about the exploits, history and mission of the Marine Corps as well. It is much like a creed as well.

You are correct that rote memorization without the cultural reinforcement and discipline behind these creeds are just warm air over the vocal chords. They have to be learned and lived as a part of an organizations DNA.