Should former Marines who join another service give up the Title?

Here is one that's near and dear to my heart.  I joined the Corps, went to basic in 1984.  In 1990, the Marine Corps decided that the airwing was too full and anyone that wanted to reenlist had to go grunt.  After 6 years in the airwing, I knew that I wouldn't have the convictions needed to be infantry.  The Navy called and I went into the Reserves.  In 2001, I went back to active duty, and stayed until they said I had been there too long and had to retire.  My recruiter wanted me to go back to Navy boot camp and that was a deal breaker.  He asked, "Don't you want the title of Sailor?"  I said, "No, I have a title and I'm gonna keep it just the way it is."  I will never give up my title of Marine, once a Marine always a Marine.  Semper Fi!!!

<p>Regardless of any Corps you are currently in how and where you were raised before MATTERS and is important to who you are or become!</p><p><br></p><p>However, embrace the team you are on. You would not be talking about the "Titans" if you were on the the "Packers" team.&nbsp;(just a reference not a call to defend).&nbsp; If you want to be called a Marine then stay a Marine, if you don't like being called a Soldier then don't become one. We must be proud of our foundation - Marine or any other&nbsp;in the end who we become was based on our foundation but&nbsp;where we currently are matters most -&nbsp;never forget who's team you are on regardless of what Branch you end up in.</p><p><br></p><p>This post is not because I am a Soldier it is because even in the Army Soldiers talk about their favorite unit at the sacrifice of the current unit they are in. It drives me crazy how much they will do to tear a unit apart as opposed to build it up.</p><p><br></p><p>***** Finally my personally opinion is the reason the Marines talk so much about being a Marine is they have learned the lesson so many seek to teach and have created a culture that only a few truly learn how to do. So matter where they are or end up they yearn for that sense of belonging. If any organization can create that they will know it - I have been in such a unit and still stay in touch with more of those Soldiers than any others in all my years or service. Now quit hating be proud to have a Marine in your organization and have them help build your organizations&nbsp;culture.</p><p><br></p><p>My two cents</p>

Well, if you want to compare it to a woman taking her husbands name then compromise like so many have done by Hyphenating like some women do!

As with Infantrymen in the Army, the title is earned and becomes more than just a title. It's a part of who we are, what we are, and, dare I say, how we are....it should never be given up. I respect and trust most Marines the way I would/do my fellow Infantrymen.

You make a very good point. I often wonder why they have left in the first place. I have worked with a couple prior service Marines in the Army and it is a mixed bag. The worst are the ones that hate the Army. We had a soldier that only spoke of the greatness of the Marines and how bad the Army is. I didn't waste my time but would think if you loved the Marines why would you leave it in the first place?<div><br></div><div>I have a buddy that went SF in the Army after he got out of the Marines. I never recall him talking about his MC days to be honest.</div>

Short answer - wait for it - NO - the USMC makes the finest Army Officers!&nbsp; Also, Master Sergeant, you may recall having to redo Boot when you entered our beloved Corps after the Army - former Marines who join other services don't have to go through that exercise as our (USMC) basic training is considered superior to the other services.&nbsp; By the way, I was 'directly appointed' - I attended ROTC courses but was not contracted, applied for appointment in the USAR and was granted constructive credit for ROTC Advanced Camp because of my completion of USMC basic (MCRD PISC).&nbsp; Semper Fidelis!

I believe and have always believed that "The Few and the Proud" have earned their Eagle, Globe, amd Anchor, and if honorably discharged, they will always be a Marine regardless of where they find temselves down the road.  So no, Marines should keep their title, just as i will always maintain my "Engineer" title even though i am no longer serving in that Career Management Field. So Semper-Fi my Marines both current and former....

I have a strong admiration of Marines and other service members, I do hear many Former Marnines in the ARMY who are very proud. Just wondering why they didn't stay in their beloved Corps?

It is the Marine Corps that created the Mantra "Once a Marine, always a Marine".
If Marines want Marines that join another service to give that label up they give lie to their own self image.
After all, when a Former Marine in another service does something notworth they will claim it was because he was a Marine.
Be careful what you wish for.

Wow, in this time of such great division between Americans due to political preference, is this really the example the military wants to set. In my day there was good natured ball busting between branches, even a competitive spirit similar to a team scrimmage. But in the end we still understood that we were on the same team. I remember MOUT training on Ft Pickett, a platoon of sappers and a platoon of field MPs got together with a company of Marine refuelers for a football game one night. It was a vicious, bloody battle, for two hours, as the team with the lead after an hour was more than willing to extend the game out of sportsmanship and the fact both teams were having way too much fun to quit. No pads tackle with a few elbows and slight punches thrown during plays. Not one unsportsmanlike conduct between plays though. The extended play only increased the point spread, after the second hour with both teams near shirtless and most bleeding and beaten to the point of numbness the losing team graciously conceded defeat. Hands were shook and beer was drank together as brothers in arms. I will not reveal the score or which branch had the higher, because ultimately it didn't matter. What was won that evening was mutual respect between branches and brothers. If you want to call yourself Marine, then stay Marine. If you want to call yourself Soldier, then stay Army. The same goes for Navy and Air Force. As for me, call me what you will, the title does not change the oath nor what it embodied me to defend. A title does not define the man, the man defines the title. As I have stated many times, a force of one is easily defeated. That is not the spirit of the American Military I served in. You don't serve to find glory, you serve and glory finds you.