The Army offers a $50,000 college scholarship. The Navy offers you a chance to see the World. The Air Force will train you in a high-tech, high-paying job. The Marine Corps gives you something that no amount of money could ever buy -- an unshakable tradition; an unbreakable value system; an incomparable life.
No other serviceperson "lives" their service like a Marine. A Marine is a Marine 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, rain, shine, leave, weekends, and holidays. Even a Marine's civilian clothing wear is restricted, on or off duty, on or off base, on or off leave. As the regulation says, "Marines may well be associated and identified with the Marine Corps even when not wearing a uniform. Therefore when civilian clothing is worn, Marines will ensure that their dress and personal appearance are conservative and commensurate with the high standards traditionally associated with the Marine Corps. No eccentricities of dress will be permitted."
Loyalty to the Corps and honor are the watchwords of a Marine. The first definition of honor in my dictionary is "high public esteem, fame, glory." The 2nd definition is "honesty or integrity in one's beliefs and actions." Try asking come college teenager to define "honor." Chances are they'll know about fame and glory; the school "honor roll" and so on.
Will they be able to articulate the second definition? Will they say they have personal honor?
Now, ask a Marine 18 year old the same question. He will tell you exactly what honor means, without hesitation, and -- his definition will have nothing to do with glory. To a Marine, honor is loyalty and dedication to God, Country, Corps, Family, and Self.
When asked what he/she does for a living, a sailor would likely respond, "I'm in the Navy." An airman would likely respond, "I'm in the Air Force." A soldier would probably reply, "I'm in the Army." When asked the same question, a Marine will answer, "I AM a Marine."
THE FEW. THE PROUD. THE MARINES.
My late husband was one of the few and the proud. He would cry over this humiliation of his Marine Corps!
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/marines/l/aamarines.htm