Compass Points - USMC 250 Years

250 Years of Honor and Service

Compass Points - USMC 250 Years

250 Years of Honor and Service

November 10, 2025

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On a blustery February morning in 1776, during the tenth month of the American Revolution, Commodore Esek Hopkins led a squadron of eight extemporized warships out of the ice-clogged Delaware River below Philadelphia. In this, the first deployment of the Continental Navy, Hopkins’s force included 236 newly recruited Continental Marines, commanded by Captain Samuel Nicholas, a thirty-two-year-old former Philadelphia innkeeper. They were the vanguard of two battalions of Marines authorized by the Second Continental Congress on November 10, 1775 (traditionally celebrated as the birth date of the Corps).

— Joseph H. Alexander, The Battle History of the U.S. Marines

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Happy Birthday to all Marines and their families, and all the friends of the Corps. Did those 236 Marines shivering onboard ships on the frozen Delaware River nearly 250 years ago, have any idea that they were the vanguard of a new elite military force that would serve the United States and win renown on battlefields around the globe?

Today, on November 10, 2025, the US Marine Corps is halfway through its third century.

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First USMC Century 1775 - 1875

From the start of the Revolutionary War to the end of the Civil War. From smooth barrel muskets, to rifled muskets, to repeating rifles, and other new technologies, including ironclad warships, one man submarines, and reconnaissance balloons. And significantly for the Marines, just after the first Marine century ended, John Philip Sousa was appointed 17th leader of the President’s Own, Marine Band.

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Second USMC Century 1875 - 1975

From the Spanish-American War, to World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. From trench warfare, to atomic bombs, to helicopter warfare, and then confronted by an explosive new technology, the Internet’s World Wide Web.

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Third USMC Century (first 50 years) 1975 - 2025

After more then four decades of global deterrence and fighting, including in Korea and Vietnam, the US defeated the USSR in the Cold War. Barely ten years later, the destruction of the World Trade Center towers in New York City, on September 11, 2001, kicked-off new decades of fighting in the Middle East, against a new adversary, radical Islam.

Across two and one-half centuries, the United States has depended on the readiness and ferocity of Marine warriors. The decades and centuries have taught that there is no way to predict today where Marines will be called upon to fight tomorrow. Even as the Corps celebrates its birthday, Marine units today are onboard Navy amphibious ships, patrolling the waters of the Caribbean.

Wherever Marines are today, whether on active duty or formerly on active duty, Marines will find a way to toast the Marine Corps birthday.

For Compass Points, today is a day to pause and take stock. The offices of Compass Points are quiet. Nearly the entire management and staff have gone home. Today, the team of Compass Points will join with so many across the broad Marine community and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of of the Marine Corps.

The Marine Corps is not a corporation or a defense contractor. The Marine Corps does not trade stock on the New York Stock Exchange. Not one 401K contains Marine Corps stock. To the extent that the Marine Corps is owned, it is owned by Marines and by Marine friends and family. Marines take ownership of the Marine Corps by earning the EGA. The EGA cannot be bought and it cannot be stolen. It must be earned. Once earned, the EGA means the Marine is an owner of the Marine Corps for life.

It does not matter how old or young a Marine is today. It does not matter what their MOS is. It does not matter whether their active and reserve service is measured in months or decades. A Marine is a Marine. All Marines serve.

The Marine Corps exists to serve. The Marine Corps exists to protect and defend the United States of America. Why is the US worth defending even unto death?

Like the Marine Corps, the US is filled with flawed human beings. That means both the Marine Corps and the US make mistakes -- sometimes terrible mistakes. But no matter what has happened in the past, Marines and Americans strive toward higher principles, they strive to build a better future. The constant striving to make one’s self better, to make one’s community better, and to make the world better is at the heart of life for Marines and for all Americans. Our current days are not good enough, we have to make tomorrow better.

Marines, thank you for your service. There are great days ahead for Corps and Country. Compass Points wishes ‘Happy Birthday’ to everyone celebrating the birthday of the Marine Corps. Celebrate boldly, proudly, and safely. Be careful driving, and for those conducting bar room carrier quals, watch out. The end of the table can sneak up on you!

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Happy 250th Birthday Marines!

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- - - - -

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M a r i n e s !

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Fire and maneuver, and get it done,

Fight as a team, ‘till the fight is won.

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Every Marine, a rifleman. Every battle, to the end.

Every Marine, a rifleman. Faithful warrior and friend.

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A Marine stands at the ready, in the sweat and fog of war.

And pushes past exhaustion, when about to breach a door.

It’s the full fury of the wolf, who first carries the attack.

But that lone wolf draws his fury, from the closeness of the pack.

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A Marine about to battle, might first seem to be alone,

But Marines go fight together, and together, they come home.

It begins on yellow footprints, with loud voices and long days.

And culminates in Crucible and award of E.G.A.s.

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Fire and maneuver, and get it done,

Fight as a team, ‘till the fight is won.

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Every Marine, a rifleman. Every battle, to the end.

Every Marine, a rifleman. Faithful warrior and friend.

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That one Marine who’s standing there, at the door about to breach,

But not one Marine’s alone there, more help’s within his reach.

With his fire team right with him, and the larger unit all.

Marines are on the left and right, and much more support on call:

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Smart agencies and foreign friends, and skilled leaders in command.

With air and naval gunfire, and artillery at hand.

Corpsman, Chaplain, and translator, plus, high satellites and tech.

Logistics and intelligence, contribute all their best.

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The future will send surprises, send new challenges and needs.

When the future sends new battles, send the future, the Marines!

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-- JDK