Commandant's Birthday Message

Transcript:

10 November 2025  

A MESSAGE FROM THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS

Two hundred and fifty years ago, before our Nation declared its independence, a small group of men gathered in Philadelphia and formed a Corps of Marines. From that moment, our story has been etched into the fabric of America itself. A quarter of a millennium later, Marines remain at the center of our Nation’s defense. Ready to fight, ready to win, and ready to uphold the trust placed in us since 1775.

Across centuries, Marines have fought on distant shores and in desperate battles, earning a reputation for discipline, toughness, and valor. From the Revolution to the World Wars, from Chosin to today’s operations across the globe, every generation has proven worthy of the title Marine. They succeeded liberty, held the line, and carried forward the promise of a free Nation, and a free world. We are the heirs of that legacy, and the standard bearers of its future.

This anniversary reminds us of the enduring character and values of our Corps. Honor, Courage, and Commitment are not abstractions, but the code that binds us to one another and to whom we defend. They inspire us to serve, and they shape how we serve. Those values are the conflicts that will endure and define us.

I could not be prouder of the Marines I see serving today. At home, at sea, and across the globe, you embody those proud traditions. You carry forward the ethos of honor, the excellence in warfighting, and fighting spirit that anchor our Corps. On this day of the 250 years I will challenge us in new ways, but I have no doubt we will rise.

Happy Birthday, Marines!

Semper Fidelis,

C.E. Smith  

General, U.S. Marine Corps

Commandant of the Marine Corps