Semper Fidelis – Our Motto

In the world of the United States Marine Corps, words do not just carry meaning, they carry blood, memory, and legacy. And no two words are heavier with tradition, pride, and purpose than Semper Fidelis. You have heard it barked across parade decks, carved into headstones, whispered in the silence between brothers. It is not just a motto, it is a bond, a promise, a heartbeat.

But the journey to Semper Fi was not overnight. Before the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor took on its current form, before Devil Dogs clawed through the trenches of Belleau Wood, the Corps walked under the banner of other mottos, each echoing a chapter of its early evolution. The first was “Fortitudine”, Latin for “with courage,” a phrase that predated the War of 1812 and adorned the brass shako plates worn by Marines during the Federal period. It was less a slogan than a quiet declaration, one that summed up the grit and backbone required of Marines in the uncertain days of the young republic. Later came “By Sea and by Land”‘ borrowed from the British Royal Marines’ “Per Mare, Per Terram.” It nodded to the amphibious nature of the Corps, flexible, mobile, unrelenting. And then there was “To the Shores of Tripoli”, a battle cry born from the 1805 assault on Derne, when Lieutenant Presley O’Bannon led his small detachment of Marines across the desert to raise the American flag in victory. That line eventually grew, honoring another campaign with “From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli,” words we still sing with steel in our throats.

But in 1883, the Corps found its soul. That year, Semper Fidelis, Latin for “Always Faithful”, was adopted as the official motto of the United States Marine Corps. More than a slogan, it became the very rhythm of Marine life. It was not about a single battle or campaign. It was about something deeper, a code, a compass, a lifelong contract. It spoke to the unshakable loyalty Marines hold for Corps and country, and more intimately, for each other. It did not just apply on the battlefield. It applied to every choice, every step, every damn breath. It meant that no matter where you stood, whether in a jungle swamp, a desert outpost, a ship’s hull, or a VA clinic years later, you stood for something bigger than yourself.

Semper Fi is not part-time. It does not expire when your EAS rolls around. It does not fade with age or rank. It clings to you in quiet moments and rises up when your back is against the wall. It is why Marines recognize each other across barrooms, airports, and battlegrounds. It is why we still raise a glass every November 10th, even if we are alone. It is why we watch out for our brothers and sisters, no matter the distance or time passed.

When a Marine says Semper Fi, it is not small talk. It is a reminder, a vow, a whisper from the ghosts of Belleau, Tarawa, Hue, Fallujah. It is the pulse of every Marine who ever locked it in and pressed forward. Always faithful, to the Corps, the country, and each other. That is how we live. That is how we die. That is how we remember.

Semper Fi.