U.S. MARINE CORPS. JROTC
Category 5 – General Military Subjects
Skill 4 – Customs, Courtesies, and Traditions
Marine Corps Symbols
Faithful) with the hemisphere superimposed on a
foul anchor. The seal is displayed on a scarlet
background encircled with a
Navy blue band, edged in a gold
rope
rim
and
inscribed
"Department of the Navy,
United States Marine Corps" in
gold letters. The emblem centered on the seal was
adopted in 1955 as the official Marine Corps
Emblem.
PURPOSE
This lesson introduces you to description of
the Marine Corps Seal, the significance of the
High Collar, Quatrefoil, Red Stripe, and
Officer and NCO swords.
Introduction
Ceremonial duties are deeply embedded
in the history of the Corps. The Marine Corps
seal, Scarlet Trouser strip, NCO and Officer
Swords, and other Marine Corps traditions play a
key role in various ceremonial duties that Marines
are called upon to perform. Precision drill,
immaculately turned-out troops, disciplined
marching, and outstanding bearing displays
evidence of Marine Corps alertness and
determination to put out only their best, and pride
in the Corps and one’s self. As MCJROTC
cadets, you can draw upon years of Marine Corps
traditions and customs as your foundation to be
the best.
High Collar
The Marines' long-standing nickname
“Leathernecks” goes back to the leather stock or
neckpiece, which was part of the Marine uniform
from 1775 to 1875. Marine Corps legend is that
the high leather collar protected a Marines neck
from the slash of an enemy cutlass.
Marine Corps Seal
On June 22, 1954, President Eisenhower
signed Executive Order 105.38 "Establishing a
Seal for the United States Marine Corps." General
Lemuel C. Shepard, Jr., 20th Commandant
designed the seal. The new seal consisted of the
traditional Marine Corps emblem in bronze with a
depiction of wings, standing upon the western
hemisphere of the world globe. Additionally,
holding in his beak, a scroll inscribed with the
Marine Corps motto "Semper Fidelis" (Ever
Descended from the stock is the standing
high collar, which is a hallmark of Marine blues.
Like its leather ancestor, the standing collar
regulates stance and posture and thus proclaims
the wearer a modern “Leatherneck.”
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U.S. MARINE CORPS. JROTC
Category 5 – General Military Subjects
Skill 4 – Customs, Courtesies, and Traditions
Leather Collar
This stiff leather collar, fastened by
two buckles at the back, measured nearly three
and a half inches high and prevented neck
movement necessary for sighting along a rifle
barrel. It supposedly improved military
bearing, by forcing the chin high. General
George F. Elliott, recalling its use after the
Civil War, said it made the wearers appear
"like geese looking for rain."
NCO Sword
Although not specifically mentioned in
uniform regulations until 1840, swords for Marine
noncommissioned officers were carried and issued
much earlier. The NCO sword is one of the
oldest weapons in continual use in the U.S. Armed
Forces. Marine Corps uniform regulations
prescribed the Army sword, which by this time
was the model 1840, patterned on a French
model, with straight blade and cast bronze hilt.
During the Civil War, senior Marines NCOs
began to wear a sword of the same type as the
Army infantry officer’s sword. In 1975, this
pattern was made official, and it continues to the
present day.
Quatrefoil
The quatrefoil is the cross-shaped braid
atop the barracks covers of Marine Officers. The
braid was taken directly from Napoleon III's army
and has been worn since 1859. It is believed to
have been first used by Marine sharpshooters to
help tell friend from foe. The sharpshooters
would climb into the rigging of American ships
and when the Marines boarded an enemy ship, the
sharpshooters would rain death and destruction
upon the enemy while sparing the Marines who
wore the cross of rope upon their covers.
Swords (other than individually owned)
are organizational equipment. Staff NCOs wear
them when blues or whites-blue-whites are worn.
Sergeants may, when prescribed, wear the sword
for drill with troops, parades, reviews, and
ceremonies.
Red Stripe
The red stripe worn on the dress blue
trousers of officers and noncommissioned officers
is in memory of the battle of Chapultepec
Castle, at Vera Cruz, during the MexicanAmerican war. During that battle, 90% of the
Marine Officers and NCOs died taking the
Mexican stronghold. The officer’s stripe is 1 ½
inch wide and the NCOs stripe is 1 1/8 inch wide.
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U.S. MARINE CORPS. JROTC
Category 5 – General Military Subjects
Skill 4 – Customs, Courtesies, and Traditions
worn with pride. As a MCJROTC cadet, you may
have an opportunity to show others why the
Marine Corps is a proud organization built upon
years of history and traditions. 
The Mameluke Sword
The sword that Marine officers carry goes
back to the Uniform Regulations of 1826 (with a
hiatus from 1859 to 1875). However, records of
the day indicate that Marine officers wore swords
of this pattern before the War of 1812.
The Mameluke sword gets its name
from the cross-hilt and ivory grip, both of which
were used for centuries by the Moslems of North
Africa and Arabia. The Marine Corps tradition of
carrying this type of sword dates from Lieutenant
O’Bannon’s assault on Derna, Tripoli, in 1805,
when he was said to have been presented the
Mameluke sword by the governor of Derna.
Conclusion
During this lesson, you have learned
about the history and traditions surrounding much
of what makes the Marine Corps unique from
other branches of military service. Why Marines
are called “Leathernecks” has been explained and
the dress uniform, steeped in history, should be
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U.S. MARINE CORPS. JROTC
Category 5 – General Military Subjects
Skill 4 – Customs, Courtesies, and Traditions
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