{"id":31832,"date":"2023-10-18T22:30:27","date_gmt":"2023-10-18T22:30:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/10\/18\/in-birthday-message-to-marines-top-general-emphasizes-high-standards\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T21:00:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T21:00:13","slug":"in-birthday-message-to-marines-top-general-emphasizes-high-standards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2023\/10\/18\/in-birthday-message-to-marines-top-general-emphasizes-high-standards\/","title":{"rendered":"In birthday message to Marines, top general emphasizes \u2018high standards\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cmc.marines.mil\/Birthday\/\" target=\"_blank\">In his first birthday message<\/a> as the Marine Corps\u2019 top leader,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2023\/09\/18\/as-both-the-no-1-and-no-2-marine-his-schedule-is-not-sustainable\/\" target=\"_blank\"> the new commandant <\/a>urged Marines to keep their high standards sacred and their \u201chonor clean.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2022\/11\/07\/marine-corps-247th-birthday-message-emphasizes-confidence-lethality\/\" target=\"_blank\">The Marine Corps\u2019 birthday<\/a>, which marks the anniversary of the Nov. 10, 1775, effort to recruit the first Continental Marines in Philadelphia\u2019s Tun Tavern, is a day of revelry for active duty Marines, Marine reservists and Marine veterans alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the birthday season ramping up, Gen. Eric Smith, the top Marine leader, released the commandant\u2019s birthday message Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c(W)e ruthlessly adhere to our standards of excellence \u2014 Marine standards \u2014 as we know this will best prepare us for the wars of the future,\u201d Smith said in the written message, which marks the Marine Corps\u2019 upcoming 248th birthday.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2023\/09\/22\/top-marine-leader-sworn-in-1-day-after-senate-confirmation\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Smith-swearing-in.png.png?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Top Marine leader sworn in 1 day after Senate confirmation<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Gen. Eric Smith took on the role Friday morning in a small ceremony at the Pentagon.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Why the \u201cruthless\u201d adherence to standards?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The idea is that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/feed\/update\/urn:li:activity:7037860520690933760\/\" target=\"_blank\">an attention to detail<\/a> and the close following of rules in garrison translate into a similarly precise approach on the battlefield, Smith previously has said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOur high standards are a prerequisite of professional warfighting, and how we keep our honor clean in the cauldron of combat,\u201d Smith wrote in the message Wednesday, making a reference to the sixth line of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marineband.marines.mil\/Audio-Resources\/The-Marines-Hymn\/\">The Marines\u2019 Hymn<\/a>. \u201cThey prepare us for the most difficult mission there is: fighting from and returning to the sea.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMost importantly they shape our unique Marine culture which is respected at home and across the globe,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The birthday video, another Marine Corps birthday tradition, won\u2019t be released until Nov. 1 or later, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marines.mil\/News\/Messages\/Messages-Display\/Article\/3525458\/marine-corps-birthday-content\/\" target=\"_blank\">a Marine administrative message<\/a> from September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smith, who became the acting Marine commandant in July and the official <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2023\/09\/22\/top-marine-leader-sworn-in-1-day-after-senate-confirmation\/\">commandant in September<\/a>, has made high standards a recurring theme of his messaging to Marines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Smith-swearing-in.png.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-64003\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Smith-swearing-in.png.png 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Smith-swearing-in.png.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Smith-swearing-in.png.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Smith-swearing-in.png.png?resize=1024,576 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gen. Eric Smith is sworn in as the 39th Marine commandant by Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, Sept. 22, 2023, in the Pentagon. (Marine Corps)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the brief <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marines.mil\/Guidance-To-The-Force\/\">guidance to the force<\/a> the general issued in August, he used the word \u201cdiscipline\u201d and \u201cstandards\u201d five times each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn my 36 years as a Marine, the best units I have seen in combat were the ones that took pride in their high standards, rigorous training, and ironclad discipline,\u201d Smith wrote in that guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In recent years, some Marine leaders have stressed what they view as the need for Marines <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/opinion\/commentary\/2019\/05\/21\/victory-begins-with-doing-the-right-thing-in-garrison-this-marine-master-guns-says\/\" target=\"_blank\">to focus on discipline<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2019\/05\/02\/crackdown-at-lejeune-inside-the-2nd-marine-division-commanders-controversial-call-for-discipline\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4890101.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Crackdown at Lejeune: Inside the 2nd Marine Division commander\u2019s controversial call for discipline<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Why the commanding general of 2nd Marine Division is not backing down.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maj. Gen. David Furness in 2019 ordered the Marines of 2nd Marine Division <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2019\/04\/18\/lejeunes-2nd-marine-division-mandates-daily-routine-citing-poor-discipline-and-long-hair\/\">to adhere to a detailed daily routine<\/a>, including set times for hygiene and fitness. Furness previously told Marine Corps Times he made the strict rules because of out-of-regs haircuts, a snubbing by junior Marines, a report that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2019\/05\/02\/crackdown-at-lejeune-inside-the-2nd-marine-division-commanders-controversial-call-for-discipline\/\">a Marine wore pajamas to the chow hall<\/a> in front of the commandant and \u201ca hundred different\u201d examples of lacking discipline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smith has discussed the responsibility to maintain the Corps\u2019 reputation and standards since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2023\/05\/31\/bidens-pick-to-lead-the-marine-corps-helped-design-its-new-vision\/\">long before he became the No. 1 Marine<\/a> in July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Way back in 2005, as he prepared to make a second deployment to Iraq after being shot in the leg on his previous deployment, he told<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/id\/wbna6881139\" target=\"_blank\"> NBC News the Marine Corps\u2019 reputation weighed on him <\/a>more heavily than the possibility of getting shot again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe have a saying that the Marine Corps is like a little glass Christmas ornament, if you will,\u201d then-Lt. Col. Eric Smith said. \u201cYou can drop it, but only once. Once it\u2019s gone, it\u2019s gone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd the people who built the legacy that we live on, this eagle, globe and anchor, from Iwo Jima, they\u2019re gone,\u201d he continued. \u201cYou can\u2019t apologize to them for soiling the reputation of the Marine Corps.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smith\u2019s birthday message wasn\u2019t all about standards, however. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The commandant made an oblique reference to the Corps\u2019 sweeping modernization initiative Force Design 2030, stating, \u201cin the interwar periods we train, we prepare, and we innovate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Started in 2020 under now-retired Commandant Gen. David Berger, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2023\/06\/22\/top-marine-pushes-back-on-critics-lack-of-trust-in-corps-overhaul\/\">Force Design has come under criticism<\/a> from a group of retired Marine leaders. But the initiative largely has found approval within the Pentagon and Congress, and Smith has voiced his commitment to continuing and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2023\/06\/14\/next-commandant-says-he-will-accelerate-marine-corps-transformation\/\">even accelerating it<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smith also reflected in the message on the history that defines the Marine Corps: legendary figures like veterans Hershel \u201cWoody\u201d Williams, Pfc. Hector Cafferata Jr. and Sgt. Maj. Dan Daly, and conflicts ranging from World War I to the controversial <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2023\/10\/18\/republicans-and-dems-agree-afghanistan-war-wasnt-worth-it-poll-shows\/\">war in Afghanistan<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smith emphasized that the \u201cfirst to fight\u201d branch <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2022\/11\/10\/marines-do-it-different-corps-leaders-say-during-moto-birthday-run\/\">is different from the others<\/a>, a sentiment often heard on the Marine Corps birthday, as well as on the other 364 days of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMost will never understand why we choose to attack when others do not, why we revel in being covered in mud, why we snap to attention when \u2018The Marines\u2019 Hymn\u2019 is played, or why we say, \u2018Ooh Rah,\u2019\u201d Smith wrote. \u201cWe understand it, and this message is for us, for the Marines.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cProtect your fellow Marines and our shared legacy,\u201d the commandant concluded. \u201cHappy Birthday Marines!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The new commandant urged Marines to keep their high standards sacred and their \u201chonor 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By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>In birthday message to Marines, top general emphasizes \u2018high standards\u2019 - Marine Corps Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The new commandant urged Marines to keep their high standards sacred and their \u201chonor clean.\u201d\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"In birthday message to Marines, top general emphasizes \u2018high standards\u2019\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The new commandant urged Marines to keep their high standards sacred and their \u201chonor clean.\u201d\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" 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