Marine Corps Common Skills (MCCS)
Instructional Posters
for Recruit Training
Part II: History
Drill Instructor SSgt Richard Vidinha
1st Recruit Training Battalion
Parris Island, South Carolina
2008
Marine Corps Common Skills (MCCS) Instructional Posters for Recruit Training
Part II: History
Table of Contents
Marine Corps Terms
Salt I
Salt II
Salt III
Famous Marines
Medals of Honor
GySgt John Basilone
MajGen John A. Lejeune
Colonel Chesty Puller
Sergeant Major Dan Daly
Corporal John F. Mackie
Marine Corps History by Era
1700s
1800s
[Part I]
1800s
[Part II]
World War I
World War II
Korea
Vietnam
Marine Corps Unit Locations
Major Marine Corps Units
MCCS-HIST-1001
MCCS-HIST-1001
MCCS-HIST-1001
MCCS-HIST-1002
MCCS-HIST-1002
MCCS-HIST-1002
MCCS-HIST-1002
MCCS-HIST-1002
MCCS-HIST-1002
MCCS-HIST-1001, 1002
MCCS-HIST-1002
MCCS-HIST-1002
MCCS-HIST-1001, 1002
MCCS-HIST-1002
MCCS-HIST-1002
MCCS-HIST-1002
MCCS-MAGT-1002
These posters were designed to be posted in the squad bay, head, offices, and other
common areas to teach recruits the Marine Corps Common Skills (MCCS). The
Reference is: NAVMC 3500.18 Marine Corps Common Skills (MCCS).
Marine Corps History
Two Marines awarded two Medals of Honor
SgtMaj Daniel J. Daly
• Peking China 1900
• Haiti 1915
MajGen Smedley Butler
• Vera Cruz Mexico 1914
• Fort Riviere in Haiti 1915
• NAVMC 3500.18 Marine Corps Common Skills, MCCS-HIST-1002
Marine Corps History
Corporal John F. Mackie
• First Marine to be awarded the
Medal of Honor
• Received Medal of Honor During
the Civil War in Virginia.
• Born in New York. Enlisted 1861.
• NAVMC 3500.18 Marine Corps Common Skills, MCCS-HIST-1002
Marine Corps History
1700’s
• Birthplace of the United States
Marine Corps
Tun Tavern, Philadelphia, PA
• Birth date of the United States
Marine Corps
10 November 1775
• Location of the first amphibious
assault in Marine Corps history,
led by Capt. Samuel Nicholas, first
Commandant
New Providence, Bahamas 1776
• Origin of the term “Leatherneck”
Nickname given to Marines because they
wore leather collars from 1775-1875
• NAVMC 3500.18 Marine Corps Common Skills, MCCS-HIST-1001,1002
Marine Corps History:
1800’s
Marine known as “the Grand Old Man of
the Marine Corps,” who served 38 years as
Commandant of the Marine Corps
Archibald Henderson
The first Marine to be awarded the Medal
of Honor
Corporal John F. Mackie 1863
A cross-shaped braid worn by Marine
Officers that enabled sharpshooters to
distinguish between friend and foe
Quatrefoil
The Origin of the Mameluke Sword
Given to Lieutenant O’Bannon for
actions in Tripoli
• NAVMC 3500.18 Marine Corps Common Skills, MCCS-HIST-1002
Marine Corps History:
1800’s
The significance of the scarlet trouser stripe:
Worn by all noncommissioned officers and
officers for actions at Chapultepec
The Significance of the Marine NCO sword:
Marine NCO’s are the only NCO’s authorized
to carry a sword
The significance of the three elements of the
Marine Corps Emblem:
Eagle for Nation, Globe for worldwide service,
Anchor for Naval traditions
The meaning of the Marine Corps Motto
“Semper Fidelis”:
Always Faithful
Marine Corps Emblem adopted:
1868
• NAVMC 3500.18 Marine Corps Common Skills, MCCS-HIST-1002
Marine Corps History:
World War I
Three customs associated with the Marine
Corps Birthday:
Troop formations, Marine Corps Ball,
Lejeune’s Birthday Message
The date women joined the United States
Marine Corps
1918 Opha Mae Johnson
The historical significance of the French
Fourragere
Worn for accomplishments at Belleau
Wood, Soissons, and Blanc Mont
The origin of the term “First to Fight”
Recruiting poster slogan during WWI
The origin of the term “Devil Dog”
Nickname given to Marines by German
Soldiers
• NAVMC 3500.18 Marine Corps Common Skills, MCCS-HIST-1001,1002
Marine Corps History:
World War II
The first amphibious landing, which applied the
principles established by the 1938 Fleet Training
Publication 167
Guadalcanal
The battle which proved the need for more Landing
Vehicles Tracked (LVTs)
Tarawa
The battle, which was fought in order to provide a
landing strip for strategic bombers
Iwo Jima
The Marine who was awarded the Medal of Honor for
actions during the battle of Guadalcanal and gave his
life on Iwo Jima
John Basilone
The significance of the phrase “Uncommon Valor was a
common Virtue”
Stated by Chester Nimitz about Marines at Iwo Jima
• NAVMC 3500.18 Marine Corps Common Skills, MCCS-HIST-1002
Marine Corps History:
Korea
Battle where the first Provisional Marine Brigade
reinforced the U.S. Army’s 24th Division in South
Korea
PUSAN
Amphibious landing which was opposed by nearly all
high-ranking officials in the Department of Defense
INCHON
Battle in which General Smith stated “We are not
retreating, we are attacking in a different direction”
Chosin Reservoir
Marine awarded five Navy Crosses
Col. Lewis B. Puller
Three developments, which were the result of the
fighting in Korea
Flak jackets, thermal boots, Vertical Envelopment
doctrine
• NAVMC 3500.18 Marine Corps Common Skills, MCCS-HIST-1002
Marine Corps History:
VIETNAM
The battle in which Marines were
held under a 77-day siege by the
NVA
Khe Sanh
A city during the Tet Offensive in
which Marines had to fight house to
house and street to street
HUE
The Marine who was instrumental in
the development of the Marine Scout
Sniper Program
Carlos Hathcock
• NAVMC 3500.18 Marine Corps Common Skills, MCCS-HIST-1002
Major Marine Corps
Units
MarDiv = Marine Division
1st MarDiv – Camp Pendleton, CA
2nd MarDiv – Camp Lejeune, NC
3rd MarDiv – Okinawa Japan
MLG = Marine Logistics Group
1st MLG – Camp Pendleton, CA
2nd MLG – Camp Lejeune, NC
3rd MLG – Okinawa, Japan
MAW = Marine Air Wing
1st Marine Air Wing – Okinawa Japan
2nd Marine Air Wing – Cherry Point, NC
3rd Marine Air Wing – Miramar, CA
• NAVMC 3500.18 Marine Corps Common Skills, MCCS-MAGT-1002