Rifleman's Creed

The Rifleman's Creed (also known as My Rifle and The Creed of the United States Marine) is a part of basic United States Marine Corps doctrine. Major General William H. Rupertus wrote it during World War II, probably in late 1941 or early 1942. All Marines learn the creed at recruit training and they are expected to live by it. Different, more concise versions of the creed have developed since its early days, but those closest to the original version remain the most widely accepted.^[1][2]

Original text

Rifleman's Creed^[1]

This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.

My rifle, without me, is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will...

My rifle and myself know that what counts in this war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, nor the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit...

My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel. I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage as I will ever guard my legs, my arms, my eyes and my heart against damage. I will keep my rifle clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will...

Before God, I swear this creed. My rifle and myself are the defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life.

So be it, until victory is America's and there is no enemy, but peace!

In popular culture

The creed has been featured in many different types of popular culture offerings. Most prominently, it has been depicted in war films about the Marine Corps, including Full Metal Jacket and Jarhead, set in the Vietnam War and Gulf War respectively, and both which depict recruit training.

The creed is heard in songs by Fear Factory ("Crisis"), Combichrist ("This Is My Rifle"), Suicidal Angels ("Battlefield"), Mos Def ("A Soldier's Dream"), Killarmy ("Under Siege"), and Feint ("Creed") It has received mention in several novels, including Cryptonomicon and Old Man's War.

A modified version of the first line of the creed is used in the 2010 game StarCraft II Wings of Liberty developed by Blizzard Entertainment. If the user persistently left clicks on a Terran Marine unit, he responds by saying "This is my C-14 Impaler gauss rifle! There are many like it, but this one is mine!" Another modified version of the first line of the creed was used in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, again developed by Blizzard. Much like the Terran Marine in Starcraft II Wings of Liberty, if a Night Elf Huntress is persistently left clicked, she can say "This is my owl. There are many like it, but this one is mine."

See also

United States Marine Corps portal

• Airman's Creed
• Soldier's Creed
• Sailor's Creed
• Creed of the United States Coast Guardsman

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Major General William H. Rupertus. "My Rifle: The Creed of a U.S. Marine". United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2007-03-10. http://web.archive.org/web/20070310183121/http://www.lejeune.usmc.mil/2dmardiv/aabn/Rifleman.htm. 
2. ^ Major General William H. Rupertus. "My Rifle: The Creed of a U.S. Marine". U.S. Military. About.com. http://usmilitary.about.com/od/marines/l/blriflecreed.htm.