FMF STUDY GUIDE LATEST UPDATE
2025
1775 - ANSWER The Marine Corps was created on 10 November 1775 in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania at Tun Tavern by a resolution of the Continental Congress, which "raised
two battalions of Marines." Captain Samuel Nicholas became the commander of these
two battalions and is traditionally considered the first Commandant of the Marine Corps.
In 1834, the Marines came under the Department of the Navy. The National Security
Act of 1947, amended in 1952, states the present structure
1776 - ANSWER The first Marine landing took place during the Revolutionary War.
Marines invaded New Providence Island in the Bahamas and seized guns and supplies.
The uniform of the day had a stiff leather stock that was worn around the neck, thus the
nickname "Leatherneck
1805 - ANSWER Marines stormed the Barbary pirates' stronghold at Burma on the
"Shores of Tripoli." Marines raised the "Stars and Stripes" for the first time in the
Eastern Hemisphere
1847 - ANSWER During the Mexican War, Marines occupied the "Halls of Montezuma"
during the Battle of Chapultepec in Mexico City. The royal palace fell to invading
Marines, who were among the first United States troops to enter the capital. Marines
also helped take California
1859 - ANSWER Under the command of Colonel Robert E. Lee, U.S. Army, Marines
stormed the United States arsenal at Harper's Ferry to put down an attempted slave
revolt lead by abolitionist John Brown
1868 - ANSWER The Marine Corps adopted an emblem that consisted of an eagle, a
globe, and an anchor. Brigadier General Jacob Zeilin, 7th Commandant, modified the
British (Royal) Marine emblem to depict the Marines as both American and maritime.
The globe and anchor signify worldwide service and sea traditions. The spread eagle is
a symbol of the Nation itself.
1883 - ANSWER The official motto of the Marine Corps, "Semper Fidelis," (Latin for
"Always Faithful") was adopted. The phrase is more commonly heard as its
abbreviation, "Semper Fi".
1965 - ANSWER Marines landed in South Vietnam, which committed the Marine Corps
to the longest war in its history. Marines conducted numerous large-scale offensive
operations throughout the course of the war, as well as participating in the pacification
program designed to win the support of the local populace. Also, in response to an
attempted coup of the local government, Marines landed in the Dominican Republic to
, evacuate and protect U.S. citizens. The Marines formed the core of a multinational force
that quickly restored the peace
1982 - ANSWER - Marines deployed to Lebanon as part of a multinational
peacekeeping force in an effort to restore peace and order to this war-torn country. This
action further displayed the Marine concept of a "Force in Readiness." On 23 October
1983, a suicide truck bomb attack on the headquarters building killed 241 Americans
and wounded 70 others. The last Marine unit withdrew in July of 1984
1991 - ANSWER Operation Desert Storm was launched after the Iraqi government
refused to comply with United Nations resolutions. Marine aviation was heavily used
when the air phase commenced in January of 1991. When massive bombing failed to
dislodge Iraqi forces, Marine ground forces swept into Kuwait and liberated the country,
causing severe damage to the Iraqi military capability
BATTLE OF BELLEU WOOD - ANSWER Marines fought one of their greatest battles in
history at Belleau Wood, France during World War I. Marines helped to crush a German
offensive at Belleau Wood that threatened Paris. In honor of the Marines who fought
there, the French renamed the area "the Wood of the Brigade of Marines." German
intelligence evaluated the Marines as "storm troops" -- the highest rating on the enemy
fighting scale. In reference to the Marine's ferocious fighting ability, German troops
called their new enemy "Teufelhunden" or "Devil dogs," a nickname in which Marines
share pride
BATTLE OD GUADALCANAL - ANSWER On 7 August 1942, the 1st Marine Division
landed on the beaches of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands and launched the first
United States land offensive of World War II. This battle marked the first combat test of
the new amphibious doctrine, and also provided a crucial turning point of the war in the
Pacific by providing a base to launch further invasions of Japanese-held islands.
Amphibious landings followed on the remaining Solomon Islands including New
Georgia, Choiseul (Feint), and Bougainville
BATTLE OF TARAWA - ANSWER The Gilbert Islands were the first in the line of
advance for the offensive in the Central Pacific. The prime objective was the Tarawa
Atoll and Betio Island which had been fortified to the point that the Japanese
commander proclaimed that it would take a million Americans 100 years to conquer it.
On 20 November 1943, Marines landed and secured the island within 76 hours, but paid
a heavy price in doing so. Because of an extended reef, landing craft could not cross it
and Marines were offloaded hundreds of yards from the beaches. This led to heavy
losses from enemy fire. Additionally, many Marines drowned while attempting to wade
ashore
BATTLE OF MARIANA ISLANDS - ANSWER Due to the need for airfields by the Air
Force and advanced bases for the Navy, the Marianas were invaded. Landings on the
islands of Saipan, Guam, and Tinian accomplished this. During June and July of 1943,
Lieutenant General Holland M. Smith led a combined invasion force of Marines and
2025
1775 - ANSWER The Marine Corps was created on 10 November 1775 in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania at Tun Tavern by a resolution of the Continental Congress, which "raised
two battalions of Marines." Captain Samuel Nicholas became the commander of these
two battalions and is traditionally considered the first Commandant of the Marine Corps.
In 1834, the Marines came under the Department of the Navy. The National Security
Act of 1947, amended in 1952, states the present structure
1776 - ANSWER The first Marine landing took place during the Revolutionary War.
Marines invaded New Providence Island in the Bahamas and seized guns and supplies.
The uniform of the day had a stiff leather stock that was worn around the neck, thus the
nickname "Leatherneck
1805 - ANSWER Marines stormed the Barbary pirates' stronghold at Burma on the
"Shores of Tripoli." Marines raised the "Stars and Stripes" for the first time in the
Eastern Hemisphere
1847 - ANSWER During the Mexican War, Marines occupied the "Halls of Montezuma"
during the Battle of Chapultepec in Mexico City. The royal palace fell to invading
Marines, who were among the first United States troops to enter the capital. Marines
also helped take California
1859 - ANSWER Under the command of Colonel Robert E. Lee, U.S. Army, Marines
stormed the United States arsenal at Harper's Ferry to put down an attempted slave
revolt lead by abolitionist John Brown
1868 - ANSWER The Marine Corps adopted an emblem that consisted of an eagle, a
globe, and an anchor. Brigadier General Jacob Zeilin, 7th Commandant, modified the
British (Royal) Marine emblem to depict the Marines as both American and maritime.
The globe and anchor signify worldwide service and sea traditions. The spread eagle is
a symbol of the Nation itself.
1883 - ANSWER The official motto of the Marine Corps, "Semper Fidelis," (Latin for
"Always Faithful") was adopted. The phrase is more commonly heard as its
abbreviation, "Semper Fi".
1965 - ANSWER Marines landed in South Vietnam, which committed the Marine Corps
to the longest war in its history. Marines conducted numerous large-scale offensive
operations throughout the course of the war, as well as participating in the pacification
program designed to win the support of the local populace. Also, in response to an
attempted coup of the local government, Marines landed in the Dominican Republic to
, evacuate and protect U.S. citizens. The Marines formed the core of a multinational force
that quickly restored the peace
1982 - ANSWER - Marines deployed to Lebanon as part of a multinational
peacekeeping force in an effort to restore peace and order to this war-torn country. This
action further displayed the Marine concept of a "Force in Readiness." On 23 October
1983, a suicide truck bomb attack on the headquarters building killed 241 Americans
and wounded 70 others. The last Marine unit withdrew in July of 1984
1991 - ANSWER Operation Desert Storm was launched after the Iraqi government
refused to comply with United Nations resolutions. Marine aviation was heavily used
when the air phase commenced in January of 1991. When massive bombing failed to
dislodge Iraqi forces, Marine ground forces swept into Kuwait and liberated the country,
causing severe damage to the Iraqi military capability
BATTLE OF BELLEU WOOD - ANSWER Marines fought one of their greatest battles in
history at Belleau Wood, France during World War I. Marines helped to crush a German
offensive at Belleau Wood that threatened Paris. In honor of the Marines who fought
there, the French renamed the area "the Wood of the Brigade of Marines." German
intelligence evaluated the Marines as "storm troops" -- the highest rating on the enemy
fighting scale. In reference to the Marine's ferocious fighting ability, German troops
called their new enemy "Teufelhunden" or "Devil dogs," a nickname in which Marines
share pride
BATTLE OD GUADALCANAL - ANSWER On 7 August 1942, the 1st Marine Division
landed on the beaches of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands and launched the first
United States land offensive of World War II. This battle marked the first combat test of
the new amphibious doctrine, and also provided a crucial turning point of the war in the
Pacific by providing a base to launch further invasions of Japanese-held islands.
Amphibious landings followed on the remaining Solomon Islands including New
Georgia, Choiseul (Feint), and Bougainville
BATTLE OF TARAWA - ANSWER The Gilbert Islands were the first in the line of
advance for the offensive in the Central Pacific. The prime objective was the Tarawa
Atoll and Betio Island which had been fortified to the point that the Japanese
commander proclaimed that it would take a million Americans 100 years to conquer it.
On 20 November 1943, Marines landed and secured the island within 76 hours, but paid
a heavy price in doing so. Because of an extended reef, landing craft could not cross it
and Marines were offloaded hundreds of yards from the beaches. This led to heavy
losses from enemy fire. Additionally, many Marines drowned while attempting to wade
ashore
BATTLE OF MARIANA ISLANDS - ANSWER Due to the need for airfields by the Air
Force and advanced bases for the Navy, the Marianas were invaded. Landings on the
islands of Saipan, Guam, and Tinian accomplished this. During June and July of 1943,
Lieutenant General Holland M. Smith led a combined invasion force of Marines and
