Rifleman's Creed

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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. Believed to have been penned by Major General William H. Rupertus in the early days of World War II (probably in late 1941 or early 1942), the creed is now taught to all Marines 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]

[edit] Original version

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!

[edit] Other media

Appearances in popular culture include the 1987 Vietnam film Full Metal Jacket and the 2005 First Gulf War film Jarhead which both portray the recruits chanting a shortened version of the Creed. A modified version of the creed also appears in binary form in Douglas Coupland's 1995 novel, Microserfs, on p. 104-105.