Semper Gumby

Semper Gumby is an unofficial motto for the United States Marine Corps, Navy fast attack submariners, Navy Seabees, USCG personnel, and the Civil Air Patrol. It is a play on the official motto Semper Fidelis, usually abbreviated Semper Fi, which means "Always Faithful", and that of the US Coast Guard, Semper Paratus, meaning "Always Ready." Semper Gumby, referring to the cartoon character Gumby, means "Always Flexible." The real Latin phrase meaning "always flexible" is semper flexibilis.

While the first use of Semper Gumby is often assigned to Captain Jay Farmer of HMM-264 in 1984 who actually flew with a Gumby character toy mounted on the standby Compass on the instrument panel of his CH-46E nicknamed "Airwolf", the term was in use in 1977/78 in 1st Battalion, 5th Marines at Camp Pendleton.

While popular belief has it that the term was first referenced by the 1st Sgt TOW Co. 3rd Tank Battalion 7th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Task Force Ripper) prior to deployment of Operation Desert Shield from MCAGCC 29 Palms, Ca. on August 15, 1990. "Marines, My platoon commander in Nam used to tell us 'Semper Gumby, Always Flexible'." The 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines has "always flexible" as part of their official motto.

The phrase was also said by Corporal Gabriel 'Gabe' Garza played by Rey Valentin on the HBO series Generation Kill.

External links

• Semper Gumby

United States Marine Corps Leadership Secretary of the Navy Under Secretary of the Navy Commandant of the Marine Corps Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Marine Corps generals United States Congress House Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Senate Subcommittee on Seapower Major commands Organization of the Marine Corps Headquarters Marine Corps Marine Forces Command II Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Pacific I Marine Expeditionary Force III Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Reserve Fleet Marine Force Atlantic Pacific Structure Marine Air-Ground Task Force Bases Battalions Regiments Brigades Divisions MEF/Corps Marine aviation Marine expeditionary unit Special Operations Special Operations Regiment Recon Force Division Personnel and training Personnel Rank insignia MOS Notable Marines Historical Marines Criminal Investigation Division Judge Advocate Division Chaplain of the Marine Corps Hispanic Marines Associated organizations Training Recruit Training School of Infantry Officer Candidates School The Basic School Martial Arts Program Uniforms and equipment Uniforms Awards Badges Weapons Vehicles and aircraft Individual equipment History and traditions History Culture Acronyms and terms Birthday Ball Eagle, Globe, and Anchor Marine Band Drum and Bugle Corps Service Numbers Marine Corps War Memorial Flag Marine One Marines' Hymn National Museum Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima Rifleman's Creed Semper Fidelis Silent Drill Platoon History of Hispanics in the USMC Toys for Tots Portal:United States Marine Corps Category:United States Marine Corps

United States Coast Guard Portal:United States Coast Guard Category:United States Coast Guard Leadership Secretary of Homeland Security Commandant of the Coast Guard Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Organization Missions Reserve Intelligence Investigative Service Legal Division Police Deployable Operations Group Areas Districts Sectors Stations Air Stations Radio stations National Ice Center Research & Development Center Coast Guard Auxiliary Personnel and training Personnel Officer ranks Enlisted rates Ratings Coast Guard Academy Training Center Cape May Training Center Petaluma Training Center Yorktown Maritime Law Enforcement Academy Joint Maritime Training Center Ancient Order of the Pterodactyl Chaplain of the Coast Guard Uniforms and equipment Uniforms Awards Badges Cutters List of cutters Ship commissioning Ship decommissioning Equipment History and traditions History Coast Guard Act Life-Saving Service Revenue Cutter Service Lighthouse Service Steamboat Inspection Service Bureau of Navigation "Semper Paratus" Flag Ensign Racing Stripe Band Fleet Week Coast Guard service numbers Coast Guardsman's Creed Battles and operations Quasi-War War of 1812 West Indies Anti-Piracy Operations Capture of the Bravo Ingham Incident Amistad Incident Great Lakes Patrol Mexican–American War American Civil War Battle of Fort Sumter Battle of Pig Point Battle of Galveston Harbor Battle of Portland Harbor Overland Relief Expedition Spanish–American War Battle of Manila Bay Battle of Cárdenas Ice Patrol World War I 1st Battle of the Atlantic Great Mississippi Flood Rum Patrol World War II 2nd Battle of the Atlantic Battle of Guam Operation Overlord Korean War Vietnam War Coast Guard Squadron One Operation Market Time Operation Sealords Action of 1 March 1968 Persian Gulf War War on Terrorism Afghanistan War Iraq War Operation Enduring Freedom HOA

Semper Gumby is also a common phrase used in the field of Emergency Management.