250 years ago in Philadelphia's Tun Tavern, one of the world's greatest fighting forces was born: the United States Marine Corps. Every year, the Commandant and the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps issue a message for the occasion. This video is played at every Birthday Ball, on every base and outpost, in embassies, and across the internet.
Let's take a look at this year's message in all of its brilliance.
250 Years of Winning Our Nation's Battles
— U.S. Marines (@USMC) November 1, 2025
For one quarter of a millennium, we have defended our country. From the birth of our nation during the American Revolution, to the end of the Global War on Terror, our role as a naval-based amphibious force has played a defining role in… pic.twitter.com/5sQMxSNcw1
The presentation begins with the Corps' legacy. Every conflict our country has faced has involved the Marines. This tradition of "The Few, The Proud, The Marines" dates back to 1775 when patriots fought for every inch of ground, shore, and sea of this great nation. We needed a specialized fighting force that could facilitate amphibious landings. Since then, Marines have turned the tide of battle in jungles, deserts, mountains, on and under the water, in the skies, and everywhere in between. Eagle, globe, and anchor, all the way.
The beauty of this legacy is that it marries perfectly with the Marine mantra: Adapt and Overcome. As the audience sees uniforms and weapons evolve throughout the first minute of the video, it is also shown the introduction of drones and technology. You are looking at a Corps committed to doing whatever it takes to beat America's enemies into submission.
Once it is well-established that the USMC is not going anywhere, the message pivots into a display of power. Tanks, rifles, jets, artillery — can we get a standing ovation for the Devil Dogs diving in cammies? I have washed many a Combat Utility Uniform in my eleven-year marriage and am here to tell you that stuff is heavy when it's wet. Put another point in the win column for Marines strong enough to make swimming in canvas look easy.
The video breaks the fourth wall (i.e. someone looks directly into the camera), not by accident. Every time it does this, it's sending a message to anyone who wishes to do America harm: You can fight, but you will not win. You can take away the tech and tools, but you will never take our resolve. You want to fight the United States? Someone else will raise your kids.
That's just the first act. It inspires — whether patriotism or fear depends on which side of the fight you're choosing. This bit is meant to serve as a warning and a call to action. Recruiting begins with helping someone recognize their potential. Do you want to join this brotherhood? Do you have what it takes?
Act two begins with interviews, another strategic tool that engages those who are currently serving. "We do more with less" — every active duty man and woman will nod in agreement. From my own experience, we spent three years stationed with the Air Force, and I was constantly enamored of the amenities. It was then that I started saying, "It's no wonder we get the whole crayon-eating bit — the Air Force is the golden child. There's nothing left for the Marines!" It's all in jest and good fun, but laughter is the recognition of truth, right?
Some may think the display of diversity is an appeal, but I assure you it is no DEI ploy. Showing people of all races and ethnicities does not mean "Diversity is our strength" but rather, "We don't care who you are or what you look like because our standards do not bend." Marines don't care what your skin looks like or where you come from. Excellence is colorblind.
One of the most underrated parts of this video comes just before minute seven, and it's the recognition of active duty families' sacrifices. Keep in mind who is watching this message; at the annual Birthday Ball, it's members of the unit and their dates. We have the top brass of the Marine Corps acknowledging and commending wives and spouses picking up and moving every two or three years.
Please, indulge me with a few memories.
To give you an idea of what that entails, every time my husband gets orders, it is up to me to find a place for us to live, a school for the kids, utility providers, pack and then unpack, establish care at medical, and transition my family as quickly and seamlessly as possible. I can pack our house in 24 hours if necessary.
It hit me this morning that we are moving.
— Ashley McCully (@TXTrendyChick) April 2, 2022
Again.
Next month.
We just moved 8 months ago. #militarylife #milspouse pic.twitter.com/4HhtTwfcqf
Our son is seven, and we are living is his sixth house. We go because we love the Corps and the United States, but love does not make it any easier. Helping my kids say goodbye to their friends while letting my own go is challenging. Being a single parent during deployments is exhausting. Having someone recognize this work is energy-giving.
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The final act of the video message comes directly from General Eric Smith and Sergeant Major Carlos Ruiz. What I love about this part is they are last and they are least. This video is not about them or their ego or their vision for the future. They speak directly to those Marines who put on the uniform right now, bolstering their conviction in the mission to engage the enemy any time, any place, and succeed.
General and Sergeant Major could have rescheduled filming but didn't. They stood in the rain for who knows how many takes until they got it just right. The Marines who operated the equipment stood in the rain for who knows how many hours. The dress blues they are wearing are the ladies' favorite, but I've yet to find a single Marine who would choose to wear them over any other uniform. They are heavy, sometimes itchy, constricting, and insulating. Don't even get me started on the shoes. Yet, this is the choice they made because Marines will never take the easy way out, only the excellent.
If you see a Marine, former or current, wish them a happy birthday, maybe buy them a beer or a meal. This is a time for celebrating. Unless you're Russia, China, North Korea, Venezuela, Iran, a drug cartel, a jihadist, Syria — the list goes on, and you know that if you're on it, then you should probably find a clean pair of britches. Semper fidelus, Marines!
