Marines Mark 250 Years with Global Birthday Celebrations

USA '''''' — Lance Cpl. Asa Herbert, a machine gunner with Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines fires an M240B medium machine during a defense of the amphibious task force gunnery exercise aboard the amphibious transport dock USS Green Bay (LPD 20), East China Sea, Jan. 20, 2019. During the training, Marines with BLT 1/4 and crewmen with the Green Bay rehearsed ship security using a variety of dismounted and ship-mounted small-arms and heavy weapons. As a part of DATF, the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit team assumed a security posture to stimulate traveling through potentially dangerous waters. BLT 1/4 is the Ground Combat Element for the 31st MEU. The 31st MEU, The Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU partnering with the Wasp ARG, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region.(Official Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Cameron Parks/ Released)

A Global Celebration of the Corps’ Quarter-Millennium Legacy

The Marine Corps celebrates its 250th anniversary this year, marking a milestone since its founding in 1775. Every year, Marines around the world gather on or near Nov. 10 to honor this tradition at formal birthday balls.

These events follow a strict dress code. Attendees wear dress blues, evening dress, mess dress, service alphas, tuxedos with miniature medals or suits and ties, while women often choose floor-length gowns. The emphasis on formal attire reflects the honor and history of the occasion.

Traditions That Preserve the Corps’ Heritage

One of the most meaningful moments of the celebration is the birthday cake-cutting ceremony. An officer uses the Mameluke sword—an iconic symbol of Marine leadership—to cut the cake. According to tradition, the first slice goes to the guest of honor. The second is presented to the oldest Marine, and the third to the youngest, symbolizing the passing of experience and the continuity of the Corps.

Another key element of each ball is the annual message from the Marine Corps commandant. On Nov. 10, in Arlington, Virginia, Gen. Eric M. Smith, the 39th commandant, and Sgt. Maj. Carlos A. Ruiz, the 20th sergeant major of the Marine Corps, delivered this year’s message.

Gen. Smith emphasized that the Corps’ standards remain its foundation. He reminded Marines that honor, courage and commitment are not abstract ideas but values that unite them across generations. He also warned that future challenges will require Marines to hold firmly to these ideals.

Honoring the Words of Past Leaders

Each year, Marines also read the historic birthday message from Maj. Gen. John A. Lejeune, the 13th commandant. His message reflects on the Corps’ creation on Nov. 10, 1775, and the many Marines who have carried the name with pride.

Lejeune praised the Marine Corps’ distinguished record, noting its service in nearly every major conflict since the American Revolution. He highlighted the Corps’ achievements from battles such as Trenton and the Argonne and recognized Marines who served across both hemispheres to protect American peace and security.

He reminded Marines that their reputation for courage and discipline comes from those who served before them. As long as the Marine Corps’ spirit endures, he wrote, Marines will continue to meet every challenge and uphold the honor of those who built the legacy of “soldiers of the sea.”
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