Rifleman's Creed

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. Major General William H. Rupertus wrote it during World War II, probably in late 1941 or early 1942. In the past, all enlisted Marines would learn the creed at recruit training. However, in recent years the creed has been relegated to the back pages of the standard recruit training guide book and its memorization is no longer considered doctrine for recruits. 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]

Current text
Rifleman's Creed[1][3][4][5]
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.

Without me, my rifle 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 I know that what counts in 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 [am human], 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 keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will ...

Before God, I swear this creed. My rifle and I 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!

Original text (used in the movie Full Metal Jacket)

(Note: the source novel for the film, Gustav Hasford's The Short-Timers, does include much of the text listed here as omitted from the film.)

Rifleman's Creed[1]
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.
Without me, my rifle 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 ...

(This part is not spoken in the film:

My rifle and I know that what counts in 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.)

(This part is on the extended edition of the movie:

I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will ...)

(regular edition of film continues here)

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 there is no enemy, but peace. Amen.

See also

References
  1. Major General William H. Rupertus. "My Rifle: The Creed of a U.S. Marine". United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2007-03-10.
  2. Major General William H. Rupertus. "My Rifle: The Creed of a U.S. Marine". U.S. Military. About.com.
  3. "Chapter Four – Training for Victory". 100 years of making marines at Marine Corps Recruit Depot : Parris Island, South Carolina (PCN 10600010000) (PDF) (First ed.). Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. 2015. p. 66 (PDF p. 5). OCLC 926058315. Retrieved 31 January 2021. ... even as I, because it is my life.
  4. Sturkey, Marion F. (2002). Warrior Culture of the U.S. Marines (1st ed.). Plum Branch, SC: Heritage Press International. ISBN 9780965081450. OCLC 50611498. via "Rifleman's Creed". Heritage Press International. Retrieved 31 January 2021. ... even as I am human, because it is my life.
  5. Standards (PDF). FIRES Center of Excellence. 29 July 2010. p. 6. Retrieved 31 January 2021. ... even as I am human, because it is my life.
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