Posted on 09/17/2013 6:55:55 AM PDT by KingLudd
Apologies for posting here. This may be my very first post.
5 years ago, I promised a young Marine that I would purchase his officer's sabre if he made it. I just received word that he will be promoted to Corporal in Oct. Is it time for me to make good on my promise? When do officers generally carry a sabre? Any historical advice or purchase advice in terms of price, source, style is greatly appreciated. This Marine is an exceptionally good person. Thank you
Corporal is an Enlisted Rank, not Officer ...
Corporal (E-4) - 12 months TIS and 8 months TIG
A corporal is not an officer, so you can spend your money on something else.
You would be looking at an NCO sword not an officer sabre.
http://www.militarysabers.com/marine-nco-sword-certified.html
Corporal or captain? Because if he’s a corporal then he’ll look out of place with a saber.
I don’t know much about Marines but the universal acceptance is that only Commissioned Officers, Lieutenant and above, carry swords. Corporals are Non-Coms.
Officer carry a Mameluke: http://www.marines.com/history-heritage/timeline?articleId=TIMELINE_INNOVATIONS_1805_THE_BATTLE_OF_DERNA#1800
Not only that, but he will be out of uniform.
E-4 and above can carry..typically ceremonial..weddings and retirements, honor guard. USN Ret. 0-3E, ‘75-2001...been there, done that..got the shirt...LOl...and sword.
This kind of ignorance manifests itself when so few American men serve in the military.
Buy him a swagger stick, but make certain he uses it off base.
I don't know much about the Army, but, as a symbol of leadership in combat, the Marines allow both NCO's (Non-Coms) and Officers to carry the ceremonial sword.
USMC “Corporal’ is an NCO Rank not an “Officer”.
There has to be a joke in there, i.e. not letting an ensign carry a sword.
Something along the lines of:
What's the most dangerous weapon in the US Army's arsenal?
Ans: A 2nd Lieutenant and a map.
From experience, that's not far from the truth. I was lucky: I received dozens of hours of training in map reading and orienteering. Plus, during my first year in Germany, I spent a lot of time on weekends driving through the local area.
Came in handy during alerts and tac evals. I knew all of the local bakereis, and introduced the owners to several evaluators. lol
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