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I call BS.

The “SS” has nothing to do with Nazism. It stands for “Scout Sniper”, and it attempts to replicate lightning, within the context of sudden death.

Many of the snipers have it branded on their bodies (I estimate about 25% of my STA platoon sported them), and this was waaaaaaaaayyyyy back in the 1980s. The “brand” was voluntary, and was done after the candidate graduated from Division’s Scout Sniper School. It was also done with great pride within a service that has always prided itself as being the best in marksmanship. These guys are the best of even the best. It was normally done by fashioning a clothes hanger, and heated by MRE heat tabs, or sterno. And yes, a Navy Corpsman usually attended to the wound so that it wouldn’t get infected.

Furthermore, I have never met a SS that was even REMOTELY connected with Nazism. It’s not, nor has it every been a part of the STA ethos. Actually, they are too preoccupied with being the best in the business. And dealing death is their business.

Also, it is TOTAL BS that the Marine Corps acts like it’s new. It was never a secret: all of the Ground Intel officers and SNCOs that have ever served in a Marine infantry battalion have known. Most of the other officers knew too: you can’t hide their logo when it’s plastered in every room. So add every battalion SgtMaj that has EVER served in an infantry bn.

People will see what they want to see.

2/9

Well, regardless of what the snipers wanted it to represent, unfortunately the Nazis came up with the symbol first. I took one look at the picture in the article and “Nazi” was the first thing that came to my mind. I’m not saying that the snipers are into Nazism (I am sure they are not!) Rather, it was a really stupid choice of logos, and they should expect some blowback.

With all due respect It doesnt matter what the lighting bolts mean. The runes are connected with Waffen SS forever.
Your average joe blow on the street sees that and thinks the USMC has been taken over by skinheads.And the military hating media,the same people who calls every rifle a assault rifle, will re-enforce it because they are either too stupid or too lazy to look into it.
I am a military buff and I have friends who were either active Marines or retired never mentioned this. But then again it never came up and it could be a brotherhood thing that they only talk about to other Marines.
perception becomes reality...and the military has to be as pure as Caesars wife these days.

The “SS” has nothing to do with Nazism.

But it is still the same insignia as the SS.

Furthermore, I have never met a SS that was even REMOTELY connected with Nazism.

Only an idiot would think it was connected with Nazism. It's still in very poor taste and does demonstrate something of a lack of judgment.

There are a lot of things that CAGs do/say that would be highly offensive to many, many people--some of them in the military, too. You have to pick your audience and you have to use judgment. These guys didn't, and they're gonna get reamed for it. It happens all the time.

" It was never a secret: all of the Ground Intel officers and SNCOs that have ever served in a Marine infantry battalion have known."

I can't speak to how long the SS symbol has been a part of Scout Snipers. But I can speak to the above statement. As someone who was a former SNCO in a Marine Infantry battalion I never noticed the SS symbol.

I notice you were in 2/9 during the 80's. I was in 2/5 during that time, one of your sister batallions up at Camp Margarita. Probably humped a lot of the same hills and I know we ran up Magarita peak a few times. However, I never noticed the SS symbol on the STA guys, but then again I didn't have a whole lot of contact with them.