United States Marine Corps off-base, except in transit to and from their place of duty and in the event of an emergency. As in any military organization, the official and unofficial traditions of the Marine Corps serve to reinforce camaraderie and set the service apart from others. The Corps' embrace of its rich culture and history is cited as a reason for its high "esprit de corps". The "Marines' Hymn" dates back to the 19th century and is the oldest official song in the United States armed forces. The Marine motto "Semper Fidelis" means "Always Faithful" in Latin, often appearing as "Semper Fi"; also
Badges of the United States Marine Corps Badges of the United States Marine Corps Insignia and badges of the United States Marine Corps are military "badges" issued by the United States Department of the Navy to Marines who achieve certain qualifications and accomplishments while serving on both active and reserve duty in the United States Marine Corps. As described in Chapters 4 and 5 of Marine Corps Uniform Regulations, "badges" are categorized as "breast insignia" (worn immediately above ribbons/medals), "identification badges" (usually worn at breast pocket level), and "marksmanship badges" (worn immediately below ribbons). For the purpose of this article, the term "badge" shall be used exclusively