The United States Marine Corps: A branch of the military associated with machismo, violence and a no-nonsense lifestyle. It’s no wonder then that they have tried, through their ad campaigns, to cultivate an image of a highly selective, tough and well trained organization. Back in the 80’s, however, they took an interesting approach to recruitment.
It’s a common joke within the US military that Marines are used and abused. While the Air Force enjoys gourmet meals and air conditioned barracks, the Marines are worked to death in the field day in and day out while eating gruel and beating each other up for fun (This comes straight from the mouth of a close friend of mine that is an infantry Marine). Much like how subjugated groups take ownership of stereotypes, the Marines decided that their harsh lifestyle and take no prisoners approach was a point of pride rather than a deterrent from service.
This infamous poster displays a drill sergeant staring down a recruit, his eyes and neck veins bulging. Right off the bat, the ad confirms our biases about the Marines: you will not be babied, you will be screamed at and abused, you will be crushed and rebuilt into a war fighting machine. Whoever designed this ad made no attempt to hide it, instead they say, ‘We don’t promise you a rose garden.” An honest message of ruggedness that pretty much summarizes what the Marine Corps is about.
They aren’t looking for the smartest, or the strongest, or the best. No, all they want are “ …a few good men.” This ad is constructed on the basic American idea of what a soldier should be and what they should expect. A soldier should be rugged, ready for anything Uncle Sam throws at them and honest. They should serve not because it will be glamorous, or comfortable, but because they are willing to do anything for their nation. This is the image of a soldier that society has instilled within us, and that the Marine Corps holds central to what they do. Though 40 years have passed since the poster was published, it is every bit as relevant to the culture of the United States and the US military today, as it was then.
I think you did a good job analyzing the poster and the message it conveys. The poster is very honest and truthful about what the life in Marine Corps is about. People need to think carefully before making decision to join Marine Corps. They want people to know that it’s risky to be part of it, and they may lose their lives. A soldier takes lots of responsibilities, and they need to be strong and brave. Even though being a soldier is glamorous, soldiers in the military have to work even harder than normal people and put a lot of efforts to protect the country. They are well trained, and their willingness to sacrifice themselves for the country and the community is highly regarded. They deserve all the respect. They are fighting for the country and the common good.
I really appreciate your analyzation of this poster and the overall tone it sets for the Marine Corps. The brutal honesty, while probably not recruiting as many people as it would have if it were sugarcoated, attests to the character that this branch searches for and finds within “a few good men”. Enlisting in the service and fighting for our country is an extremely brave and selfless act; it is definitely easier said than done. This advertisement represents everything that the Marine Corps stands for and is so much more meaningful than if they had released a poster lying and saying that it’s easy to serve in this branch of the military.
This was so well-analyzed, and the message of the poster is still as relevant now as it was back when it first came out. The source of the close friend in the Marines was a really unique touch to the blog post, and I loved how you mentioned that the Marines took pride in their toughness, using it as an advertising point rather than a deterrent!
I really enjoyed reading this rhetorical analysis because it seemed so well organized and thought out! The aspect of adding a friend’s personal anecdote was such a good touch and really emphasized your point; the Marines are tough and willing to do whatever they can to defend our country. Additionally, I think that the format of how you organized this post followed the brute, honest tone that you felt the poster also encapsulated. By using the same tone, examples, and manners as a Marine would do, you really brought your idea home and kept your audience engaged the entire time. Great job!