Hi, If any of the forum members are ‘old salts’ who retired from the Marine Corps, I’d appreciate your help. At the end of the retirement ceremony, do you salute and ask permission to go ashore much like sailors do it? Is a bell rung and does a boatswain or bosun’s mate pipe you off a mock quarterdeck? Any and all help most appreciated.

 

Thanking you in advance, Jim

 

PS, Even though I haven’t been invited to a retirement ceremony, I did have to stand at attention while a man was drummed out of the Marine Corps---talk about tradition!

My retirement ceremony was done in cammies and took all of about 5 minutes -- no fancy pleasantries or anything. They read the warrant, tossed me a medal, and I was in the car and out the gate before lunchtime!

My retirement ceremony was done in cammies and took all of about 5 minutes -- no fancy pleasantries or anything. They read the warrant, tossed me a medal, and I was in the car and out the gate before lunchtime!

 

Thank you Dan--I appreciate you taking your time to help me.

 

Jim

Some of the retirement ceremonies are far more formal. Gen. Pace's was done in dress blues and President Bush showed up. I believe whites are still authorized for and only for these ceremonies, as if you've ever seen a group of Marines in whites it makes it obvious that the days damn special. Not sure on that one. Most senior officers will get the full affair the Pace got, I think it is much less formal for junior officers (five and out types) and also for most enlisted men. Since for most senior officers their long-time service and the knowledge they gained there is a meal ticket (either as a retirement check or a corporate gig) it seems to be much more emotional when they leave. EM's are more likely to come out of retirement, I believe. And, of course, officers can afford a big party for the event more than most EM's.

 

I've never seen a modern drumming out. I don't even have the modern regs that say how its down. Knowing a lot of Korea vets, I'm familiar with the ceremony back in the Old Corps when it involved the removal of all insignia, buttons etc. Is it still done in that manner or has the ceremony been updated and simplified?

 

~TS

Thank you TS. Lt. Commander Gerry Carroll, USN, did a nice job describing this ceremony in his book No Place to Hide. Your information and his seem to dovetail. It seems likely that many a 30 year man might just want to go to the slopchute with friends and get pissed, which seems a fine end to a military career too. Anyway, I truly appreciate your help.

 

Best wishes, Jim

all of the retirements I've seen have been enlisted personnel, and rather informal. We had a Battalion formation, chairs were set up for the family. The man was in cammies, as were we. They read some warrants, gave the wife and any daughters some flowers, gave the retiree a folded flag and a medal or two, and let him speak to us. Then back in formation, and dismissed. That was it

Thank you Brig. I wonder why Marines don't get dressed up more often. A retirement formation seems important enough for a uniform a little sharper looking than utilities. I can remember when we were first allowed to wear short sleeve khaki shirts at Subic Bay, and that seemed a shade un-dressed. However, it was hot and sticky there. Anyway, thanks for your help.

 

Best wishes and Semper Fidelis, Jim