OHagan 1 The Warrior Code In The United States there is a group of individuals that inspire courage, duty, and

strength to its citizens, and strike fear into the hearts of their enemies. This group is known as the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Corps has operated in the United States armed forces since 1775, and their job is to use the speed and mobility of the Navy to rapidly deliver armed forces to target areas. They are trained extensively in the use of weapons, hand-to-hand combat, and stealth tactics. When you join the Marine Corps the first of your many trials is to go through The United States Marine Corps Training or more commonly known as Boot Camp. Boot Camp is a training regime that consists of three phases. The first phase is intended to break the new recruit down psychologically, and remove the civilian mindset that rules their thinking. This phase includes physical exhausting activities and strict routine, and lasts about four weeks. Phase two is an introduction to field skills and concentrates on marksmanship, combat abilities, and working together as a team. The final phase is designed to hone all the skills that a recruit learns during his time in Boot Camp. The final test of a recruit is The Crucible. The Crucible is a 54-hour training exercise, which consists of 48 miles of marching in teams, and tests all of the core skills of a marine simultaneously. new recruits. The Marine Corps is known for a popular hymn that is taught to all

From the Halls of Montezuma To the shores of Tripoli; We fight our country's battles In the air, on land, and sea; First to fight for right and freedom And to keep our honor clean; We are proud to claim the title

OHagan 2 Of United States Marine. Our flag's unfurled to every breeze From dawn to setting sun; We have fought in every clime and place Where we could take a gun; In the snow of far-off Northern lands And in sunny tropic scenes, You will find us always on the job The United States Marines. Here's health to you and to our Corps Which we are proud to serve; In many a strife we've fought for life And never lost our nerve. If the Army and the Navy Ever look on Heaven's scenes, They will find the streets are guarded By United States Marines. The values that the Marine Corps hold so closely, might remind you of another group of individuals from the past. A group of warriors known for their military prowess and bravery. The Spartans. Sparta was a city in Ancient Greece, and was in every aspect a warrior state. Unlike the Marine Corps, you didnt become a Spartan warrior by choice, you are born into it. When a boy in Sparta was born, the first thing that the state decided was whether he was fit to become a warrior. If the boy had any sort of abnormality, or noticeable defect of any kind, the boy was to be left on a hillside to die. This tradition seems vary harsh, but it was through these rules that the Spartans became one of the most feared groups of warriors of their time. Now if the Spartan boy were to pass this first test, he would go on to live with his mother until the age of seven. At this time he would be enrolled in what was called the Agoge, which included the entirety of his military training to become a Spartan. Like the Marine Corps training, The Agoge consisted of three stages. During the first stage the boys would live

OHagan 3 under an elder and they would be given one piece of clothing a year until they where twelve years of age. The second stage the boys would enter an institutionalize relationship with a Spartan warrior. These warriors would teach them battle tactics and how to fight. They where encouraged to fight within themselves and were kept hungry so they would be forced to steal food and learn stealth tactics. At the same time harsh punishments were given out to any recruits caught stealing. The final stage of a recruits life was from years 20-30 where they would be inducted into the Spartan army, at the age of 30 they would gain citizenship and be able to vote and hold office. Although there are significant differences in the lives of a Spartan and a Marine, the ideals that they fight for and the traditions of building strength have been passed down through the generations to influence how our armed forces operate today.