Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future: The Marine Corps at 250
The Marine Corps Birthday has always been more than a date on the calendar—it is a time-honored tradition that connects past, present, and future generations of Marines. As a retired Gunnery Sergeant with 22 years of active service, I have celebrated the Marine Corps Ball in extraordinary places: the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip, aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, on the dusty streets of Fallujah during Operation Phantom Fury, within the historic Marine Detachment at the Berlin Embassy, as a contractor at an Army Command, and most recently, around a campfire with my family.
Each celebration, no matter its size or location, reinforces the essence of who we are as Marines. It is a sacred 'training time out' where we honor our rich heritage, pay tribute to the sacrifices of those who came before us, and reaffirm our commitment to the Corps’ values of honor, courage, and commitment. These moments of reflection and camaraderie remind us that our legacy is not confined to historic battlefields from Belleau Wood to Sangin, but lives on in the way we celebrate, uphold, and pass down our traditions.
This year, as we commemorate the 250th Marine Corps Birthday, it is a profound reminder of our shared responsibility to carry the Corps’ legacy forward. This milestone offers an unparalleled opportunity to embrace our traditions and share the spirit of the Marine Corps with the world -united as brothers and sisters in arms, honoring the past, and shaping the future.
About the Author
Mr. Francis 'Fritz' John Sleigher Jr is an Independent Consultant and Business Developer specializing in emerging technology and modern warfare integration within United States Special Operations Forces and U.S. Allies. Leveraging over two decades of military and post-service expertise, Mr. Sleigher is at the forefront of integrating advanced capabilities to enhance tactical and strategic operations globally.
Mr. Sleigher retired as a Gunnery Sergeant after 22 years of active-duty service in the United States Marine Corps. His career included 10 years as an Infantryman and 12 years as a Counterintelligence/Human Intelligence Specialist. During this time, he completed four combat deployments to Iraq and one to Afghanistan, as well as additional deployments to Okinawa, Japan; Luzon Province, Philippines; and Niger, Africa. While serving in Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARFORSOC), he deployed with the 2nd Raider Battalion to both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve. For his exceptional service, Mr. Sleigher was awarded the Bronze Star Medal by the Marine Raider Regiment for accomplishments while deployed in Northwest Afghanistan in 2012.
