What the Marine Corps' 250th Anniversary Means to Me
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.
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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.
Mr. Sleigher is an honor graduate of several prestigious Marine Corps formal schools, including the Infantry Unit Leaders Course, Sergeants Course, 1st Marine Division Scout-Sniper School, and Security Forces Close Quarters Battle (CQB) School. His commitment to training excellence extended to his role as co-creator of the Multi-Disciplined Intelligence Operators Course (MDIOC), the first program of its kind within both the Marine Corps and USSOCOM.
After retiring from the Marine Corps, Mr. Sleigher served as the inaugural Team Leader for the USSOCOM Intelligence Data Science Team at MARFORSOC, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He further contributed to national security as a project leader and primary instructor at the Defense HUMINT Operations Qualification Course in Tucson, Arizona, sharing his expertise with the next generation of intelligence professionals.
Mr. Sleigher holds a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis from Norwich University (2016) and earned a Master of Business Administration for Veterans from the University of Southern California (2024). His academic achievements underscore his dedication to continuous learning and leadership development.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mr. Sleigher is actively engaged in community outreach through his parish, St. Egbert’s Catholic Church, in Morehead City, North Carolina. He is the proud father of two children: a student at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ, and a senior at Dixon High School in Sneads Ferry, NC. A devoted dog dad to four amazing pets, Mr. Sleigher also enjoys playing acoustic guitar in his free time, balancing his professional and personal passions.
