MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- The U.S. Navy celebrated its 229th birthday Wednesday. The day may have passed as many others before, but not for long. The Navy will let the celebration begin at its birthday ball at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Depot Lyceum.
According to Secretary of the Navy Instruction 5720.44a, the birthday was established to enhance a greater appreciation of Navy heritage, and to provide a positive influence toward pride and professionalism in the naval service.
The origins of the United States Navy can be traced back to the Continental Navy, which was established by the Continental Congress on Oct. 13, 1775. Based in that legislation, the Navy as we know it, was formed and every year celebrates on that day.
The initial reason for the formation of a sea service was to dispatch two armed vessels to cruise in search of munition ships supplying the British Army during the Revolutionary War.
The Navy Historical Center documented that the Constitution of the United States was ratified in 1789, empowering Congress "to provide and maintain a navy."
They constructed and manned six frigates by 1794, and the War Department administered naval affairs from that year until Congress established the Department of the Navy in April 30, 1798.
There were few jobs available at that time for men above the level of what is now known as seamen.
However, some of the jobs that the Navy of the United Colonies offered included boatswain's mate, quartermaster, gunner's mate, master-at-arms, cook, armorer, sailmaker's mate, cooper, cockswain, carpenter's yeoman and yeoman of the gun room. These jobs became the basis for petty officers and other modern day ratings.
There were also the apprenticeship jobs, similar to that of the seamen and apprentices of today. They consisted of titles such as ordinary seaman, loblolly boy and boy. Loblolly was actually a thick gruel that was served to patients in a sick bay and was also a nautical term for medicine.
Eventually, the loblolly boy assumed more duties and over time evolved into the modern rating of hospital corpsman.
The corpsmen of today do not serve gruel, instead they serve along side Marines making sure that they are healthy in mind and body.
The Navy has always been a part of any Marine's life from the arduous journey through recruit training to journeys overseas. They accompany Marines around the world and they care for them. All of this from the same perspective as the Marines, from the same muddy hole and they are usually considered a part of the family.
To serve with Marines is not just a duty; to most it is also an honor and a privilege to have served along side their brothers in green.
"As I tell my people here, if you embrace what the Marines do and you do the best that you can, because that is what they are going to expect of you, they will literally die for you," said Capt. Steven Clarke, Naval Dental Center commanding officer.
Clarke has first hand knowledge from both sides of the relationship, as he served in the Marine Corps as an officer for 10 years.
"It is a special honor," he said. "There was never ever a greater honor for me than to serve with Marines."
Nineteen of Clark's 30 years of time in the military has been spent serving along side Marines.
William E. Barrett, a civilian prosthetic laboratory technician at the Naval Dental Center, who was a dental technician while serving for 20 years in the Navy, gained some pretty good friendships with Marines through his time in the Navy. He sees all of his experiences here at Parris Island as belonging to part of a team with one goal, accomplishing the mission of recruit training.
"The dental techs provide a great service for the Navy as well as for the Marine Corps," said Barrett. "The technicians serve not only with the Navy, but also as corpsman out in the field. I experienced that in the [Gulf War], when I spent 10 months [in Iraq.]"
Being in the heart of the action seems to be one of the perks or reasons to become a corpsman, dental technician or a religious program specialist while serving in the Navy. It allows the sailors a closer proximity to the action that they could not get from a ship at sea.
"I like being in the action," said Seaman Erik Kasick, a Navy corpsman attached to 4th RTBn. "Most of the time anything of significance happens, it usually happens out in the field. I find that to be a little bit more exciting than being at the [Battalion Aid Station.]"
"The sailors take pride in serving with Marines," said Clarke. "They are the premiere force in readiness. They are what everybody else is compared to and sailors get a little bit of that glory serving alongside them."
That glory, however, does not blur the lines of realism for Clarke and his fellow sailors. They know their relationship is in a supporting role when it comes to Marines in combat.
"We are never going to be Marines," said Clarke. "We understand that, and on the same side of it, we can try to do our best to support them. Being stationed with Marines is good for any Navy person because it will change you into wanting to be as good as they are and that makes you a better Navy individual.
"You look at their standards and you say to yourself, 'hey I'm getting some extra physical training and I want to make sure that my uniform looks good' because I don't want to be embarrassed when the Marines come by with their spit and polish [appearance,] looking like a recruiting poster."
The United States Navy can not be compared to any other navy, and it is the best in the world, said Petty Officer 3rd Class Arrianne Fischer, hospital corpsman.
"Just the fact that we have still stayed strong after 200 years is a reason to celebrate," she said.