Eagle , Globe , and Anchor The Eagle , Globe , and Anchor is the official emblem and insignia of the United States Marine Corps . It is commonly referred to as an EGA , although this usage is officially discouraged by the U . S . Marine Corps . The current emblem traces its roots in the designs and ornaments of the early Continental Marines as well as the United Kingdom ' s Royal Marines . The present emblem , adopted in 1955 , differs from the emblem of 1868 only by a change in the eagle . Before that time many devices , ornaments , and distinguishing marks followed one another as official badges of the corps . History . In 1776 , the device consisted of a fouled anchor ( tangled in its rope ) of silver or pewter . Changes were made in 1798 , 1821 , and 1824 . In 1834 , it was prescribed that a brass eagle be worn on the cover , the eagle to measure from wingtip to wingtip . An eagle clutching a fouled anchor with thirteen six - pointed stars above was used on uniform buttons starting in 1804 . This same insignia is used today on the buttons of marine dress and service uniforms , with the six - pointed stars changed to five - pointed stars . During the early years numerous distinguishing marks were prescribed , including " black cockades " , " scarlet plumes " , and " yellow bands and tassels " . In 1859 , the first version of the present color scheme for the officer ' s dress uniform insignia appeared on an elaborate device of solid white metal and yellow metal . The design included a United States shield , half wreath , a bugle , and the letter " M . " In 1868 , the Commandant , Brigadier General Jacob Zeilin , appointed a board " to decide and report upon the various devices of cap ornaments of the Marine Corps . " On November 13 , 1868 , the board recommended the modern insignia . It was approved by the commandant four days later , and by the Secretary of the Navy on November 19 , 1868 . Design and symbolism . The emblem recommended by the 1868 board consisted of a globe ( showing the continents of the Western Hemisphere ) intersected by a fouled anchor , and surmounted by a spread eagle . On the emblem itself , there is a ribbon , clasped in the eagle ' s beak , bearing the Latin motto " " Semper Fidelis " " ( Always Faithful ) . The uniform insignias omit the motto ribbon . The general design of the emblem was probably derived from the Royal Marines ' " Globe and Laurel . " The globe on the U . S . Marine emblem signifies the Corps ' readiness to service in any part of the world . The eagle represents the United States . The anchor , which dates back to the founding of the corps in 1775 , acknowledges the naval tradition of the marines and their continual service within the Department of the Navy . There are some differences between the uniform insignia for enlisted marines and that of officers : The Enlisted Marines ' Dress Blue uniform insignia is die - struck from a single sheet of brass and annodized a gold color . The Service Uniform insignia is coated a flat black color . The officers ' insignia is assembled from four parts : a die - struck silver colored globe with eagle , and gold colored anchor with silver colored fouling rope , and gold colored continents . Due to the more complicated production process , the officer ' s insignia lacks the island of Cuba . Marine Corps lore later attributed this to the fact that there were no Marine Corps officers involved in the attack on Cuba known as the " Bay of Pigs " therefore they are not recognized as being part of that campaign and do not rate it on their uniform . The Flat Black Service Uniforms for officers and enlisted were originally identical . However , the " Bay of Pigs " lore persisted and a separate black officer ' s emblem for the Service Uniform was eventually created . Current emblem and seal . In 1954 , the Commandant , General Lemuel C . Shepherd , Jr . , requested the design of an official seal for the corps . The new seal included the traditional Eagle , Globe , and Anchor emblem in gold , with the Globe and anchor rope in silver . The eagle is depicted with wings displayed , standing upon the western hemisphere of the terrestrial globe , and holding in his beak a white ribbon bearing the Marine Corps motto " " Semper Fidelis " " ( Always Faithful ) with the hemisphere superimposed on a fouled anchor . An American Bald Eagle replaced the crested eagle depicted on the 1868 emblem . The emblem is displayed on a scarlet background encircled with a blue band bearing the phrases " Department of the Navy " above and " United States Marine Corps " below in white letters , the whole edged in a gold rope rim . President Eisenhower approved the design on June 22 , 1954 . The emblem as shown on the seal was adopted in 1955 as the official Marine Corps emblem .