Flag of the United States Marine Corps The flag of the United States Marine Corps ( also known as the standard or battle color ) is the flag used to represent the Marine Corps , as well as units and formations of the Corps . Official battle color of the U . S . Marine Corps . The official flag is scarlet with the Corps emblem in gray and gold . It was adopted on January 18 , 1939 , although Marine Corps Order 4 had established scarlet and gold and the official colors of the Corps as early as 1925 . The indoor / parade version is bordered by a gold fringe while the outdoor version is plain . It measures on the hoist and on the fly . In addition to the multi - colored battle streamers ( measuring by wide ) affixed to the top of the staff , the staff itself is covered with sterling silver bands engraved with the names of conflicts in which the Corps has been engaged . Color Sergeant . The official battle color of the Corps is maintained by Marine Barracks , Washington , D . C . ( “ 8th and I ” ) , and carried by the Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps . The position of the Color Sergeant was first officially designated in 1965 and was first held by Gunnery Sgt . Shelton L . Eakin . The billet is a two - year tour open to all Sergeants ; the only caveat being that the applicant must be at least tall and pass a rigorous White House security check . The Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps traditionally carries the Flag of the President of the United States at state dinner s and other official functions , and leads the color guard at various parades and ceremonies . History . Very little information is available regarding the flags carried by early American Marines , although indications are that the Grand Union Flag was carried ashore by the battalion led by Captain Samuel Nicholas on New Providence Island , 3 March 1776 . It is quite possible that the Gadsden flag was also carried on this expedition . The standard carried by the Marines during the 1830s and 1840s consisted of a white field with gold fringe , and bore an elaborate design of an anchor and eagle in the center . Prior to the Mexican - American War , this flag bore the legend " To the Shores of Tripoli " across the top . Shortly after the war , the legend was revised to read : " From Tripoli to the Halls of the Montezumas . " During the Mexican and Civil Wars , Marines in the field apparently carried a flag similar to the national flag , consisting of red and white stripes and a union . The union , however , contained an eagle perched on a shield of the United States and a half - wreath beneath the shield , with 29 stars encircling the entire design . Beginning in 1876 , Marines carried the national colors ( the Stars and Stripes ) with " U . S . Marine Corps " embroidered in yellow on the middle red stripe . At the time of the Vera Cruz landing in 1914 , a more distinctive standard was carried by Marines . The design consisted of a blue field with a laurel wreath encircling the Marine Corps emblem in the center . A scarlet ribbon above the emblem carried the words " U . S . Marine Corps , " while another scarlet ribbon below the emblem carried the motto " Semper Fidelis . " Orders were issued on 2 April 1921 which directed all national colors be manufactured without the yellow fringe and without the words " U . S . Marine Corps " embroidered on the red stripe . This was followed by an order dated 14 March 1922 , retiring from use all national colors still in use with yellow fringe or wording on the flag . Following World War I , the Army practice of attaching silver bands carrying inscriptions enumerating specific decorations and battles was adopted . This practice was discontinued on 23 January 1961 . Marine Corps Order No . 4 of 18 April 1925 designated gold and scarlet as the official colors of the U . S . Marine Corps . These colors , however , were not reflected in the official Marine Corps standard until 18 January 1939 , when a new design incorporating the new colors was approved . The design was essentially that of today ' s Marine Corps standard . For a brief time following World War I , the inscribing of battle honors directly on the colors of a unit was in practice , but realization that a multiplicity of honors and the limited space on the colors made the system impractical , and the procedure was discontinued . On 29 July 1936 , a Marine Corps Board recommended that the Army system of attaching streamers to the staff of the organizational colors be adopted . Such a system was finally authorized by Marine Corps Order No . 157 , dated 3 November 1939 , and is currently in practice . Devices are embroidered onto the streamer to denote special recognition or repeat awards . Unlike the Army and Air Force flags , only a single streamer is utilized for a single campaign , with the exception of those streamers that require more than eight devices , the maximum any one streamer may hold . Devices are only authorized for campaigns participated in the 20th and 21st centuries . Streamers . The following streamers are authorized , in order of precedence : Organizational Battle Colors . Each unit in the Corps of battalion - size or larger also hold an organizational color ( which makes up the unit ' s colors along with the national flag ) . It is usually identical to the Marine Corps battle color , though the scroll will have the unit ' s name instead of " United States Marine Corps " . It will also bear the streamers authorized to the unit , or scarlet and gold tassels if none are authorized . Each Corps unit has a designated color guard , led by a color sergeant . He is entrusted with the care of the unit colors , which are a symbol of the United States , the Marine Corps , and the commander him / herself . The organizational colors are often passed as part of change of command ceremonies to symbolize the transfer of office . When not in use as part of a parade or ceremony , the colors are traditionally kept in the commander ' s office . Guidons . A Marine guidon is always rectangular , , with a scarlet field and gold lettering , and an Eagle , Globe , and Anchor centered . Fleet Marine Force s units have " FMF " emblazoned above the EGA , reserve units display " USMCR " , and all others have " USMC " . The regiment al level numeral will be displayed in the lower left corner , unless a higher or lower command numeral provides better identification ( for example , a battalion ' s headquarters company would display that battalion ' s numeral instead of the regiment ) . The company - level designation letter , abbreviated title , or number will be in the lower right corner . No additional attachments are authorized , including streamers , bands , or the like . Some units incorporate additional banners or mascots into unofficial guidons . Guidons are used in the same manner as colors for a company - or platoon - sized unit . Much like the colors , the guidon represents the unit commander . It is entrusted to the unit guide for parades and ceremonies , and displayed in or near the commander ' s office when he or she is present . Guidons are also used in recruit training to identify individual platoons . First and second phase platoons have a gold background with their four - digit platoon number in scarlet , while third phase platoons have a scarlet background with gold lettering and trim . The guidon is used as an aid to instilling unit identity and pride , representing the platoon . Some drill instructors will test that pride by attempting to dishonor the guidon and expecting the recruits to intervene . Also , the recruit assigned to carry it , the guide , is treated as the most senior recruit of the platoon , and uses the guidon to marks the line of advance in close - quarters drill . Personal Flags . General - grade officers and the Commandant of the Marine Corps are authorized a personal flag , which displays their rank insignia . A red background with white stars are used , while the Commandant also has a grey and gold Eagle , Globe , and Anchor . These flags are often used to mark a command headquarters in garrison , as well as a symbol for the general himself . Much like a guidon , they are displayed when the general is present , and stowed when not ; visiting officers and officials often have their personal flags displayed as a courtesy . Shared aspects . All Marine flags share a similar wooden staff and silver spear head and ferrule . The base of the spearhead is used to support streamers or tassels if authorized . Older organizational colors may also have silver bands , awarded for participation in a battle or campaign , though the practice has been discontinued for all but the Corp ' s main battle colors . A color mounted on a vehicle of some type is referred to as a standard . When the national flag is flown from a ship , it is referred to as the national ensign .