The U. Marine Corps is the nation's expeditionary force in readiness, participating in every U. Marine Corps uniforms and equipment have evolved to fit the needs and mission of each Marine and every deployment, perpetually increasing warfighters' survivability, mobility and lethality.
Disclaimer: Over the years, styles, environments, technology and missions changed. In an attempt to simplify those complex details, we are featuring only enlisted combat uniforms and their regulation equipment. Swipe through the timeline to see how the Marine's uniform has evolved. Scroll the uniform image to rotate the model or click to learn more. Click through the timeline to see how the Marine Corps uniform has evolved.
Use the scroll bar to rotate the model or click to learn more. Continental Marines played a crucial part in the fight for independence from Great Britain, serving both aboard military ships and on land.
The clothing and equipment they were issued varied among Marine detachments. Much of what was available was surplus from previous conflicts in the colonies, items seized from Englishmen and loyalists or locally manufactured goods. In the early part of the war, Marines wore civilian clothing due to the lack of uniforms. It wasn't until September that the Continental Congress authorized a uniform for enlisted Continental Marines to distinguish them from personnel in other military services.
Marines commonly used dress uniforms for both regular and combat duty during the War of Marines were often the first representation of American armed forces seen overseas, and their uniform at this time was intended to impress - and even intimidate - the enemy.
