Oh yes...I'm all too aware of our Navy/USMC relationship (and how the marines are the "men's department"). I guess, my confusion with the OP Tartan is that it does not cause me to think of the USMC. So the imagery does not connect and thereby create the linkage that is suggested in the tartan description. That's all. I'm in the Navy and happen to love my Marine bretheren--but purple doesn't make me think of them. (unless, of course, it's the purple in my eye from getting beat down during MCMAP training)