I served from 84 to 91. Then I worked directly for the USMC in the DoD. My dad served two tours in Vietnam as a squad leader and my grandfather was severely wounded on Iwo Jima. I proudly wear my Leatherneck tartan with my EGA as a kilt pin, my EGA cap badge, and an EGA belt buckle (when I'm allowed to wear the big belt).

And per Commandant Amos last year, officially there is no such thing as a former Marine. Direct quote, "A Marine is a Marine. I set that policy two weeks ago - there's no such thing as a former Marine. You're a Marine, just in a different uniform and you're in a different phase of your life. But you'll always be a Marine because you went to Parris Island, San Diego or the hills of Quantico. There's no such thing as a former Marine."

OORAH!

And as for all the cool stuff, if you slap an EGA on it, Marines will buy it. I know retired Marines who know the Sgt. Grit catalog by heart and buy up every new thing that comes out. I'm not that bad, but we as a group are a very loyal one, and extremely proud of our service and given an opportunity (and sometimes without opportunity), will advertise it to the world We are a strange bunch, but a good bunch.