General
dark green
What does dark green mean?
An expression reflecting the Marine ideal that there are no black or white Marines, only 'dark green' and 'light green' ones — all Marine green first.
"The old gunny liked to say there's only dark green and light green in his Corps."
Origin
US Marine Corps idiom on racial unity.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'dark green' mean in the Marine Corps?
It refers to an African-American Marine, from the idiom that there are no black or white Marines — only 'dark green' and 'light green' ones, since all Marines are Marine green first.
Is calling a Marine 'dark green' offensive?
It comes from a philosophy meant to stress unity over race, not to demean. It expresses the Corps' color-blind ideal, though whether it lands well depends on the context and speaker.
What is 'light green' then?
The paired term for a white Marine, following the same idiom that everyone is simply a shade of Marine green.
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