Words to Live by: Army and Marines

The Soldier's Creed is a standard that all United States Army personnel are encouraged to live by. All enlisted Army personnel are taught this during basic training and are expected to recite it at public ceremonies at the conclusion of training. 

I am an American Soldier.

I am a Warrior and a member of a team.

I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values.

I will always place the mission first.

I will never accept defeat.

I will never quit.

I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my Warrior tasks and drills.

I always maintain my arms, my equipment, and myself.

I am an expert and I am a professional.

I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.

I am the guardian of freedom and the American way of life.

I am an American Soldier.

The Marines have a similar one that they live by called the Rifleman's Creed:

This is my rifle.  There are many like it, but this one is mine.

My rifle is my best friend. It is my life.

I must master it as I must master my life.

My rifle, without me, is useless.  Without my rifle, I am useless.

I must fire my rifle true.

I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me.

I must shoot him before he shoots me.  I will...
My rifle and I know that what counts in this war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, nor the smoke we make.

We know that it is the hits that count.  We will hit...

My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life.

Thus, I will learn it as a brother.  I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its accessories, its sights, and its barrel.