--- title: "A Marine actually got a tattoo based on that cringe viral ‘He’s a Marine’ TikTok video" description: "A Marine got a tattoo based on the viral \"He's a Marine\" TikTok video that ostensibly caused the entire Marine Corps to cringe in June 2020." date: "2021-11-12" modified: "2021-11-12" authors: - name: "Paul Szoldra" job_title: "Editor" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/paul-szoldra.md" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/marine-hes-a-marine-tiktok-tattoo/" categories: - "Culture" - "Mandatory Fun" tags: - "video" --- # A Marine actually got a tattoo based on that cringe viral ‘He’s a Marine’ TikTok video ![hes a marine tattoo]() A Marine got a tattoo based on the viral "He's a Marine" TikTok video that ostensibly caused the entire Marine Corps to cringe in June 2020. https://twitter.com/terminallance/status/1458660340556722179?s=21 It’s not clear who the service member is, but what is clear is that ink inspired by the more than year-old viral TikTok has made its way onto at least one U.S. Marine’s ass. Though this may not be the first: a similarly-themed tattoo [was posted to Reddit]() about a year ago. Still, most Marines will be well aware of the tattoo’s inspiration thanks to the Marine infantry-centric web comic *Terminal Lance*, which shared the TikTok in 2020 and noted [in the caption]() on Instagram, “I had to see this so now you do too.” In the clip that followed, a stoic, uniformed Marine gunnery sergeant could be seen unblinkingly staring into the camera as his wife, dressed in jeans and a patriotic “U.S.A.” tank top and oblivious to the [man apparently dying inside]() mere feet behind her, gyrates and recites an original poem that will forever be remembered simply as “He’s A Marine.” “He’s a Marine,” she says. “First to fight, he’s loyal. Honor, courage, commitment. Corps values, Semper Fi. Oohrah. He’s a Marine.” As she dances around and sings for 12 painfully-long seconds, you can almost detect the gunny come to the realization that he perhaps made “the absolute worst mistake of his career,” as one [veteran]() offered on Reddit. “I cannot imagine the BRUTAL mockery his fellow Marines must be raining on him right now.” https://www.instagram.com/p/CBj-8rCloYT/ The *He’s a Marine* video [racked up]() millions of views, sparked the creation of [shirts](), [morale patches](), countless [memes](), and inspired some downright nasty comments in response. “This is the worst thing I’ve ever watched in my life,” someone wrote on the Terminal Lance [Facebook page in one]() of the more mild yet popular comments. An even more well-liked comment left by a Marine was far more direct: “I showed this to my psychologist and she’s finally letting me kill myself.” “I have so many questions and they all begin with why,” wrote another. The same question can be asked about this tattoo, which comes at an interesting time. In October, the Marine Corps updated its tattoo policy, [allowing sleeve tattoos once again after a 15-year ban.]() It was welcome news for many Marines, though after seeing the *He’s a Marine* tattoo, former Marine Lance Cpl. Maximilian Uriarte, the creator of Terminal Lance, [joked](): “The tattoo policy was a mistake.” ## More great stories on Task & Purpose - **32 turbofan engines, 16 Avenger cannons, 10 tons of armor:** [**This is an A-10 elephant walk**]() - **Navy fires leaders of USS Connecticut following submarine** [**crash into undersea mountain**]() - [**Marine Corps calls BS on reports they surrendered to British troops**]() **during a training exercise** - **The Army’s new tank munition combines** [**the power of four rounds into one**]() - [**Air Force colonel claims she was fired**]() **for not ordering subordinates to get COVID vaccine** - **Marine Corps reveals** [**why 75% of Marines get out after a single enlistment**]() - **The A-10 that landed without a canopy or landing gear** [**is back flying after 3 years of repairs**]() - **The Pentagon** [**quietly removed more than 130,000 Afghanistan War photos**]() **and videos from public view** **Want to write for Task & Purpose?** [**Learn more here**]() **and be sure to check out more great stories on** [**our homepage.**]() ## Author Paul Szoldra was the Editor in Chief of Task & Purpose from October 2018 until August 2022. Since joining T&P, he has led a talented team of writers, editors, and creators who produce military journalism reaching millions of readers each month. He also founded and edits [Duffel Blog](), a popular satirical newsletter for the military. Before becoming a journalist in 2013, he served as a Marine infantryman in Afghanistan, Korea, and other areas of the Pacific. His eyes still go up every time a helicopter from Camp Pendleton flies over his office in Southern California. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [LinkedIn]() [Facebook]() [Instagram]()