The "Marines Eat Crayons" Joke Explained
The joke that Marines eat crayons is a dig at their intelligence. Each branch of the United States military has a stereotype associated with it, which the other branches frequently joke about to poke fun at each other. The Marines are mocked by other service members for having low intelligence on the level of a small child. Eating crayons is perceived as something that only toddlers do, so saying that Marines eat crayons is like saying they're uneducated. The joke is generally lighthearted and is rarely used to actually insult a Marine. It doesn’t accurately reflect their intelligence.
"Marines Eating Crayons" Joke Origins
The joke went viral on the Untied Status Marin Crops Facebook page in 2016. As early as 2010, references to Marines eating crayons (or talking about eating them) began slowly making their way onto the internet. But the joke wasn't popular in the Marine Corps until 2016. Beginning in that year, the humorous Facebook page "Untied Status Marin Crops" shared cartoons and memes of the joke, as did other online Marine communities. One of the earliest crayon jokes Untied Status Marin Crops shared was a cartoon depicting two Army soldiers and a Marine. The soldiers are pranking the Marine by giving him an MRE full of crayons and Elmer's glue. To their surprise, the Marine eats the crayons and glue. Then, he asks them if they have any "halopeenyo ches" ("japaneno cheese") to go with it. Another popular meme features a headline on the top half of the image that reads, "A Chemist Discovered A New Color—Now Crayola Is Turning It Into A Crayon." On the bottom half of the image is a picture of a group of Marines grinning and yelling above the caption, "A NEW FLAVOR!!!!" Another infamous "Marines eating crayons" meme is a picture of a toddler in a high chair with crayons in his mouth. The caption reads, "Future Marine, Semper Fi." "Semper Fi" is the official motto of the Marine Corps and means "always faithful" in Latin.
The joke gained popularity in military TikTok circles in the 2020s. TikTok users have generated millions of views by joking about eating crayons or explaining what the stereotype means. For example, in July 2021, TikToker @jonbezrouch uploaded a video answering the question, "Why do the military branches poke fun at the Marines for eating crayons?” The post has over 1 million views and 113,000 likes! A good example of a Marine joking about the crayon stereotype is this 9-second-long TikTok (uploaded by @marpatmusclemommy in March 2023). In the video, the Marine pretends to carry a 24-pack of crayons in her pocket as if she's saving them for a snack. The post has more than 5 million views!
How Marines Respond to the Joke
Most Marines have reclaimed the crayon-eating joke as a badge of honor. Marines tend to be good-natured about the crayon-eating joke. They also don't mind the stereotype that they're more uneducated than other military servicepeople. Some share the joke themselves as a form of self-deprecating humor. They also make fun of their comrades-in-arms using stereotypes for the other branches. However, they might be offended if the crayon quip comes from someone who isn't a member of the military. The joke inspired a former Marine to launch a line of edible chocolate crayons called Crayons Ready-to-Eat (or CREs). His product made the stereotype even more popular!
Do Marines actually eat crayons?
No, there's no evidence that a Marine has ever eaten a real crayon. The joke is just a stereotype and doesn't seem to be based on an actual instance of a Marine eating a crayon. When they're deployed, Marines typically eat Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs). These are self-contained meals that can be eaten straight out of the bag without any preparation. If MREs aren't available, some Marines eat pre-packaged snacks or canned food.
Where does the unintelligent Marine stereotype come from?
Some negatively perceive the Marines as having a herd mentality. One theory suggests that the reason behind the stereotype is the Marines' extreme pride in and devotion to their branch. In a negative light, this might be seen as a herd mentality, where each Marine follows what the others are doing instead of making individual choices. Some have argued that the stereotype fits the other military branches better because the Marine Corps once required a higher minimum score on the Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test, but this is no longer the case. Currently, the minimum score that aspiring recruits in the Marines, Army, and Navy need to pass the ASVAB test is 31 (or 50 if you have a non-traditional degree or a GED).
Other Military Stereotypes
Army members are stereotyped as "window lickers." A popular stereotype for Army soldiers is that they do whatever they're told without question. A Reddit user named @brodoyouevenscript referred to them as "window lickers" in the r/Military subReddit, and said that you could tell them to sit somewhere and they would do so for days.
Some people make homophobic comments about the Navy. People commonly make fun of the Navy because a lot of their service members are gay. They say if you join the Navy, you're interested in having romantic relationships with people of your own sex (which isn't always the case). Naval officers are also mocked for acting like "glorified frat bros," according to one Redditor. Though many people use this stereotype to make fun of the Navy, there is nothing wrong with being gay.
Members of the Air Force are viewed as lazy. Air Force service members are often described as lazy and pampered. People on the internet say they seem to get better food and housing than the other military branches. Some people also express frustration that they don't even know what Airmen and women do because the Navy has more planes than the Air Force.
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