Ground and air force established in 1775 under the aegis of the Department of the Navy (although not the navy itself), marines are known for rugged shock-troop action and rapid deployment to combat zones “from the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli” as their battle hymn proclaims. In mass media, marines are often emblematic of patriotism, masculinity and traditions embodied in their motto Semper Fidelis (always faithful), adopted after the Civil War. Their training and character have also been the grist of many movies. Nonetheless, the sitcom Gomer Pyle, USMC (CBS, 1964–70) offered a more comic view of the corps. In 1998, the US had 172,632 marines on active duty; less than 6 percent were women (compared with the air force’s 18 percent).