The Marine Corps’ loveable mascot will retire Aug. 28 in a ceremony attended by the commandant of the Marine Corps.
Chesty XIV, official mascot apprentice of the Marine Corps, right, and his handler, Cpl. Gaige Roberts, march down center walk during a Friday Evening Parade at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., Aug. 16. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Dengrier M. Baez/Released)
Officials at Marine Barracks Washington said Sgt. Chesty XIII, an English Bulldog, will retire in an 8a.m. ceremony held at 8th and I. The pooch has served as Marine Corps mascot for five years, greeting the public at community engagements around Marine Barracks Washington and making appearances at evening parades in the summer. Sgt. Chesty served the post honorably, though he once received a demotion for snapping at then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s dog, Bravo, during an event.
Sgt. Chesty XIII watches as runners with the 37th Marine Corps Marathon begin the “People’s Marathon” in Arlington, Va., Oct. 28, 2012. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Mark Fayloga)
Sgt. Chesty’s predecessor, Pfc. Chesty XIV, will receive a promotion to lance corporal at the same ceremony and begin his career as the sole Marine Corps mascot after that. Pfc. Chesty graduated boot camp earlier this summer and has been in training ever since, appearing at parades and events alongside his older, wiser colleague.
Pfc. Chesty XIV, future Marine Corps mascot, performs during a parade at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., May 24. (Official Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dan Hosack/Released)
Pfc. Chesty has big pawprints to fill, but at least he’s learning from the best!
Pfc. Chesty XIV, official mascot of the Marine Corps in-training, left, receives words of wisdom from his predecessor Sgt. Chesty XIII, official mascot of the Marine Corps, at the conclusion of an emblem presentation ceremony at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., April 8. The ceremony marked the conclusion of Chesty XIV’s recruit training and basic indoctrination into the Corps. In the upcoming months, Chesty XIV is scheduled to attend and complete more obedience training to compliment his military training. The young Marine will serve in a mascot-apprentice roll for the remainder of the summer working alongside his predecessor and mentor, Sgt. Chesty XIII, until the sergeant’s retirement which is expected in late August. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Dengrier M. Baez/Released)
12 Comments
What happens to Sgt. Chesty when he retires?
^ 30% VA rating.
Who is adopting Sgt Chesty?
They wait until he has been out for 20 years and then they tell him the drinking water at his base was poisoned 6 years before he was born.
Sempre Fi chesty. Well done.
Well done! Thank you for your Service.
Congrats to both Chesty’s
To: Chesty XIV
When no one is looking, bite the crap out of Leon Panetta’s dog, Bravo. 🙂
I’m surprised the DACOWITS (dac-o-nitwits) hasn’t insisted on a Chrissy as a replacement.
Congratulations Sgt. Chesty! Enjoy your retirement ! And Best Wishes to you Pfc. Chesty on your new career.
As PFC Chesty XIV grows, will his handler too? Seems like the older the dog the bigger the handler. God love those Marines!
I bet his VA disbility claim goes faster
At Marine Corps base Quantico march 2002 sentry units stopped 3 attacks in one day from muslim infiltrators who drove early 1980’s ford vehichles that were in mint condition.
Also the Venuezuala top brass were paid off during a visit to over throw Chavez, they failed, and must of those who when through the gates, were hung by Chavez, freedom is tough to fight for. Chesty we should drop your droppings on most countries and a few US “counties”