What is a Jarhead?
Many of my good friends as well as family members have asked me why Marines are called Jarheads. Well there are many stories as to why a Marine is called Jarhead.
The first story that I heard had to do with the fact that back in the day many Marines wore a high and tight flat-top thus giving shape and appearance of a Marine’s head looking like a jar. Also many people felt that back in the day that Marines were not the brightest people in the military (still aren’t) and thus there heads were empty like a jar.
Another story that I recently stumbled upon says that the term Jarhead originated back in the day when the Corps was still using mules. A common term for mules was Jughead. Well the Marines referred to their mules as Jughead as well as Jarhead. Over time stubborn hard-headed Marines were referred to as Jarhead just like those mules.
Regardless of where the term Jarhead came from I don’t really care here is what I think a Jarhead is. A Jarhead is a Marine that loves being a Marine but isn’t all Gung-Ho, OOH-RAH, and what not. He gets the job done no matter what and he is willing to sacrifice his time and energy for the betterment of the Corps.
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October 27th, 2009 at 9:20 am
The term jarhead originated from the USS Constitution. The marines that manned the vessel would be constantly hitting there heads on the “Jar” which is a piece of wood that goes across the top of the bulkhead!
January 22nd, 2010 at 12:51 am
“Wing Wiper”, “Anchor Clanker”, “Dog Face”; all terms of endearment among servicemen that only one comrade to another is fully entitled the privilege of reference, my guess as a jarhead is the empty jar supposition, and folks trying to come up with some other answer don’t really understand the American GI whatever the branch of service with the term “GI” itself not exactly being complimentary.
January 22nd, 2010 at 12:57 am
My comment is awaiting moderation? I am a jarheadd … we don’t don’t moderate; we improvise. The only reason we take the beach or take the next hill is we don’t want to have to get back on that @#%^) Navy ship.