why are prior enlisted Marine Officers called "mustangs"?

Answer 1

Since sometime before 1935, the term "Mustang" has been used by the United States Sea Services to denote enlisted men who worked their way up the ranks to officer status.

Going back to the Middle Ages, there was always a distinction between officers and men in the ranks which amounted to a caste system. Shakespeare in his Henry V exemplifies this when he has a sentry hail, "Art thou officer? Or art thou base, common and popular?" (1)

In its proper sense, "Mustang" referred to the wild or half wild horse of the American plains, especially of Mexico and California, and was a distortion of the Spanish term "Mestengo". (1)

Semper Fi

Answer 2

Navy Mustang Officer

Answer 3

A mustang is United States Military (especially Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard) slang for a commissioned officer who began his or her career as an enlisted person. Mustangs are usually older and more experienced than their peers-in-grade who earned their commissions from one of the several service academies (ie. the United States Naval Academy), Officer Candidate School or the Reserve Officer Training Corps.
(USN, retired)

Answer 4

i'm a retired army guy (I served from 1972-1992) and an enlisted Marine isn't spoke of as "sir" because he/she isn't an officer. only officials are greeted as sir/maam. there is frequently no situation at the same time as a Marine (quite a senior enlisted) should be spoke of as "sir". And it might nicely be doubtlessly embarrasing if a Marine became greeted as sir and an officer became modern-day. i have made the blunders of greeting a Marine Sergeant significant as Sergeant and became reprimanded by using my branch Head. Marines take large delight in being addressed by making use of their enlisted rank. i wish this answer facilitates.

Answer 5

Rmagedon got it correct: it refers to said officers lack of social breeding and proper class !! Literally those who didn't go to the Academy

And it isn't just the Marines, though it originated in the "China-Marines" in the 1930's.

I'm a prior enlisted Navy Officer... a proud LCDR with the paygrade of (OE-4) !!

Answer 6

Because their intelligence rivals a horse. Tee hee..Seriously now, the enlisted man is supposedly wilder than an officer, and warrants retain some of those traits and are considered untamed or something like that anyways.

Answer 7

I dont know, maybe they all go out and buy mustangs when they become officers or something.

Answer 8

it's because you guys are so awesome that you are comparied to the beauty and intellagence to the wild untameable horses because you guys are untameable