Meet the New Marine Mascot – Chesty!

Photo by Sgt. Dengrier Baez

U.S. Marine Corps to unveil English bulldog Chesty as new mascot

NY Daily News: Semper Fido. The United States Marine Corps is preparing to debut its new mascot. Chesty, a 9-week-old English bulldog, will be formally presented to the public in a  ceremony on March 29.

Named after Lt. Gen. Lewis “Chesty” Puller, the most decorated Marine of all  time, the young bulldog must first complete obedience training before assuming  his new duties at the Marine barracks in Washington, D.C.

“After obedience school and ‘recruit training,’ the young puppy will earn the title Marine, joining the ranks of his well-known predecessors,” the Marine Corps said on its website. “Chesty’s responsibilities will include marching in the Friday Evening Parades and supporting various events around the National  Capitol Region.”

Bred by Sara Gomez and Abigail Callahan, Chesty descends from five  generations of championship bulldogs, the Marine Corps said. But that doesn’t  mean that the cute pooch can expect any special treatment.

“We do like what we do with regular recruits, our human recruits. We’re going  to take a good civilian, and we’re going to make him a little bit better and  turn him into a U.S. Marine,” Capt. John Norton said.

Bulldogs have been the breed of choice for Marine mascots since the 1920s.

What a cute pup!

DCG