| dc.description.abstract | The territory of American Samoa in the southern Pacific, where I conducted fieldwork from January to June of 2017, has for many years been amongst the top places for recruiting personnel for the U.S. military. Everyone in American Samoa have a friend, sibling, family member or relative who are or have been in the military, and many use the military to gain access to education and money, and to help their family. In this thesis I explore the process of becoming U.S. Marines amongst a group of young people in American Samoa working to meet the requirements to go to boot camp. I argue that the time spent training for boot camp is simultaneously a period where they take the first steps towards acquiring the habitus and mindset of a Marine. I look at how they use shared values, brotherhood, as well as ways of thinking about progress, pain and how to live life, to create and maintain a shared identity as Marines. This topic is looked at through the lens of the body and the mind, and how they work together to create the Marine as a holistic and lifelong identity. Being disciplined is a central part of being a Marine, and therefore also a central term in this thesis. The Marine Corps emphasize always having a high level of preparedness so they can be deployed fast when a crisis is at hand, making being disciplined a crucial trait for a Marine. The concept of discipline shows itself in the learning of bodily technique, dealing with pain, staying healthy and the willingness to do the work required. Being disciplined is also a big part of Samoan upbringing and social life. I therefore argue that my informants being used to discipline and hierarchy is an advantage when entering the military. In short, this thesis is about the acquisition of Marine mindset and habitus, how the body is used to both learn and perform this, and in extension how the body, mindset and life of a Marine itself becomes a multi-vocal symbol representing the Marine Corps, the military, the U.S., good citizens etc. Being a Marine is viewed as more than a job. It’s a commitment to the Marine Corps and the country that lasts even after retirement. This thesis explores how this comes to the forefront in a holistic Marine identity that has its beginning in the stages before going to boot camp. | eng |