The United States Marines have a long history as an elite fighting force dating back to their origins as an infantry force of the British Royal Navy. They have established a reputation through heroic combat in many conflicts starting from the Revolutionary War. Marines undergo rigorous training focused on marksmanship, with excellent shooting skills demonstrated in World War I and II. Their training evolved with new weapons and tactics, but the emphasis on the rifle range remained important. Propaganda further bolstered the image of Marines as heroic fighters, especially in the Pacific theater of World War II where they engaged in brutal island-hopping campaigns against Japan.