Board Thread:Warhammer 40k General Discussion/@comment-99.30.169.247-20140515051707/@comment-62.226.242.87-20140515114836

if you check the horus heresy novels, especially the first 3, you will find that the emperor  and the prmiarchs were well aware of the longevity of the marines and that there would have to be other purposes for them than solely battle and war.

just as every primarch had a role in the new imperium, so would his astartes.

to that end the astartes were given the possibilities to educate themselves and to improve on their cultural level throughout the crusade.