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Old 01-13-2009, 10:18 PM
 
Location: Tampa
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could someone explain what the difference is between the two?

do we really need a separate marine force? couldnt the army have divisions to do the same stuff?

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Old 01-14-2009, 01:40 AM
 
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Each of the five services make up our armed services. Go to each of their websites if you'd like to learn more...their distictive missions.
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Old 01-14-2009, 07:12 AM
 
Location: Va Beach
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The United States (US) has three armed forces under the direction of the Department of Defense: the US Army, US Air Force, and US Navy. The US Marine Corps are actually a branch of the Navy, while the Coast Guard, the other armed force of the United States, is technically under the wing of the Department of Homeland Security. Each branch of the armed services in America performs a vital role for national security.
The US Army and the US Marines are two very different services. The mission goals for each service are different, and they accomplish their work in different ways. While people might be tempted to lump the two together since they both form parts of ground-based invading forces, most soldiers and marines would resent implication that the two forces are indistinguishable.
The US Marines are a highly mobile amphibious attack force. Marines are trained to attack from the water and establish a beach head, an area of control on foreign soil. After the Marines take territory, other armed forces such as the US Army move in to maintain control, while the Marines move on. Marines are mobile, lightweight, and very rapid. One might compare the Marines to the head of a spear, wedging in to get a foothold and racing ahead once the land has been secured.
In addition to acting as a lightweight attack force from the ocean, Marines are also perfectly capable of taking territory on land. Marines are trained for rapid deployment, and are often the first US military personnel on site. Marines also guard American embassies overseas, providing embassy security and safety. In volatile areas, being a Marine embassy guard is a very risky job.
The US Army, on the other hand, is the primary ground-based military force. As such, the US Army captures and holds territory with the use of infantry, aircraft, and an extensive support staff. The US Army is in the thick of battle, and is a substantially larger armed force than the Marines. Certain members of the US Army, such as the Army Rangers, have training which is similar to that received by the Marines.
Both forces have reserve troops, which can be activated in times of need. The Army reserves are significantly larger, however. Unlike the Marines, the US Army also has extensive support staff, including medical personnel. The Marine Corps relies on the Navy for many support services, keeping the service small and efficient.
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Old 01-14-2009, 07:53 AM
 
Location: Road Warrior
2,016 posts, read 5,567,111 times
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In laymans terms, Marines are infantry on board Naval ships, amphibious and combatant in nature, used to be used for defending ships, today they play a role in just about anything including aviation (Marine One). The Army is the broadest sense of land based military operations or infantry and calvary (tanks), today like-wise they play just about any role including airborne and apaches. To answer your 2nd question, besides the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard the Public Health Commission and the NOAA Corps make up the seven uniformed services. The first 4 are armed forces, USCG is military at all times but reports directly to the Dept. of Homeland mainly due to their law enforcement mission and the later 2 noncombatant. They all play a different role in defending the nation from enemies domestic and abroad.
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Old 01-14-2009, 03:59 PM
 
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Am the proud parent of 2 in the military Marine and Army-

1 daughter (age 17) is at Parris Island
1 daughter (18) is swearing in tomorrow at Baltimore MEPS for the Army

Their only sibling at home (13) said what if they both die in the war. After a moment I responded, "they are brave to enter the military during a military conflict- braver than any other person we know, and if something does happen where they die- they will be with Jesus"
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Old 01-14-2009, 04:37 PM
 
Location: Va Beach
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Amen to that! My son has been in the air force for almost 2 years. Still alive :-)
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Old 01-14-2009, 04:43 PM
 
2,654 posts, read 5,447,362 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VegasGrace View Post
Am the proud parent of 2 in the military Marine and Army-

1 daughter (age 17) is at Parris Island
1 daughter (18) is swearing in tomorrow at Baltimore MEPS for the Army

Their only sibling at home (13) said what if they both die in the war. After a moment I responded, "they are brave to enter the military during a military conflict- braver than any other person we know, and if something does happen where they die- they will be with Jesus"
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Old 01-14-2009, 04:50 PM
 
2,189 posts, read 7,682,368 times
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This might be better off in politics...

I've personally thought the military would ultimately be stronger if it simply dropped all branches and had three forces...Ground forces, air forces and water forces working with one unified communications and centrally funded...However, it's never going to happen...Too much tradition and too much cost...
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Old 01-14-2009, 04:51 PM
 
2,654 posts, read 5,447,362 times
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In theory we do not need a seperate Marine Corp and the Army could do the same mission. In reality, politically it would never be done. As the SECNAV said looking up at the flag raising on Mt. Surabachi on Iwo Jima "That flag means a Marine Corps for the next 500 years".

When I was in Army ROTC and my Marine counterparts would get to boastful I used to enjoy teasing them about how the Army was the heart of America's warfighters and the Corps was just "optional". They hated that.
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Old 01-14-2009, 06:35 PM
 
Location: AZ
1,046 posts, read 3,473,289 times
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I think the main difference is their respective ethos. As a Marine that trained w/SF, Rangers and also was with the ANG and AR after leaving active service I can say that there is a huge difference between the services.

Could the Marines be absorbed by the Army and Air Force/Navy? Sure it could. The Army has tried to absorb the Marines many times in the past.

Many times over the Corps had proved it's worth to her county on battlefields across the globe. But as the General points out (form first hand experience) - unknown to most are the political battles fought behind closed doors that saved the Marine Corps from becoming nothing more than a token force, or worst it's complete elimination. Even more surprising are some of "Great Americans" who (for various reasons) fought so hard to emasculate and/or eliminate the Corps outright. Americans like: Truman, Eisenhower, and Bradley to but name a few.

First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps talks about past struggles to keep the Corps relevant.

In a perfect world TheJagMan's idea would work the best.

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