umm..

the marines specialize in operations from the sea so being a marine would involve being dispatched to ships I think.

as far as i know army normaly winds up being involve in the national guard "CP" central protection. not the marines. when over in other countries, when you goto the american diplomat councelet "thing" the guards are always marines not us army.

I've also heard jokes about how Army requires more intelligence, so I am looking at Marines hard now because frankly I'm not too intelligent, is it true that the Marines don't require as much intelligence? Well, I mean on a mission do they do a lot more complicated stuff?

I've heard that Army does different things to secure a building, like guard it after setting up barbed wire or something, and the Marines just anhilate everyone in the building and call it done.

I figured, so basically they all have really complicated missions that I have to learn how to deal with? How do stupid people make it through?

C4's gonna have a field day in this thread once he finds it.

Originally posted by Ketchup:

C4's gonna have a field day in this thread once he finds it.

I know, I'm kinda looking forward to it

OP; Marines I would say have a much stronger sense of identity and culture, but they're also a heck of a lot more hardcore than some Army units. The Marines I've met and been friends with are often quite happy to talk about their experiences, they seem to feel a real sense of pride in what they've done and been a part of. Which can only be a recommendation.

Compared to which Army folks seem a lot more laid back and a lot less intense or hardcore. They're still very capable guys, but the ones I've met don't talk about their experiences as often or with the passion I often hear from Marines.

I've not been a part of either, but I've met plenty of people who have. This is based on my experience knowing them.

Armies are usually used like tissues. You get through them even before you start crying.

Charming topic

Ask yourself this....whose the first boots on the ground when the ♥♥♥♥ hits the fan? Theres your answer....

Originally posted by Darth Krayt:

I've also heard jokes about how Army requires more intelligence, so I am looking at Marines hard now because frankly I'm not too intelligent, is it true that the Marines don't require as much intelligence? Well, I mean on a mission do they do a lot more complicated stuff?

I've heard that Army does different things to secure a building, like guard it after setting up barbed wire or something, and the Marines just anhilate everyone in the building and call it done.

watch out though, the marines are very tight with the inventory. if your running away from civilian life to get away from the liberal/conservitive wars. the marines are very conservitive with everything that they do. you will learn to be a conservitive without being involved in polotics.

Idk if im on the same page... and idk if this is true or not, but ive heard when the army cant get it done they call in the Marines....

the marines (john cena) vs the army (sylvester stallone)

rambo/rocky always wins.

I'm down with the robot armies.
Let them duke it out while the human folk sit back and smoke a fatty.

Originally posted by Ketchup:

C4's gonna have a field day in this thread once he finds it.

It's why I'm subscribing to this thread.

What is the difference between the Army and the Marines? That is an excellent question. Te difference between the Army and the Marines is that while the Army likes to brag that it launched the largest amphibious assault in history, they neglect to mention that they were stuck on the beach for three months, pinned down by vastly inferior numbers and troops. Most of the Normandy defenders weren't even German regulars, they were conscripts from Eastern Europe and Russia.

Meanwhile, the Marine Corps beat the **** out of 8-1 odds at Chosin Reservoir, when it was our turn to do the Army's job, and it only took sixteen days while we were surrounded and without any support. If we'd been at Normandy we would have been in Berlin later that month.

Alright, I was half kidding, other factors were involved and we're all on the same side, but healthy inter-service rivalry requires me to belittle the Army at least once any time they are mentioned or present. Let's get to the important differences.

The Army is, well, it's an army, and all the things that includes: Large numbers of troops, heavy combined-arms support, and the task of both figthing wars at large whilst occupying ground personally. They generally favor large-scale operations, but they do have smaller elite forces to fill gaps that regulars can't fill because they don't have the training or gear.

The Marine Corps is a much smaller and specialized force of naval assault infantry. Historically, we guard the Navy's ships, board enemy ships, and if the Navy needs a port or island or beach, we go in to take it.

Over the years the lines between our respective missions have blurred a bit, especially since the US military entire began operationg as a larger combined-arms force, with the Marine Corps accepting more general roles and the Army specializing more.

Still, there are differences, first among those being that Marines are better and we know it. Again, this is half a joke, but it's also true. The USMC is expected to undertake the most suicidal operations of all, frontal assaults with no cover. To convince people to do that and keep fighting no matter how bad the casualties are they rather need to believe that they are a cut above the common soldier, whom they are facing. They need to have unshakeable faith and commitment to their cause, their unit, and to victory. Running away is not an option with the sea at your back.

Thus, the Marines use a training regimen which instills that sort of belief in recruits. It's a pretty harsh basic training program, harsher than what your recruiter will probably tell you. Our training is three weeks longer than army basic, 13 weeks, but that's only if you're on of the 40% or so who pass the first time. If you do not pass, you are "recycled" to a company that is further behind in training, no need to waste bodies, and you will keep being recycled until you make it or are deemed unfit. For most Marines, basic is longer than 13 weeks. In my platoon of 98, only 35 made it through.

This extra training time and the stricter regimen are used to teach us additional basic infantry skills that the Army doesn't get, whilst also breaking recruits down more so they can be built up into a unit through learning and respecting our traditions, adopting our culture, our espirit de corps, and ultimately being proud to be part of it.

That is the main difference between the Marines and the Army. The old joke that we're not a service, but a cult, isn't far from the truth and we actually like being called that. Marine units are better-disciplined, better-trained, and have MUCH better morale than the average unit, the latter of which is our greatest strength.

The Art of War isn't just killing the enemy, that takes forever and is risky. It's getting them to break and surrender without fighting at. Marines do not break easily, if at all, they are highly resistant to morale shocks. In almost 250 years the number of Marine units that have surrendered can be counted on one hand. Being ordered to surrender by an Army General doesn't count. That means whoever opposes us has to kill us to the last man and the last round before they can claim victory, an expensive proposition for them if they have to send in infantry to winkle us out when every Marine is a rifleman.

As one might expect of assault infantry, Marines are particularly effective attacking as well. I've seen it in person, there's really no need to raise their morale before an attack, no matter how dangerous. They pretty much raise it themselves, regardless of what individual fears a person might have, the unit, the spirit, the tradition cannot wait to get into a fight. They are the Dogs of War personified, pulling at their collars of discipline to be unleashed. Good thing they have them, otherwise we'd be crummy shock-troops.

The discipline is another major thing. Some have said that the Army is more relaxed. Could have fooled me when I was a child. I marveled at how immaculate the soldiers and their facilities were, how precise their movements in drill. They were amazing.

Then I became a Marine and virtually the entire Army looked like somebody stuffed **** into a uniform and didn't clean up afterwards. This is coming from Yours Truly, first to admit that he hates garrison life with the inspections and crap. I used to pass barracks inspections by putting so much bleach in the bathroom that nobody would inspect it with anything but their noses. Briefly. What can I say? I don't like scrubbing mildew out of caulk with a toohbrush. I like playing in the mud.

Despite my objections to that level of attention to detail, that sort of discipline intended to MAKE one pay attention to it, the concept is very solid. Attention to detail will save your life in combat, a place where people start to panic and don't notice what's going on around them. Everything we do, even boring maintenance and grooming, is done to near-perfection for that reason.

Above all, however, what sets the Marine Corps apart is the camraderie. It is a key part of our very buoyant morale in the field, because even if you forget everything else in battle, you can't fail the rest of your Marines. Not ever. Nor are you particularly inclined to condemn them if they fail just a little bit. The unit, the relationship, is more important than perfection, because through working as a unit, perfection is achieved.

Now I'm sure you've probably heard horror stories about hazing, and how it's bad and how we don't do that anymore. Utter nonsense. You most certainly will be hazed if you are not acting as part of the unit, and everyone will feel good about it and hate you. It may sound harsh to civilians, but what's a lot more harsh is being buddy-****ed by the guy who was supposed to be watching your backs wehn you or your best friends got shot. This isn't a daycare, it's a military. Deal with it or get out before everyone starts coming up with creative, legal ways to make you leave.

If you can survive that, the Corps is the largest and best fraternity in the world. College fraternities are nothing, they might open doors if they are available and a person from there likes you, if you can prove it all.

Marines, on the other hand, can usually spot another Marine almost immediately, without saying a word. It's seriously Twilight Zone sometimes, especially when two companies of Marines meet. It's like there's an exact counterpart for everyone, down to the very mannerisms. They're exactly like us, only not. Pretty funny when civilians try to pass themselves off as Marines for the same reason, they might look like Marines to others, but we sniff them out almost immediately.

Anyway, the point is they will know you, and be part of a common culture you share. You are hired, killer. In fact, let me see what else I can do to get you a good job. Maybe I can get you a better one than mine, no office politics here, we're already a team. Or a cult. Whatever. Let them eat cake.

It's pretty much like that. And I wouldn't worry about your intelligence level too much. We don't actually have lower requirements than the Army, our basic requirements are the highest of any service. The reason is that Marines largely operate from a ground-up organizational structure in combat. Small units, led by Non-Commissioned officers pass information up the chain of command which in turn directs the few support assets we have. Thus, Marines are expected to exercise personal judgement and intitiative. GOOD personal judgement and initiative. You join us and I can guarantee you will hear the phrase "Good initiative, bad idea" about ten billion times before you get it right.

Doesn't mean we don't have a place for the less-gifted, though, and from you're writing alone you probably aren't one of those. The folks who fail the ASVAB normally have trouble with even writing cogent sentences, and we have waivers for them. They'll probably never lead a unit, indeed, most of them are at some point required to carry a rock around in their pocket to serve as an ID badge. But they still get in. We do not have the luxury of turning away the few who even try to join us. Remember, most don't make it.

Those who do are indeed The Few, The Proud, The Marines. If it sounds appealing, if you think you might be Marine material, if you're damn sure you have the faith and strength to see this through, sign up and see how you do. If it doesn't work out, you can always join the Army.