U.S. Army vs. U.S. Marine Corps

lol. how would this information be relevant to the U.S Armed Forces? why does anybody really care? it's not like we're ever gonna have a situation where it would be the marines vs the army (unless one of them decides to use their resources and attack their own country...)

Originally posted by DareDevil
I left the Marine Corps to persue a Warrent Officer program and then on to flight school for the AH-64 Apache. Yes there are problems with the Army but maybe I can make it a little better by example. I will never say that I'm better than any one unless it's true. I truly do believe in the small unit leadership and will do my best to demonstrate that by example. I already miss the Corps, however I am excited for the new adventure I am trying to undertake. I'll never bash any branch of service even if another branch is stronger by brut force. But then again, that's not the point. I hope that can clarify some things. If you have any more questions, just ask. OUT.

I actually once wanted to be in the U.S. Army to fly the Comanche, and once I got over it, I wanted to be an infantryman. However, after hearing all sorts of horror stories in the army, I made a huge transformation of demonic proportions. I wanted to work in a good working environment. Sure, the army is more technologically advanced (meaning more fun), more benefits, etc. But the Marines offered me a place where I could be the best in anything. I also like the Marines' idea of your job not defining who you are. So now, if I underperform in sports or school, I just stick my finger (figuratively) at whoever criticizes me, because studying is what I do, not what I am. Athlete is what I do, not what I am. That sort of finding the real self is one of the bigger reasons I turned.

I'm really interested, since I'm becoming a Marine in about four years. What field were you in? What station? Were you ever in combat?

I was what is call an 0352 or Tow Gunner. That's basically shoting missles at takes from hummers. In the Marine Corps the first two number designate the field you are in and the last two numbers indicate exactly what you do in that field. 03 is infantry and the last two, 52 are for the Tow Gunner. I was stationed at Richards Gebaur Airfield in Kansas City, MO. And I have never been in combat.

So you're going to try to become a Marine in four years huh? So how old are you and what are you doing with yourself now?

Looking back on my choice of occupation in the Corps, I would strongly suggest something that would translate into something in the civilian world. I picked infantry which basically leaves me with law enforcement. That's not a bad thing by any means because I've considered it many times, but it doesn't leave much else. So my advice would be to pick something that you want to do, but also consider if you can use that trade/skill on the civilian side.

Just joined this site to second what DareDevil said. If you join ANY branch of the military, you would be wise to make sure that any experience you gain (and you'll gain a lot!) is directly transferrable to the civilian sector. Even if you stay in until you retire, you're generally still young enough to pursue another career.

Choose wisely

DareDevil,

Right now, I'm a senior in high school and this August I'm entering Georgia Tech for college. I'm going to take the Marine option for NROTC, so that'll probably make me a Marine officer in about four years.

I want to be an infantryman. I realize that doesn't leave much trade/skill, but I figure I've only got one life so I might as well do something like that. As terrible as it is to kill people, well, I REFUSE TO SIT BEHIND A DESK!! Plus, there isn't really anything else I would like to do. I plan to design PC games after service, but I want to do that as a civilian. And as long as I get a great education, that would be the best for me.

That's how I am. I can't keep living for the future. I only have one life and I want to do just about anything, whether it may give me a trade/skill or not. I'm not going to get my body into great shape and learn how to shoot better than Jessica Lynch just so I can end up fixing computers for the Marines (no offense). That's just how I am. Make the most of it and and limit yourself. If I did anything besides infantry, I would be boring myself out and limiting myself.


[Edited on 13-4-2004 by sweatmonicaIdo]

Well I have to tell you. As an officer you won't get to be an infantry men. That job is left to the enlisted. Now as an officer you might get command of an infantry unit but you won't get to do all of the neat things that they do.

And you are right, it is a horrible thing to have to go into combat and kill someone. But I'm going to tell you right now, that I have friends who have been in combat and they wish they had never been in it. Plus as an officer, you're going to be behind a desk whether you like it or not. Officers are the ones that get stuck with all the paper work that they are in command of. I don't want you to think that just because you want infantry that you will get out of officer duties because as a Marine officer that just is not going to happen.

Another thing you have to consider is, that after you serve your tour of duty, you will probably not want to build computers. As an officer you get comomand responsiblities and building computers will be small time compared to that.

And as far as not living for the future. Well it's obvious that you are not married and have no children. And yes those will happen. Once you are married and become a parent living for the future is all that you'll live for. Something inside you will change and of course your life will change. And I can definitely relate to not want to "just end up fixing the computers for the Marine Corps". But something else you have to remember is that as an officer you have to take command of whatever they give you. You won't get the option for a while if ever. You kind of have to take what you can get. Not that they won't listen to you, but you won't always get a command that you want. Besides, just because you get command of something other than an infantry unit doesn't mean that you won't go off to war. I know a man who was a captain in the Corps and he was in command of a Comm (communications) plattoon. His unit was deployed to Kosovo and he was in combat and was in some firefights and he wasn't in an infantry unit.

All in all there's a lot to consider. It just depends on what you want to do. If you want to be kick butt and do all of the cool things, then being an officer will probably not allow you to do that. And if you are wanting to be in charge of everything and and be in command then being enlisted is not the way to go. Both sides have their pro's and con's. So what do you want to do? And are you male or female?

Originally posted by DareDevil
Well I have to tell you. As an officer you won't get to be an infantry men. That job is left to the enlisted. Now as an officer you might get command of an infantry unit but you won't get to do all of the neat things that they do.

Really? I'm an officer and I got to do all the neat things my enlisted guys did.


Plus as an officer, you're going to be behind a desk whether you like it or not. Officers are the ones that get stuck with all the paper work that they are in command of.

Officers do not spend all of their time behind a desk. Where did you get that from? BTW, Officers do not do all of the paperwork. My senior enlisted guys had to do just as much as I did (sometimes more).

If you want to be kick butt and do all of the cool things, then being an officer will probably not allow you to do that.

Yes, officers can do that. What kind of officers did you deal with?

What branch of service are you in? Where are you stationed? What was the date of your commission? What type of command do you have now? Obviously one that allows you to play with this forum.

The Army was mean't to be able to take over an enemy and occupy their territory, the Army of occupation, the Marines are a small/fast attack force used to destroy targets and take over land but never intended to occupy them. The Rangers are commandos, not mean't to occupy but mean't to take over and destory, much like the marines. If you take the Force Recon Guys, the Rangers, the SEAL's all together today they are a lot a like, they cross train with each other and all are extremely good at what they do.

i was considering being a soldier, but now i'm contemplating becoming a marine, because if i'm going to go through hell, i may as well be prepared for it...although i really don't feel as if i have the physical material to be cut out for joining any branch of the military corps . no disrespect to the us army however, for my great grandfather fought in ww2, bless his soul .

[Edited on 4/15/2004 by cloud]

I was in the US Army for six years (19 Kilo,2nd Armor div)And when I got out,I realized there really wasnt much of a market for tank drivers in the real world lol!

The biggest thing I learned about being in the military was how to be a proper drunk.

So what did I do,got a job for the Governemt.

Personally,I cant stand the Marines.I mean 1/2 of the Marine Corps guard reactors on the ships.Gee,thats really impressive

No really,the Marines are a great force to be dealt with,and I really have the utmost respect for what they did in WW2 an in Nam.

remember when ur in the marines ur the first in so u get the worst hell but if ur a royal u get the best pay !

Well it's pretty apparent that you were clearly not an officer. And I can tell that from the comments you've made about what you did. First of all, if you were an officer you wouldn't be driving the tanks. Secondly, as an officer you have leadership responsiblities and there is plenty of things you could do in the civilian world. Not to mention you would have learned a lot more than being a drunk.

Sorry to say it, but you've been busted. Officers don't act the way you do, and if they do then they are bad officers. So either you are/were a bad officer or you were never one to begin with.

And as far as the Marines are concerned, you know nothing of that either. So half of us guard reactors on ships? Were did you pull that bit of crap?! And why would you be impressed with the Marines during WWII and Vietnam, but not now? Do your history and you'll find that in Somolia and Kosovo the Marines had things under complete control. But when they transferred responsibility to the Army, that's when things started going to hell in a hand basket.

Before you go running your mouth you should make sure that the person you are debating isn't smarter than you, or at least get your facts straight so that you can at least come across as a better liar.

The marines are trained as an anti-terrorist force. Every marine has pretty much the same kind of training in combat except for your MOS. As for choosing what you want to do, unless it has changed, you will be able to choose three MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) and depending on what the corps need and the openings available, they will give you that specialty. More often than not you might not be able to have the first MOS you chose, but you could get lucky.

I would put it like this.

If you want the best combat training and just to kick butt, the marines is the military branch for you. You might not end up with your favourite MOS, but if you plan on being a police officer after your separation from the corps, this is a good choice. You can go to college, but for the marines is harder to do this.

If you want to go to college the best choice would be the Air Force.

If you want a balance between being in combat and going to college the Army should be your choice.

Now if you like to fly, and you don't have a four year bachelors degree, or don't want to wait 4 years to fly you have two choices.

You can join the Navy as an Aircrew/AW or join the Marines with your MOS in Aircrew/AW. I am not certain of how marines can choose this MOS, but I trained with enlisted marines and graduated with sailors and marines from Aircrew candidate school. Marines are the ones who mostly pilot birds like the Cobra attack helos among others.

Whatever your choice I wish you good luck.

what! the US MARINE CORE is a antiterrorism force!
i though ur guys were like our marines but not as fit
but still u gota be kidding me
i agree wi the airforce thing like its the same here

Olympics in LA They had Marines from the inport ships standing by if anything happened(I know I spent several days sitting ready to go inside a CH-53). Sea Duty Marine were used to set the tactics for moderen urban warfare. (A firefight INSIDE a ship would be 1000% worse than house to house fighting due to the metal walls) Most MAU and MEU units are special ops trained. All Marines for Sea Duty and MSG were special ops trained. Oh and btw 0351!!!!! Dragons Baybeee!!!

Originally posted by DareDevil
Well it's pretty apparent that you were clearly not an officer. And I can tell that from the comments you've made about what you did. First of all, if you were an officer you wouldn't be driving the tanks. Secondly, as an officer you have leadership responsiblities and there is plenty of things you could do in the civilian world. Not to mention you would have learned a lot more than being a drunk.

Sorry to say it, but you've been busted. Officers don't act the way you do, and if they do then they are bad officers. So either you are/were a bad officer or you were never one to begin with.

And as far as the Marines are concerned, you know nothing of that either. So half of us guard reactors on ships? Were did you pull that bit of crap?! And why would you be impressed with the Marines during WWII and Vietnam, but not now? Do your history and you'll find that in Somolia and Kosovo the Marines had things under complete control. But when they transferred responsibility to the Army, that's when things started going to hell in a hand basket.

Before you go running your mouth you should make sure that the person you are debating isn't smarter than you, or at least get your facts straight so that you can at least come across as a better liar.

Right on.

It's almost amazing how little Americans really know about their own military, especially the Marine Corps. They don't understand how different they really are from the army.

Look at it this way. The U.S. Army failed in Fajullah and now the Marines there are paying dearly for the 82nd Airborne's failure. Instead of fighting, all the army did was complain about long deployments and bad benefits. Where did they ever find the time to pitch the tents? But you don't hear the Marines complaining. They're getting a beating and they keep their mouths shut.

Marine Corps are different (as a Marine, you know that!). And they are better than the rest.

Muaddib,

That is really good advice. Thanks.

Since I am going to college first, college is not an issue (although graduate school will be). However, I am not joining the Marines for benefits, since they don't give much anyway (who joins the Marines for benefits?). I just want to do something worthwhile, kick @$$, become a better person, the "right" person, and be part of the best human class in the world - the warrior class.

I'm going to fight. I'm going to leave whining and moaning to the Army.

HEY dont u dare diss any airborne or para or we will kick ur asses
NO 1 insults them especially infront of marines !
also u should respect ur army man those guys get some really hard jobs the marines get really hard jobs but the amry has to stay in those places for ages
also marines are just like paras or aiborne there equaly good

[Edited on 05/03/2004 by devilwasp]

Where did I say I was an 'officer'?Get your damn facts straight before you start calling people a liar DareDevil. I was discharged a ssgt.I worked for a living.

As far as my comments about the Jarheads guarding the reactors,I guess you cant tell sarcasm at all eh?

Kosovo?BFD.Thats nothing compared to what the Marines went through on places like Tinian,Wake,Iwo,Saipain.Khe Sahn ect.

Its amazing how you can deduct how much or how little I know about the military from one post.You should be posting in the ESP threads here.



[Edited on 21-4-2004 by Bootyac]