does the marine corps deserve separate-service status or should it be part of the navy?
493912
seperate because their training is differant from the navys
825002
Ask a Marine recruiter.  They'll pump you full of information.
890363
I am gonna enlighten you.\nThe Marines and the Army are not the same outfit.\nThere are also Navy Reserves, Air Force Reserves, and Coast Guard Reserves.
582180
Sorry, but that PROBABLY won't help you.  The USMC gets it's officers from the US Navy, and they have, for the most part, attended Annapolis.  \n\nIf the marines have an OCS, then you might be able to go that route.
618541
This always poses some interesting facts to contrast:\n\n1) The US Army were formed for the people of the United States, whereas the Marines are exclusively for the President. The Army is supposed to be a long term occupational force whereas the Marines were designed as an all-purpose expeditionary force. Both roles are used when required, but Marines are a short term strike force.\n\n2) The Army is it's own department, whereas the Marines come under the Navy.\n\n3) Naval officers also partake in some Marine missions, such as medics and chaplains.\n\n4) The Marines specialize in amphibious landings whereas the Army is more of a dynamic land force. The Army actually has more watercraft than the Marines do, and the Army also does a lot of riverine operations\n\n5) The Army is distinctly American since it was lead by General George Washington, however, the Marines are based on the concept of colonial Marines, who are British in heritage. \n\n6) Only Marines are allowed to guard foreign consulates and embassies.\n\n7) The combat uniforms are different for both services: the Marines use the MARPAT (Marine Disruptive Pattern) for camouflage, whereas the Army has transitioned into the ACU (Army Combat Uniform)\n\n8) In foreign policy, the use of deploying a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to the closest body of water in a troubled region, usually shows the United States' intent that it is prepared to launch a landing and potentially invade a territory. Thus, the MEU is similar in policy to an aircraft carrier battle grouop. The Army is a different sort of threat if, in the case of Iraq, we base it forward from another allied country to prepare for war. In both cases, the United States visibly and explicitly illustrates a military might to coerce another delegation for cooperation.\n\n9) The Army has had it's special forces organized for decades, but the Marines only recently acquired their special operations status in November last year. \n\n10) Army special forces are used for purposes such as taking over airfields, anti-terrorist operations, and reconaissance. The Marines have call their forces, "Force Recon", which is basically a forward information post detailing enemy movement and possibly engaging the enemy.\n\n11) Army fixed wing aircraft are not attack planes, but recon and cargo planes, whereas the Marines have attack aircraft based off naval aircraft carriers.\n\n12) Army aircraft are not intended to land on ships, and Marine aircraft obviously are based off ships. \n\n13) Marines have ceremonial swords\n\n14) The Army is used more in peacekeeping operations and reconstruction efforts. \n\n15) Biggest similarity: Both the Army and Marines are "on the same team" when it comes to war: we both fight for the interest of the United States, and her people serve both services. \n\nIt would be biased to say that one is better than the other, but the truth is that these services are indeed different and cannot be judged on the same level. It is all subjective to one's interests and favored opinions
761001
I enjoyed my time as a Marine, I miss it and would love to go back but I have a family and cannot leave them for extended periods. If you join the US military you will be gone for extended periods and you will go to war. Since you do not have a spouse the development of your children could be compromised. I would tell you to stay home and raise your kids.
481966
The Air Force could cover Marine movements but Marine pilots train right along with the ground pounders.  They have a unique perspective on the needs of their ground units.\n\nI am retired from the Air Force and think highly of the organization.  But we do ask a lot of our Marines and in giving it they want their own cover.  I'm willing to give it to them.
514588
It depends on your reasons for joining and what you want out of your enlistment. I joined the Airforce, and one of my first  duty stations was a joint-service enviornment. I made many great Marine friends and drinking buddies while there and often wished that I had joined the USMC due to what I percieved as their lack of political BS compared to the Airforce, as well as their strong comradery. However many of those Marines wished that they had joined the Airforce because we get better living conditions and services, some Devil Dogs I knew even switched over to the AF after their enlistment was over. Both services have their benefits and downfalls, it just depends on you and your personality. If you want to be hardcore and kill the enemy with your own rifle, join the Marines. If you want to keep the enemy from killing Marines and gain a skill to used afterwards, join the Airforce. Of course you could "combine" the two and become AF Special forces...http://www2.afsoc.af.mil/
713620
A great deal depends on which branch of the military you joined.  While the Army & Marine Corps are primarily ground combat related services, the Air Force & Navy have different purposes.\nThere are positions in both that can go into ground combat but the vast majority never face that same task.
513528
Elite? Consider every branch except the Marine Corp has units in SOCOM (Special Operations COMmand). (It appears this has recently changed as of 02/24/2006)\n\nWhile Jarheads get my respect as kick A** Warfighters they are trained to React not Act, Spec. Op's soldiers need the ability to think and act independently an indoctrination strictly averred in the Corp.\n\nThis is ashamed because I would have much more respect for the SEAL's if they were selected from the Corp instead of the Navy....What dipstick came up with that idea???
67682
As a former Marine recruiter I must say yes. I support all branches and their recruiters. I myself was straight forward, to the point about business. I wanted people to join the Marines to be a part of the team and become successfull. Unfortunately recruiters have a bad reputation of deceiving applicants. That's what makes recruiters look bad. The things is that those recruiters that did those kind of things don't represent the others like myself and others who wanted to make a difference in young peoples lives. Their moral standards diminshed what the rest of us stand for. If we could just keep the honest recruiters like myself in the offices then there would be no problems. All I have to say to keep anyone safe from mistakes is to do their research.
418992
The United States Marine Corps, since its inception, was targetted on many occasions by politicians to be rid of. However, the Corps has proven itself a highly professional and highly proficient warfighting organization all throughout history, and still works hard to maintain its reputation today. On top of that, it is the taxpayer's best friend, giving us way more bang for the buck.\n\nThe Marine Corps has been in the forefront on military innovation. During the Banana Wars in the early 1900s, it developed an effective counter-insurgency manual that could and should have been used in Vietnam. During WWII, the Marine Corps perfected amphibious landings. During Korea, the Marine Corps utilized the potential that the helicopter brought. During the 1980s, the Marine Corps turned to a new doctrine of warfighting (efficient and perfect for its size, yet while increasing combat efficiency), called maneuver warfare. It also developed and perfected the expeditionary nature of the Corps.\n\nCurrently, the Marine Corps has one of the lowest budgets in the US military. This means that they have to be lean mean fighting machines, and the American people expect no less. Look at history, and you can already tell about the exploits of the Corps despite its size. Thus, the Marine Corps is a military organization that is of great worth to the United States of America and needs to be retained. Semper Fidelis!
447234
Like everyone else has stated above, you do not get your first choice.  They give you options, but remember as a marine your first duty is a rifleman, you are a foot soldier and most likely will see some type and form of combat in a war time environment. The only way out is if you have some speak law degree and or super computer skills, but that is normally left to the Navy to do for us.  You much understand that the MARINES own you, you do not think for yourself, you do not plan for yourself. If the Marine Corps wanted you to have a wife you would have been issued one in boot camp.  So if you have a girl, drop her.  I can not tell you how many "Dear John" letters are out there that have made grown men cry.  In the end you get only what you want out of the Marines, nothing else.  It is a commitment of your body, sole and life for the Stars and bars.  You would be the first and last line of defense and will be required to do things that you never thought you would or could ever do.  This is the worst case, my brother never saw anything more than the underside of a HumVee (JUNK) give me an old MUTT any time.
969463
Maybe, but perhaps it should be like some other countries, where everyone who meets the physical requirements should serve in at least some fashion. If not the military, then some other form of public service. If they attend college, then that service would be delayed until after college.\n\n  I served in the Army National Guard, the Air Force, and the Air National Guard, and don't regret it one bit. I left for medical reasons, but served a total of about 6 years, with 4 of them active. Those who don't serve have no idea of the mindset of a soldier. We are the last to wish a conflict, as we know that we will be doing the fighting. On the other hand, we know that without us, our country would be defenseless.\n\n  A single tour is really enough, and we would have plenty of troops to fulfill our missions. It would be a great educational opportunity for everyone, and they certainly would better appreciate this land we live in, just as you mentioned.
515416
I have 2 kids in the army, they say it, but like, a joke, or whatever. The Marines sound better, cooler. It's too much of a tradition to change it, but yeah, if you could, you would get NO complaint from the Army!
416940
Nope.  I personally served alongside some Marines that weren't US citizens.  In several cases it expedited their naturalization process.  In all cases I respected that these men weren't citizens but loved America enough to serve.  I'd be first in line to say that these men should be citizens.
953450
It is where he will go to be trained for his MOS which is his job, his specialty. Here is a link that will list a whole bunch of MOS's and where the schools for them are located. http://www.marinemoms.us/USMC/usmc-mos.asp\n\nSemper Fi! By the way please tell him thank you for serving! oh and get in good by impressing him. Let him know  that you know tomorrow, November 10th is the Marine Corps 231st birthday. I make a Marine Corps birthday cake for hubby every year!