On average arent Marines just tougher than all other servicemen?
912429
First off there is no more challenging BOOT CAMP than the USMC.  There is no BASIC in the USMC that's for the Army (Aint Ready to be a Marine Yet), Navy and AF.  Secondly, Marines have their own special forces and they are just as highly trained as Seals...All branches of the military have special forces and they are equally tough.
55592
Honestly, you are right.  The number of concessions and exceptions the military has had (and continues to have ) tomake just so females can serve is counterproductive and detrimental to the mission.  I am all for equal rights, but if you can not do the job, you should go elsewhere- the standards should not be lowered just so you make it.  The fact that female Marines I was in Iraq with (numbering 5) has an entire 30 man tent for themselves because they needed sperate billiting shows the preposterous nature of the system.  I have never met a female Marine (who are the toughest the US has got) who could perform physically as well or as long as a male Marine, or maybe more importantly, had the emotional or phychological strength to handle sometimes normal occurances.  Everyone in knows this and simply ignores or covers up for the discrepancies.  I applaud the females for their willingness to serve, but they do not and (except in rare cases) cannot equal a male in the same postion.\nGay men are a little different, though- the only problems I see logistically would be the same as females- seperate billiting and head faculities (baths/showers for you non DevilDOGs or squids) would be required, but they still could be expected to perform at the same levels physically as the other males.\n\noh, and sorry for the Jedi remarks- just kidding!`\n\nKsuccubis-  Being an able mechanic or a driver is not at all equal to the ability to endure physical and mental pain for weeks or months on end and still be counted on to complete the mission.  And PFT scores are essentially worthless in judging strength between individuals-  your ability to do pull-ups or sit -ups (your weight being the resistance) can not be measured to my ability using my weight.  and running is a great measure of endurance and cardiovascular strength, but the ability to do so with ruck and flak and kevlar under combat conditions is something all together different.  I am in no way trying to demean you or your service to the country, but emotional responses and personal investment are not the issues- combat effectiveness is.  I promise you no Male Marine could get away with the things the females do all the time- they use the full arsenal fo womanly guile to get out of the heavy lifting, barracks duty, deployments, etc- from PMS, to emotional issues, to sexual suggestiveness, with all the tears,pouting, preening, huffing and puffing that goes along with it.  It silly, wasteful and countertproductive, and has no place in the military as it should be.
866079
US army airborne infantryman...that is two different schools- infantry school and airborne school.  I wouldn't say that the training is harder for either one, but different.
452759
I'd say Marine Special Forces would be harder.  I was an active duty Marine and trained with Army Rangers.  Rangers and your average infantry Marine seemed to be about equal.  The rest of the Army were no more than glorified boy scouts with guns...all equally lost.  I'm not trying to be all "Marines are better" but I had an Army SSgt who'd been in for 12 years ask me (I was a Corporal in charge of a squad of Marines) how to set up basic maneuvers.  \n\nNow...more on the point of Marine Special Forces.  I had a 1st Sgt who was Force Recon for 16 years and he was the baddest of the bad.  He was a great guy, but his abilities were scary.  He was an expert shot, knew all kinds of martial arts, and could PT all day.  I'd seen endocs (tests to get into snipers or special forces) for Marines...they ran those guys in the rain all night long.  They ran and did exercises for about 16 hours straight.  I'll shut up, but email me if you want more stories.
869941
The UFC guy. Why? Because the Navy SEALs actually spend very little time on hand to hand. Remember, the military assumes people have guns and knives. Even according to a marine combat instructor I know, the combatives program is actually meant until your buddy can show up to shoot them. Besides, knife fighting is still more emphasized than empty armed combat. That is not to say that a SEAL isn't a very good fighter, it just means the SEAL combatives program isn't very in-depth and detailed.
380226
Every body deploys.  Training isn't easy for any of 'em. If you can't hack it, don't waste the military's time.
633672
Every female I've come across is like any civilian you'd meet.  Some are girly girls.  They are usually the ones that no one respects in the military (and my personal bane) then there are the majority who took the job and were willing to fulfill their obligations.  I don't see myself as a tougher than normal kind of gal, but when I'm angry, I've had former drill instructors back away from me!  And I don't see myself as one of the toughest.  There are plenty of females I wouldn't mess with.  I can name more normal females than I can the weak girly-girls, but some how, the girly-girls are remembered and we are all though of that way until we have prooven ourselves otherwise.  But from what I've seen, there's plenty of girly-boys out there crying about how hard things are too.  I'd say we are even in that category.  The females are just remembered better, because there are fewer of us.
364891
The comparison is usually between Army and Marines rather than Infantry to Infantry. The Army has a very different function than the Marines, and a wider mission during wartime. \n\nThe first difference is between the missions of the respective forces. The Marines are a relatively small branch of the Navy. Their mission  is primarily to conduct initial combat operations from a forward deployed platform (such as a big ass boat) and establish a beachhead from which they can operate until follow on forces arrive. \n\nThe Army’s mission is a little bigger. Along with establishing a foothold, they also expand the foothold into entire theaters of operations. The Marines fight battles. The Army fights the war. \n\nThe Marines are not really a self sustaining force. They take the beach (or whatever) and hold it until support arrives. It might sound like this is a bad thing, but in reality this is part of what makes them such a proud and ass-kicking force. There is a lot of pride in knowing that you are at the tip of the spear. \n\nThe Army has the same capability in its Light Infantry units. They do not specialize in amphibious operations, but rather in Airborne, Air Assault and Land based assaults. The Army’s Light Infantry units, such as the 101st ABN (AASLT), 82nd ABN Div, 173rd ABN BDE, 10th Mountain Div and 25th INF Div (L), are used as rapid deployment units capable of taking and holding ground until the rest of the Army can establish themselves. It goes without saying that one of the premier Light Infantry units in the world is the 75th Ranger Regiment, consisting of three Ranger Battalions that are ALWAYS on call for any contingency. \n\nWhen you get right down to it, the Light Infantry and the Marines both take a lot of pride in a tough job. They both also have generally higher Discipline and Esprit de Corps than your average Combat Support or Combat Service Support unit.\n\nThen we have the Mechanized Infantry. Units like the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Infantry Divisions are heavy, powerful and slow to deploy. They pack a lot of punch, but moving all those M2 Bradley IFVs and M1 Abrams tanks along with all their logistics and support, is a major undertaking in itself. The Mechanized units have plenty of pride in what they do, but usually aren’t considered “elite”. This could be because of the perception that they spend all their time inside huge armored vehicles and don’t face the same kind of danger as a grunt. There is some truth to this in a large scale, high intensity conflict. However, today’s mechanized Infantry soldiers are operating “boots on the ground” just like everyone else in Iraq. \n\nOne reason the entire Marine Corps is considered “elite” is because, as I said earlier, their entire organization is predominantly combat oriented. Even the support units they do have are inculcated with the idea that “every Marine is a rifleman first”. This has always been a necessity for the Marines, who often operated with limited support for extended periods of time.\n\nBy contrast, in the past, Army support units have mostly operated in relatively safe areas, setting up well behind friendly lines. This was a fairly viable option in the past, when “lines” actually existed. In today’s fluid combat environment however, there are no “lines”. Every soldier must be a soldier first, and a personnel clerk/mechanic/cook/technician second. When GEN Pete Schoomaker took over as the new Army Chief of Staff, he immediately made this a matter of Army Policy in his vision for the future. \n\nThis is already being implemented in BCT here at Fort Jackson, and presumably at the other training facilities throughout the Army. The training has changed a little already, but major changes are underway for the coming classes of soldiers. Anyway, before I get too far off topic…\n\nA second reason that Marines are considered “elite” is because they consider themselves “elite”. This is a self fulfilling prophesy
249849
Man how things change...\nNo Navy Boot camp is not hard. It is probably not what your used to but it is not hard.\nIf you start doing something's to get in shape and work out on occasion it is more a mental game than a physical one. \nNo - They are no allowed to hit you. They can cycle (exercise)you to death... but not hit you.\nTaking a "crap" is not that big of deal. In the barracks they do have stalls but no doors. If it bothers you that much get up in the middle of the night and go...\nAs for "combat engineers"... the Navy does have them they are called Sea Bees and no they do not drop you out in the middle of anything to find your way back.\nBoot camp is all bout learning the Navy way and getting your basic military bearing. They do not even touch on your specific job skill (unless your a fireman - you do have to put out a small fire).\n\nIf you can follow instructions and are willing to put 100% into all you do then you not only can make it easy but actually somewhat enjoyable.\n\nI do agree though with "wythingco" - Any "panty waste" can make it through.\nI went through in 1985 and it was way to easy then. My son gets treated worse for High School football.\n\nAnd I know a number of people that were in the Air Force. Their boot camp is like a camp for cheerleaders.. Neither Navy ore Air Force are hard, but it is a bit tougher to become a sailor than it is to become a "fly-boy".\nAt least it used to be :o)
120975
The marines are a more elite but smaller force. They most commonly are associated with the Navy because they are actually a part of the Navy. \n\nThe army is more of a "bulk packaged" soldier. They are called upon when a large force is needed.\n\nJust as the Army has the Green Berets special force unit, the Marines are a larger "special forces" unit.
210252
I don't know the official answer to your question, but I do know that since we pride ourselves on "leadership by example" be prepared for it to be more mentally challenging than the 12 weeks I spent on Parris Island in enlisted boot camp. You should also realize, however, that there comes a point where it can't possibly get too much more strenuous...we're all physiologically about the same, so peak conditioning for me would be roughly peak conditioning for you. What's required of officers is different, though, and therein lies the challenge. But I suspect you'll do just fine. By the way, having served with ROTC officers as well as Mustangers, it's been my experience (as an NCO) that Mustangers make the better officers in terms of their grasp of the overall military objectives and their ability to relate to their Marines. Good luck in all your future endeavors. Semper Fidelis.
494231
I heard once that the toughest job in the military is military spouse.  I agree.  They aren't on the payroll, but the military spouses go through a great deal while their loved ones are in combat.
779051
MI officers are no different than infantry. They fight in the war just as hard as the infantry.
841457
Marines is the best in soldiery.  It is the most disiciplined fighting force as a large unit and you will become respected by people by being a Marine.
885344
Hmm intresting I read last week that America is making their basic training less tough too.\n\nThere cant be enough sign ups.
403353
You can't really compare Marine Recon and Army SF to Navy SEALs.  First off, they do completely different things.  Second, anyone who's actually  seen some of the things the SEALs do know that they're crap.  All I'll say is that there are quite often some major problems with target acquisition...\n\nI have no envy issues, actually.  I've just seen the way that SEALs handle things and I wasn't impressed.  Maybe, I'm just looking at things from isolated incidents but I was only voicing my opinion.  I deffinetly hold the utmost respect for Long-tabbers, I've spent a good deal of my career working with them.  My personal preference will be Rangers over any of them, though.
118167
Speaking from personal experience and pride.  I would say the Marine Corps is the way to go.  Something my friends and I noticed while I was in; if you ask a soldier what he does, he will tell you "I am in the Army." Navy? "I am in the Navy." Air Force? "I am in the Air Force." But if you ask a Marine what he does, he/she will tell you "I am a Marine!"  That is something no one else in the world can say.  For 230 years the Marine Corps has been monkey stomping anyone that needs it.  There has never been a mutiny in the Marine Corps.  Hence the motto "Semper Fidelis." Which means "Always Faithful."  It applies to more than that also. It applies to the fact that, if we can help it, we never leave a man on the battlefield.  Wounded or dead.  We take care of our own.  From experience with other branches of service they learn a little about their service history.  Marines learn everything about their service history.  It is no longer the history of the Marine Corps, it is MY history as well. I was a Sergeant. I was leader of Marines.  That is one of the greatest feelings in the world.  Almost as good as the day I stood on top of "The Reaper," and my Senior Drill Instructor put that Eagle,Globe, and Anchor in my hand, and told me(this by the way was the first time in the entire 13 weeks of boot camp that any Marine is addressed as Marine, only when their training is complete are you a Marine.) "Congratulations Marine. Welcome to the Corps."  Marines have pride in their service in part because of our history, and also because we had to earn the title Marine.  We had to earn the right to be called Marine.  Everyone else is a soldier, sailor, or airman as soon as they get to basic training.  Not Marines. I was every derogatory term except.  I certainly wasn't a human being. But then it was all worth it.  Marines are the first to fight.  Whatever you think your chances of going to Iraq or Afghanistan are...double it.  I'm not trying to Scare you away, but every Marine is a rifleman. Our pilots learn learn infantry combat tactics.  Oh by the way the whole Navy pilots are the best thing. Only the top 10% of Naval Flight School, are allowed to be Marine pilots.  Someone had mentioned the Navy SEALs.  You can be a Navy SEAL even if you are a Marine.  The SEALs are Special Forces and thus are open for anyone in the Armed Services to try.  But why do that, the Corps just started its own Special Forces program.  I would have retired if I could have.  Anyway I say go Marine.