Marines or Army?

[God Loving Cowboy]

Man... this could turn out worse than the Nam era shake and bake promotions.

Besides PT, weapons training, common skills, ait, there is a whole different mindset between the services.
for ex.
Infantry going from army to marine wouldn't work well at all and there is common ground there.
It starts in basic everyone needs to start there.

Actually, it would turn out fine, if it was the other way around. If the Marine went Army(for some unGodly reason why he would do sucha thing) the said Marine could bring experience actually, and honor

 

[Same World]

Just a joke,

But one time in boot camp (Marine Boot Camp, hoorah)

One of the recruits got a letter from their brother, he was in the navy, and prooud of it, well he thought it would be funny if he placed a huge sticker on the back of the envelope that said GO NAVY, in the middle of third phase marine boot camp....man it it was good, the drill INSTRUCTOR told the recruit to push until the drill instructor got tired. HOORAH! The few, the proud, the under paid, but hard, the Marines!

 

[isshinwhat]

Army officers are more likely to put a higher priority on taking care of troops.
Marine officers tend to be more concerned with acting like Marine officers. Put it this way.
Marine officers never seem to tire of being saluted.

There is not a finer group of men that I have met than the Marines I have come to know in my time preparing for Officer Candidate School. From the group of Privates straight out of San Diego who help my girlfriend's disabled mother, to the Lieutenant Colonel who mentored me when I really needed it, despite his busy schedule, they have been good men.

After a hump, our drill instructor told those of us who had our sleeves rolled up to roll them down for a fireteam tactics class. No sooner than I had my right hand on my left sleeve to roll it down, the Candidate on my right was rolling down my other sleeve. I tell this story because a Marine Officer leads by example. Ductus Exemplo. The reason they never tire of being saluted is because they never tire of putting trust in their men; whether it is the Lance Corporals who are the lifeblood of the Corps, or the Gunnery Sargeants who are its backbone. An officer of Marines is not just saluted, he returns the salute.

"The relation between officers and enlisted men should in no sense be that of superior and inferior nor that of master and servant, but rather that of teacher and scholar. In fact, it should partake of the nature of the relation between father and son, to the extent that officers, especially commanding officers, are responsible for the physical, mental, and moral welfare, as well as the discipline and military training of the young men under their command who are serving the nation in the Marine Corps."

Commandant, Maj. Gen. John A. LeJeune

Back to the OP, I would not recommend joining the military for college money alone. It is a big deal, and it is not an easy road. Regardless of the branch, they all offer you the same deals for college, and you get the same basic pay rate, so pick the one that fits you the best.

The Navy and Marine Corps are big on tradition and respect. The Corps is the smallest branch, and therefore has the smallest budget, especially since it gets all its funding through the Department of the Navy. They have to do more with less, which will get old to you, but it can work to your advantage, if you let it. Though it has fewer Occupational Specialites, you will probably be required to have a broader range of skills and serve in a broader range of areas. The Navy has a large selection of technical fields. Many good jobs can be had for those who have just gotten out of the Navy with some technical skill behind them.

The Air Force has nicer bases, and a larger technical MOS pool to select from. With any branch, though, you are put where they need you and you might not get what you want. Don't plan on choosing exactly what you want to do. It does happen, but rarely. They have recently changed their physical fitness standards to conform more with the other branches. If you are going in for the money and some basic technical, and you don't like boats, go Air Force. It won't be easy, but it probably fits what you are looking for.

The Coast Guard is physically demanding. Though they do go on floats, they are not typically as long as the Navy's. With counter-terrorism efforts increasing like they are now, the Coast Guard would be a good branch to look into. You will in all likelihood not go overseas, and will have a good background in both technical and practical fields.

The Army is a large branch, therefore their people tend to specialize a bit more than say a Marine (hence having a Specialist in addition to a Corporal). With that, I defer to those who have more experience in that branch.

But one friendly jab before I leave...

Why in hell can't the Army do it if the Marines can. They are the same kind of men; why can't they be like Marines.

Gen. John J. "Black Jack" Pershing, US Army; 12 February 1918

We have two companies of Marines running rampant all over the northern half of this island, and three Army regiments pinned down in the southwestern corner, doing nothing. What the hell is going on?

Gen. John W. Vessey Jr., US Army, Chairman of the the Joint Chiefs of Staff
during the assault on Grenada, 1983

God bless, and good luck in your decision.

Neal

 

[Sailor's Wife]

*

 

[Neo-Paladin]

A real difference worth considering is the matter of "skill training" you mentioned at the opening. In the Army you will have a more control of where you go and what you do (not a great deal of control, but more than as a Marine).

Other than that - If you don't believe you're going to enjoy the military life then I'd advise you not to subject yourself to a painful 4 years...but if you've *got to* join you'd likely dislike the Army less.

Just one man's thoughts

 

[Jive Nation]

Yo'

I saw two Marine officers fail out of my Jump Master class in Advance Airborne school. Couple of my friends seen'em get the boot in Ranger school too.

When we handed over Fallujah to the 1st Marine Div. I thought their MOUT ( Military Operations in Urban Terrian ) sucked badly. Tacticaly, Marine Infantry Officers and NCOs were below par. I've got stories about those guys...

But on the plus side, Marines seem to love their Job and seem very proud to be Marines. They are the most discplined amoung the 4 branches and I think even the highest retention rate.

Being a Paratrooper who has fought along side Marines in Iraq and fought with Marines in bars, I have to say I like em'. I don't think they are the most "Squared away " branch, but they have a task and purpose and they love their job.

As for Aren't Really Marines Yet, I'd like to reaspond with, " Mostly Army Recruits In Need of Equipment"

Branch rivalries aside, Air Force I think has the best living conditions, but I think Navy edges out on Training.

CPL in the 82nd

 

[Heaven's Marine]

Yo'

I saw two Marine officers fail out of my Jump Master class in Advance Airborne school. Couple of my friends seen'em get the boot in Ranger school too.

When we handed over Fallujah to the 1st Marine Div. I thought their MOUT ( Military Operations in Urban Terrian ) sucked badly. Tacticaly, Marine Infantry Officers and NCOs were below par. I've got stories about those guys...

But on the plus side, Marines seem to love their Job and seem very proud to be Marines. They are the most discplined amoung the 4 branches and I think even the highest retention rate.

Being a Paratrooper who has fought along side Marines in Iraq and fought with Marines in bars, I have to say I like em'. I don't think they are the most "Squared away " branch, but they have a task and purpose and they love their job.

As for Aren't Really Marines Yet, I'd like to reaspond with, " Mostly Army Recruits In Need of Equipment"

Branch rivalries aside, Air Force I think has the best living conditions, but I think Navy edges out on Training.

CPL in the 82nd

Name?? I have a buddy in the 101st Airborne...I'd like to make sure you are legit...before you go bashing my brother.

 

[Jive Nation]

101st? How are they related to the 82nd? Besides being in the 18th Corp?

And I wouldn't call it bashing. More like honest observations, like comments made in a AAR. I'd be foolish to think the Army is the best in everything it does, and you would be to, if you think that about the Corp.

But come'on, M-16 A2s/A4s in those tiny hodge buildings? We call'em muskets for a reason friend.

 

[Heaven's Marine]

What's your name? He wants to see if you are legit. He is also a staff sergeant so he also said you don't know what the hell you're talking about. Just some wise a## CPL who thinks he knows what he is talking about.

In fact direct quote from

Staff Sergeant Jason Smith

"You are the first soldier I have seen who can say the people he fought along side sucked..."

also from him
"I don't think I remember seein an 82nd guy there almost the whole time we were there"

Name please? We'd like to see if you are legit. Then you can "state" the truth if you want.

 

[Jive Nation]

Ugh. Let the measureing contest begin.


I'll PM ya, I'd be embarassed to do this on the boards.

 

[WarSong]

...
When we handed over Fallujah to the 1st Marine Div. I thought their MOUT ( Military Operations in Urban Terrian ) sucked badly. Tacticaly, Marine Infantry Officers and NCOs were below par. I've got stories about those guys...
...

Watch it. I have a good buddy serving as a Corpsmen with those "below par" Marines.

 

[Neo-Paladin]

Gentlemen...Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen...

Lets not get into some contest of "My service is better than your service"
We all agree that each branch has its strengths and weaknesses, each branch has a different mission and different capabilities designed to best meet that overall mission.

"If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?" 1 Cor. 12:17

I am certain that there were no insults related to intention and everyone is allowed to have a personal opinion. It is responsible behavior to express your opinion wisely and to know when to keep it to yourself.

The purpose behind this thread was to help a brother determine which of two honorable services to pursue. Each of us should strive to both display our service in the best possible light by focusing on its strengths and to avoid even the appearance is degrading another's service by focusing on weaknesses (real or perceived).

In short we are Christians and Warriors, we are responsible to follow Christ in acting as He would have us act and we are responsible to our country to build up and support our fellow warriors...in-fighting and insults only impugn our personal honor.

 

[CZzyzx41]

I would suggest Marines. I'm a little biased being so close to MCAS Miramar and Camp Pendleton in California. Marines are a different breed. There's a brotherhood in each branch but I've found this bond exists between marines that never dies. It's stronger than any other bond I've felt amongst Coast Guard, Navy, or Army members. Again this is strictly from my own personal experience. The whole cliche about coming in a boy and leaving a man...or coming in a man and leaving a killing machine...it's there.

Ooh Rah Semper Fi! Never die, freeze or fry! KILL KILL KILL! It's a motto all my marine friends bark at each other all the time. They giggle a bit afterwards, but that's just it. Regardless of how tough things ever get, they're there and they never quit. Now again I'm biased but if you want comradery for life with those you fight with. If you want a loyalty that will never die. If you want to learn what "FIGHT TILL DEATH" or "NEVER QUIT" means. If you want to see ALL the world. If you want a branch that I feel will prepare you for war better than any branch other than Navy SEALS or Army Rangers (and perhaps even better then) I'd go Marines. OR...if you think you're really tough join the Navy and apply for SEALS school. Of course I'd suggest this workout:

http://navyseal.s5.com/workouts.html

and reach these requirements

http://navyseal.s5.com/requirements.html

 

[CZzyzx41]

Oh and I agree with neo here. All branches are nothing without each other. So...go US Armed Forces! I'm sure through six pages you've found enough info to make your own choice.

 

[vatuck]

My husband is in the army and my brother-in-law is a retired marine. One thing I can tell you is that he was a very good marine, but it was much harder for him to make rank than it has been for my husband in the army. I guess it depends on your goals. I don't know what the marines are offering right now as far as college is concerned, but I know may soldiers going to school at no cost right now. Good luck and God bless you!

 

[vatuck]

I should also add that, although my brother-in-law told me that in general it is easier to advance in the army than in the marines, a lot of the issue of advancement is tied in with what you choose to do (your MOS/job) in the military. It is just easier to get promoted with some jobs.

 

[Truly Blessed]

Chose wisely. I joined the Army with the intention of getting out in 3 years and going to school. 20 years later I retired. I would recommend the Air Force. If you really will stay in for only 4 years, I would suggest you get an administrative type of job because the Army will pay tution assistance for schooling while in the service. When I got out last year the army was paying 100%. This does not go against your GI bill but is a benifit while your in the Army. The other services have similar programs. But if you go to the field or ship alot you will not get much of a chance to use it. Also, If you do get a good technical job just remember that the lowest person on the totum pole is going to get the worst job. Also, security clearances are no good if you dont get a job involving the security clearance within 2 years of getting out. A company will have to do the security clearance over again after 2 years. Best Wishes