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In the grand scheme of things, does your branch of service really matter all that much? We can all agree that one’s branch of service holds some importance, gives specific identity and shapes how you may look at things –BUT – in front of every branch name is the designation “United States”. We are brothers and sisters from the same family. Yes, there are stepbrothers, sibling rivalry, and constant inter-branch squabbling. The bottom line is we all wear or have worn the uniform, we have all sworn an oath, and we all belong to the dysfunctional, dis-jointed family we fondly call the military.
We can freely admit there are rivalries … Army versus Navy, Marines versus anybody, Air Force versus everybody, and the Coast Guard versus – well, it is just the coast guard so, um, anyway. The point is, branch gives you some identity but family gives you vision, family gives you strength, and if we have to admit it this family is at its best when every member works together to complete a mission. If you remove one branch from the circle things begin to get complicated. It may be hard to admit that we need each other sometimes, but we know, deep down, we have each other’s back all the time. Take one look at your contacts list … most of you have a mixture of people from every branch, rank, and specialty on the map.
I guess I’m saying that while I’m proud of my Army history and heritage, I am also very proud to have some really weird, goofy brothers and sisters from those “other” branches that make my FAMILY so unique. Thank you for your service – whatever branch that may come from.
We can freely admit there are rivalries … Army versus Navy, Marines versus anybody, Air Force versus everybody, and the Coast Guard versus – well, it is just the coast guard so, um, anyway. The point is, branch gives you some identity but family gives you vision, family gives you strength, and if we have to admit it this family is at its best when every member works together to complete a mission. If you remove one branch from the circle things begin to get complicated. It may be hard to admit that we need each other sometimes, but we know, deep down, we have each other’s back all the time. Take one look at your contacts list … most of you have a mixture of people from every branch, rank, and specialty on the map.
I guess I’m saying that while I’m proud of my Army history and heritage, I am also very proud to have some really weird, goofy brothers and sisters from those “other” branches that make my FAMILY so unique. Thank you for your service – whatever branch that may come from.
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Edited 11 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 72
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CPT Richard Riley As veterans and/or retired military service members I believe that all service to this nation while wearing the uniform of the Armed Services of the USA is equally valuable.
In my own case, I had wanted to be a soldier since I was about 10 years old. I learned later that my paternal grandfather had fought as a British Army lance corporal at Gallipoli, Turkey and in the trench warfare of France an Belgium where he was wounded.
I joined RallyPoint in the months after you posted this interesting question. I am responding now since I was mentioned here today.
My family was opposed to war and serving in the military which made it challenging; but, I was determined to become a soldier. I enlisted in November 1974 and entered USMA at West Point in 1976. My first exposure to another military service was at West Point when we had a naval officer as our company tactical officer for a year.
I did not work with over services until I became a field grade officer in the 1990s. I worked most with USMC personnel and some USAF personnel. I have the utmost respect for the embers of the US Armed Forces that I have worked with over the decades since.
Thanks for drawing my attention to this discussion SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL LTC Stephen C. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Capt Christopher Mueller Capt Seid Waddell CPT Gabe Snell 1stSgt Eugene Harless CW5 (Join to see) SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Robert George SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright SP5 Robert Ruck SCPO Morris Ramsey CPL Eric Escasio SPC Margaret Higgins
In my own case, I had wanted to be a soldier since I was about 10 years old. I learned later that my paternal grandfather had fought as a British Army lance corporal at Gallipoli, Turkey and in the trench warfare of France an Belgium where he was wounded.
I joined RallyPoint in the months after you posted this interesting question. I am responding now since I was mentioned here today.
My family was opposed to war and serving in the military which made it challenging; but, I was determined to become a soldier. I enlisted in November 1974 and entered USMA at West Point in 1976. My first exposure to another military service was at West Point when we had a naval officer as our company tactical officer for a year.
I did not work with over services until I became a field grade officer in the 1990s. I worked most with USMC personnel and some USAF personnel. I have the utmost respect for the embers of the US Armed Forces that I have worked with over the decades since.
Thanks for drawing my attention to this discussion SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL LTC Stephen C. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Capt Christopher Mueller Capt Seid Waddell CPT Gabe Snell 1stSgt Eugene Harless CW5 (Join to see) SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Robert George SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright SP5 Robert Ruck SCPO Morris Ramsey CPL Eric Escasio SPC Margaret Higgins
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There two categories in the U.S. military:
1. the Marines
2. those who wish they were Marines.
1. the Marines
2. those who wish they were Marines.
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CPT Richard Riley
Not sure I would expect anything different from a Marine, I know many and am proud to call them friends!
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"The Few, the Proud, the Marines". Yes it does. No offence, but I wouldn't trade my title for any other branch. I enlisted in the Marines, not the military. If they didn't take me I wouldn't have enlisted.
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CPT Richard Riley
Will hand it to you, many good friends also hold the title of 'Marine' and embrace that philosophy. I applaud your pride in your branch.
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CPT Richard Riley in my Naval career I typically only dealt with Navy. On an occasion I would deal with the Marines. Which were never bad, unless they lose a flag football game to a bunch of squids. LOL! I was considering doing the Blue to Green program that was offered in the mid 00's, but my ex-wife was completely against it.
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CPT Richard Riley
I'm confident PO2 Stephen Brinkley (Scott) that as your career grows you'll find influences from other branches.
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PO2 Stephen Brinkley (Scott)
I've been out of the Navy for almost 5 years CPT Richard Riley. I was medically separated in May 2010. But in my current job I'm running into former military of every branch.
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CPT Richard Riley
Sir:
I served in a time and a branch with little to no risk, compared to the men and women who wear, and who have worn, the uniform since my day. I cannot compared the 80's to the last 15 years.
But I am humbly honored to stand behind those men and women. Whether they crawled through dirt, drove monstrous machines, flew planes or helos, turned wrenches or pushed buttons on a keyboard, they are all my little brothers and sisters.
Branch be DAMNED, Captain! I can no longer do what they do, but I will stand IN FRONT to keep them doing their jobs.
I hope that answers your question, Captain Riley!
Sir:
I served in a time and a branch with little to no risk, compared to the men and women who wear, and who have worn, the uniform since my day. I cannot compared the 80's to the last 15 years.
But I am humbly honored to stand behind those men and women. Whether they crawled through dirt, drove monstrous machines, flew planes or helos, turned wrenches or pushed buttons on a keyboard, they are all my little brothers and sisters.
Branch be DAMNED, Captain! I can no longer do what they do, but I will stand IN FRONT to keep them doing their jobs.
I hope that answers your question, Captain Riley!
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We are all brothers and sisters at arms. I belonged to the oldest form of defense this country had, the military militia. Now known as the Army Guard.
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There are some good reasons for joining an individual branch, but rivalries between branches shouldn't be serious. I had the opportunity to work with every branch over the years. I personally suggest to young people who want to join the military to look at the Air Force most often. Although I loved being in the CG, it is not an easy branch to join and it is harder to stay in. I wouldn't bad mouth any branch.
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CPT Richard Riley
An interesting take CPO Jon Campbell steering young people into a tech heavy Air Force.
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Yes Services do matter. I chose Army because I wanted it. But in the grand scheme of things. I have had great time working Joint missions. Each service has it's job which needs to be done.
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We talk trash to each other because of our pride and because its tradition we have earned the right something a civilian could never understand
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