Posted on Jan 12, 2016
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
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Do you feel there is still an "inner service rivalry" between the Service Branches or that any one branch thinks they are Superior?

RP Members what do you think - be honest and professional in your responses please! Thank you

With all the deployments and joint operations that we have been involved in over the last 15 plus years of war and prior to that as well, aren't we all part of something a little bigger than our own service branches? We represent the United States of America in so many ways! We represent the freedom that all of the American citizens enjoy, to include ourselves!

For myself, I think is great to that we have the Navy/Army/Air Force rivalry on the football field and other sports, but I think it is important to realize the importance of joint operations and synchronization among the service branches.

I don't think that anyone branch is better than the other. That is my personal feeling.

They all have their specific missions, training philosophies, challenges, and characteristics that make them unique and special, but does that make them inferior or superior to the other service branches?

I'm sorry if I didn't tag some of the specific service branches!
Edited 7 y ago
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Responses: 458
SCPO David Lockwood
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Edited >1 y ago
Each branch has that feeling simply because of the rivalries between services. But the truth is that we all know we are part of a team and each branch has a specific job to do and mission to accomplish to make everything work smoothly. We are all brothers in arms and that's what makes us unique. I am proud to call everyone here in RP my brothers and sisters as well as all who are and have served.
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LCpl Bruce Montis
LCpl Bruce Montis
>1 y
Only one mistake USMC is recognized as senior to USN. Marines were defending ships before the Navy was formally designated. Check out flag ranks by organizational order.
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SGT Executive Director
SGT (Join to see)
>1 y
CW4 (Join to see) - Go Army, Beat Navy... AGAIN!!!
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CW4 Dynamic Defense
CW4 (Join to see)
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SGT (Join to see)

I was there in person last year!!
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SSG Warren Swan
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Sir, I think I'm the wrong one for this.....objectively yes it serves a greater good to have the forces working in a "joint fashion". It saves money, time, and confusion. It also allows commanders means to double the forces power, bring in alternative viewpoints, and it gives someone who like writing regs a job. I see it like this:
1. So you personally want to see it destroyed? No? Join the Navy
2. So you personally want to destroy it? Yes. Join the Marines
3. So you personally want to destroy it and hold the continent as a prize? Yes Join the Army
4. So you personally want to see it destroyed from the air? Yes Join the Air Force
5. So you REALLY want to see something on a massive scale be destroyed, obliterated, and scraped off the face of the Earth so no one will ever remember it? Yes but not be there? Join the Army but go no higher than SPC, or become a Warrant Officer. Both can accomplish the task, with speed, precision, and skill, and no one will ever know they were there.
For those who doubt #5, ask this, the Green Berets have Warrants on the teams. How often do you see him? More importantly how often does he actually see you? Warrants are everywhere but nowhere at the same time.
This is in humor folks, I give a laugh and I hope to get one in return. My meme is for my Submariners. Much respect to you, even though the E4 Mafia can do the same thing.
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SSG Harry Outcalt
SSG Harry Outcalt
>1 y
CW3 Kevin Storm Lol , that's an Army thing as the divided rank structure is still in use
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SSG Harry Outcalt
SSG Harry Outcalt
>1 y
CW3 Kevin Storm Gotta have the Eagle to be in the Mafia, once you lose the Eagle you lose your spot in Mafia, lol
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SSG Harry Outcalt
SSG Harry Outcalt
>1 y
#6. Green Berets also had Mafia in the team's to round thing's out , not sure if they have them anymore , maybe fresh from the q course ?
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CW2 Bde Ew Tech
CW2 (Join to see)
3 y
Need to add the Coasties, Space Force, and Guard to that write up. Quite funny!
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MSgt John Taylor
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I never once felt superior because in the Air Force we could all read & write.
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MSgt John Taylor
MSgt John Taylor
6 y
CW3 Kevin Storm - Nice Johnny Cash reference!
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CW3 Kevin Storm
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PO1 Cliff Heath
PO1 Cliff Heath
>1 y
FUNNY MSgt. GO NAVY. WHEN WE WOULD BE TOLD WE GOING TO BE SCREWED ON LIBERTY WE WOULD YELL "YEAH THE AIR FORCE IS A GREAT WAY OF LIFE" OR IF WE GOT OURSELVES A ASS CHEWING FOR SAY DRINKING AND FIGHTING, OR JUST DRINKING WITH VIGOROUS ATTENTION TO DETAIL THAT ONLY A SAILOR CAN APPRECIATE, OR JUST FIGHTING WITH THE AFORE MENTIONED ATTITUDE. IT WAS "WHAT THE HELL I JOINED THE NAVY NOT THE DAMN AIR FORCE, I'M A SAILOR IT'S WHAT WE DO."
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SFC Brandon Thurman
SFC Brandon Thurman
4 y
Cold blooded
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Does one US military branch think it's superior?
SSG Platoon/Supply Sergeant
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They're all superior in their specific area of warfare. So yeah, we are superior.
Army: superior at holding ground
Marines: superior at taking ground
Navy: superior at naval warfare and bombing the shit out of the enemy at close range
Air Force: superior air power and bombing the shit out of people at long range
Coast Guard: superior finding drugs, refugees, and saving live and all the other stuff they do
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TSgt Andrea Taylor
TSgt Andrea Taylor
>1 y
LOL I just read your post and swore you said the same thing I said, then realized you post long before I did. WELL SAID.
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SPC David Willis
SPC David Willis
>1 y
Pretty much, its a lot like saying one screw driver is better than another, all depends on the job.
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Sgt Al Thompson
Sgt Al Thompson
6 y
Amen, brother.
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CW3 Chuck Huddleston
CW3 Chuck Huddleston
6 y
Well put!
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SGT(P) Unit Supply Specialist
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs no rivalry at all, actually, I would love to go to their obstacle course...
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PO3 Donald Murphy
PO3 Donald Murphy
8 y
PO1 (Verify To See) - Its true about Submarine chow being the best, but...I ate killer food at Naval Base Charleston on the "surface" side. They had sandwich bars, healthy option bars, everything. Their oriental section was primo. And this was back in 1989. Used to take my wife there and we'd have great meals. The only draw back was having to wear my uniform, but we managed...
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SPC Woody Bullard
SPC Woody Bullard
7 y
A BOUNCY HOUSE would be a real tough obstacle course to survive!!
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CMSgt Tom Ledbetter
CMSgt Tom Ledbetter
7 y
TDYs at the Hilton are the best! B^)
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TSgt James Potter
TSgt James Potter
6 y
CMSgt Tom Ledbetter - That's right but I hate it when the internet is down.
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LTC Stephen F.
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Not only is there an "inner service rivalry" but within each military service their are rivalries COL Mikel J. Burroughs. Within each service the ground and air components have rivalries for resources, training and operational employment.
Part of this is good-natured competition; but, the budget process is competitive and tends to discourage efficiency within an organization.
Some people will always consider themselves "better" than others. Since we are each created in the image of God we are all valuable as individuals. I have long done my best to teat each person with respect independent of their rank or position. My respect was not always returned; but, I know it is better to follow the command of Christ to to do unto others what i would like to have done to me.
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LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
7 y
Sgt Jay Jones - Well said.
In the old days, the mail service was also considered sacrosanct. Messing with mail call would have been cause for a riot Sgt Jay Jones :-)
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SPC Brian Stephens
SPC Brian Stephens
7 y
Of the intraservice rivalry, let me say. . . ARTILLERY!!!! KING OF BATTLE. BOOM!!! Infantry is its Queen.
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PFC Pamala (Hall) Foster
PFC Pamala (Hall) Foster
7 y
Field and Air Defense rock. So I joke about things in relation to Air Defense, but it gave me somethings-comrades to share the good times and help hold me up in the bad times, mentors to help me be a better person and my future husband who I met on post when a PV2 in 2008. Just wish I could give back more.
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SP5 Jeannie Carle
SP5 Jeannie Carle
>1 y
Thank you Sir.
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Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth
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All good humor If you heard secure the building what does that mean," The Joint Chiefs once told the Navy to "secure a building," to which they responded by turning off the lights and locking the doors. The Joint Chiefs then instructed Army personnel to "secure the building," and they occupied the building so no one could enter. Upon receiving the exact same order, the Marines assaulted the building, captured it, and set up defenses with suppressive fire and amphibious assault vehicles, established reconnaissance and communications channels, and prepared for close hand-to-hand combat if the situation arose. But the Air Force, on the other hand, acted most swiftly on the command, and took out a three-year lease with an option to buy." Mind you I am Air Force.

I throw humor in it to say this. The Air Force is good at Air, Space, and Cyberspace. The Army is good at taking and holding ground, the Navy is good a projected firepower a couple of miles of the shore very quickly and the Marines are good at taking ground in any environment. Of course we all have special forces that are unique as well...not superior, unique in their missions. There are none that are inferior or superior...just better at what they are specifically called to accomplish. In times of dwindling budgets, there are also growing opportunities for joint ops that create mission success exponentially. I have witnessed this first hand. Navy corpsman triaged me in the deployed outpost clinic, Army and AF docs diagnosed, Marine and AF led the convoy to get me to the hospital and a Army medic stayed by my side the whole ride out. So I guess you could say that I believe in joint ops and that they all are good at what they do without superiority.

There will always be an inter service rivalry just like a brother to brother rivalry. BUt no body else better pick on my brother because when the proverbial poop hits the oscillating device the service names go away and we fight as one.
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PO3 Donald Murphy
PO3 Donald Murphy
7 y
I was the pay guy on my sub. Due to the impressive nature of sub security at the time, we had direct lines to Washington. So if you came in on Monday at 07:00 and told me you got married on the weekend, I had your pay changed from "single" to "married" by noon. Due to that, I never paid for beer or meals when we pulled in to port...
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CWO3 Us Marine
CWO3 (Join to see)
7 y
Sorry for leaving Disbursing out. Never forget the Postal folks either. Or Food Service either. Pay, mail, chow all high on the list of great for morale. The Docs are often lifesavers.
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PO3 Donald Murphy
PO3 Donald Murphy
7 y
"Doc" is a one man department on a sub, so he had tons of power/influence. Everyone had a take a turn "cranking" in the kitchen. I was the catch-all mail, pay, hr, guy as well.
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Sgt George Lawrence
Sgt George Lawrence
4 y
Love it! Semper Fi.
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SSG Michael Hartsfield
29
29
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Oh yes! 
Even among the MOSs:

And the Lord spake forth unto the heavens and said, 
"Let there be Airborne." 
The earth did tremble and quake 
and the waters did rise up 
and the clouds did part 
and there came forth a multitude of parachutes that filled the sky. 
God looked down and saw this was good. 
And they were good; they were AIRBORNE. 

God then spake forth unto the land and said:
"Let there be Rangers." 
And all at once the day turned into darkness, 
and the winds did howl, 
and mountains crumbled into the sea, 
and the great rocks did part, 
and there sprang forth a horde of Mephistopheles' disciples 
wearing Ranger tabs and carrying all sorts of deadly weapons. 
God looked down and saw that this was bad. 
And they were bad; they were RANGERS. 

Then God spoke forth thrice, unto the sky, the earth, and the sea, and said: 
"Let there be Special Forces." 
Lightning did flash and echo across the sky. 
Mountains spewed molten rock and rained fire upon the land. 
Tidal waves surged against the shore. 
Dispair, disorder and turmoil did prevail. 
Forthwith, there did appear a band of twelve extraordinary men. 
A few came from beneath the waves; 
others jumped from the sky; 
and more still stalked silently from the dense forests. 
Each one was in camouflage battle dress, wearing a Green Beret. 
Working together, they brought peace unto the land. 
God looked down and saw that this was amazing. 
And they were amazing; they were SPECIAL FORCES. 

Besides himself, God now spake forth again and commanded: 
"Let all ye that be weak in mind and body, arise and go forth." 
And lo, from the abyss they crawled forward with indecision 
and limped weakly upon the earth. 
God looked down and shook His head, for this was pathetic. 
And they were pathetic; they were LEGS.
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CPL Beth Allsop
CPL Beth Allsop
7 y
And then after creating all of these things God looked down and smiled, he said you may do your special jobs - but don't get out of line because he then created the MP's!
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SSG Michael Hartsfield
SSG Michael Hartsfield
7 y
CPL Beth Allsop - BOOOO!!!
I kid, I kid. MPs have the best stories!
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CW3 Kevin Storm
CW3 Kevin Storm
6 y
When all of the things that fell from the sky like fallen angels, and swam from the sea like amoeba's, and the followers of Icarus were grounded because they got to close to the sun, they huddled together when the Lord sent the next and greatest yet on to them. They were terrified for they heard a great thunderous noise, and they trembled in fear as the ground shook, and they shielded their eyes from the great flash that arose from the beast. The things that fall from the sky, and come from sea all knelt before the most ferocious of all. What could it be? Then with a smirk God told them, "Never forget, while you can swim from the sea, and drop from the sky, and fly with Icarus, there is but one who can save you when the fog of war is so thick that the mechanical Valkyries cannot fly, one who can bring light in the darkest of night, one who can stop greatest of mechanical beasts, forget this and ye shall perish! For who is the King of Battle?" The things that fall from the sky, and crawl from the sea, and sit on runways, were in awe of the Lord, and his wisdom to send down such things that deliver them to victory in his name, that name, the name they should never forget lest they perish.. That name is Artillery!
So go fall from the sky, and crawl from the sea like a lower form of life, and sit on runway like a chicken with its head cut off because the fog is too thick, or the weather isn't right, or the sea is too rough. There is one who will light the way in all weather conditions, there is one who will fire until the gun is at a point of melting. Know this and go fourth, and sin no more, for the King is with you!

Go ahead come with something better! lol
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SGT Steve Woodring
SGT Steve Woodring
4 y
CW3 Kevin Storm - And in the end we all must realize that if your not a RANGER, your only support!
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Sgt Field Radio Operator
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28
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Sir, in the states, there was good natured rivalry. In Vietnam, all the branches worked together to accomplish the mission. Now as a veteran, I look at other veterans as just that: fellow veterans, regardless of branch of service.
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MSG Brad Sand
MSG Brad Sand
7 y
PVT Raymond Lopez -
You lost me after Army. The kids dad must have been in the Navy and semi honest.
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SCPO William Akin
SCPO William Akin
7 y
PVT Raymond Lopez - I love it :-)
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SP5 Jeannie Carle
SP5 Jeannie Carle
>1 y
Love it!!! LOL
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SSG(P) D. Wright Downs
SSG(P) D. Wright Downs
>1 y
Ha Ha ha
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MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P
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24
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Seriously though, we all have our respective roles to fill in the Big Picture. It all boils down to each service component has a mission set it does better than anyone else. The secret is knowing which asset to utilize for the best result or intended goal. I was privileged to work in several Joint units. The Army, Navy, Marine, and even the Coast Guard troops were some of the best I've seen at their respective tasks. I consider it an honor to have served with each of them!
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CW2 Michael Mullikin
CW2 Michael Mullikin
>1 y
Everyone knows the translation of the Marine motto–Semper Fidelis–means "Always Faithful;" many are unaware the translation of the Coast Guard motto–Semper Paratus–means "Always Parrots."

The big difference between Coast Guard boats and Navy ships? Coast Guard boats have little wheels on the bottoms.
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PO3 Andre Barrera
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PO3 Andre Barrera
PO3 Andre Barrera
6 y
where are it's wheels?
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SGT Motor Transport Operator
SGT (Join to see)
6 y
E48abf6
The Marines would disagree with you.
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