Should Army and Marines (or components of) consolidate?

No, my objective reason? Marines and the Army have completely different operational and organizational strengths and weaknesses. While the Army can bring a larger budget, more manpower, and more equipment to bear, they also have to deal with the logistical and operational bloat that comes with it. The Marine Corps on the other hand, are a more nimble force, capable of being mobilized and deployed more rapidly, which in turn increases turnaround speed on decision making and doctrinal changes.

I don't think it would be a good idea, the missions are different and although we appear to have similar roles on the surface, we have different missions. First we're part of the Navy because our mission is to be expeditionary. We are at sea to provide a quick response as the President may direct. Need an embassy evacuated, where's the nearest MEU SOC. We train everyone at basic training to the same standard then we separate each Marine to their MOS school after receiving a common combat training that allows us to function in a combat role if necessary.

The Army is designed for its role. It is able to move large forces to fight a massive force or to hold terrain. The problem would likely lie in what happens if you consolidated the Marine Corps and the Army. The training and costs associated with merging would likely make it impractical. Army units have operated with their gear off of ships and the problem that was discovered was that much of the equipment suffered because the equipment was not designed for prolonged exposure to maritime environment. So then we get back to another issue, if the Marine Corps and the Army consolidated would we become one force, or would it just be an administrative change where the Marine Corps goes from Dept of the Navy, to the Dept of the Army? If that's the case it would be pointless as it would make the Army's budget which is already hurting, even worse as it would be stretched even further when it wouldn't need to be.

Having served in both served in both services there are minor differences in them that would make merging a pain in the rear. Standard of training is probably the biggest, responsibility is second, and attitude is third. I have met many senior NCO's in the army that have told me the best soldiers theyve had were all former marines, with exception of FT. Henning army basic is a joke (a senior drill sergeant once told me he was a glorified babysitter at a summer camp). Also everywhere iv been in the army has a duty day of 0630-0800 pt 0900- 1700 work with lunch at 1130-1300. The marines are pt is when your told (had it at 0300 once ) work started a half hour after or and ended when your tasks for the day are done(could be 1100 could be 2300) and lunch was when you have five minutes to eat. Also all marines carry themselves higher and straighter then most soldiers ( with the exception of SOCOM soldiers and infantry). I was also told recently that the army is not used to the level of work I do on a daily basis or the stress I operate under due to workload, timelines, and lack of manpower, it is one tenth of what I handled in the corps. The only way the marines would survive as part of the army is if they were regarded as and grouped with the specialty area, I.e. ranger, special forces, delta

Certainly there are Army units that have the very similar training in amphibious assault, combat diving/underwater combat operations, etc. The Marines, as a Department within the Navy, have a proud individual history and tradition but if we are seeking to cut costs it makes sense to either consolidate the Army into the Marines or vice versa. If the Government really needs to save money as badly as they say this it would make sense to combine the Army and Marines.

Most of my relatives are Navy?Marines and they are certainly not happy hearing me say this but it makes sense.

Grunts are Grunts! Infantry is Infantry! Support is Support and I need to remind all us Grunts that we can't do without them.

Another way to put this is Army Infantry and Marine Infantry......... the same. Force Recon/Rangers the same. MARSOC/SF the same. Now can we put this to bed?

A very interesting question. Seeing how both branches are ground pounders and the Marines use Army post for training: Ft Sill for FA, Fort Knox for Armour or is it at Benning now, along with the Marines using Ft Benning for Air Borne. It's interesting to watch the branches although separate, work together.

Even with that said, both branches, as you were, ALL branches have their own unique skill sets, from training to executing a mission. It's because of this uniqueness, we are able to deploy what is needed where it will be the most effective.

I've seen the argument posed that it's a matter of efficiency vs. effectiveness. I think that is a good way to look at it, but I'm not sure if we're approaching it from the correct angle by stating that an absolute merger is required. With today's insurgent threats (non-state actors) and our most likely future hybrid threats (state and non-state actors) we absolutely need a force that is multi-faceted and specialized working in concert with one another. Anyone that has served in a joint assignment should understand how well a unit can operate with individuals who specialize in the air, land, sea, and beaches. It's the very reason that the Marines were separated from the Navy and the Air Force from the Army. Perhaps a better question would be, "Should we stop asking the Marines to work outside of their original charter by having them conduct sustained combat operations?" I'm well aware of their combat effectiveness, but it truly isn't what the Corps was intended for.

Now we definitely could eliminate some redundancy by standardizing support functions. This would allow all the branches to reduce the amount of support personnel and make these personnel interchangeable within any unit in any branch of service. I would even be willing to fathom that vastly increasing joint units by forming them at even lower echelons than COCOMs would be a good way to increase both effectiveness and efficiency. Just my humble opinion and, I think, far less controversial than eliminating an entire branch of service.

No, while both have many of the same military specialties there by Law there is a difference in their Missions. Being part of the Navy, Marines are stationed on board vessels that allow them to be deployed in support of Government Agencies like the State Department. Their rules of engagement do not require Congressional Approval. For the Army to be deployed it has to be a declared War, or mission accepted by the Congress. So because of each services unique mission. I say NO.

MA1, I can certainly see where you're coming from. But ask yourself, should the Air Force take over the job of naval aviation? We just drive the ships and the fly the planes? Should we remove all the collective medical corps across the branches and make the uniformed Public Health Service shoulder all the healthcare across the branches? It might be cheaper to do all these things, but you miss out on diversity and perspective by doing that. Look at the healthy rivalry between the 'Corps and the Army. Both have very different skill sets, and though they ultimately do the same job, they usually do it differently. Also, I don't think the determination could be made by some one who wasn't a part of the Army, or Corps, or both at some point.
Personally i think the Marine Corps needs to refocus its objective to what it was 20 years or more ago, and throughout history, an amphibious quick reaction force. The Marines, in their rivalry, have started to try to do the Army's job. Which leads to a lot of redundancy. But i think all the services should face a little post-war refocusing. Especially if they start cutting numbers due to draw downs, etc.

No. They should not consolidate. They have different roles and missions. The Marines are a rapid response force. We can get in quickly, but don't have the staying power of the Army. The Army is slower to arrive, but can stay much longer. The Marines are also an amphibious force and are getting back to their roots now. Just because the Army and Marines seemed to be used interchangeably in Afghanistan and Iraq does not mean that they should merge. It is a bad idea.