Posted on May 28, 2014
Should Army and Marines (or components of) consolidate?
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Think objectively. Traditions, camaraderie aside. Both are somewhat similarly more combat-oriented than USN or USAF. Answer practically without putting down either one of them.
PS: Yes, some are taunting about USN and USAF consolidation or Air Force return to Army Air Corps. My take on that if it's practical, lessen bureaucracy, and make for a smoother communications pipeline amongst the DoD components, why not? Again, camaraderie and traditions aside for a min.
PS: Yes, some are taunting about USN and USAF consolidation or Air Force return to Army Air Corps. My take on that if it's practical, lessen bureaucracy, and make for a smoother communications pipeline amongst the DoD components, why not? Again, camaraderie and traditions aside for a min.
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The Marines are lot more disciplined for a reason. They are kicking down the door shock force, and the Army is more a long term occupying the house force. I recommend that we do not mix the two.
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We are all serving this nation. We SHOULD be as one. I trained with Marines when I went through MP training. We had the best time, swapping stories about training, etc. It would be good for the country to see us come together AS ONE UNIT!
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For the majority...no. however, our special forces in each branch already deploy and fight together. I would be for a Spec Ops force that initiates training together and serves their time together. Go through their respective service branch basic and then gets selected but once selected, you go to a centralized location for combined training. It only makes sense, since they are already fighting and deploying together. Just my two pennies.
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If Soldiers and Marines were to look at this question objectively and be honest with themselves, the answer is obvious. Question: Could the Marine Corps and Army consolidate? Realistically, yes they probably could. However, its almost a guarantee that they never will.
A quick look at all the replies below will show anyone the main reason why that is. Every Marine and Soldier has so much pride in their own branch that they will always look towards their differences rather then their similarities whenever this question arises. Further, one could argue that it is that pride and/or friendly rivalry that helps boost Esprit De Corps making them *both* the great fighting forces they are.
So in summary, the answer to your question is yes, but they never will. Don't ask why, just deal with it.
A quick look at all the replies below will show anyone the main reason why that is. Every Marine and Soldier has so much pride in their own branch that they will always look towards their differences rather then their similarities whenever this question arises. Further, one could argue that it is that pride and/or friendly rivalry that helps boost Esprit De Corps making them *both* the great fighting forces they are.
So in summary, the answer to your question is yes, but they never will. Don't ask why, just deal with it.
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1SG William Svoboda
That's it on the head Chief, it is as plausible as combing all water and air assesets however, pride trumps. We better get smarter at how we use the $s going forward when they become too scarce because the post career support will swallow up much of the service budget especially if current SGM of the Army has his way and gets another stripe or two added.
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CW3 (Join to see)
1SG John Furr - I agree, but I also know of some high-speed Army units that surpass all the Marines I know. I think it really is unit dependent. But, as you know, the Army is the largest branch and the Marines are the smallest. So the Marines may have--on average--better disciplined Service Members when compared to their overall size, but I have always said its easier to be more selective with your personnel if you are a small organization. In that regard, its like comparing apples and oranges.
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Out of every strategic plan to merge Companies and Business someone will get the hind tit. The Army has several Special OPs Teams to deploy them through out the world, thay have proven themselves to do a very good job. To defeat the enemy in war. Every war plan of execution should not come from the same branch of service, for example when I were with the Fleet Marine Forces, every country we entered we learned different styles of fighting. Wherein if plan one is not working for Special OPS, let the Marines come in with plan #2, with there style of fighting
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I attended the last "LOGEX" (logistical exercise) at Camp Pickett in Blackstone, Virginia back in the day. We had a contingent of Canadians with us. One briefing was particularly interesting, focusing of this very same idea. Canada, for all of the reasons stated throughout this thread, made the decision to go to "one military - one uniform,' and actually implemented the plan. It was a recruiting disaster across the board. Their enlistment and officer programs fell through the floor, severely affecting virtually all their programs service-wide. Why? Because individuals wanted the recognition that their particular skill set identified with. Aviation wanted flight suits, mechanized infantry wanted tanker outfits, infantry desired their own...you get the picture. None of them wanted to wear a 'one size and color fits all' style of uniform with nothing to set them apart from other branches of their military. Pride, skill set, aptitude, and yes, even inter-service rivalries and competition all came into play. The Canadian government back-pedaled and cancelled the 'one military' idea and that, as they say, was that. In my thirty year career, I was, in order, Infantry, Aviation, back to Infantry, Quartermaster, Inspector General, and Combat Generalist. I loved every minute of the incredible variety I experienced as Enlisted, Warrant, then Commissioned service, and never would have had it any other way. "One size fits all" is NOT a good idea for our United States military.
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The Canadians did this about 40 years ago by consolidating all the services. Didn't work.
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The Marine Corps is designed to be a quick, hard hitting branch, a "Sucker punch" if you will. The Army is like our big brother; we can knock the bully straight in the teeth because we know our big brother is coming; otherwise, we fight a lot more sensibly.
I think this question is better asked by our enemies, truthfully. "Mr. Taliban, after you wipe the blood from your mouth from the 2d Marine Division, how DO you feel seeing the 82d Airborne landing in your backyard as the 10th Mountain climbs up your ass?"
Then again, it's kinda nice having that Naval gunfire and Air Force air cover coming too.
Bottom line, we, the shit kicking military of the United States, work well together when our branch leaders put their egos aside and let us do what we do, together: KICK ASS AND WIN!
I think this question is better asked by our enemies, truthfully. "Mr. Taliban, after you wipe the blood from your mouth from the 2d Marine Division, how DO you feel seeing the 82d Airborne landing in your backyard as the 10th Mountain climbs up your ass?"
Then again, it's kinda nice having that Naval gunfire and Air Force air cover coming too.
Bottom line, we, the shit kicking military of the United States, work well together when our branch leaders put their egos aside and let us do what we do, together: KICK ASS AND WIN!
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Sgt Robert Holden
Joint Ops, always. The Army has gear that is a real force multiplier. The Corps just builds a specific kind of fanatic that makes each Marine a force multiplier.
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