Should Army and Marines (or components of) consolidate?

I'm going to have to go with a giant NO on that. The Marines are still a department of the Navy and should not have to change any of their traditions just to merge with the Army. Also the Army is the oldest of all the branches and should have to lose that just to consolidate and make someone else's job easier. However I would be objected to making the Air Force join ranks with the Army like they were pre-1947. I have worked alongside all four branches for the last 3 years and the only branch I can honestly say does not truly need to be it's own entity is the Air Force.

Most responses are emotional and address the morale and identification with two groups, both of which are greatly deserved. The Marines have a history of combat that is enviable by any measure: reference Iwo Jima. But also the U.S. Army has equal bravery and success in battle- - reference Patton's Third Army. In addition, the Marines are not composed of groups to actually occupy and secure lands that have been conquered. Without this, no war can be successful.

However, at levels higher than the actual troops and the strategic and tactical operation, monetary savings can be made by having shared equipment that is capable of supporting each groups operations. So I think that merging the highest levels of supply would be good. Even making a joint command at DOD level could be desirable. Something like this could make more money available for the troops rather than duplicating equipment with minor variations that (I think) presently is the case.

Biggest resistance to this idea I've found has been from the Army. That aside, I think there are MANY reasons to consolidate USA and USMC.
1. Done right, you would infuse surviving uniits with a sense of joint mission - something that I was proud to be part of in Iraq in '04-05, but has rarely happened overall
2.The restructured force would have its own air assets on call, vs. needing USAF support and all the bureaucratic red tape that entails when time is off the essence on the battlefield.
3. MAYBE we can get female Drill Sergeants/Drill Instructors to train all female platoons, vs. this gender-integrated disaster the Army insists on continuing.
4. Common uniforms, weapons, armor, etc would result in long-term cost savings for the American taxpayer.
5. USMC wouldn't be forced to take table scraps and hand-me-downs from other services.
6. Surviving units would be forced to become more agile and nimble.
7. Easier to integrate a SINGLE ground force with naval and air operations.
8. Single chain of command; simplified reporting structure
9. These are all the ones I can think of now, I'm sure others will occur to me as this discussion matures

No. Just no.

No! It's not the mission differences that are at issue. The Marines are well adapted at working with the Navy on a regular basis. The Army command would be absolutely unable to adjust and accommodate to Navy specific requirements. Only way it could work is to disband the Army and expand the Marines, like that would happen. Better to continue joint training like Army aviation deck qualification, looking for ways to be combine schools and use the same weapon systems. Better option is to give the Navy majority of the Air Force. Give the Army tactical airlift (C-130 and below) and CAS (A-10)!

I'll just assume you are kidding.

No i feel both should stay as is, the mentality and tactics defer too much, just saying.

No, the Army and Marines have two vastly different missions. The Marines are an amphibious force whose mission is to provide shipboard security and invade form the sea. The Army is land force .

Maybe. It would be a difficult transition with all the pride each service has within its respective ranks. The reasoning for the consolidation would need to be clearly defined before a real decision could be made. That which was offered in the email I got was too vague. There would be some pros and cons. Combining each service's combatives programs would be a plus... but unifying the approach to initial entry training could be a problem. leadership training and approach would also pose challenges. Also, who would guard the Navy on their ships? If it was consolidated, what would it be called? The US Army Corps (USAC) ? The US Marine Army (USMA)? US Combined Combat Forces Command (USCFC) (I like that one)? or maybe...the US Combined Combat Operations Warrior Amalgamation (USCCOWA - US CCan of Whoop Ass)?

is this a Trick Question??? HELL NO to Consolidating...talk about dumbing down the quality of servicemen and servicewomen....