Should Army and Marines (or components of) consolidate?

How about no Scott.

No, just no. I've been threw so many changes and back. Glad I'm retired.
Like why does Army have boats, Navy planes, on and on. Seems we get political "managers" as Dept of Defense" and other high ranking civilians that don't have a clue how complex the infrastructures and doctrine is of each branch. And needs to be left alone.

The Army would have to grow bigger Balls. I've been in both the ARMY (101st Abn Div) and the Marine Corps. We Marines are far tougher than any ARMY unit other than The Airborne Divisions. Get RID of the AIR FARCE, they can become Space Command, while all their assets can become MARINE assets, especially the Awesome A-10! Our Pilots know how to fly Ground Support Missions, the Air Farce think 10,000 feet is too low! I remember in Vietnam when our Marines came in so low to support us that we could SMELL the burning jet fuel as they passed overhead to drop Napalm on Obama's yellow brothers!

The United States Marine Corps has shown throughout its history that fight in every climb and place. It is a unique part of the military that can respond on short notice and maintain its self-sustaining combat operations on the land, at sea and in the air.

Gordon D. Nielsen
MSgt. USMC (Ret.) 1972-1996

Unless the Army is going to raise their standards, no.

Absolutely not. Different missions, different training, different cultures. That's like trying to merge horses and zebras together because they appear to be somewhat similar.

No. Marines are amphibious specialists. The Army, not so much. They may appear similar to the untrained eye but they serve different purposes.

I did 20 years in the Army, I am very proud of the uniform I wear, now working at the PX in Ft. Jackson SC. I get very discourage with the soldiers that enter the facility and those I see walking around. From officers to NCO's and privates, they have no respect for the uniform, they have no respect for the playing of the national anthem, reveille and or retreat. Some see me standing getting ready to pay my respect and they just keep on walking to their cars. This is the new Army, I am the Army, but my respect on this view goes to the Marines. As a former Drill Instructor, it piss me off to see these soldiers doing that. Be all you can be. or get out of my Army.

Yes, the Marines have become the Army. Marine will hate it... but...

They have adapted and now serve many of the functions the Army does. Many of our allies have all branches combined. The navy does need naval infantry as originally constituted, but do we need 3 Marine Divisions, and better yet 3 Marine Air Wings? The Navy can do the latter. Marines are good at adapting and morphing, much better in fact than we are.. but in places like Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Desert Storm, Somalia, OIF, OEF, did we really need Marines? The Marines essentially were conducting Army Missions.

(1) The Army’s mission is to fight and win our Nation’s wars by providing prompt, sustained land dominance across the full range of military operations and spectrum of conflict in support of combatant commanders. We do this by:

- Executing Title 10 and Title 32 United States Code directives, to include organizing, equipping, and training forces for the conduct of prompt and sustained combat operations on land.
Accomplishing missions assigned by the President, Secretary of Defense and combatant commanders, and Transforming for the future.

(2) The Marine Mission is not so clear if you look...

(There Web Site) The Marine Corps has been America's expeditionary force in readiness since 1775. We are forward deployed to respond swiftly and aggressively in times of crisis. We are soldiers of the sea, providing forces and detachments to naval ships and shore operations. We are global leaders, developing expeditionary doctrine and innovations that set the example, and leading other countries' forces and agencies in multinational military operations. These unique capabilities make us "First to Fight," and our nation's first line of defense.

(USC) The USMC serves as an expeditionary force-in-readiness. As outlined in 10 U.S.C. § 5063 and as originally introduced under the National Security Act of 1947, it has three primary areas of responsibility:

- The seizure or defense of advanced naval bases and other land operations to support naval campaigns;
- The development of tactics, technique, and equipment used by amphibious landing forces in coordination with the Army and Air Force; and
- Such other duties as the President may direct.

Absolutely NOT, different missions , completely different training from day one, and last I heard the Corps fell under the Navy s umbrella, did I miss something ? was there a memo ?