Should Army and Marines (or components of) consolidate?

ARMY, MARINES with some componets combined together? Could work. But think of the terminology barrier that has to be over come. USAF back under ARMY control. Not hardly. ARMY is geared towards massive manuver formations. And the last time AIR FORCE was under ARMY's control, there was too much confusion in communications. Unify communications between all branches of the military first. Then work on combining some componets of each service.

No. Each branch is different, and has different missions. As a proud disabled veteran from the U.S.A.F. I respect all branches of the Military, but the USMC is an awesome elite group of their own.

Why? For what purpose? ALL are military. Each created with a specific purpose in mind. Each branch is strong based on their missions and design. Whether Coast Guard, Marine, Army, Navy, or Air Force. In the interest of saving money I suppose they could all wear the same uniforms. That alone would save millions. Each specialty would have their unique insignia of course and their own duty uniforms as needed. Training for specialty units would be unique as well, designed for the position and duties required. NOT made easier for any reason. The job needed is still that job and certain skills are still required to do that job. But that's another discussion.
There is a pride that goes with belonging to a certain branch and that pride begins in bootcamp. That pride will still be built even if the recruit graduates belonging to the military and not a specific branch. Earning your stripes, earning your way up, earning that specialty position still holds the same value. My brothers are former marines. One served in intelligence and was a sniper and the other flew F-18s. They will both tell you "once a marine always a marine." My son is a chief warrant officer in the Coast Guard. He has served on one coast to the other. Led recruits in bootcamp and served in the Bering Sea going places no other branch would go. His father was a captain in the army who served 3 tours in Vietnam and is buried in Arlington National Cemetary. They all served our country proudly. At the end of the day - the question remains- why consolidate? For what purpose? We still need those unique skills each branch provides.

Could the standard US Army Infantry do everything Marine? If the right training was given, of course. But there is a problem. Teaching one soldier to do every mission means that soldier just spent 4 years worth of training to get out after first enlistment and become a highly paid security specialist making well over $100k and some making over $200k. The military will never be able to get any use out of the people it trains.

HELL NO!!!! Please dont ever insult the Marines again with this crazy thinking!!! I’ve served in both and there really is a world of difference. This really would be a terrible idea!

No...

At the service level NO, they shouldn't be combined, for all of the reasons previously listed, however within DOD, sub-components should be combined, we don't need separate training facilities for Medical, Intel, etc. Support / service support functions should be combined, and combat uniforms should as well. I understand and support the different dress uniforms, even if esprit de corps was the only reason it would be a valid enough reason, but camouflage should be determined based on the environment it's being used in (kinda the whole point of camo), not the service to which one belongs. This applies to a whole host of equipment, the vast majority should be universal, with specialist pieces issued to / used by those that need that specific item. That would save a huge portion of the various service budgets, and could be born directly by DOD without being parceled out, with a substantial reduction in overhead.

Questions like this really tick me off!!! NO BRANCH OF SERVICE IS SUPERIOR OVER ANOTHER!!! It's O.K. to think that; however, if you truly believe that then you are a SADLY mistaken. In one post I read it said "we earned our Eagle, Globe, and Anchor." News flash, we all earned something and honestly the Marines are part or should I say a sub-part of the Navy. Instead of trying to figure out a way to unite the branches lets start with the country we signed on to defend first. It doesn't matter what branch you signed on/in to you all fight for the same nation. Too much of an EGO can get you your ass handed to you. With out boats we don't get there, without planes we don't get there, and without soldiers we get nothing done.......

BS. Incompatibility issues. The ethos of each branch won't mesh. What a ridiculous question. That is a question that could only have been presented by a wannabe Sailor. Not feeling very charitable anymore towards those who do not find their own lot in life challenging, interesting or of sufficient merit to bear more in-depth investigation and development. An E-6 who has to concern himself with other branches? In the immortal words of Col. Sherman Potter: "Horse hockey".

What and put a end to sea going bell Hops?