What are you first and foremost?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 19:20:21 -0400

Are the Marines truly the only service who believes they are Marines first before their specialty? Does Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force consider themselves by specialty?

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 20 at 2015 7:21 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 19:21:47 -0400

All Marines are riflemen... as for the other branches, yes they are specialists first

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Sep 20 at 2015 8:27 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 20:27:33 -0400

Marine is what we are. Our billet is what we currently do. Our specialty is a descriptor.

Because of the "variety" of things we can end up doing throughout out careers, the idea of self-identifying based solely based on specialty just doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

As an example. Take your average Infantryman. First 4 years (PVT - Cpl+), serving in a Grunt BN. Second 4 Years will be a combination of a Duty Station Choice & a B-Billet (Drill Instructor/Recruiting/MSG or Combat Instructor). Next 4 years will likely be Senior Sergeant or SSgt, which means School House, or back to a grunt BN as PSG or somewhere else in an Ops shop. We love using 0369 (SNCO Infantry) for that! Get the idea?

I was an 0231 (Intel). I started at a Grunt BN, and went to a Staff Training organization. My next duty station would have been recruiting, and after that, likely a MEU or the School house. After that, was a toss-up based on whether I pinned MSgt/1Sgt. (Keep in mind we don't swap back and forth like the Army does)

Response by SGT Robert Hawks made Sep 20 at 2015 8:33 PM

SGT Robert Hawks — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 20:33:31 -0400

I always considered myself a soldier first not just a tanker or a Calvary trooper but always a soldier.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2015 8:35 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 20:35:48 -0400

I consider myself a combat engineer. The Army is simply to big to have the kind of pride in the organization that the Corps does.

Response by PO2 Jonathan Scharff made Sep 20 at 2015 8:52 PM

PO2 Jonathan Scharff — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 20:52:50 -0400

Not to upset our brothers in the Corps as I have nothing but respect for them...if you really want to talk about the "few and the proud"...you might want to take a look at the branch that has about 40K members while the Marines have almost 200K! I have never had someone ask me what I did in the Coast Guard. So I think it has more to do with the smaller branches...people just associate you with the branch instead of an MOS or Rate in that branch.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2015 9:53 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 21:53:17 -0400

That's just a state of mind. Everyone is trained to be combat personnel first and then the specialties. I personally know Marines that know that their specialty comes first despite of the common criterion.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2015 10:24 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 22:24:31 -0400

I don't know. It depends on what you do, I suppose.

I am a Signal Intelligence Analyst, but first and foremost, I am a Soldier. I've been in for a few years now, but I have always been a Soldier first. I can contribute to the warfighter while in garrison, but when requirements come down that pull us from mission, we are reminded, "you're a Soldier first."

It seems people in combat service support roles actually need to be reminded that they are Soldiers, and I say this because of the attitudes of many junior Soldiers I have worked with over the years. Yet, while I was in my AIT (MOS-producing school), I learned the MI Soldier creed, which begins with the words, "I am a Soldier first..."

My entire career it has been repeated that being a Soldier is a 24/7 profession and that I am a Soldier first. Few of us take it to heart. Many don't, and leave the service to pursue a (decidedly better-paying) job as a civilian or contractor working for a three-letter agency.

Combat Arms, on the other hand, aren't told they're Soldiers on a daily basis. It's very apparent from what they do and what they are required to do and know. Due to that, many identify as their jobs within the Army. "I'm an infantryman," "I'm a ranger," or "I'm a sniper," are much more common responses than "I'm a Soldier." Part of it may be because there is a certain level of pride that comes with being able to say, for example, that you are a Ranger, when so many others are Soldiers but not as highly skilled as you. Another part of it is community. For me, I'm a Soldier first and foremost, in a field where many people forget that and have to actually be reminded, over their sighs, every time there is something "Army" that comes up.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Sep 20 at 2015 10:49 PM

SSgt Terry P. — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 22:49:15 -0400

All Marines are Infantry first.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Sep 21 at 2015 12:50 AM

CMSgt James Nolan — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 00:50:06 -0400

As a former Marine (A title I have earned), (Former, as there are very few ex-Marines-some have had that title stripped because of lack of honor), I take great pride in that service. A title which I will never allow to be taken away. From day one, it was ingrained in us the history of the Corps, the inclusiveness of the service, the fact that everyone was trained to do the job of a "basic" infantryman. I say basic, because clearly, some went on to receive significantly greater training, and my training as an infantryman would pale compared to that of a true infantryman... However, the basic skills were taught and continued to be taught and emphasized, and that importance cannot be diminished. The concept was/is that everyone could pick up a rifle and assimilate. That is what makes the Corps different. They are smaller, leaner and have thrived on the ability to anything, forever, with nothing.

Now, as an Airman, specifically, an Air Guardsman, I take great pride in my service as Air Guardsman, however, as an Airman, I do tend to primarily identify with Security Forces, my specialty, as that is my unit, our mission and personnel. I gladly sacrifice so they can excel. I am proud of that service, proud of the Air Force, and proud of what my specialty and my branch of service brings to the fight. I relate the core values of the Air Force into my everyday life: Integrity First; Service Before Self; and Excellence in All I Do, both militarily and in my civilian occupation. It sounds simple, but it really is not. My Air Force is full of professionals, they are outstanding at what they do, they do the right thing when nobody is looking, they put the mission first, and because Big Air Force demands it, they regularly perform at extremely high standards. We may not be quite as lean, or quite as mean as Marines (although some of my personnel might argue it), and fitness is truly stressed in the Air Force now, but we strive everyday to bring relevance to the fight, and in my opinion, we do. Does that mean that every Airman can perform as Infantryman, no, but neither can every Infantryman perform as an Airman, in any capacity.

I personally think that each of our services has value, and brings specific things to the fight. And, each service needs the assets and abilities of the other. I would like to see what is known as Esprit De Corps ingrained in all of our services. I do feel that you should be extremely proud of your service, your unit and your mission, and if you are not, you should seek that, somewhere else. I have found home in the Air Force, specifically the Air National Guard, and I would not trade my experience for anything else. So, in a huge diatribe answer to the question while the Corps may be the only service that all members claim title before specialty, that does not in any way diminish the value brought by any other service member, nor devalue the benefits of the other services.

So from where I sit, Semper Fi, and Aim High!

Response by PO2 Jamie Cox made Sep 21 at 2015 1:38 AM

PO2 Jamie Cox — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 01:38:07 -0400

I'm a navy seabee. Not the typical sailor

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Sep 21 at 2015 4:10 AM

SrA Matthew Knight — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 04:10:41 -0400

I may receive some flak for this but I would say that I am first a Christian. In fact, I would put Airman further down then even second. I would say Christian, Knight(family/friend), American, then Airman. In fact it's kind of funny because with the exception of the Christian aspect when I am in uniform you read my priorities perfectly left to right: Knight, then U.S. then Air Force. Don't take this the wrong way as being an Airman is important but I know where my priorities lie and it isn't necessarily what Big Blue would probably prefer.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Sep 21 at 2015 6:08 AM

Cpl Jeff N. — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 06:08:30 -0400

I would consider myself a Marine first before my MOS or even being a veteran. I identify with the ethos, language, experience, esprit de corps etc of the Marine Corps. I don't click as well with non Marines. I know it is strange to say that even after 30 years out of the service. If I bump into a Marine, anywhere, we can click pretty quickly.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Sep 21 at 2015 6:22 AM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 06:22:47 -0400

A pretty good Grand Pa of 2 adorable kids.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Sep 21 at 2015 7:19 AM

SFC Joseph Weber — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 07:19:24 -0400

I am an old irritated dickhead first. Soldier second.

Response by SFC Nikhil Kumra made Sep 21 at 2015 7:33 AM

SFC Nikhil Kumra — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 07:33:32 -0400

I'm a unique butterfly in the peace time army... with feelings, and thoughts, and ideas, and stories... Oh sorry, reading from the new Army's IET Soldier's Handbook....

So yea... a Unique Butterfly first and foremost.... Ehm.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Sep 21 at 2015 7:45 AM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 07:45:21 -0400

I used to think we Marines were second to none until we went on several Joint Exercises at Camp Lejeune with Army Special Forces just before the buildups in Vietnam. They were all older NCOs with several years of service and really had their stuff together. Although 1st Recon was not too shabby in these exercises. I got to know a few Special Forces Staff NCOs who really impressed the hell out of me back then when we shared Comm Ops & Intelligence with them.

Response by SFC Hector Velez made Sep 21 at 2015 8:45 AM

SFC Hector Velez — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 08:45:43 -0400

I always consider myself a soldier before my specialty. That's why we keep on training all year round. I think is the same at all the branches of service,

Response by SGT David T. made Sep 21 at 2015 9:04 AM

SGT David T. — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 09:04:08 -0400

I am a person first and foremost. Everything else is secondary to that.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2015 10:19 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 10:19:12 -0400

Brian-I always thought of myself as an American Sailor before anything else. One thing I found interesting (while amongst my green brethren) was an apparent focus on "MOS" in the Army that really doesn't seem to be a direct comparison to "rate" in the Navy. Maybe it's the nature of being on a ship with limited personnel/resources...we "cross lanes" quite a bit.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Sep 21 at 2015 12:37 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 12:37:30 -0400

Can I say that I am first and foremost an American, then a Soldier, and thirdly a man who really REALLY hates the Cowboys. #HTTR4EVER

Response by LTC Henry Barber made Sep 21 at 2015 3:00 PM

LTC Henry Barber — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 15:00:16 -0400

What do you think?

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2015 7:27 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 19:27:39 -0400

LTC Private RallyPoint Member I believe that I'm a Chief Warrant Officer first, Soldier always!

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2015 11:04 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 23:04:02 -0400

Once a Marine, Always a Marine!

Response by Cpl Chris Cargile made Sep 21 at 2015 11:30 PM

Cpl Chris Cargile — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 23:30:40 -0400

I guess having been in the infantry I don't have this problem, I'm Marine Infantry. Everything else is support. The question regarding other branches interests me greatly.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2015 11:52 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 23:52:14 -0400

I think your question deals with alot if stuff, first of the amount of indoctrination that goes on at the basic training level... Army isn't that much into that. Then think about numbers... There is a reason the Marines are called the Marine CORPS... A Corps has 3 divisions... How many does the Army have all told, especially if you count the NG units? And yes I know about the Marine air wings and such but this came straight from a Marine recruiter. What I am trying to say is in the bigger branches just being a part of them isn't such a big deal as what you. At the end of basic recruits get their beret to show they are now soldiers... Sorry but it doesn't seem as equal as the EGA, my blue cord on the other hand does. And I seem to "click" well with Marine infantrymen but the support MOS's just look at me funny when I try and talk shop.