Posted on Sep 6, 2015
Why does the Army not have as much pride as the Marines?
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I have worked with all the services frequently during my career. I see the ups and downs in each service. The Army seems to have the biggest attitude towards itself though. I would like to hear thoughts as to why Soldiers seems to talk bad or dislike the service that I love. Some may disagree this is true, but I do not think I am off base by stating this.
****FOLLOW UP QUESTION****
Do you think it is possible for the Army to ever show the universal pride in service that the USMC does?
****FOLLOW UP QUESTION****
Do you think it is possible for the Army to ever show the universal pride in service that the USMC does?
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 254
It's called Quiet Confidence. Already stated, go in, work hard, get the job done. No need to call attention. Everyone in my unit had a tremendous amount of pride. Stealth Pride.
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I think it’s just a difference in culture. The Marine Corps exists and thrives on a warrior culture. Right from the yellow footprints in bootcamp, Marines are given expectations to live up to. It’s our warrior ethos. You will never see a Marine recruiting ad offering money for college or the like. Marines typically join to be our nation’s warriors. You get some of that from the Army, but it’s just what Marines do, and how they are expected to be.
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I worked JTF for much of my career. As an army SPC I stood Guard Post One in a US Embassy under the direction of the Marine Det. I had a Navy Commander for a boss, and answered to Col Mattis for reports(Yes that Mattis). Later in my career I worked with a marine LtCol assigned to my unit as a liaison for the artillery. He called a few of us E-7's "Gunny" as a show of respect for the team he was working with. When you look at the population of the army vs. marines the Army Artillery Branch has as many members as the entire Marine Corps. In the Corps they go to boot camp on the East or West Coast. The Army has boot camps all over the place, however according to the MOS will determine where you do basic and AIT. The marines only have a few places of training. Marines are all Riflemen, and anything else is just additional duty. Army are all Infantry, but once we get sent to MOSQ we tend to stay in that job our whole career with some exceptions. A marine "Commo Dog" may be put in a rifle squad one day, and get promoted and made a presidential security guard the next based on evaluation. Marines have to be tougher, because I have eaten in their chow halls. Anyone that can survive that has my respect. Just like Army Artillery or Signal, the Marines are a branch of the Navy. So in population and training they are similar in that respect. Army soldiers take pride in branch, so do Marines!
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The Marine's, NOT TO DOWN PLAY THERE IMPORTANCE BY ANY MEANS, are, most times, at the head of the line in all public coverage. They tend to be the ones that you here about all the time. I have to admit, I respect the Marines, as much as I respect All of our Military.
However, it just seems that all other branches of our Military have to take a back seat to them. We ALL serve, fight a common enemy when necessary, bleed the same blood, & when it comes down to it, HAVE EACH OTHETS BACKS , when necessary! Is on branch better than the other? I don't think so. It takes ALL of us to get the whole job done, no matter what role we play. When it comes right down to the shit hitting the fan, we all must remember, no matter what your "job description" we are all trained to be the same, INFANTRY!!!!! WE ALL FIGHT FOR THE SAME RIGHTS & FREEDOMS! JUST BECAUSE WE MIGHT WARE DIFFERENT STYLE UNIFORMS, WE SHOULD TAKE PRIDE IN SERVING OUR COUNTRY ABOVE ALL ELSE!!!
However, it just seems that all other branches of our Military have to take a back seat to them. We ALL serve, fight a common enemy when necessary, bleed the same blood, & when it comes down to it, HAVE EACH OTHETS BACKS , when necessary! Is on branch better than the other? I don't think so. It takes ALL of us to get the whole job done, no matter what role we play. When it comes right down to the shit hitting the fan, we all must remember, no matter what your "job description" we are all trained to be the same, INFANTRY!!!!! WE ALL FIGHT FOR THE SAME RIGHTS & FREEDOMS! JUST BECAUSE WE MIGHT WARE DIFFERENT STYLE UNIFORMS, WE SHOULD TAKE PRIDE IN SERVING OUR COUNTRY ABOVE ALL ELSE!!!
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SGT Lewis Ray Rains
PLEASE, NO MATTER THE BRANCH, UNIFORM, RESPECT IS THE MAJOR PART OF OUR HOPES! I WILL ALWAYS RESPECT ALL OF OUR MILITARY, FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP, NO MATTER THE BRANCH OR UNIFORM!!
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Wow! What a Condescending statement. Lol. For the sake of an adult conversation, I'll pretend this is a legit and serious question. Even though there is a 99% chance you're just being a douche bag. Haha. I'm guessing you're doing basically what my responseis going to be.
There is a major difference between "pride" and "ego". What you're doing is the average marine thought process (I'm infantry army and my brother is infantry marines), I've had this debate with my brother before, who agreed 100%.
Undoubtedly, marines are very proud and have every right to be. However, the majority of what you're asking about is "ego" and an average military response system from any branch, especially when put in a room together. To be proud, one doesn't have to gloat about their time in service or unzip to see whos bigger. Lol.
Trust me, the army is every bit as proud as the marines. Especially grunts! If you want to go have an army vs marine, "who's bigger" contest, just go look for a Rakksan. Who is every bit as proud as any marine. Rakkasans (the red headed step children of the army), are very outspoken and love a good "ego" contest, like you suggest. They also have every right to be, since we are one of (if not still the #1), most highly decorated unit in the entire u.s.a military. ;-)
In conclusion, your statement is nothing more than a straw man arguement (if you're a marine, you'll probably need to Google that....lol just messing...sort of) and illogical.
I have nothing but love for all branches (especially my brother and all marines). Neverless, this particular debate is senseless. You can't use a blanket statement about "pride" when you're actually discussing "ego". The marines are drilled from the beginning to have a large ego and it continues throughout. Personally I think it's a cool trait to have, but that doesn't make you any more "proud" than the army.
There is a major difference between "pride" and "ego". What you're doing is the average marine thought process (I'm infantry army and my brother is infantry marines), I've had this debate with my brother before, who agreed 100%.
Undoubtedly, marines are very proud and have every right to be. However, the majority of what you're asking about is "ego" and an average military response system from any branch, especially when put in a room together. To be proud, one doesn't have to gloat about their time in service or unzip to see whos bigger. Lol.
Trust me, the army is every bit as proud as the marines. Especially grunts! If you want to go have an army vs marine, "who's bigger" contest, just go look for a Rakksan. Who is every bit as proud as any marine. Rakkasans (the red headed step children of the army), are very outspoken and love a good "ego" contest, like you suggest. They also have every right to be, since we are one of (if not still the #1), most highly decorated unit in the entire u.s.a military. ;-)
In conclusion, your statement is nothing more than a straw man arguement (if you're a marine, you'll probably need to Google that....lol just messing...sort of) and illogical.
I have nothing but love for all branches (especially my brother and all marines). Neverless, this particular debate is senseless. You can't use a blanket statement about "pride" when you're actually discussing "ego". The marines are drilled from the beginning to have a large ego and it continues throughout. Personally I think it's a cool trait to have, but that doesn't make you any more "proud" than the army.
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Retired Army. It isn’t a lack of pride or unit esprit-de-Corps that is lacking in the Army, it’s that the Army is substantially different, being larger and more diversified. The Corps is smaller and therefore has a much stronger sense of elitism. Marines instill that a Marine is part of a brotherhood, that once a Marine, always a Marine. Marines also, being much smaller, do not have as many units so that when Marines transfer within the Corps, they usually have only a few places they will transfer to, and most likely there will be others in their new unit they served with before. The Army, because of its size and diversity of units, makes
It less likely that a soldier will transfer into a unit he or she previously served in. Also, the Army’s mission is different, with many MOS’s that are not in the Corps. In the Army, there are elite units, some that rival the size of Corps (Airborne).
It less likely that a soldier will transfer into a unit he or she previously served in. Also, the Army’s mission is different, with many MOS’s that are not in the Corps. In the Army, there are elite units, some that rival the size of Corps (Airborne).
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It's been 50 + years since I was in the Army and I for one have great pride at being in the Army.
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I have seen this too, especially during my time at US Joint Forces Command. One important distinction between the Marines and Army is there are far fewer Marines. This, by definition, makes the Corps unique and distinctive in the Services.
I was Army National Guard, and there was and still is a pervasive "disrespect" of the State Armies National Guard, earned or not. I find myself educating people about Posse Comitatus and the real-world missions and duties of Guardsmen far more often than I think I should.
Greater Army pride is possible, but it is up to our fellow brothers and sisters to be proud of their service, whether they are recognized or not. Finally, we can take lessons from each Service and apply to how we are proud...espirit de corps, loyalty, valor, respect, honor, self-discipline, love of country and each other.
Not every American can claim these character traits built in the experiences of Basic Training, AIR, unit training, deployments, and the crucible of combat. Be proud, Army, always in being part of the relative few in the world who serve or have served, with honor, the greatest Nation on earth!
I was Army National Guard, and there was and still is a pervasive "disrespect" of the State Armies National Guard, earned or not. I find myself educating people about Posse Comitatus and the real-world missions and duties of Guardsmen far more often than I think I should.
Greater Army pride is possible, but it is up to our fellow brothers and sisters to be proud of their service, whether they are recognized or not. Finally, we can take lessons from each Service and apply to how we are proud...espirit de corps, loyalty, valor, respect, honor, self-discipline, love of country and each other.
Not every American can claim these character traits built in the experiences of Basic Training, AIR, unit training, deployments, and the crucible of combat. Be proud, Army, always in being part of the relative few in the world who serve or have served, with honor, the greatest Nation on earth!
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With a son in the Marines and nephew leaving the Army...the sentiment is the Marines have not yet been compromised by politics. The Army has dumbed down their standards to accommodate those who would not measure up the the riggers war demands.
They Marines are under attack too, to soften their standards, though a smaller and more cohesive Corp harder to crack. But make no mistake the activist are at work.
Take the Boy Scouts demise. Even leadership is being worn down, often by quilt tripping. Rex Tillerson a good example.
They Marines are under attack too, to soften their standards, though a smaller and more cohesive Corp harder to crack. But make no mistake the activist are at work.
Take the Boy Scouts demise. Even leadership is being worn down, often by quilt tripping. Rex Tillerson a good example.
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