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
No offense, but you're kind of myopic for a senior leader. Maybe you should look at YOUR LEADERSHIP to figure out why your soldiers don't have pride in the Army.
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CSM, I think Soldiers are every bit as proud as any Marine, but I think where you are off track is in the scale of the units you are talking about. The Marine Corps is a corps, about the same size as 18th Airborne Corps, and I don't think there are any Paratroopers less proud than any Marine. The problem with identifying with Big Army (of which you are a part) is the Army is organized at Division level. We wear Division patches, we have Division organizations, we identify as members of a Division, not a Corps or Army, or Unified Command. I am a Marne Man (Third Infantry Division (Mech)), I learned the words to the Division song before I leaned the words to the Army song. Personally, I wouldn't give a bean to be a fancy pants Marine. Divisions are the front line of combat units. HQ (Big Army) is where all the REMFs reside, I identify as an Infantryman in 3ID, not a REMF in Big Army, and that is why you do not see Soldiers identifying with Big Army, but with the Divisions they fight in. I have a son who identifies as a Special Forces Operator and another son who identifies as a Paratrooper. One associates himself with 10th SF Group and the other with 173rd Airborne. Each is extremely proud of who they are and the units they identify with, as I am with Mechanized Infantry and 3ID.
Also, unlike the Marines and some of the other services, we do not train as a general purpose Soldier, you go through Basic Training/Advanced Individual Training, or now called OSUT as an Infantryman, a Tanker, a Signalman, or other specialty for the most part. So while Marine Basic trains Marines, at Fort Benning I trained Infantrymen or as they call them now Warriors.
Also, unlike the Marines and some of the other services, we do not train as a general purpose Soldier, you go through Basic Training/Advanced Individual Training, or now called OSUT as an Infantryman, a Tanker, a Signalman, or other specialty for the most part. So while Marine Basic trains Marines, at Fort Benning I trained Infantrymen or as they call them now Warriors.
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The Marines, to my knowledge (and with no offense intended to the rest), have always stressed "Esprit de Corps" , their History and the pride and honor of serving in an Elite Assault Branch. Disicpline and self-respect are a requirement and not an expectation. The Army Airborne, Special Forces, Rangers and other such units are to be considered Elite Forces.
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My answer to the follow up question is no because our actual objectives and philosophies are not identical while some of our tasks are.
Interestingly I reading This Kind of War about Korea and the author just mentioned the Army receiving criticism after WWII that caused it to compromise for social approval and specifically that the Corps got to stay as it was because the Army was in the crosshairs not the Corps. Unfortunately he did not specify what external pressures he was saying the Army faced.
Interestingly I reading This Kind of War about Korea and the author just mentioned the Army receiving criticism after WWII that caused it to compromise for social approval and specifically that the Corps got to stay as it was because the Army was in the crosshairs not the Corps. Unfortunately he did not specify what external pressures he was saying the Army faced.
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Because the Marines are assault, and the Army is a 9 to 5 meat grinder.
We get up, go to work, shell the fuck out of the enemy, advance, and setup camp.
Lather, rinse, and repeat.
We get up, go to work, shell the fuck out of the enemy, advance, and setup camp.
Lather, rinse, and repeat.
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Oh boy. Here comes this old stupid argument. The Army has lots of pride. Deeds Not Words. We are all great Americans. We are all full of pride. We all do our jobs.
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The pride is there. Just not exemplified as much. Via the entertainment industry and advertising. We don't see much in way of the common soldier in movies. The Be All You Can Be slogan is weak. But The Few The Proud The Marines. says something the Be All You Can Be is the common Soldier our the Few The Proud are the Special forces ie. Ranger, Airborne, Green beret or Delta Force. All separate within one. but when you hear Air Force we think of Aircraft. Navy In the 80's we we thought of Aircraft Submarines. Now think of the Navy we see Seal Team Six not Battle Ships. all because of ticket sales and television ratings. The Pride is there for all branches but the Marines Advertising is directed to the branch not a particular job/group within the Branch.
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