Posted on Sep 6, 2015
CSM Carl Cunningham
224K
1.67K
444
211
211
0
Df7294fc
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?
Edited >1 y ago
Avatar feed
Responses: 254
CSM Patrick Durr
1
1
0
Pride doesn't have to be demanded or exagerated... nuff said. Hooah.
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
Sgt Peter Schlesiona
1
1
0
In my personal experience, the Army tends to be far more “unit” oriented in terms of pride, while Marines are more “Corps” oriented.
A great example of this goes back about 15 years. I had been advised that a young man who served with same battalion as I had in Vietnam was seriously wounded and was being treated at a local hospital. I went to visit, got some idea of what he needed and put out the word to other local Marines. They all jumped in with both feet.
That worked so well that the hospital asked if I could do something like that for two Army guys who were expected shortly. I did not have contacts in the Army but got some names, made some calls. In every case, the person I spoke with asked what unit the soldiers served with. When I said “I don’t know, but why should that matter? They’re Army”, I got one after another telling me that if either of the guys served with such-and-such unit (their unit), they would jump in. Otherwise I should track down veterans of their units. After hearing that once too often, I gave it up and we Marines we’re going to go what we could got them, but found out they were being sent to a Walter Reed (as best I recall now).
I’m not trying to slam Army folks with that story. It is a true story and I offer it only to punctuate my point about “unit” vs “Corps”. I’m sure that if I had found some vets from that unit, they’d have jumped in with both feet, too.
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
PFC Bobby Smith
1
1
0
it is not drilled into them like the USMC
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
Sgt Jackie Pilch
1
1
0
To the second question: No. It starts with bootcamp and is predicated on "More With Less."
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SP5 Dennis Loberger
1
1
0
I'm proud of my service and I was Army. I would do it all over again even though my wife and I had 2 kids at the time I went in
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
PO1 Kevin Dougherty
1
1
0
Some good comments already, the thing that jumps out at me when I consider this is size of the service. As a Coastie, I saw & had a similar pride in my service. We were small, and proud of our can do attitude, versatility and ability to do more with less. We even took pervese pride in our lack of funding and recognition. Likewise the Marines are a comparatively small service, and with that comes a certain elite mindset, "The few, the proud the Marines" best illustrates that, though I must confess when I hear it, I also mentally hear, "The fewer, the prouder, the Coast Guard."
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
LCpl Laurence Puco
1
1
0
Interesting question, but I have never met anyone that does...…….
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SSG Randy Talbot
1
1
0
I think it's a matter of culture, training and embracing their historic past. Let me give you a couple examples from my time as a army soldier and civilian army historian.

While deployed to Kuwait in 2003, I had to brief our 4-star on the activities I was performing while a historian. While briefing him on our data collection efforts to write a book on what it took to deploy, how we functioned and how we managed many aspects that were unforeseen while deploying. The 4-star looked at me and said, you historians, you do nothing but collect info and do nothing with it. Hell, you guys are still writing about WWII for Christ sake. What the hell do we have to learn from WWII? Since we were running a red ball express to expedite parts into Iraq, I told him we have a lot to learn as we are making the same mistakes as the gulf war and functioning like we were in WWII! That went over good, let me tell you.

I was at a leadership conference looking at how each branch develops leaders. For the army, unlike the marines, army history is only embraced if there is a reason to use it for today's benefit, otherwise, it's an inconvient truth. For the marines, historical embracing begins in boot camp. Young marines are told about the past, their heroes and acts of valor. Young PFCs are training young privates, sergeants are training young corporals etc. the marines embrace their history and wear it on their sleeve and in their uniform. When you see a marine, you see Iwo Jima, chosin, hue and so many other battles and acts of heroism. The army changes their uniforms so often that there is no reference point to gravitate toward. If you look at the new army proposed uniform mirroring the WWII Ike jacket, you can see that the army has yet to learn from WWII, just copies the symbolic and as usual, missing the substance.
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
Cpl Mark Gray
1
1
0
The bended knee has never been a tradition of our Corps. General A.A. Van deGrift , CMC 1942- 1946 Said in a Speech to joint sessoin of congress about the Armys Idea to disban The Marine Corps. This whole idea started afterr the Battle of Belleu Wood, When a Captain from 6th Marines told
a retreating French army, Retreat Hell, we just got here.
Or when the 1st Marine Division was coming out ot the Chosin Resesvoir they were almost in Hagaru re, when someone in the ranks , yelled, "Count cadence, count" and everygody limping from Frostbire fell into step and they were Marching. About a mile from Hagaru re, somebody started singing the Marines hymn, in Hagaru re the Army heard it and somebody there yelled, "those bastards, those magnificent Bastards. '
Once a Marine a Marine for Life , always proud.
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Senior Food Service Nco
1
1
0
They don't have such a need to compensate.
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

close