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: 252
I worked with both... My 2 cents is that the Army is too caught up in "I am", meaning what branch you are in. Regular infantry doesn't like SF, etc. In the Marines, everyone is a Marine first. My 2 cents at least, and I would still serve beside either...
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LT Brad McInnis
Cpl Bill Fleischauer - There is certainly esprit within each branch (armor, infantry, etc.) in the Army. Every Marine I ever met, called themselves a Marine first, and whatever they did second.
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LT Brad McInnis
SFC Bernard Walko - SHHHH! Don't let that get out, don't want to ruin my rep! Have a great week.
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We do but it depends on the MOS. My 13F Brothers are way better than the Marines! FISTERS!
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LtCol William Coenen
It’s been said that there are only two military services,the Army & the Navy; the Air Force being a Business & The Corps a cult
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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
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As a former Marine and a current Soldier, I can say that the pride in service is instilled far better in USMC Bootcamp than it is in Army Basic. You can call it indoctrination, or brainwashing, or esprit de corps... but the premise is the same. The USMC puts a greater focus on it as part of the "every Marine is a rifleman" motto. There is also a progression: in the USMC you have to "earn the title of US Marine" and are treated as less than a "real" Marine until you graduate. In the Army, you are a private from day 1.
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SSgt Brett Ontiveros
Cpl Bill Fleischauer - That was a typo! LOL See, Marines have each others backs! :-)
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SFC Brian Ewing
Well to some degree I will say that you're correct about being a Rifleman from day one regarding a vast majority of Soldiers in the Army but it depends on where you went to Basic Training at.
Try telling that story to an Infantry Soldier who went through Basic at Fort Benning and had to "earn" the Blue Cord!!
The level of pride we have in earning that Blue Cord stays inside us the rest of our lives.
My Blue Cord is on display daily in my car hanging from my rearview mirror.
No Marine can tell me he has more pride than me because his Drill Instructor told him some erroneous information regarding all Soldiers.
We're not all the same, pride is an individual attitude not given to you based on what Military Branch you serve in, either you born with it, inherit it from someone or somewhere but the Marines don't own it nor are they the only ones who possess it.
Try telling that story to an Infantry Soldier who went through Basic at Fort Benning and had to "earn" the Blue Cord!!
The level of pride we have in earning that Blue Cord stays inside us the rest of our lives.
My Blue Cord is on display daily in my car hanging from my rearview mirror.
No Marine can tell me he has more pride than me because his Drill Instructor told him some erroneous information regarding all Soldiers.
We're not all the same, pride is an individual attitude not given to you based on what Military Branch you serve in, either you born with it, inherit it from someone or somewhere but the Marines don't own it nor are they the only ones who possess it.
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IN EVERY BRANCH OF SERVICE THERE ARE MORALE PROBLEMS, IM SURE THAT BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE UNITS THAT YOU WERE APART OF, THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH MORALE. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT JUST LIKE THE OLD SAYING GOES, (BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER) THE SAME SENTIMENT EXIST FOR YOUR OPINION. I CAN GIVE YOU JUST AS MANY ARMY SOLDIERS AS YOU CAN GIVE ME OF MARINE SOLDIERS WITH DIFFERENT OPINIONS THAT WHAT YOU FEEL. SO THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO NOT GET SO CAUGHT UP IN YOUR FEELINGS AS IT RELATE TO YOUR OPINIONS OF THIS SUBJECT BECAUSE I GUARANTEE YOU THAT WE ALL HAVE THEM.. CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM IS HEATHY, (GET SOME)
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Cpl Derrick Perkins
with all due respect ,,, wow , really ?(save for a few outstanding army units) speaking in general ,you will not find that same spirit , you will find them in the army ,
10 out of 100 ,(again,except the outstanding units , they actually are better than the rest of the army ! ) Marines , 98 out of 100 , but, you will get lost in your looking because even the worthless ones still have that pride lol,,
opinion , ? yes i guess maybe if you want to call it that , i don't , it is based on actual working around and with all former military branches :)
10 out of 100 ,(again,except the outstanding units , they actually are better than the rest of the army ! ) Marines , 98 out of 100 , but, you will get lost in your looking because even the worthless ones still have that pride lol,,
opinion , ? yes i guess maybe if you want to call it that , i don't , it is based on actual working around and with all former military branches :)
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Sgt Ronald Harris
Cpl Derrick Perkins - I have to agree with 1SG Battles. During my service, I lived with SeaBees and Marines. In Viet Nam, I was with 19TASS, Red Horse, & 3rd FMS. I had a lot of association with Army and Marines both in service and out. There is always inner service rivalry, esp. during your active duty time, afterwards, one can joke with another in good fun.....just don't get serious. There are a lot of hi & low points where of morale where you're not too far apart.
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The way the Army treats it's personnel is the biggest contributor that I saw when I was in. They seemed to take pride in beating a person down almost as much as building them up. I believe that both the Marines and the Navy have a much higher esteem and pride that begins from the top. The army lacks that. I got out in 78. Back then, we were treated much differently than today.
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The major difference between the USMC and US Army In pride the difference in the way the marines carry on their daily business on/off work. They have esprit de corps more than any other service it has always been that way. The marines have a very stringent standards on who will “hang out” or be together unless at official functions by rank. They have lines on what ranks will hang out with each other-as you become more senior they expect you to not fraternize with the junior ranks. They have always been that way especially with their enlisted. I am sure that is part of the reasons they do not have the problems when someone even a rank above them tells them to do something at duty there is not a debate about why, let’s talk etc. they do it. Retired Navy loved working with marines rank structure well defined. More services need this. Navy Chiefs are very much life this do not cross a Chiefs mess unless asked in. Love honor and tradition.
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I do think empowerment and trust play a big factor in the pride of Marines. That, and the high expectation of the individule to perform within a small service branch. I think it’s the same with the Coast Guard. So much is expected of each member and we empower our petty officers at a very junior level. It’s not uncommon to have a PO2 as the skipper of his own small boat. We also have an active Chief’s mess to maintain pride and ensure we weed out non-performers and bad apples.
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GySgt Leo Rochon RETIRED
I concur Chief. Leadership at the lowest level should always be the objective.
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