Posted on Dec 8, 2017
Carl Prine on the USMC’s ‘Big Lie’ About Every Marine Being a Rifleman
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Merrill McPeak: And there’s a little propaganda in that even from the Marine Corps. I get that everyone gets to qualify with the rifle, but there’s Supply and Motor Pool and …
Carl Prine: Oh, it’s propaganda. Having been a rifleman I can tell you. “Every Marine is a rifleman” is the biggest lie that’s ever been told.
Merrill McPeak: But it’s a good approach for the Marines because it does mean, ‘You buy into this combat deal.’
Carl Prine: It’s an organizing myth that works.
Carl Prine: Oh, it’s propaganda. Having been a rifleman I can tell you. “Every Marine is a rifleman” is the biggest lie that’s ever been told.
Merrill McPeak: But it’s a good approach for the Marines because it does mean, ‘You buy into this combat deal.’
Carl Prine: It’s an organizing myth that works.
Carl Prine on the USMC’s ‘Big Lie’ About Every Marine Being a Rifleman
Posted from foreignpolicy.comPosted in these groups: 
Marines
Marines
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 16
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Why would Rally Point Staff post such click bait. I am truly disappointed. Out of the whole interview, which only mentions the Marine corps in passing, in few spots THIS IS THE QUOTE YOU PULL? The quote isn't even from the Air force General being interviewed.
General McPeak is commenting how the Air Force needs a more warrior approach, across all Air Force MOS's, the way the Marine Corps has a warrior approach across all MOS's. THEN the "journalist" conducting the interview pipes in with his ignorant comment. Carl Prine may have been a Marine, (MOS unknown), he may have served in an Army National Guard infantry unit, but he is not well enough informed to know the difference between a rifleman and an infantryman.
Down vote to the RP staff for trolling.
General McPeak is commenting how the Air Force needs a more warrior approach, across all Air Force MOS's, the way the Marine Corps has a warrior approach across all MOS's. THEN the "journalist" conducting the interview pipes in with his ignorant comment. Carl Prine may have been a Marine, (MOS unknown), he may have served in an Army National Guard infantry unit, but he is not well enough informed to know the difference between a rifleman and an infantryman.
Down vote to the RP staff for trolling.
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Maj John Bell
Sgt Dale Briggs - During my Company Grade days in the FMF we got 60 5.56 rds per man per month, and 600 7.62 rounds per M-60 a month, a joke. But no one thought we'd be in a pissing contest any time soon. On floats, as soon as the red star clusters went up and we thought we'd be going in, we had more ammo than we could fire off the fantail. Fantail fam fires are effective weapons checks, but do nothing for accuracy or proficiency.
On Barracks duty, guarding the trident Missile Submarines, we had a hard time firing all the ammunition we were REQUIRED to fire during training weeks (1/3). I was not going to just fire away to get it off the books.
On Barracks duty, guarding the trident Missile Submarines, we had a hard time firing all the ammunition we were REQUIRED to fire during training weeks (1/3). I was not going to just fire away to get it off the books.
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Cpl Bernard Bates
You don't know what you are talking about. at the battle of Belleau Wood The Marines were picking off the Hun at 900 Yds. The Germans gave them the name of Devil Dog because the Marines couldn't be stopped. Sure they had a high casualty rate but they drove the Germans out of the woods. So we had both Rifleman and infantry> That's how the marines got noticed for their Rifleman Status. Im not worried about the Air force their mission is different. If you have never been in the corp you are not qualified to talk about them. We also had bayonets issued to us. We were trained they were to be used if we run out of Ammo or close in fighting. No one wanted to use the bayonet ever. The more you can eliminate the enemy with long range rifle fire, the fewer you will have to fight at hand grenade range. Semper Fi. The Old Corp
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Sgt Peter Schlesiona
Major - there is no “vote down” icon on the post I read or I surely would have condemned it
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Seems Carl Prine was USMC, went through boot at San Diego, and SOI at Camp Pendleton. Transferred to Hawaii after that, and then did a year plus in PA ARNG. This hardly makes him a SME on USMC. I don't appreciate the usage of a picture of Chesty for an article about the USMC's "big lie". Maybe he didn't enjoy his limited service as a Marine and has an axe to grind. There is a World of difference between the meaning of Rifleman and Infantryman when the context is considered. Nobody in the USMC that I ever served in believed they had the same level of training or proficiency in Infantry as Marine Infantrymen. They were however, expected to be trained shooters and be basically trained on small unit tactics and essential subjects. The level of training depended on the unit's mission, but they were expected to at least provide their own security and to augment the battle forces if needed. Down vote for using Chesty Puller and "big lie" on same page.
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Sgt (Join to see)
CWO3 (Join to see) - Merry Christmas Will. Chesty Puller would not have liked his picture used like that.
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SSgt Joe R Ford
Semper Fi Gunner. I hear this crap out of wannabe hero's. Tell it to the Marines who died In combat without grunt MOS'S.
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CWO3 (Join to see)
SSgt Joe R Ford - Semper Fi Joe. I only held 0369 MOS while in training, and don't mind admitting it. I volunteered for it and also joined open contract. One Ammo Tech and I were the only POGs at SOI. I think he got volunteered, but we made it. Mad respect for the trigger pullers.
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Every Marine is a rifleman not an infantryman. There is a difference. All Marines qualify with their service weapon every year. All know basic squad maneuver and other basic tasks like combat first aid, carrying wounded, setting a perimeter, digging a fighting hole etc.
If you needed to commandeer some of these folks they would be able to lay down fire, maneuver, keep their weapons up and running, carry out the wounded etc. They would not be as proficient as an infantryman that does that job every day.
If you needed to commandeer some of these folks they would be able to lay down fire, maneuver, keep their weapons up and running, carry out the wounded etc. They would not be as proficient as an infantryman that does that job every day.
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PO2 Hank Kaczmarek
CWO3 (Join to see) - Yes Sir! It was in the Grunts where I lost some of my slimy Sailor ways, and learned it was about the job, not the money. Core Values not taught well in the mid-late 70's and early 80's in the "Blue Navy".
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CWO3 (Join to see)
Semper Fi Doc. Nobody screwed with our Corpsmen, and the Gator Navy I sailed with were the hardest working bunch I ever saw. God help those that fell out of favor with a Chief. They were married to a needle gun and paint brush until their attitude improved. The floggings will continue until morale improves.
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CWO5 Ray Lee
All Marines received rifle qualification training and basic infantry training. So in reality, all Marines are per se basic infantrymen. However, Within the infantry field there are 0311, rifleman. There are many other specialized MOSs within the O3 field that are not “Rifleman”. There are Assault men, mortar men, machine gunners, snipers, LAV, Recon, etc. All have unique MOS designations. So only Marines with the 0311 designation are truly a “Rifleman” or to be PC “rifleperson”. Chuck Connors would be mighty proud.
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Sgt Dale Briggs
Your absolutely right. If your at a base and it’s attacked everyone on that base becomes a rifleman regardless of branch. Then you go about your job when it’s over.
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