Why do Marines "look down" on the other branches?

[akmjolnir]

I'll go; in retrospect, it was fun.

[JAK]

Originally Posted by akmjolnir

I'll go; in retrospect, it was fun.

I'm with you on that one, but we all know it sucked while we were there. I think it would be interesting to go through a second time, just to see what it would be like to go through armed with the lessoned we learned from the first time.

Little anecdote for those who care to read it:

Not all Marines agree with you and me though. It was my third year in the Corps and I was packing my Jeep Wrangler to make the drive down to Paris Island to visit an ex-girlfriend of mine. She had torn her ACL during training and was being processed out. She had already been there 8 months so she knew the drill pretty well. I called down to make arrangements to be able to visit her in the Medical Rehab Platoon. I asked a buddy of mine who I had gone to Boot Camp with me if he wanted to join me. I watched as his skin changed from the color of mahogany to that of pine. He acted like he had seen a ghost and quickly retreated to his car, telling me that the only way he would be going back to PI would be if it were in a wooden box. I had fun watching the training without having to be part of it. It was like someone turned on the bedroom light to reveal that the monster under the bed was really just your pet hamster that had broken free of its cage. Next time I am in the Carolinas I think I will make another visit, just to see how the place has changed.

[jrad38]

we trained lots of marines in Ranger school.

[WmBSmithII]

Originally Posted by gsh341

Good post!

I have worked with Air Force, Marines, Active Army, Reserves and National Guard during my 21 years in service. Every one of them have certain aspects that are unique and give them bragging rights over another branch. The problem is that how can you really compare the different branches when they each have different specialties?

For example, one of the weaknesses of the Marines is they have limited transportation capability compared to the Army. This is because their specialty is amphibious assault and seaborne operations. They are a limited range organization. The Army, however, is structured differently and has the transportation assets to cover long distances. Of course, neither the Marines or the Army are getting anywhere without Navy or Air Force transport vessels and planes and the air cover they provide is invaluable on the battlefield.

However, on the battlefield, the Army and Marines have a distinct advantage over the Air Force and Navy. The interconnection between the services is key to our military strategy of combined arms.

No service is truly better than another, just different.

its sad how easily us coasties are forgotten about.

[jeepinbanditrider]

Originally Posted by WmBSmithII

its sad how easily us coasties are forgotten about.

I've got mad respect for the Coasties. They have a tough job a lot of times (well most times). And you get .40 SIGs and JHPs in your armories

[gsh341]

Originally Posted by WmBSmithII

its sad how easily us coasties are forgotten about.

I didn't for get about you. I just lumped you in with the Navy because you would serve as a part of the Navy if sent to a war zone.

You might be performing Coast Guard jobs, but your operational control is Navy.

[Radio Relay]

your operational control is Navy

Technically, same goes for the Marine Corps. It's under the Department Of The Navy...

Of course, the Marine Corps is the "men's department"...

[gsh341]

Originally Posted by Radio Relay

Technically, same goes for the Marine Corps. It's under the Department Of The Navy...

Of course, the Marine Corps is the "men's department"...

The difference is that direct operational control passes from the Navy to the Marines once the Marines are on dry ground. The Coast Guard is waterborne for their primary mission and so remains under control of the Navy the entire time.

[ricepaddy6869]

Originally Posted by jrad38

we trained lots of marines in Ranger school.

Even Marines need a Vacation/R&R every once in a while,....I'm sure they thanked you and it's a wonder they didn't try to change the whole thing.

[IamCPTSpalding]

Originally Posted by TacXD9er

First and foremost, I hope everyone on this forum will answer in a respectful and adult manner. I do not want this locked by a moderator. I ask this question because a buddy's son (who I've known for years) stopped by the house to tell me he is going to Marine boot camp in April. I congratulated him and told him I was proud of his decision. He asked me what branch I served and I told him the Air Force (during the Vietnam war). Then he made a sour face and said, oh that's not the military. I've come across simular responses, snubs, and the cold shoulder from other former Marines, but not sailors, or soldiers. Why is it Marines seem to have a distain for the other service branches? Is this taught to them in boot camp? I for one, have always been proud and honored to have any service branch member serve this country. I always thought it was a "team" effort. Each branch having their assigned tasks/duties to perform for one common cause. Anyway, that is my question. Why do Marines appear so arrogant and "look down" on the other service branches? Again, please be respectful.

The Boy wasn't even indoctrinated yet, and was putting you in your place. You actually let him disrespect you in your own AO. Well, I can't tell you what you should have done, but that's why Marines look down on the other branches. They feel they are superior, and in some ways are, but ... they are cocky Leathernecks and will allways push. You just have to enforce your opinion or get ran over. NO ONE will ever say that their sacrafice was more than any other soldiers, because the ones that could honestly say it are dead, forever silenced. I have found that the so and so's that boast about this and that are usually the mail clerk, CO's driver, or Motor Pool Maven. A true Marine has an inner confidence, and will recognize your service, but will never outwardly admit that you can be up to Marine standards. You are not a Marine.

So, after Johnny comes home, hope he gets his stuff together. The World will wear him out, and he won't fit in anymore (the GEEK with a bald head). He will have to alter his operating procedure, and face the fact that the services are a joint effort. If he wants to keep his job, he can't consider everyone around him a POS, or at least learn to keep it to him/herself (I also find the female Marine, much better at that--discretion--)

Anybody that doesn't actually beleive that fact just never understood mission objective, the civilian world, and probably can't cope with life in general, therefore rejoins to live the miserable life of someone who is misunderstood (they say you can't hack it in the real).

Sadly, I think it stems from a deep seated need for approval.

FLAME ON.... JMHO.