quote:

I remember reading some story about a Sniper, who could double as an assault infantryman, combat driver, radio man, etc._

Marines do that alot too. For example every marine in the corps from the lowest private to the Commandent himself is a combat ready infantryman with no exceptions no matter what their "real job" is unlike a lot of other armed forces in the world
In your standard infantry platoon everyone knows at least basic radio work and first aid, have experience firing light/medium machine guns and can use M203 grenade launchers with accuracy

I can see what you mean when you say they are specialists. I still prefer the way the Canadian Army (Supposedly) does it, where they cross train you in as many fields as possible. (I remember reading some story about a Sniper, who could double as an assault infantryman, combat driver, radio man, etc._

Like I said. To me, Marines are more soldiers.

quote:

I've always wondered where the idea of the Marines as an "elite" unit

according to Jane's and most general definitions of SF/elites the Corps is the world's largest special forces/elite unit

To start: a more rigerous selection and training process then the general armed forces is the first distinguishment for an elite force. With the exception of groups like the Navy SEALs, Army SF, USAF PJs and The Corp's own Force Recon no one has higher requirements or more rigerous basic training.

Further more is that most people seem to forget that Marines are specialists (to the point of literally writing the original book) on assualt. Starting with Amphibious Assualt which is easily one of the most complicated and difficult forms of warfare known to man. Then they wrote the book again by backing the darkhorse of helicopters and writing the manual for the new field of "Air Assualt"
So that plus further specialization with basic grunts in things that the army couldn't do with their general infantry sets them apart as a "special" force

Marines are the first boots on deck and the last boots off and amp good luck

I agree. I've always wondered where the idea of the Marines as an "elite" unit came from, but that's what you seem to get from all the cultural depictions of Marines. They're somehow "better" than the Army. Then again, I suppose they do have more intense training.

I'm a Canadian. I think this influences me, because while I've lived my life around the military (Stepfather was many years Air Force), I don't really care for it. Even serving in things like CAP, I never liked the military.

Marines are soldiers. Marines do their job. They go home. They sleep. They get up. Do job. Go home. Lay down. Get up. Rinse. Repeat.

Not particularly the best of the best either. In all honesty, I can see a contingent of Finnish Jaeger troops easily engaging U.S. Marines, at least coming to a draw.

Not that frightening either, in most conditions. I'd be more afraid of a Swedish sniper then an American one in the snow. I'd be more afraid of a member of the PLO then a US convoy in the desert.

They're just a military unit, like any other military unit.

quote:

if Iraq is hard Iran will we be even worse.

yeah no shit

hopefully I'll avoid both but we'll see

quote:

even vietnam didn't go that long if I was a betting man I'd put money on Iran

The US became dirtectly involved in 1964, and all the troops didn't withdraw untill 1975. And I hope you don't end up in Iran, if Iraq is hard Iran will we be even worse.

yeah a whole 2 years from now

even vietnam didn't go that long if I was a betting man I'd put money on Iran

amp you're in? well good luck in iraq then...

Except jarhead is a way more cliche term and buckethead hearkens back to the days of 'Nam.

quote:

bucketheads.

jarhead is even more common because the high and tight haircut leaves us only with a black circle of hair on top of the skull and with the square cro-magnon jaw we're all supposed to have our heads look like jars

Everyone I know talks about marines as if they were too stupid to be able to do anything useful in their life, so they became a marine. Otherwise known as bucketheads.

I agree to a point, but there are obviously exceptions.

I enlisted 2 months ago (give or take a week) and I ship to MCRD San Diego in March.

Projected Graduation Date: May 30th or so

and I still have to select my job but I'm leaning towards being a crew chief on a MV-22 Osprey (if I can select my bird)

ampmaster, how long have you been in the military? also what do you do in the military?

marines - better trained than the army, air force, and navy - thats why im joining after this year.

I think that anyone who joins the military is either extemely brave or stupid.

From what I have heard the Marines don't recruit the extremely stupid so by process of elimination I'd say they are brave. (If I said different my grandfather would hit me over the head )

quote:

What will you say when a war is brought on American soil and you are running for your life because some crazy person from some foreign land is trying to imprison you or kill you because you won't conform to his demands?

Easy. I'll be saying "Why the hell is the National Guard all the way on the other side of the planet instead of here where it's supposed to be?!"

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

quote:

What will you say when a war is brought on American soil and you are running for your life because some crazy person from some foreign land is trying to imprison you or kill you because you won't conform to his demands

Sherifatcat, we've already had this conversation. I'm not American, and, in that scenario, I would much prefer to be the crazy foreign person. Stop spewing the paranoid bullshit please.

I know I'm getting off-topic here, but I can't resist responding to sherifatcat:

What's ironic about your post is that the only way in hell America would ever tolerate a president seizing Hitler-esque authority or the power to eliminate free speech would be if there were more attacks on American soil and our government amped up the rhetoric about the war (kind of like you're doing now) until we were we all so terrified we were collectively shitting our pants.

The American president is not a dictator. Even if he were to be one of them there Ay-rabs.