US Army Infantry Versus the Marines

The uniforms and insignia indicate these personnel serve in the Army.

The main difference between the United Stated Marine Corps and the Army is that historically the Marines are specially trained and equipped for amphibious operations where they come ashore in landing crafts and aircraft. Also, while the Army is its own service, the Marine Corps is technically part of the Navy and relies on it for many logistical and support functions.

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General Eisenhower talks to Army troops before D-Day in June 1944.

Both the Army and the Marines have their origins in 18th century colonial America. In 1775, the Army and Marines were raised by the Continental Congress in anticipation of fighting the British troops occupying colonial cities like Boston. The Marines served aboard what few ships the colonists had, and were modeled after the British Marines. Marines often acted as sharpshooters or snipers during ship-to-ship battles. The Army has always been the heavier force, equipped with more artillery and, in modern times, with more tanks and helicopters.

Organization

Semper Fidelis or "Always Faithful" is the motto of the Marine Corps.

Today's Army is larger than the Air Force, Navy and Marines combined and has jobs ranging from psychiatrist to helicopter pilot to engineer. The Army is much more self-sufficient than the Marines, and has the ability to conduct larger operations of longer duration The much smaller Marines were conceived as more of a "shock" force prepared to quickly deploy to remote regions of the world on short notice. As a result, its organization is more focused around mobile combat units capable of airborne and amphibious landings.

Mission

Statue of Marines raising a flag on Iwo Jima during World War II.

The specialty of the Marines has always been the ability to put troops ashore in the face of a defending enemy force. The Corps refined its techniques in the bloody years of World War II. Marine units led an "island-hopping" campaign that landed large forces of Marines on numerous Japanese-held Pacific islands. The Marines have not conducted a major opposed landing since 1945, and in the decades since World War II the Corps has been able to maintain its separate status from the Army even though in practical terms it has become much more like a smaller version of the Army.

Rivalry

There is a longstanding rivalry between the Army and the Marine Corps. This was probably inevitable because the two service are similar enough to invite comparisons. In general, the Army argues it is the larger, more powerful force. Marines respond that their relatively small numbers and tough standards means they are an elite force that is superior to the Army man for man.

Future

Since 9/11, the Marines have been deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa in support of the global war on terror. None of these operations called for amphibious landings so they have been operating in similar ways to the Army. Some military officials, especially some Marines, feel that the extended deployments have been detrimental to the smaller and more lightly equipped Marine Corps.

References

• Army history
• Marine Corps history