I agree my statement was a little out of line, I apologize for that.  But your statements about the army being the only ones on the ground fall into the catagory of doesn't mater if you are on the ground if nothing is happening on that ground.  I have never said the army wasn't effective, since they exsist to win America's wars, but the army has done less actually contingency missions, real world deployments since 1945 than the Marine Corps. That is just a fact, they have manned numerous post on the old cold war defensive line.  But in most cases those were no more strenuous than any normal PCS move.  Go read Swatzkopfs book there is a good line in there that talked about OPtemp in the Army, prior to the Gulf, to paraphrase him other than Vietnam he had never really been away from home for greater than a few months.  That is what the Marine Corps is all about, we are an expeditionary force.  Why do you think your chief of staff wants the ICBT, to all the army an expeditionary force with fire power, after about ten years of what the Marine Corps has been doing for over 50, the medium force is starting to look a lot like the Marine Corps.  

Outstanding!!!  Your son must be walking on water to get promoted that quickly!

Ahem... WRONG!!!

Being active duty Navy, I [b]know[/b] that the Marines are forward deployed more often than the Army. How do I know? Marines come on board with us for 6 months at a time when we go underway. 2,000 Marines and 1,000 Sailors on one big grey ship sailing for 6 months looking for some a$$ to kick.

I didn't join the either, but if they were the only choices, I would have joined the Corps.


On another note. I serve on the USS IWO JIMA, and just wanted to know how to post that IWO JIMA flag raising icon.

my $0.01.  i was an infantry officer, 1st marine div., 1988 to 1990. The usmc infantry units have a pride that cannot really be defined.  the pride is based on tough training, history, and expectations from yourself and your fellow marines to be the best at all times no matter the circumstances.  the usmc is the only service with their own ships, aircraft(fixed wing and helos), artillery, tanks, the best infantry on earth and everything required to carry on a war ON THEIR OWN, FAR FROM THE USA. i have no real experience with any type of special forces but have great respect for such members, but keep in mind spec ops forces are small and lightly armed, not equipped to whip serious ass, but usually avoid/break contact asap.  don't confuse spec ops with infantry ops.

24th Infantry Division (Mech) - [b]Victory in the Gulf!![/b]