The United States Armed Forces, also referred to as the military forces of the United States, consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Although both the Army and Marine Corps are ground-based forces offering similar career options, they possess unique dissimilarities that necessitate an assessment of their overall missions and career fields in order to accurately compare their services.
The Army and Marine Corps were created separately, but both originated during the Revolutionary War. The Continental Army was established on June 14, 1775, to meet the demands of war (Wright, 1983). In contrast, Captain Samuel Nicholas founded the Marine Corps on November 10, 1775, as a specialized amphibious assault force under the Department of the Navy (Simmons, 2003). Despite being formed at the same time, these branches had different primary goals.
The Marines were initially created to be skilled marksmen on U.S. Navy vessels, playing a critical role in shooting at enemy sailors during close ship encounters and preventing long-lasting mutinies.
In contrast, George Washington founded the U.S. Army with the objective of establishing a ground force that encompassed infantry, artillery, and cavalry units resembling the formidable European armies of France and Britain. The Army sought to achieve triumph in extensive conflicts and gain dominance over occupied territories.
The United States military comprises two branches: the Army and the Marine Corps. The Army, which is bigger, specializes in occupying territories and conducting land-based wars. In contrast, the Marine Corps is smaller but also involved in ground-based warfare, especially as first responders during initial stages of conflict. Both branches offer career opportunities across different fields such as infantry, armor, aviation, and administration.
The Marine Corps relies on commissioned Navy medical officers for healthcare services, including nurses, doctors, dentists, and psychologists. While the Marines specialize in amphibious attacks and establishing beachheads on foreign land, they hand over control of secured territories to other armed forces like the US Army to continue operations.
Marines are agile, light, and exceptionally swift. They can be compared to the point of a spear, infiltrating and securing land, and then advancing rapidly. In addition to being a flexible attacking force from the sea, Marines also excel at seizing territory on land. They receive specialized training for rapid deployment and often serve as the first presence of US military forces at a particular location. Additionally, Marines have the duty of protecting American embassies overseas, ensuring their safety and the welfare of those inside. Serving as a Marine embassy guard in unstable regions involves substantial risks.
The US Army is the main ground-based military force, responsible for capturing and holding territory with infantry, aircraft, and support staff. It is significantly larger than the Marines and actively engaged in battle. Certain members of the US Army, like the Army Rangers, receive training comparable to that of the Marines. The debate over which service offers better training has puzzled many volunteers and led to numerous bar fights.
The Marine Corps is famous for its exceptional enlisted personnel, while the Army focuses on combat brigades. In terms of individual soldiers, U.S. Marines receive more rigorous training compared to U.S. Army soldiers. Both the Army and Marine Corps mandate that enlisted and commissioned recruits must finish basic training, also referred to as “boot camp,” before starting active duty.
Marine Corps boot camp is known to be more rigorous and intense than Army Basic Combat Training (BCT) at both the elementary level and in follow-on schools. While BCT lasts for 11 weeks, Marine Corps boot camp has a duration of 13 weeks. Both the Army and Marine Corps have similar abilities but differ in their operational areas. Regardless of the branch they belong to, fulfilling the duty of answering the call is a responsibility that men and women who choose to be part of the United States Armed Service must uphold.
Training, ranging from Basic Training to Advanced Individual Training and Permit Party, is instrumental in molding soldiers. Factors like appreciating heritage and traditions, practicing courtesies, embracing military values, and functioning as a team member all contribute to daily duties. The Army and Marines Corps share a common dedication to defending our nation against adversaries.
Reference
Simmons, Edwin H. (2003). The United States Marines: A History, Fourth Edition. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.
Wright, Robert. The Continental Army (Washington D. C): Center of Military History. 1983, pp 22-24.
