Why are Marine Corps Officer ranks different from Navy Officer ranks?

Question

I'm in the Army and I've often wondered why the Marines' Officer ranks are the same as ours even though the Marines fall under the Dept. of the Navy (why don't they just call a Marine Corps Colonel a Captain, etc.).

Answer 1

Because Marines don't like to play with seamen !

seriously though read about John Paul Jones who started our navy for the Continental congress he patterned everything after the navy he knew the British . Who had started far enough back in time that army officers commanded ships and a Marine contingent was taken from land forces hence the army type ratings for the Marine and Navy uses their own because the Navies back then were mostly merchant marine ship that were conscripted for that war sometimes using what was called the right of angary if I remember correctly be a while since I studied the subject .

Answer 2

I have wondered the same thing myself. I think it has to do with the ground force role they take. The Marines are supposed to be the best traits of both the Army and Navy combined together. Maybe the Army ranks are better than the Navy.

Answer 3

There are minor difference which are very easy to detect when you see the rank side by side. AF and Army are identical, but if you put them next to the equivelent rank in the Navy or Marine Corps you will notice that the Navy/Marine Corps rank is slimmer. When you look at the subdued rank of the services you will notice that the AF is blue.

Answer 4

The original marines were taken from normal army based ground units and specially trained to fight on ships. The old British Marine Uniform was almost identical to their army based counterparts as well.

They were always considered ground forces despite their naval roles so they retained their old ranking system as it also suited the more combative nature of the force.

When the Americans adopted a similar military structure allot of the traditions from the British came along, including the Ranking systems.

Answer 5

Because the Navy took a lot of traditions and customs from the British Royal Navy. If you look at the Royal Navy and it's ranking system it is the same as U.S. Navy ranks. One of the reasons for this is at the time of the American Revolution, Admirals of the Royal Navy had written many of the manuals for naval warfare at the time. Also at that time the Royal Navy was the most powerful in the world.

Answer 6

Although the Marines are a part of the Navy, they are primarily ground forces, so their ranks almost parallel those of the army.

Answer 7

While a Naval force the Marines are not Navy .
Completely separate .

Answer 8

i would have to agree with GIO' on this