why do people say the marines?

Question

are the best . i was just wondering because i am trying to pick between the marines and the army but the air force is in there too which one.

Answer 1

The raising of that flag on Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next five hundred years.
James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy; 23 February 1945
(the flag-raising on Iwo Jima had been immortalized in a photograph by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal)


I have just returned from visiting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world!
General of the Armies Douglas MacArthur; Korea, 21 September 1950


We have two companies of Marines running rampant all over the northern half of this island, and three Army regiments pinned down in the southwestern corner, doing nothing. What the hell is going on?
Gen. John W. Vessey Jr., USA, Chairman of the the Joint Chiefs of Staff
during the assault on Grenada, 1983


The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!
Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of the United States, 1945


Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem.
Ronald Reagan, President of the United States; 1985


Marines I see as two breeds, Rottweilers or Dobermans, because Marines come in two varieties, big and mean, or skinny and mean. They're aggressive on the attack and tenacious on defense. They've got really short hair and they always go for the throat.
RAdm. "Jay" R. Stark, USN; 10 November 1995


They told (us) to open up the Embassy, or "we'll blow you away." And then they looked up and saw the Marines on the roof with these really big guns, and they said in Somali, "Igaralli ahow," which means "Excuse me, I didn't mean it, my mistake".
Karen Aquilar, in the U.S. Embassy; Mogadishu, Somalia, 1991


For over 221 years our Corps has done two things for this great Nation. We make Marines, and we win battles.
Gen. Charles C. Krulak, USMC (CMC); 5 May 1997


Come on, you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever?
GySgt. Daniel J. "Dan" Daly, USMC
near Lucy-`le-Bocage as he led the 5th Marines' attack into Belleau Wood, 6 June 1918


Gone to Florida to fight the Indians. Will be back when the war is over.
Colonel Commandant Archibald Henderson, USMC
in a note pinned to his office door, 1836


Don't you forget that you're First Marines! Not all the communists in Hell can overrun you!
Col. Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, USMC
rallying his First Marine Regiment near Chosin Reservoir, Korea, December 1950


Marines die, that's what we're here for. But the Marine Corps lives forever. And that means YOU live forever.
the mythical GySgt. Hartman, USMC; portrayed by GySgt. R. Lee Ermey, a Marine Corps Drill Instructor using his own choice of words in Full Metal Jacket, 1987


You'll never get a Purple Heart hiding in a foxhole! Follow me!
Capt. Henry P. Crowe, USMC; Guadalcanal, 13 January 1943


We are United States Marines, and for two and a quarter centuries we have defined the standards of courage, esprit, and military prowess.
Gen. James L. Jones, USMC (CMC); 10 November 2000


I love the Corps for those intangible possessions that cannot be issued: pride, honor, integrity, and being able to carry on the traditions for generations of warriors past.
Cpl. Jeff Sornig, USMC; in Navy Times, November 1994


I have only two men out of my company and 20 out of some other company. We need support, but it is almost suicide to try to get it here as we are swept by machine gun fire and a constant barrage is on us. I have no one on my left and only a few on my right. I will hold.
1stLt. Clifton B. Cates, USMC
in Belleau Wood, 19 July 1918


Courage is endurance for one moment more…
Unknown Marine Second Lieutenant in Vietnam


My only answer as to why the Marines get the toughest jobs is because the average Leatherneck is a much better fighter. He has far more guts, courage, and better officers... These boys out here have a pride in the Marine Corps and will fight to the end no matter what the cost.
2nd Lt. Richard C. Kennard, Peleliu, World War II


A Marine should be sworn to the patient endurance of hardships, like the ancient knights; and it is not the least of these necessary hardships to have to serve with sailors.
Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery


Lying offshore, ready to act, the presence of ships and Marines sometimes means much more than just having air power or ship's fire, when it comes to deterring a crisis. And the ships and Marines may not have to do anything but lie offshore. It is hard to lie offshore with a C-141 or C-130 full of airborne troops.
Gen. Colin Powell, U. S. Army
Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff
During Operation Desert Storm


This was the first time that the Marines of the two nations had fought side by side since the defence of the Peking Legations in 1900. Let it be said that the admiration of all ranks of 41 Commando for their brothers in arms was and is unbounded. They fought like tigers and their morale and esprit de corps is second to none.
Lt Col. D.B. Drysdale, Commanding
41 Commando, Chosen Reservoir, on the 1st Marine Division Division


You cannot exaggerate about the Marines. They are convinced to the point of arrogance, that they are the most ferocious fighters on earth- and the amusing thing about it is that they are.
Father Kevin Keaney
1st Marine Division Chaplain
Korean War


There was always talk of espirit de corps, of being gung ho, and that must have been a part of it. Better, tougher training, more marksmanship on the firing range, the instant obedience to orders seared into men in boot camp.
James Brady, columnist, novelist,
press secretary to President Reagan, television personality and
Marine


The bended knee is not a tradition of our Corps.
General Alexander A. Vandergrift, USMC
to the Senate Naval Affairs Committee, 5 May 1946


By their victory, the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions and other units of the Fifth Amphibious Corps have made an accounting to their country which only history will be able to value fully. Among the Americans who served on Iwo Island, uncommon valor was a common virtue.
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, U.S. Navy


Being ready is not what matters. What matters is winning after you get there.
LtGen Victor H. Krulak, USMC
April 1965


The Marine Corps has just been called by the New York Times, 'The elite of this country.' I think it is the elite of the world.
Admiral William Halsey, U.S. Navy


I still need Marines who can shoot and salute. But I need Marines who can fix jet engines and man sophisticated radar sets, as well.
General Robert E. Cushman, Jr., USMC
Commandant of the Marine Corps, 17 May 1974


I can't say enough about the two Marine divisions. If I use words like 'brilliant,' it would really be an under description of the absolutely superb job that they did in breaching the so-called 'impenetrable barrier.' It was a classic- absolutely classic- military breaching of a very very tough minefield, barbed wire, fire trenches-type barrier.
Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, U. S. Army
Commander, Operation Desert Storm, February 1991


I am convinced that there is no smarter, handier, or more adaptable body of troops in the world.
Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Winston Churchhill


The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle.
Gen. John "Black Jack" Pershing, U.S. Army
Commander of American Forces in World War I


Do not attack the First Marine Division. Leave the yellowlegs alone. Strike the American Army.
Orders given to Communist troops in the Korean War;
shortly afterward, the Marines were ordered
to not wear their khaki leggings.


The American Marines have it [pride], and benefit from it. They are tough, cocky, sure of themselves and their buddies. They can fight and they know it.
General Mark Clark, U.S. Army


They (Women Marines) don't have a nickname, and they don't need one. They get their basic training in a Marine atmosphere, at a Marine Post. They inherit the traditions of the Marines. They are Marines.
LtGen Thomas Holcomb, USMC
Commandant of the Marine Corps, 1943


I've always been proud of being a Marine. I won't hesitate to defend the Corps.
Jonathan Winters, comic and Marine


Every Marine is, first and foremost, a rifleman. All other conditions are secondary.
Gen. A. M. Gray, USMC
Commandant of the Marine Corps


A Ship without Marines is like a coat without buttons.
Adm. Farragut


If I had one more division like this First Marine Division I could win this war.
General of the Armies Douglas McArthur in Korea,
overheard and reported by Marine Staff Sergeant Bill Houghton, Weapons/2/5

Answer 2

Having done eight of my 25 years in the Navy with Fleet Marine Forces, I'm prone to believe that the Marines possess one distinct advantage over other branches. Each Marine is a rifleman, first and foremost. Doesn't matter if he's the Commandant or the junior Private. The Navy came to an appreciation of teaching all new recruits the niceties of marksmanship only when the invading North Koreans pushed U.S. forces into the Pusan Perimeter in the early stages of the Korean War.
Though the Marines pride themselves on the use of amphibious landings to project power ashore from the sea (most recently on the island of Grenada during the Reagan administration), they have adapted the helicopter and ground-traversing amphibious assault craft into use as transport vehicles, making them truly expeditionary, not just amphibious.

Answer 3

Marine bootcamp is the hardest, if for no reason other than it is a month longer than the Army's.

When deciding to go into the military ask yourself what do you want out of it.

The Army and Marines want a strong back. The Air Force and Navy want a strong mind. I'm not saying the Marines and Army want idiots, just they are more physical.


UH... Blu... We have not had an amphibious landing since Korea. About 50 years ago.

Answer 4

They tell themselves and everyone else that and really believe it. However, it's all about what you're actually looking for in the Military. If you want to be infantry but with more opportunities, join the Army. They're a bigger branch, have more advanced weapons systems because they are better funded and have more opportunities to advance your training with specialized units like the Rangers, Special Forces, Airborne and Delta. If you like the water, shorter deployments, nicer dress uniforms and are looking for the extreme version of "discipline" in the Military the Marines are a great choice. If you want to fly, like shorter deployments, want to work with a lot of high tech stuff and like the idea of the best quality of life, then the Air Force is a great choice. Pick what works best for you and what you're looking for out of your Military experience; not what someone else is going to tell you is "the best" because every branch thinks they're "the best" at what they do.

Answer 5

Marines train for both land and sea. Invading f/ sea to shore is the most dangerous part of military operations if the enemy is prepared.
Just because there hasn't been an amphibious landing for many years doesn't mean they don't train for it.
The marine reputation goes back many yrs.

Answer 6

If you want to fly on a plane 1000 miles in the air go to the Air Force. If you want to be on the frontline fighting face to face w/ your enemy, go Army or Marines.

Answer 7

Marines are not the best. 3 of the 4 best soldiers on earth are all army, Rangers, GB's, and the Delta's, and then the navy has the SEALS.

They are both smarter and stronger, dont get me wrong an american soldier is an american soldier, but special forces are called SPECIAL for a reason.

ARMY, if you gonna do it. do it right.

Answer 8

I believe all branches are equal to each other in toughness and training. It's just how they are portrayed in movies and media that make them seem different. As long as you are doing something good for this country, it doesnt matter what branch you pick.

Go for the Army for less hardcore things (still hardcore). It has a lot of benefits and opportunities.
The Marines still go the old school way of training. When I say that I mean Full Metal Jacket style.
Air Force has more classes to go to, and not everyone flies.

Answer 9

My Dad, who is a retired Navy Chief, say it is because it is because the Marines are usually the first to fight, the first "boots on the ground" as he puts it.

Answer 10

THE MARINES ARE THE MOST ELITE BRANCH.. THEY HAVE THE TOUGHEST TRAINING AND THE BEST TRAINING.. SOME PEOPLE SAY THE TRAINING IS THE SAME FOR ALL BRANCHES BUT I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY OTHER BRANCH COMPLETING THE CRUCIBLE .. ONLY THE BEST DO THE MARINES .. THEY ARE THE MOST AWE INSPIRING GROUP .. THEY ARE THE ELITE OF THE ELITE.. AND YES I AM PREJUDICED MY SON IS ONE OF THE FEW THE PROUD THE MARINES...

Answer 11

I'm was in the army, but I have to say that marines are rifleman first, they are much better shooters. And in my 6 yr Army carreer I never saw a fat body Marine. Hell, even the woman are in tip top shape. When I went overseas, these guys don't complain either.