The US Marines (United States Marine Corps), is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations with the US Navy and Air Force. It traces its roots to the American Revolutionary War and was formed by a resolution on 10 November 1775.
US Marines undergo training that makes them almost like a super hero in capability. The spirit of the dare-devil that gets instilled in them is every man's dream. Being a Marine is like challenging normal human limits and discovering how powerful you are as a human being and through this power, how you can help the world by bringing peace and order.
The Marine Corps is one of the most elite fighting forces in the world. The Marine Corps' mission is unique among the services. Marines serve on U.S. Navy ships, protect naval bases, guard U.S. embassies, and provide an ever-ready quick strike force to protect U.S. interests anywhere in the world. To perform the many duties of the Marine Corps, approximately 174,000 officers and enlisted Marines fly planes and helicopters; operate radar equipment; drive armored vehicles; gather intelligence; survey and map territory; maintain and repair radios, computers, jeeps, trucks, tanks, and aircraft; and perform hundreds of other challenging jobs.
The three primary areas of responsibility for the Marine Corps are:
- Seizure or defense of advanced naval bases and other land operations to support naval campaigns
- Development of tactics, technique, and equipment used by amphibious landing forces in coordination with the Army and Air Force
- Such other duties as the President or Department of Defense may direct.
The Marine Corps fulfills a critical military role as an amphibious warfare force. It can rapidly deploy a combined-arms task force to almost anywhere in the world within days.
Their major achievements so far are as below:
- They played a small role in the American Civil War (1861–1865) with their prominent task as blockade duty.
- During World War I Marines served as a part of the American Expeditionary Force.
- In World War II , they performed a central role in the Pacific War, along with the U.S. Army. They took the lead in a massive campaign of amphibious warfare, advancing from island to island.
- The Korean War (1950–1953) saw the Corps expand from 75,000 regulars to a force of 261,000 Marines, mostly reservists. 30,544 Marines were killed or wounded during the war and 42 were awarded the Medal of Honor.
- The Marine Corps served in the Vietnam War taking part in such battles as the Battle of Hue and the Battle of Khe Sanh in 1968.
- Following the attacks on 11 September 2001, President George W. Bush announced the Global War on Terrorism. Since then, the Marine Corps, alongside the other military services, has engaged in global operations around the world in support of that mission. Throughout the Global War on Terrorism, the U.S. Marines have supported operations in Africa to counter Islamic extremism and piracy in the Red Sea.
- Marines and other American forces began staging in Pakistan and Uzbekistan on the border of Afghanistan as early as October 2001 in preparation for Operation Enduring Freedom.
- U.S. Marines served in the Iraq War, along with its sister services.
The Marine Corps is the America's 911 force. Thousands of Marines are always deployed aboard naval amphibious ships ready to respond to an international crises. This ability to mobilize quickly has allowed the Marines to become the United States' ready-reaction force. The Marines also consider themselves to be a self-sustaining force bringing with it to battle its own air power, artillery and logistics support. Of course, Marines have to travel on Navy vessels in order to to get to its destination.
Marines also are proud to say that 'every Marine is a rifleman.' In other words, regardless if you are in the infantry, the air wing or a computer technician, you will given the proper training so that, if need be, you can perform as an infantryman if called upon. Although the Marine Corps says that "every Marine is a rifleman," infantry units comprise no more than 15% of the service's total force. You will be able to work in one of 35 career fields which offer over 300 different jobs. The Marine Corps accepts prior-service people. Some specialty fields available to you:
- Aircraft Defense
- Aircraft Maintenance
- Armor
- Broadcasting
- Combat Engineer
- Communications
- Computer Operator/Technician
- Electronics
- Intelligence
- Supply
Only US citizens can join the US Marines. All Marines have to undergo a training in 13 week Boot Camp. Recruit training is rigorous, demanding, and challenging. The overall goal of recruit training is to instill in the recruits the military skills, knowledge, discipline, pride and self-confidence necessary to be a United States Marine.
In the first several days at the recruit depot, a recruit is assigned to a platoon, receives a basic issue of uniforms and equipment, is given an additional physical, and takes further assignment classification tests. Each platoon is led by a team of three Marine drill instructors. A typical training day for recruits begins with reveille at 0500 (5:00 a.m.), continues with drill, physical training, and several classes in weapons and conduct, and ends with taps at 2100 (9:00 p.m.).
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