Well, they do both have strenuous training. Marine boot camp is physically the toughest no doubt, but Army boot camp is no cakewalk either, believe me. Hardest seven weeks of my life, and I've been through some tough shit.

As for why they're separate, Marines are designed as light, quick striking, hard hitting shock troops. They get in, destroy the enemy, get out. The Army is designed as a heavy fighting and occupation force, which means we have a ton of extra jobs the Marines just don't need.

So, when you need boots on the ground fast and hard, you call the Marines. When you need a large, heavy, multi-directional attack, and need to hold the ground for the long term afterwards, you call the Army.

Gross overgeneralization, but that's my take on it. I'm sure there are others,

UsaSatsui wrote:

They do different things. An army is a ground force. The Marines are a division of the Navy (at least originally), which is a sea force. They have a diverse training that includes land/sea operations. While I may be wrong on this, I think the Marines's focus is more on quickly striking and gaining ground, particularly on a coast, while the army's is on holding it.

Exactly. I left out the amphibious aspect of what they do. (Although technically the army can do that too, if we have to.)

Blackout wrote:

My grandpa was in the Air force and told me that the army and the navy are both four letter words.

Well of course, you know what U.S. Army stands for, backwards, right? Yes My Retarded Ass Signed Up.

Marine, of course, is an acronym for My Ass Rides In Navy Equipment (or Muscles Are Required, Intelligence Not Expected.)

Navy, Never Again Volunteer Yourself

But Blackie, here's one of my favorite jokes. It can be tweaked to work for any service, but in honor of your grandpa:

A soldier, a marine, and a sailor got into a fight about which service is best. The fight was so heated that they killed each other. Soon, they found themselves in Heaven. They see St. Peter walk by and ask, “Which branch of Service is the best?”

St. Peter replied, “I can't answer that. But, I will ask God what He thinks the next time I see Him.”

Some time later, the three see St. Peter again and ask him if he was able to find the answer. Suddenly, a dove landed on St. Peter's shoulder. The dove was carrying a note in its beak. St. Peter opened the note and read it out loud to the three servicemen:

“Gentlemen: All the Branches of the Service are ‘Honorable and Noble’. Each one of you has served your country well. Be proud of that.

(signed)

GOD, USAF (Ret.)”

Syd Lexia wrote:

Marines get swords. Swords = win.

Hey, I have an Army officer's sabre hanging in my room right now. Army wears swords with their dress uniform as well.



We only wear them on full-dress occasions, but we can wear them.

GPFontaine wrote:

SoldierHawk wrote: Syd Lexia wrote: Marines get swords. Swords = win. Hey, I have an Army officer's sabre hanging in my room right now. Army wears swords with their dress uniform as well. We only wear them on full-dress occasions, but we can wear them. Have you ever gotten into a sword fight (for fun or not)?

Hahaha well, not with my sabre, no. They're mostly ceromonial, and wouldn't stand up to heavy hitting. Plus the blade is tooled and engraved, and I wouldn't want to mess it up. Plus they're made (I think) in Spain, and quite expensive. I wouldn't want to mess mine up:



I have, of course, gotten in to many fake sword fights with things like brooms, sticks, etc, and I took kenjitsu for several years (which is all about sword fighting, natch.) But no, never with this particular sword.

Ice2SeeYou wrote:

Clearly whichever division has Solid Snake is the most badass.

You know, that's an excellent question. I don't think its ever specifically stated what service FOXHOUND is a part of. Between the fact that its referred to as "Special Forces," and the nature of the kind of assignments Snake is given, I would guess he's technically part of the Army. (Special Forces can kinda refer to groups like the Seals, and sometimes Marine Recon too, but I'd still bet Army.)

Here's the thing, though: once you get into the world of black ops and start doing all the cool secret squirrel stuff, it really doesn't matter what branch you are a part of. Groups like FOXHOUND, while they might technically fall under the department of the Army or whatever, are really their own entity.

^ Yep, just after you posted that I remembered this cutscene from MGS3:



Clearly Snake's in a 1950s/60s Army uniform there, wearing a Special Forces green beret. So, question answered. Hooah Snake!

Ice2SeeYou wrote:

SoldierHawk wrote: ^ Yep, just after you posted that I remembered this cutscene from MGS3: Clearly Snake's in a 1950s/60s Army uniform there, wearing a Special Forces green beret. So, question answered. Hooah Snake! Well technically that's Big Boss, not Solid Snake. Hehe....couldn't resist

Well yeah, but that's before he's Big Boss, no? And wasn't his code name Naked Snake? So THAT Snake is Army SF. And according to the wiki, SOLID Snake is also Army SF. So I suppose I should have said, "Hooah SNAKES"