Who are tougher? French Foreign Legion or the Marines?

[Wezil]

Why have Marines and Army? Isn't there a redundancy there?

[MikeH]

Army based on land
Marines based on boats

Historically very different jobs, now very similar.

[Wezil]

I'm aware of the different historical roles.

Let me put it this way.

What now does the Army do that the Marines don't?

[Asher]

Sex with women?

[MikeH]

Allow Alby to join?

[SpencerH]

Why have Marines and Army? Isn't there a redundancy there?

That's certainly arguable for the modern day forces but some amphibious warfare (then army) divisions would still be required. Given the esprit de corps boost of the US marines compared to regular army units , the cost savings by eliminating the redundancy may not be worth it.

[Asher]

That's certainly arguable for the modern day forces but some amphibious warfare (then army) divisions would still be required. Given the esprit de corps boost of the US marines compared to regular army units , the cost savings by eliminating the redundancy may not be worth it.

Shouldn't they just be a "division" (or whatever it's called), like paratroopers?

[MikeH]

What now does the Army do that the Marines don't?

Semi-serious answer:

Get funded from different departments.

[Al B. Sure!]

They sure do and their exclusion does seem a little odd. Perhaps they're committed elsewhere.

The Marines were not involved in those operations. Marine Special Forces (FORECON) were not in SOCOM at the time. The fact that the Marines were not used motivated the Marine Corps to develop MSOR within SOCOM a few years later.

There was a long history of the Marine Corps trying to maintain independent command of troops and not operating under SOCOM.

[Asher]

The Marines sound less and less useful the more I learn about them...

[Zoetstofzoetje]

Both are wussies. You have to look beyond your borders for the real gangsters.

My prime money would be on the Russian Spetsnaz. Those are some real tough, cruel, elite bastards.

After that come the Brazilian BOPE. Boy, do they kick ass.

In last come the Dutch commandos. Smallest elite force on the planet, but high-tech and trained like there's no tomorrow.

[Zoetstofzoetje]

BTW, French foreign legion are usually criminals and people who want to get a French passport. Not your prime meat cut for elite forces, I say.

[Al B. Sure!]

The Marines sound less and less useful the more I learn about them...

Hey really, Asher, if the US should be less involved in foreign affairs, we really don't need an Army. The Marine Corps can maintain its role as a rapid deployment expeditionary force for UN operations like Operation Restore Hope in Somalia in the 90's or Bosnia.

Is anyone going to invade the US? Do we really need an army? We could probably get by with a smaller quick-deployment, self-sustaining military force with combined arms capability and a history of counter-insurgency warfare going back to the Banana Wars and the Boxer Rebellion. Send them on peace-keeping or when tinpot dictators want to commit genocide.

Disband the Army. Keep the Corps

[Al B. Sure!]

BTW, French foreign legion are usually criminals and people who want to get a French passport. Not your prime meat cut for elite forces, I say.

The first part is actually not true anymore. They don't let criminals in.

In the past, the Legion had a reputation for attracting criminals on the run and would-be mercenaries, but the admissions process is now severely restricted and background checks are performed on all applicants. Generally speaking, convicted felons are prohibited from joining the service.

Also, it's not even that foreign anymore:

Commanded by French officers, it is also open to French citizens, who amounted to 24% of the recruits as of 2007.[1]

And Dutch commandos? Brazil?

[dannubis]

What Alpie, they try to identify their targets before they shoot ?

They are not high on speed when going into combat?