Replies

"Marine should be a rifleman--it's part of their whole schtick."

Every Marine is a rifleman--it's the emphasis of their training and not a their "schtick" but coming from an Army "whatever" is the main reason we didn't go in the Army. Different mission, different ideology.

I as a US Marine, and a FMF Corpsman, and the father of a Solider (and prior US Marine) When he went Army we had a conversation about that. it is my humble opinion that in every branch the troops are always "good to go" its the leadership that is the determinant, and the Army's concept of leadership, sucks as a whole. Just my opinion. And BTW, the Marine Corps does have it's own engineers (if you would have researched you might have known that).

MARSOC / Raider Bn, is just the latest iteration of ANGLICO, RECON, Force RECON.

By your thinking please explain the concept of Delta, Green Beret, Ranger and any other SF group that is Army?

Not very cost effective?

USMC engineers are a shadow of the capability of army corps of engineers. USMC engineers are basically combat engineers, not at all as capable as Seabees.
And marsoc is an abomination. Raider battalion were disbanded long before WWII ended. Every Marine grunt the elite.
Recon was simply a battlefield job that selected for its needs. Marsoc was created for political reasons and to feel “special”. It was not created FOR a mission, It was created then went looking for one.

Anglico was to coordinate fires from other branches, and to assist Army with naval gunfire experts. Recon was eyes and ears for tactical leaders within friendly artillery range. Force recon was for overall commanders strategic needs and beyond the umbrella.
Raiders were meant for raids on jap islands and were disbanded when that practice wasn’t needed.

What is marsoc mission? Except of course to “be special” and get to play? What can they do that a regular Marine rifle company can’t. The answer, nothing.

If you read my missive closely, I specifically noted that the Marines need Navy and Army help for heavy construction. I am well aware that the Marines have combat engineers. One of the amusing scenes, from may opinion, was seeing a reporter talking about the Marines advancing on Baghdad--and there was an Army-installed bridge in the shot. So can your snark jarhead.

Secondly, my criticism of MARSOC was echoing the opinion of Marines of my acquaintance. In their view, all Marines are supposed to be special. Like Cyber, the Marines pretty much wanted to get into a business where money was flowing.

I will just ignore your jealousy of the Special Feces and Delta. And, unlike the Navy SEALS, no one really talks what Delta is doing.

One of the more sad things that I read in recent years was some boneheaded idea to take SEAL washouts and use them to form two naval rifle battalions to do certain duties. I was like, "yeah, aren't those jobs Marines are supposed to be doing? Has the Navy lost control of the Marines here or have the Marines some of their focus?"

Anyhow, I believe that the way that the Marine Corps stays viable as a separate service is to offer something that no one else does. Thus my point was partly this: "if they start looking too much like the Army, then people are going to ask why they don't get folded into the Army." Just pray that some idiots don't try to propose starting a USMC armored division.