USMC Force Recon vs. Army Rangers

[swolejah]

What are the differences? Has anyone here served in the US Military?

A guy in my history class swears the Army is better than the USMC and I disagree.

 

[Bambino]

A guy in my history class swears the Army is better than the USMC.

He's correct. 'Nuff said.

 

[stillwantmore]

What are the differences? Has anyone here served in the US Military?

A guy in my history class swears the Army is better than the USMC and I disagree.

As a former Marine myself, I have to disagree. I cant readily compare the Marines to any other branch of the U.S. Military, but the Marines are the most disciplined, have the best training, and if you go about it the right way you can come out of the Marines just as good if not better than the other branches. It just depends on the career field youre interested in pursuing. The Marines have the toughest boot camp of the branches. It's a proven statistical FACT fewer graduate from USMC boot camp than any of the other U.S. branches. If we're talking from an "armchair commando" point of view, USMC Force Recon would be about as close as you can get to being a Navy SEAL as you could get in the U.S. forces. You would have to serve in the Israili military to be more "hard core". Then there's the German GSG-9 units. They're probably even more 'hard core', and could most likely "beat" a SEAL unit from a tactical standpoint.

I'm fuzzy on all the details of 'making it' into USMC Recon, but any recruiter can help you out there. I do know that you cant simply join the Marines and come right out of boot camp, and straight into Recon. You have several other schools to go through that will be even more demanding than boot camp was. Again, your best bet is really to go to your closest recruiting office and talk to the staff NCO in charge there. It's a good idea to "shop around" if youre considering either branch of the service, compare the two branches, and see for yourself which you prefer.

 

[fredski49]

The way that boot camps are run is not good imo, the marines' spirits are crushed so they follow any order. The SAS (as well as to a lesser extent the british army) however are taught to think for themselves and that is what makes them one of the best forces in the world. The only reason the british military is looked down on is because of its small numbers

 

[swolejah]

Between the time I made this topic and now, I have read tons of info into Recon and talked to others who have been in it on the military.com forum.

swm what was your [words=http://www.mattersofsize.com/join-now.html]MOS[/words]? I'm planning on doing 0321, or 8541.

fredski:

I don't think you know what your talking about. I've talked to countless vets and active duty servicemen in the Corps.

 

[stillwantmore]

My primary [words=http://www.mattersofsize.com/join-now.html]MOS[/words] was Security Forces which I did for my first two years. Secondary [words=http://www.mattersofsize.com/join-now.html]MOS[/words] was 0351 which I did out in 29 Palms, CA. my last year and a few months.

 

[MAXAMEYES]

Not the Army...nooo, not the Army !! I'm retired Navy and one of the biggest jokes me and a bunch o' my old leatherneck buddies useta share was that the Army was fucked; because they combined the Corps brains with the Navy's discipline! If you really got yer heart set on bein' a groundpounder and you want honor and brotherhood like none other, then there's no other choice but the Corps.

 

[MAXAMEYES]

Hey Fredski. I served with a few Brits over in the Gulf who were on an exchange program. England being the birthplace of the hovercraft, they were pretty impressed with what we had done with 'em. But none of us looked down on your countrymen at all.


We saved that for the French

 

[nobody]

There is no such thing as "better" when it comes to the U.S. military, only better suited. If the mission is to take an airfield you send in Rangers. Urban covert insertion, you choose S.E.A.L.S. or Delta. Say you have beachhead and you need the current topography or you need to clear an undersea mine field, your obvious choice would be Force Recon. It should be noted that Force Recon is the mother of ALL Special Forces teams. Navy S.E.A.L.S were originally developed and trained under their tutelage. Hollywood has a tendency to only glorify Delta and S.E.A.L.S. The only movie, to my knowledge anyway, that has given Force Recon much attention is "The Rock". All the Special Forces kick ass in their own particular way. As we used to say, "high speed, low drag".

 

[MAXAMEYES]

Nobody, How can ya forget the (almost) classic Heartbreak Ridge ? Clint as Gunny Highway and his recon platoon...been a while but I love that flick.

 

[nobody]

Nobody, How can ya forget the (almost) classic Heartbreak Ridge ? Clint as Gunny Highway and his recon platoon...been a while but I love that flick.

Damn, you're right I totally spaced it on that one. Good save man.

 

[MAXAMEYES]

Okay ! 'nother Eastwood fan....Then ya might like this one I useta bust on the snake-eaters with; What do a walrus and Tupperware have in common?
They both like a nice, tight SEAL!