ARMY RESERVES,...worth joining or no?...

[Longhorn85]

i DID THE ARMY RESERVE THING FOR A YEAR AFTER THE MARINES, THEY SUCK. Have you noticed how they and the generals of the forces in Aghanistan are trying to be like us? We will leave no one behind hoo ya shit they are saying? We never did leave anyone behind, never and the army was/is famous for it. Now they are trying to be like us.

Also, why have the Marines not reinserted in force? We are the only force in the area of any apprciable size and strength to represent the US.

Chesty, I don't see why you have to criticize the Army to try and make the Marines look good. All of the services have proud traditions. But "never leaving a fallen comrade" belongs to the Army, it is a part of the Ranger Creed.

The Army obviously has credit in the eyes of the decision makers (oh wait, the decision makers ARE Army). The Army has the respect of Americans, and they seem to be doing a great job. I don't why the Marines didn't take any action why they were over there. The Army has been VERY busy, with Special Forces, Rangers, 10th Mountain, 101st Airborne and Delta, not to mention running the prison camps in Afghanistan and Cuba.

Another testimony to the respect of the Army is the popularity of Blackhawk Down and We Were Soldiers.

I don't know Chesty, maybe you joined the wrong branch of service! For the record, I have all the respect in the world for the USMC.

Rangers Lead The Way!
ttlpkg

 

[Longhorn85]

As far as the subject for the thread, DON"T join the reserves for the college money or benefits. If you are not prepared to deploy, don't kid yourself.

Many folks who joined for the benefits found themselves deployed for a year, and then again soon after.

"Ask not what your country can do for you..."

 

[Big Buck]

well let's consider that the Marine Corps get 6 cents of every dollar spent on defense....yet we are the ones always deployed and first into combat. I beleive the REGULAR Army infantry is grossly undertrained, undisciplined, and basically good for nothing except as shooting targets for the enemy. On the other hand, I have all the respect in the world for the Army SF guys (Rangers, Delta). I'd be happy to have them cover my 6 in a combat situtation.

 

[javaguru]

I've never understood that big chip marines carry on their shoulder. I think they're overcompensating because their original mandate was as security guards for boats and they hate that their paycheck comes from the Navy. That being said, I've never had anything but respect for all branches of the service.

Like ttlpkg said, don't join unless you're prepared to be deployed. I think military service is a great learning experience for anyone and if you want a job skill look very carefully.

 

[Big Buck]

I've never understood that big chip marines carry on their shoulder. I think they're overcompensating because their original mandate was as security guards for boats and they hate that their paycheck comes from the Navy. That being said, I've never had anything but respect for all branches of the service.

What branch of the service guards the President and all the embassies in the world? Oh yeah, Marines do. We have the highest physical standards and personal appearance standards of ANY service in the armed forces. That is a FACT.

 

[chesty]

Becaue we are that damned good.

As an example, during Korea an Army battalion was sent to help the Marines of 1st divison, Chesty Puller's Marines. When the Army arrived the very first thing the commander asked General Puller was what is my avenue of retreat? Puller told him he will not retreat. Then radioed his artillary, gave the exact position of the Army units and told them that if they attempted to retreat to shoot them.

You see, the Rangers are but a small force within the Army. I have worked with them and they are ok.

As for dissin the army to make the Marines look good. I don't have to do that, they do it themselves. As for the leaders in charge? That would be Donald Rumsfield and he is a Marine.

Now I do have respect for Schwarzkopff, Patton, MacArther, and others, but the Army has not had real leadership in almost 40 years and it shows.

And now they are trying to fight a fire in Afghanistan with a water pick.

 

[chesty]

And we don't leave anyone behind no matter his unit. That apparently only applies to the Rangers.

 

[javaguru]

What branch of the service guards the President and all the embassies in the world? Oh yeah, Marines do. We have the highest physical standards and personal appearance standards of ANY service in the armed forces. That is a FACT.

Ok, so marines guard more than boats these days but the Secret Service is actually responsible for the President's security.

The Army has always done the vast majority of fighting throughout our history. Even during the "Island Hopping" campaigns in the Pacific during WWII in which the Marines gained a well deserved reputation. Most of the fighting was carried out by US and Australian Army units after a beachhead was secured. I've met Australians that are quite bitter about the whole matter.

It certainly may be the case that your average marine is more disciplined and well trained than the average grunt but that's to be expected from a numerically small force. Likewise, the average ranger is more physically fit, well trained and disciplined than your average infantryman. However, I will take issue with your assertion that they're "good for nothing except as shooting targets for the enemy." We have one of the best trained and equipped forces in the world.

 

[chesty]

Not really. And that is not a slam. It is a fact of dewindling budgets and so forth. And as far as the island hopping better check your history. The Marines secured every major island, port and air strip in the pacific theater. The army was along for the ride. Okinawa, Tarawa, Guam, Saipan, Phillipines, etc. Yes, we secured the beachead, did the job they couldn't and let them in to mop up. But they did help us along the way and they were good at what they did.

 

[Big Buck]

JavaGuru-did they tell you this in your 8 week vacation...I mean...uh...bootcamp? You know the one where you train with women.....LMFAO You need to do some serious researching before your go running your mouth about things that you have no knowledge of.