You damned right we do! This is why.
Marine Corps
Hymn Lyrics
From the Halls of Montezuma
To the Shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
of United States Marine.
Our flag's unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in ev'ry clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far-off Northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job
The United States Marines.
Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve
In many a strife we've fought for life
And never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.
I'm retired Air Force, however, I have a lot of respect for the Jar Heads
Do We Still Need the U.S. Marine Corps?
SodaHead News
2011/01/27 12:00:00
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893 votes
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146 votes
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They’re the toughest of the tough. The strongest of the strong. The soldiers you send in to do the riskiest work before the rest of the troops follow.
But are the Marines, the “soldiers of the sea,” headed for the military scrap heap?
Though they’ve been taking fire on land in Iraq and Afghanistan for the past 10 years, with the recent decision to cancel orders for a new amphibious troop carrier and a new fighter jet, NPR asked if the legendary Corps is headed for a major facelift in the 21st century?
"For many years now, its core mission has been forcible entry, meaning going ashore in the face of hostile fire to claim enemy beaches and then push inland quickly before defenders regain their balance," said defense analyst Loren Thompson of the Marines’ legendary assaults on the beaches of Iwo Jima, Inchon and the Barbary Coast.
But those days might be over now because Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently pulled the plug on the Corps’ stealth Joint Strike Fighter and their Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle or EFV, citing astronomical cost run-ups and budget cuts.
Instead, the Marines will have to do with an update of their decades old amphibious troop carrier as military brass try to figure out where they fit into a modern battlefield.
With many enemies armed up with long-range missiles that could hit Marines in their landing craft well before they reach the beach, Gates has said the old-school assaults from the sea are likely a thing of the past.
So what is left for the Marines?
"If the Marine Corps is no longer going to do opposed landing on enemy beaches in the face of hostile fire, then its role will be significantly diminished in the future," Thompson predicted.
Of course, the Marines will tell you they do way more than just paddle onto the shore.
"Since 9/11, U.S. amphibious forces have responded to crises and contingencies at least 50 times, a response rate more than double during the entire period of the Cold War," sad senior officer Gen. James Amos.
Despite claims that they are irreplaceable, Gates has recommended reducing the size of Marine forces by 15,000-20,000 in the future, a higher number than he’s suggested in cuts to the Army cuts, which some experts say is the less agile, more expensive force to maintain.
Is the Marine Corps still relevant?
But are the Marines, the “soldiers of the sea,” headed for the military scrap heap?
Though they’ve been taking fire on land in Iraq and Afghanistan for the past 10 years, with the recent decision to cancel orders for a new amphibious troop carrier and a new fighter jet, NPR asked if the legendary Corps is headed for a major facelift in the 21st century?
"For many years now, its core mission has been forcible entry, meaning going ashore in the face of hostile fire to claim enemy beaches and then push inland quickly before defenders regain their balance," said defense analyst Loren Thompson of the Marines’ legendary assaults on the beaches of Iwo Jima, Inchon and the Barbary Coast.
But those days might be over now because Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently pulled the plug on the Corps’ stealth Joint Strike Fighter and their Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle or EFV, citing astronomical cost run-ups and budget cuts.
Instead, the Marines will have to do with an update of their decades old amphibious troop carrier as military brass try to figure out where they fit into a modern battlefield.
With many enemies armed up with long-range missiles that could hit Marines in their landing craft well before they reach the beach, Gates has said the old-school assaults from the sea are likely a thing of the past.
So what is left for the Marines?
"If the Marine Corps is no longer going to do opposed landing on enemy beaches in the face of hostile fire, then its role will be significantly diminished in the future," Thompson predicted.
Of course, the Marines will tell you they do way more than just paddle onto the shore.
"Since 9/11, U.S. amphibious forces have responded to crises and contingencies at least 50 times, a response rate more than double during the entire period of the Cold War," sad senior officer Gen. James Amos.
Despite claims that they are irreplaceable, Gates has recommended reducing the size of Marine forces by 15,000-20,000 in the future, a higher number than he’s suggested in cuts to the Army cuts, which some experts say is the less agile, more expensive force to maintain.
Is the Marine Corps still relevant?
Top Opinion
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Ssgtwaldo 2011/01/27 13:56:55
Marien Corps Birthday is Saturay November 10,2012.
MARINES HAVE BEEN MARNIES FOR 237 YEARS THIS YEAR!!!!!!! OOORAHHH
OOOO-RAAHH!
Obama sends millions to Al Queida to feed them and buy them weapons, and we can't afford to upgrade our own Armed Forces? Do you Libs out there see anything strange about that yet?