This may sound like a really, really stupid question...but what does the US Army do?

Question

Hi! I am a British civilian and so I know nothing about the US military, but I am trying to learn more.

What I don't understand is that I never really hear much about the US Army, here or on the news- all the US infantry and ground forces seem to be USMC. Have I got it right in understanding that the USMC is actually larger somehow than the Army? Kind of the opposite of the ratio between the British Army and Royal Marines?

Please answer sensibly. I am sorry if I have my facts wrong or have offended anyone but I am just interested to learn.

Thanks!

Answer 1

No. The Army actually recruits more people every year then the entire Marine Corps.



The thing is, ever since WWII, the media loves the Marine Corps and the Marine Corps is much better at talking to the media and telling thier story then the US Army is. This is a problem the Army is trying to address this, but the media is the media.



The Army is almost 600,000. The Marine Corps is only about 180,000.



In simple terms, the Marines are a door opener. They invade the island or whatever, then the Army comes in and finishes the fight while the Marines get ready to attack the next place. Like an Airborne Division sort of, an Airborne division jumps in, then the ground forces met up with it, then the Airborne division is pulled out to get ready for thier next jump.



The Marines earned thier reputation in WWII. The Army did just as much and more, but the Marines had the forced entry part, and media was always there for it. The media didn't care about the clearing of the islands that could on for months, so they hardly ever covered it.



So even today, the Marines attact the media, just like they attract Hollywood as well if you look at the movies, its mostly Marines in movies. Most times the media and the Hollywood don't even know the difference between a type of unit. I have seen them call Soldiers "Marines" and they get equipment wrong all the time.





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To correct some above answers:



The Army had a lot more infantry then the Marines do. The Army has 42 Brigades of combat Arms. The Marines only have about 9-12.



The Marines are not like Special Forces, they are more like an Airborne Division or Mountain Division, they are 3 divisions that have a specific mission of amphibous assault.

Answer 2

The US army is alot bigger than the USMC by like a factor of ten. The US army maintains large units of armor, infantry, special forces and helicopters. The USMC main job is amphibious assaults using armor, helos, ground troops and fixed wing air assets (Army does not have it's own air force anymore). Army military occupational specialties are more specialized (or limited) than those in the USMC (a MOS is basically the job you have inside the military like MP, tank driver etc.). I hope this helps you out in understanding some of the differences, but basically our USMC was based on your Royal Marines. A good bunch of guys, btw, at least those I met back in the gulf war.

Answer 3

There are more Army personnel then Marines in the US also, but there is more infantry in the USMC especially on the front lines, that why you hear about them more. The US Army does the a lot of things probably the same kind as the British Army.

Answer 4

Pro rata the balance is going to be similar to our own armed forces. There will be some exceptions to that because US requirements and UK requirements will always have slight differences due to their tasking but in general they are the same but much larger - and they often do the same job, sometimes in the same formations. Take Afhghanistan at the moment. Most of the air cover for our boys in Helmand comes from the USAF - and from what I hear our lads are delighted with the service. It's not that the RAF can't do it, it's because of the way the air forces are shared out to the coalition in the 'Stan.



The USMC is an elite unit, same as our Royal Marines but they have "crack" infantry and armoured units same as we do. As with all armies though, you always hear more about the top outfits because of their reputation and that fact that they are always deployed first.



One big difference is: they don't have Gurkhas! I'm quite positive they do have other troops who are equally adept with big flippin knives though LOL.

Answer 5

Proud to say my younger brother serves in the US Army. He specifically is a mechanic working on humvees. Doing his tour in Iraq presently. USMC is usually first in to make the way and then US Army comes in to clean up the rest of the mess. helpful at all?

Answer 6

Depends on what you do in the army. There are over 150 jobs/careers in the army and you can choose which one to be in and use your skills to better the United States. But enough from me, here is the website....

Answer 7

the army is the biggest branch of the us military...the army's primary job is to protect the us borders from both foreign and domestic threats, to be the frontline in battles and to assist in humanitarian aid...there are more army soldiers deployed then other branches...most news media lump all deployed troops into one huge group...because it's easier to say marines or army without realizing that both branches have troops deployed...

Answer 8

No the US Marines are in fact a lot smaller by far

in numbers etc then the US Army...



US Marines have ALWAYS been at the forefront

of any Combat in ALL Wars...that is what they DO !!!!

They are far more aggresive in how they engage the

Enemy...take target A...they don't stop until its taken...



The Corps MEB's are fully self supporting in nature...

have their own Ships/Choppers/Fighters/Bombers/Arty./etc

Answer 9

The USMC is an elite unit, somewhat like our SAS or Royal Marines. The media in the UK is unlikey to comment on American military activities unless they're doing something hugely important, which is why the USMC gets more mention. There are far more people in the regular US Army than the Marine Corps.

Answer 10

Easy.

Look in the real world.

We have The Saint.

What does the Saint do?

Luke 24.44-45

Now we have the Knights.

What does the Knights do out there?

Luke 24.47-49

What do you think?

Answer 11

I don't know anything about the differences between the branches of the US Military forces, but I do know they have a military presence in too many countries (including ours)

I also know that US military spending is MORE than that of the REST of the WORLD PUT TOGETHER.

Answer 12

The US Army does one thing, and one thing only: Kill it's own men and allies.



It invented the term 'friendly fire' for God's sake! They are a joke!

Answer 13

Nothing apart from friendly fire, all they are good at

Answer 14

http://www.goarmy.com/JobDetail.do?id=47



This may help.

Answer 15

i don't know

Answer 16

nothing