What is it about America? Does America's education system just suck?

[CaseyTheAthie]

They are very different in training and use, but in role, they are all the same. You are/were part of the United States military. Also, a soldier is a soldier, whether you like it or not. You don't go redefining words because you want to think Marine has some distinction that other branches do not.

Yes, there are bad apples in every branch. Yes, there are respectful Marines. There is also no doubt whatsoever that Marines in general have attitude problems. Google "Why are Marines," but don't finish the phrase. You will come up with cocky and arrogant, at least. Once you have chosen your search term, you are likely to also come up with douchebags and assholes. I did. Reputation counts for a lot when you are an armed force. It's a damn shame that the Marines tend to only have a good reputation among themselves and with their family members. I mean, personality wise. Of course, they will be appreciated by those with a mind to appreciate soldiers. Yep, I said soldiers.

As for the percentage of infantry compared to other services, read my posts. You have to take into account that there are numerous MOS-es that do not have anything to do with infantry. 15-20 percent stacks up pretty fucking well against them. I also said Army, not military.

Was directly related. Lived on a joint Army/Air Force base for several years. I can also read and tell when someone is being a dick.

Just to be clear, a historian is likely to know more about the military than your average grunt. Fuck, I bet the rednecks dressed up like it's still the Civil War know more about the U.S. military than most people serving in it. That "You can't know about it, unless you're a part of it" is just more of that elitist shit. Sure, you were/are presumably in some armed force. Being in a house doesn't make you an architect, and an architect can know all about a house without ever setting foot in one.

You speak as if you are at least a civilian contractor. That usually means you are on contract with the U.S. government or your employers are. Fighting, driving trucks or both makes no difference. You, me and every other American is paying for it.

aww that's cute. One a soldier is in thge army (again) a soldier is a soldier and soldiers are in the army. Simple. That not my definition at all. Also, a grunt is infantry not any other form of combat arms. A historian may know the history of the military but have no damn clue how it operates. Hell, i just discovered today that the supply (or ordnance in the army) is highly confusing. Had to draw myself a picture and it was all sorts of jacked up. That came from a supply specialist or the recent new name logistician. Even he said that unless you deal with just that every day it's almost impossible to grasp and I don't doubt it. Like if I were to tell him how aviation maintenance works with our supply/logistics. He would probably have the same difficulty as I did. And as for the army specifically, an actual grunt (infantryman mind you) came into my shop to turn in some stuff. I asked him what he thought percentage wise compared to the other 270 some odd MOSs in the army. He agreed with you that they were the higher percentage of the army. The captain accompanying him disagreed and laid out exactly why that he was wrong and did verify the 10-15% combat arms average for MOSs. While non combat arms MOSs may have seen combat that does not make them grunts or infantry. They are affectionately named POGs (Personnel Other than Grunt). We established that yes I was a POG despite seeing combat first hand and losing some close friends. To continue in our now far off topic subject. It's pretty funny you assume that rednecks are the ones doing civil war reenactments while they try really hard to accurately portray the several jobs that went into the working military of the time it's pretty noticable they really only do calvary, infantry, and artillery. They dont go into the real nuts and bolts. Assume I'm being a dick if it makes you feel good, but in all honesty I may say gay ass army to any of the current or former soldiers around me and instead of getting butthurt like you did and try to insult me personally they'd say marines are gay or some other sexual orientated joke then we'd all laugh with a few 'fuck yous' thrown in. So don't care if you lived on a base thats not living and experiencing the life first hand. Please don't do that whole 'My husband is a first sergeant so I can act like I am one too' thing from him or your father being in the army. It doesn't help things. You can continue trying to one up all you'd like, but we really should continue this in another thread or get back on subject. Just let me know which.