What Makes the Marine Corps so Special? 

Join the conversation at: discord.gg/AyX5j8chNE Follow me on Twitter @ryanmcbeth The Marine Corps was founded in 1775 as a force to augment the Navy when performing boarding actions, repelling borders and performing raids. But since that time, the USMC has turned into an agile, and creative expeditionary force that is often the first to arrive at an intervention. Marine corps puppy killers www.snopes.com/fact-check/puppy-killers/ Marine Corps history: www.usmcu.edu/Research/Marine-Corps-History-Division/Brief-Histories/Brief-History-of-the-United-States-Marine-Corps/ New DoD Adviser Has Made Controversial Proposal: Get Rid of the Marine Corps www.military.com/daily-news/2020/11/12/new-dod-adviser-has-made-controversial-proposal-get-rid-of-marine-corps.html How to Absorb the Marine Corps into the Army and Navy www.military.com/daily-news/2020/11/12/new-dod-adviser-has-made-controversial-proposal-get-rid-of-marine-corps.html Marine Amphibious Landing in Korea, 1871 www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/m/marine-amphibious-landing-korea-1871.html The Battle of Ganghwa, Korea, 1871 www.history.navy.mil/about-us/leadership/director/directors-corner/h-grams/h-gram-063/h-063-5.html Close Air Support MCWP 3-23.1 What is the most important innovation ever adopted by the Marine Corps? November 2019 Proceedings www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2019/november/what-most-important-innovation-ever-adopted-marine-corps Goodbye, tanks: How the Marine Corps will change, and what it will lose, by ditching its armor www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2021/03/22/goodbye-tanks-how-the-marine-corps-will-change-and-what-it-will-lose-by-ditching-its-armor/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWe%20have%20sufficient%20evidence%20to,the%20divestment%20of%20Marine%20tanks. Army soldiers Celebrate MArine Corps Birthday. www.army.mil/article/30358/marines_cut_cake_celebrate_234th_birthday Deception in the Desert Deceiving Iraq in Operation DESERT STORM www.armyupress.army.mil/Books/Browse-Books/iBooks-and-EPUBs/Deception-in-the-Desert/#:~:text=On%2024%20February%2C%20the%20first,first%20phase%20in%20Coalition%20amphibious Marines Over the Western Front www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2006/june/marines-over-western-front Rights: "Marines Landing at Inchon, Korea, 15 September 1950" by Archives Branch, USMC History Division is marked with CC BY 2.0. "The old Tun Tavern, Philadelphia. Drawing." by Marion Doss is marked with CC BY-SA 2.0. "'Higgins Boat' - D-Day Amphibious Landing Craft" by string_bass_dave is marked with CC BY-SA 2.0. "V-22 Osprey" by Tim Pohlhaus is marked with CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. "Boeing V-22 Osprey" by Loco Steve is marked with CC BY 2.0. "Monterrey falls during Mexican-American War" by MIRAR a FONDO is marked with CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

My niece told her mother she wanted to join the Marines. As a former Marine, I was tasked with talking her into doing something sensible...like joining the Air Force. I talked to her for ten minutes and went back to tell her mom "she's dead set on becoming a Marine, she won't fit in anywhere else". She was made Gunnery Sergeant last year.

My dad actually told me while he was over in Kuwait during desert storm, he was assigned with a buddy of his to watch over some pows who had surrendered, and one of the pows in broken English legitimately asked my dad's buddy if it was true that Marines have to kill a member of their family to become a marine. The guy no joke, dead serious told the pow, that he had killed his own grandmother to become a marine. The guy who asked the question rolled over and started bawling curling into a fetal position.

My dad who was in the Navy used to say, “If it has to absolutely, positively, must be destroyed overnight, you send in the Marines.”

As a Marine, the only reason why we're so effective is simple: our quality of life is so bad that literal death is preferable to a Chinese field day.

It was also a Marine Sergeant that invented the concept of NCO entertainment by flicking a spent cigarette butt into a grassy area and then ordering a group of Privates to find and dispose of it.

Civilian here. I have noticed army saying, "I was in the army." Where I hear marines say "I'm a marine." I never thought about it before, but it's a significant difference.

As a former Marine, I have struggled to explain to my friends here in Poland that I was not in the Army. My attempts have not been aided by the fact that Marine sounds like "marynarz", the Polish word for "sailor". Thank you for a very good explanation. I'll refer to this video often!

I've trained with Marines. I was an officer in the Airborne at the time. The one thing that stuck with me was their ability to improvise in the most (circumspect) horrible conditions known. All crayon jokes aside, these guys are just different people. And I respect that.

My grandfather was a marine during WWII. His nickname was “lucky”. He was very small being only 18 at the time, that’s the only thing I think that helped him survive 7 amphibious landing vehicles being destroyed that he had been initially launched in and others that picked him up along the way. I couldn’t even imagine. I have all his medals. The man was courageous.

"The Army is something you did, the Marine Corps is something that you are." As a Marine vet, this is something that you nailed McBeth. The saying goes "Once a Marine, always as Marine." And the pride of being a Marine is something that no one can take from you. Thank you so much for this detailed history of Marine Corps esprit de corps

My oldest brother just past away last December at the age of 69. As a very young Marine he went to Viet Nam as a helicopter mechanic/crew chief/door gunner. Rough around the edges but always squared away. I looked up to him, he was my best friend and helped me to become the man i am. Semper Fi to all Marines living and gone. Thank you for this in depth video.

This is a story of my short Marine Corps career and how other branches of the US military saved my life: Two Corpsmen saved my life in Iraq when I got hit with mortar fragment during a firefight on my right shoulder. It went in the back and exited in front of my shoulder just below the joint and it also broke my humerus bone. I already lost so much blood because I had an entrance and exit wound. I didn’t feel any pain for the first 15-20 minutes due to adrenaline and I was in and out of consciousness. I was feeling so tired, sleepy and my mouth was so dry. Believe it or not, I was calm the whole time while they were trying to stop the bleeding. According to my fellow Marines that gathered around me, my eyes was rolling and it was all white. I’m not supposed to smoke a cigarette or drink water, but my friends thought I wasn’t going to make it so they yelled at one of the Corpsman just to give them to me. Fortunately for me I was immediately picked up by Army blackhawk. I remember the army medic just holding my hand the whole flight back to the base hospital (morphine was already given before I got on the blackhawk). Army surgeons immediately gave me 4 bags of blood. I didn’t get amputated thanks to the Navy surgeon that performed my surgery in Spain. According to the other doctors in that hospital the Navy surgeon that operated on me was one of the best in the Navy. I stayed 6 weeks in the hospital and had 4 surgeries to fix my arm bone graph and skin graph. The most memorable part of that hospital stay in Spain was the night I was getting flown back to the Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. I was put in a bus lying down next to the window on our way to the airport tarmac. Before the bus left, there was this lone man that came out of the hospital and he stood by himself infront of the bus window. (I was lying down in a stretcher by the window while other veterans were sitting.) He stood there for about 5 minutes and as soon as our bus started moving slowly, he stood at attention and gave us a salute. I just broke down and started crying. It was dark but I could see his face enough for me to recognize that it was the Naval doctor that saved my arm from amputation. We had a couple of days lay over in Germany and Air Force personnel took care of me also. An Airmen was literally scrubbing my whole body when I took a shower. I told him that I can take a shower by myself even though I can’t move my right arm. He said that he can’t leave me alone in the shower because I might pass out. When he noticed that I can’t clean parts of my body, he insisted on scrubbing my body so that I am clean. His job was only to make sure that I don’t pass out, but he offered to clean my dirty body. The Naval surgeon in Spain did an awesome job with my surgery that I was in Afghanistan 6 months just after my surgery. My bicep died, lost mobility and probably 30% weaker on my right arm (luckily I am left handed) and shoulder. I didn’t tell my Naval doctor in Camp Lejeune that my unit 2/8 was going to Afghanistan because I know he wouldn’t sign my papers. So, I talked to my Gunnery Sgt. and then he talked to our Company Commander and then they both talked to our Battalion Doctor who was a young LT and they convinced him to let me go to Afghanistan with my unit. I am proud to have finished our 8 month deployment and I remained with my platoon with Weapons Co. (CAAT Team) I was in a Humvee behind a heavy MG 90% of the time, so my disability and pain was manageable. When we got back to Lejeune and I reported to my Naval doctor and he found out I was in Afghanistan because he didn’t see me for 8-9 months. He wasn’t happy with me and the first thing he told me was “You need to get out of the Marine Corps. I will start the process of your Medical Discharge”. I was broken hearted once he said that. They gave me an option to stay in the Marines, but I’ll be out of the infantry. I decided to take the medical retirement at the age of 23. I was a couple months short of my EAS when they put me on TDRL (Temporary Disability Retirement List) then after 5 years they put me on Permanent Disability Retirement. Serving my country was the best 4 years of my life. Even with the disability and pain I feel every day probably until the day I die. I don’t have any regrets. We talk shit or fight each other at a drop of a hat, but I am a living witness that we will also take care of each other when shit hits the fan or we need a helping hand. Sorry for my bad grammar since english is not my native tongue. Edit: I was born in Greece but I grew up in the Philippines and then moved to the US when I was 18 (petitioned by my dad). I joined the Marines when I was 19 as a green card holder and not yet an American citizen. President Bush awarded me my American Citizenship and Purple Heart while I was in Bethesda Naval Hospital. It was one of the best day of my life not because I met the President, but because I became an American citizen and I can literally say that I became an American by paying with my blood. Some people say that the “American Dream” is dead. I say non sense because it’s not just about wealth and fame. It’s about achieving your dream and goals in life and for me that was to become a US Marine. 🇺🇸🗽 🚩EDIT🚩: 6/8/22 I just want to make it clear that I wasn’t looking for attention or for people to feel sorry for me or any type of sympathy. I swear on my grandparents graves that whatever I wrote is all true. I didn’t add anything to be more dramatic. I was just going to mention that a Corpsman and other branches of the military saved my life but for some reason it felt good to let it out of me because I don’t have anybody to talk to about my time in Iraq and Afghanistan. That’s probably why I kept on going. I’ve returned to the Philippines in 2013 because I feel that depression was taking over my life, most of my family are in the Philippines and I felt so alone and empty in California. I didn’t plan to write something too long, to be honest if I put every single detail I could remember, I would end up with typing for a day. Just for reference you guys can Google my name and news articles about Present Bush giving me my citizenship. 🚩Google: Lcpl Santamaria, Marines, President Bush, Daly City, Philippines I’m not trying to brag, I just want to prove that whatever I wrote here is all true, nothing was added. You’ll even see a photo with former President Bush during my citizenship oath while connected to a bag of blood for transfusion because I was low on blood after my numerous surgeries at Bethesda Hospital.

After being discharged from the Marines, I had a hard time adjusting. It felt so chaotic in the real world. I didn't do much in the service. I worked behind a desk my whole enlistment but it was still a difficult transition. I just wanted to go back. It really is a different kind of life. At my first job after the military, when people would ask what I did before, I would always answer " I WAS a Marine." .One day while at work I noticed an old man in a wheel chair . He had a USMC hat. I walked up and asked " You were a Marine?" He answered "I am a Marine." That response literally brought tears to my eyes. After telling him I was also a Marine, he kept calling me Brother. Fast forward a few years later, I was invited to a group on a social network of Vet Marines. I don't know if there is another branch or college group that supports each other as much as Marines do but the amount of support from my brothers that I received and now offer is incomparable. Semper Fidelis really means, ALWAYS Faithful.

As I retired Marine, I explained it to my wife this way. When asked, a soldier replied, "I'm in the Army"! A sailor, "I'm in the Navy!" A Marine replies, "I AM A MARINE!" I jokingly told her, if I call my Marines at 2 AM needing help burying a body, they'll show up, carrying their own shovels!

I always liked the quote: "There's no such thing as a "former marine" just active marines, and those awaiting a phone call."

As a Sailor, was stuck on an amphib ship with 13th MEU for several months. We ferried them over to the NAG and dropped them off for Iraq Part 2: The Sequel, so they could do their thing in the sandbox. It was nice booting them off our home, but maybe even nicer when they all came back several months later. Sure they crammed the gym and just waited in line for chow all day, but they were great dudes. Our SEALs all liked and respected them (which says a helluva lot) and they helped pull security when we were one of the first ships to assist the USS Cole. I was in the prime of my life, and I once tried to flex on them by pumping out 25 dead hang pullups. I thought it was a pretty impressive feat of strength. The Devil Dogs chuckled, hollered for their scrawniest pencil pusher, who instantly ripped out 35 pullups before they told him to stop. I never challenged a Marine to anything after that.

“The Marines are something you ARE”! That describes my dad perfectly, he was in the Pacific of WW2.

I served in the MC back in the 70's and 80's. I am 62 years old and I am still a Marine. There was no expiration on my oath. Love the corps!

I’m retired Air Force, but worked with the Marines for two years as a contractor. Part of my infrastructure analysis work was asking Marines which infrastructure nodes, if lost, would cause mission failure. In hundreds of these interviews, no Marine ever acknowledged that losing anything they depended on would fail a mission. They could not mouth the words; not in their DNA. They truly are special.

When I told my family I was going to enlist in the Marines, I got so much flack. I was the Only one in my family history to ever join the Corps. All others had been in the Army (since the beginning, Light horse Harry Lee), to my Father's step father being one of the first Soldiers to go through GB training, to my father's father who was in the Navy from the beginning of WWII until the 70's after Vietnam, to Aunts, Uncles, cousins that were Army, Navy or Air Force. I had to hear it from all angles, about how the Marines are called Grunts for a reason, and that they grade the ASVAB on a Major Curve and many other insults, jokes and caveats. I told all of them that I was going to do this, and I would be my own person. My Grandfather told me that while he was a Green Beret, that he had served in Vietnam with some Marines, and that they were some of the fiercest GD Warriors he had the pleasure of serving with, and that their kill/casualty ratio was out of this world, and once back out of the bush, they were straight laced, snapped to attention and extremely detail oriented professional Marines, and he would do it all again. He said that deep down, he knew I would join and do a great job while enlisted. Sure, all branches rib on one another, but we still love and respect them for the roles they all play. As a Marine, I have learned how to be a warrior and rip someone's throat out, render aid when necessary and do it all with class, discipline and respect. As a Marine, we trained for war by day and pray for peace at night. Semper Fi, Marines.

There is an essential aspect to being a Royal Marine which is summed up as the “Commando Spirit”. This is something akin to the Finnish “Sisu”. It means that when everything is at the darkest, most exhausting, most depressing and dangerous state that it can be, a Royal Marine is expected to laugh and cheer his mates up and crack on, even more so than when everything is fine. It is frequently this intangible attribute that determines which Royal Marine cadet passes out as the best of his course; the senior officers and NCOs hunt relentlessly to detect it and to praise and elevate it in the eyes of the whole training cadre. I think there’s something of that in the USMC, a sort of perverse pride in getting piss-wrapped and exhausted, not having the best equipment, being treated badly all-round (by foes and their own top brass alike) and yet still, STILL, somehow getting the job done and doing it laughing. It’s kind of like saying “fuck you, I chose this, so I decide when it’s done” to the whole world. That bloody mindedness to me is the essential quality that all Marines simply must possess and I’ve never met one who didn’t have that particular air about them. The real esprit de corps. You get that pride because you know that, not only does nobody else want to do what you do, nobody else CAN do what you do.

35 years after my discharge from the Marine Corps, I'm still in contact with the men I served with. In fact, last summer we gathered on Camp Pendleton, specifically at Camp Horno (our old unit) and all of us old guys climbed First Sergeant's Hill to pay our respects at Sangin Memorial. It was powerful. How many soldiers would gather after that many years? BTW, we gather every couple of years to renew old friendships.

As a prior service marine this warmed my heart knowing someone looked into our history and understood our mission

Dad was in the Navy but served as a Corpsman with the Marines in Vietnam. Because of this roll he had to attend a second bootcamp with the Marines. Your last statement is definitely true, Once a Marine Always a Marine.

As a retired Marine Corps 1stSgt, I have to say that was one of the finest explanations of the Corps I have ever heard. Outstanding job, well done. Oorah!!!

I was in the Marine Corps and I don’t know a lot of this especially the first Korean War you mentioned. Thank you I learned something because of you.

As an infantry Marine, this boosted my self esteem. Thank you.

“The Army is something you did. The Marines is something you are”. Oh so true Ryan. When I was on active duty I couldn’t wait to get out. It sucked. However, to this day and 40 years later, I still keep in touch with many of my former Marine brothers. It is a special common bond we all share and will take to the grave.

I can totally see them adding a dedicated drone operator on the squad level. The Ukraine War is really showing the world the power of drones and how important they are to infantry on the ground.

You are and always will be even after death. “But always remember this: Marines die. That's what we're here for. But the Marine Corps lives forever and that means you live forever.” -L. Ermey

My Dad was a Navy corpsman. He had tons of Marine friends. They taught me the Marine Hymn before I knew the the pledge of allegiance. They rough housed with me, played baseball, told wild tales and assorted Marine stories and generally became an extended family group of uncles…and then I grew up and joined the Army…

As a Marine (former active duty) I appreciate and respect your final line; "The Army is something you did, the Marines is something you are.". That sums it up perfectly. I also was a Marine who joined the Army NG after and the only thing I brought was standards and a mean attitude 🤣🤣.

I never stopped being a United States Marine. It’s something that stays with you for life. I once disarmed a bank robber in a southern California bank years ago while waiting in line to get cash out of my account and waiting for my dad to pick me up to spend that weekend together. Imagine his surprise to see the bank surround by police and then told by a police officer that a US Marine took down and arrested the armed bank robber. I also received a $500 cash reward by the bank manager. My dad, a retired US Army Special Forces in Vietnam, could not stop talking about me the whole entire weekend, I couldn’t wait to get back on base at Camp Pendleton on Sunday night, lol. He passed just a few years ago but never failed to bring up that story whenever we got together, I’m glad my Marine Corps training kicked in that day, never once been afraid of anything and my confidence is still that same level even today at my age. I may get old but I’m still a US Marine forever! Semper Fi 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

The Marines is more like something you “survived”. When you discuss the things you did in the Marines with those that didn’t, you’ll eventually realize, “hmm, maybe that was kinda crazy after all. WTF was I thinking?”

My uncle Jim was a marine tank driver in the Korean war. He told me that "I swear, they gave us tests, then took the dumbest of us to be Marines." He died not long after the Marines gave up tanks. Not saying it's related, but he loved tanks and being a Marine.

I'm a Retired SSgt out of U.S. Marine Corps. I was fully expecting this video to poke fun at Marines and say how, we're the Men's Department of the Navy. I have to give it to you; this was an awesome analogy of the U.S. Marine Corps. Thank you for giving everyone that watches this a history lesson. Especially the last 2 lines.

I still say it is the crayons in their MREs that give them superhuman strength. But work noting, it was the USMC that was translating Mao into English back in the early 60s, wrote The Guerrllia and How to Fight Him, which I opine remains one of the best counter insurgency manuals, and their Warfighting is a brilliant read. A friend of mine, who taught at the Navy War College, found the Marine students to be the most intellectual.

As a former Marine, I have to wonder why a former Army soldier did a better, more professional and thorough job of explaining the Marine Corps than a Marine? Excellent video Ryan, thank you.

About the marines dropping the tank from their inventory, what i missed there is that not only are tanks going kablowie with smart weapons. When you look at the support a tank needs in material (ammo, parts for maintenance, fuel and everything else) it makes a lot of sense to give your infantry some extra smart weapons (drones/javelins and f22’s) and concentrate more on replacing the tank with already excisting units then having to have the extra supply line across an ocean just to field tanks. Something the Russian army is experiencing as well. Great video and keep up the good work.

I was a tank driver in 06. It hurt all of my feelings when they got rid of tanks, but I understand the Marines have to evolve.

One of the best Marine Corps documentaries I've ever seen. You have single handedly explained why Marines do what they do and why we are so passionate about being a Marine. "The Army is something you did, the Marines is something you are." Semper Fi Major, USMC (Ret)

As a Marine my only input is this; we aren't a force of occupation, we can't support the logistics surrounding tanks when we shouldn't even be occupying countries to begin with. We take by force and then hand it over to the Army so they can bring in all of their supply and logistics to keep the territory. Our budget just isn't the size of an occupational force. This video was excellent and I thought it was spot on, even learned a thing or two. One thing people forget about is the brevet medal, which is kind of the MOH juinor, 20-something pre 1940 Marines won those too.

If it absolutely positively has to be destroyed overnight. Semper Fidelis!

To be a Marine you must; BELEAVE in yourself, your fellow Marine, your Corp, your country, your God.

My 63-year-old Marine father doesn't celebrate his birthday, but he does celebrate the Marine Corps one and he's been out since the mid 1970s.

My grandfather was with Chesty Puller in South America and was captured by the Japanese in the Philippines. He wrote a book about his experiences that he never got published, so I have what I think is the only copy. (It’s a 3 ring binder) after reading it I couldn’t believe the gentle old man I knew as a kid (he died when I was 8 so I didn’t have much time with him) had been through so much. Even thinking about it brings about allergies. Hopefully one day I’ll get his book published if not at least his story told.

As a former Marine, I am impressed with this video. I've never heard of the 1871 Korean engagement. Very nicely done.

As a Marine I would have to say this is one of the best simplified explanations of the Marine Crops I have ever seen. Thank you. Love the content keep up the great work.

Another reason for the formation of the Marine Corps was to put down any mutiny on a navy vessel. The marines, being better paid and otherwise better treated than the rest of the crew meant that the crew were likely to hold a level of resentment against the marines, making the marines less likely to be involved in any mutiny. The marines in turn usually felt a closer bond with the officers, so were more likely to defend the officers than side with the crew. While they were also there to board enemy ships, defend from boarding enemies, and conduct landings, their main day to day function was to dissuade potential mutineers.

My grandfather (my dad’s side of the family) was a Marine during WW1. He never went overseas, but instead was assigned to a unit that electrified the docks in Philadelphia. He was an electrician, back when electrification was still a fairly new thing. Grandaddy was very proud of his time in the Corps!

“The army is something you did the Marines is something you are”! Never a truer sentence uttered. Take that from a retirement Royal Marine.

“The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!”~Eleanor Roosevelt

As a Marine, who left Parris Island, 45 years ago I'm still a Marine. Not as lean, but twice as mean. In conversations with other veterans over the decades you get "I was in the Army, Navy, Air Force", but ask a Marine it's always "I am a Marine".

I'm a Marine and I approve this message. Good night Chesty wherever you are.

As an Aviator (USAF, Heavy Bomber), one of my favorite memories was walking a group of Marines through our ordinance training mockups "petting zoo." They were fresh out of the Corp's Forward Observer/ Anglico/FIST (forget what they called it) type training.The only one that would talk was the higest ranking... a Lance Corporal. I would ask questions about the ordinance they were used to calling in. The smiles I saw as I explained that a single B-52 carries the equivalent (in deliverable 500lb unguided bombs) as 13.5 standard carriers launched F-18 sorties were nothing short of heartwarming. Explaining that just covered the internal load, and we carried more on the wings... was just plain wonderful. (Standard combat loadout at that time was 27x500lb in the bay and 12x 2000lb JDAM on the wings) Marines loved us more than our own top "leadership." We, too, were like an old piece of pipe in the back of a pickup. You pick it up when something needs to get broken, not scared... Sure, we all make fun of each other. But all of us are a family. So even if we think that running in knee-deep water toward the machine guns is a foolish career choice(USMC), air fields should not risk sinking(USN), being closer than 20k feet to the ground is likewalking in a bad neighborhood on purpose (USA), intentionally going out into bad weather on boats that are smaller than my jet makes me question your sanity(USCG), or just being thankful that we now can point at soneone else and yell "Nerds!"(USSF); we all work together on an individual basis (in and after our Service) because of a simple standardized value. You will not hurt my family, friends, or country. If you start that fight, we will record what it cost you. The grandchildren of the few survivors you leave deserve to have a clearer picture of why bad choices should be avoided.

I'm shipping to San Diego in July and when I heard that the Marine Corps was getting rid of its tanks, I really didn't understand why. Your example using the war in Ukraine made me understand perfectly. I also like how you explained the pride of the Marine Corps. I know I don't have near the amount of pride I'll have once I'm in, but I do have to say that it feels good walking through my high school knowing that I'm going to be doing something good, and also something that is not normal.

This hit me in my blood dispensary unit and caused a pain water leak. Your last phrase couldn’t ring more true, USMC vet and to this day I hear the hymn play and I can’t help but get amped up and Get goosebumps. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss the brothers I made in that organization of the few the proud the Marines

Your words that distinguish the difference between the Army and the Marines was spot on and in a few words explained the difference perfectly. Thanks, SEMPER-FI.

You nailed it! Joined the Corps at 17. Dad was a Captain and brother was a Corporal. I got out as a Sgt. Missed it so much so I tried to go back, but found out I was too old, so i joined the Army. Had to hide it from my family for fear of being ridiculed, but they understood. However, 5yrs in and I never really fully assimilated. One soldier asked me what the whole "Semper Fi" was all about. I tried to explain, but I guess you have to be a Marine to really grasp the depth of what it means.

I think a big part of why the Marines are so special, is also because of the navy. The ability to move entire armies, across the world anywhere, is a huge and such an important asset.

I have given a lot of thought over the years about where people get their sense of identity from each branch of the military. You got the Marine and Army sources of identity right on. Nicely done and Semper Fi!!

When I was 19 I was enlisting in the Navy when I was in a severe car wreck that cost me my military career. I had spent the previous 5 months PTing w the navy recruiter and the Marines too cuz I had so much weight to loose(>100lbs). The Marine knew I wasn’t interested in anything but my future sub career but made my workouts count and included me in all their things. When my Navy recruiter visited me in the hospital the marine recruiter insisted on coming too. It was just a workout to me but he cared about me even tho I wasn’t “his recruit.” He didn’t just see me in the line up, I was a name, I was a person, I was his man. Thats my story of how I learned who Marines are.

As a former marine and combat veteran,desert shield desert storm I love your take on what a marine is

I once had the opportunity to talk to a PLA Marine during a visit in China, and he had nothing but good things to say about the US Marines. According to him the USMC is considered one of the greatest threats to the Chinese military in a conventional war and in fact much of what the PLA Marines do is based on USMC stuff. He also told me that the only non-special forces unit he thinks the PLA Marines would have severe difficulty with is the USMC, and for a Chinese soldier to admit an American force could beat them is very very high praise.

Great video! I was Air Force, and I’ll be the first to say the Marines are awesome! I would meet them when they would be TDY at whatever base I was at. They were almost in disbelief that they had billeting with a bathroom, television, and a very decent chow hall!

Both of my parents are Marines even though they’ve been retired a long time. Improvise, adapt and overcome, within the moment, within the battle, within the war, within life. One mind, Any weapon. I’ve learned so much just being around Marines my whole life, and I think if others learned from them too the world would be a much better place. No better friend than a Marine and no worse enemy. “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” -Mahatma Gandhi

Ryan Mcbeth, thanks for honoring my brothers!!!!

Your last sentence was perfect. That's even what I told kids as a recruiter. You join the Army, you become a Marine.

Once a Marine, always a Marine. My brother was called to active duty in 1950 after only one summer camp with the Marine Corps Reserve. He was a rifleman in Able Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. He arrived in Korea about a week before the start of the Chosin Reservoir campaign. He was involved in the heavy fighting for Hill 1081 and suffered some frostbite (they all did) and completed his one-year tour with some additional nasty fighting. He never talked much about it, except to blame MacArthur. He always self-identified as a Marine.

Ryan, I'm a Marine, and you nailed this. Thank you sir.

"The Marines is something you are" Well said! I'm former Navy and I've got a ton of buddies from the Marines. Till this day I address them as Marines, Devil Dogs, and leather necks. I am proud to have served with them.

Sergeant First Class McBeth. I heard you state on an earlier video you would be making a video on Marines. Well son, you did a damned fine job. Having become a member of the “Old Corps,” I have a more sophisticated understanding of the unique and legendary role the Corps plays in our National defense. What’s most important is Marines live up to the hype in every role we play. From infantry rifleman to Chairman of the Joint Chief’s. When we get the tap, we don’t just bring the lightning, we bring the whole hurricane. That’s combined arms baby. - GySgt retired.

I have an old (78 years young) friend that served in the marines. I was in the navy. I loved give ex marines grief, with a smile. I made a comment to this friend about used to be a marine. He popped back once a marine always a marine. They are VERY proud of their service. I really don’t blame them.

My Dad was a Navy Corpsman attached to 2nd Marine Division at Tarawa. He told me, everywhere he went, 3 big 6 footer Marines guarded him. That's what makes the Marines special to me (and my six siblings).

U.S.M.C - The Pentagons 911. A bunch of "very motivated" young people hanging out in the ocean waiting for the call to make the opponent "reconsider" their approach to diplomacy.

You nailed it. Good historic background info to make that last sentence make sense. Marine is something you ARE! Loved this. Thanks.

As a Marine in the Army now, I've never heard it described so well. That last line was absolutely perfect.

As a former Marine NCO & Army National Guard Commissioned Officer I can honestly tell you that a Marine Corporal and an ARNG LT are at about the same level... While I loved both experiences and the people that I served with... The Marine Corp Flag is what Fly's below the US Flag at my house... Semper Fi!!!

What a great tutorial. My late father always said, Once A Marine, Always a Marine. Ha, he also always said, There's your way, There's my way, Then there's the Marine way. He signed up for the Marines at 17, then landed with the Marines on Inchon during the Korean conflict. He was proud of his service until the day he died.

I was with the 5th MEB in Desert Storm and I can attest to the “had to kill my mother” myth. We would have captured Iraqi troops who could not be interrogated in the field because they were so terrified at our sight and recounted the myth but added that we had to drink Moms blood to the story. During your time in the Corps you have to put up with an every flippin minute of horsesh!# but that’s not the Corps. The Corps is the absolute hilarious awesome time you had with other Marines. Times you will never, ever forget. Semper Fi brothers and Rest Easy Warriors to those who have passed on.

I love the Osprey so this is just a joke, but you left off a bit while describing it. It can take off like a helicopter, fly like a plane, and crash as much as both put together.

This old Marine Thanks you for your service, and the great content that you provide!

@Ryan Macbeth Thank you, sir, for your service, the awesome videos, especially this one. From a prior service Marine.

I remember asking you this question on the discord, We had such an amazing discussion and I hope you do more discord events!

My father just turned 80 this year. He was a blue collar worker, a little league baseball coach since he was in high school till he retired from coaching a few years ago and a "Marine, '62-'64". He does not flaunt it but he is proud. I' as a dumb kid growing up in the 70's did not understand his simple daily regiment as I was free willy dilly. As I grew up and got older I understand the meaning that it is to be a "Marine". That way IS only you are a marine. "The Army is something you did, the Marine's is something you are" sums it up perfectly.

After 12 years in the Corps, I took a break, and realized I missed the military enough to take another shot at it in the Guard. On the other end of that, my longest term platoon commander, for whom which I was his platoon sergeant, Agreed that I conducted myself the entire time like a Marine who was detached to the United States Army. So on behalf of every time I said some version of "You know, there's another way to do that.." I apologize for myself and perhaps some of my less tactful brothers and sisters. We are but a simple people, at times. 🤣🤷🏽 You are absolutely right about the difference in Army and Marine Corps versions of esprit de corps. My Engineers were always Engineers first and Soldiers second. But they were seriously proud of being 12Bs, and in time I came to grudgingly admit that "Essayons!" kinda grew on me too. "The Army is something you did, the Marine Corps is something you are." I don't know how right or wrong you are about the Army, But looking back at my history, and my family's history... You're absolutely right about the Corps. Thanks, SFC. This was solid. Much appreciated.

100% agree with that last note, becoming a Marine is what made me into the man I am today and I'm 100% grateful for it.

Awesome video Ryan McBeth and well explained. And as a prior navy, I definitely enjoyed the last one “army is something you did, as a marine is something you are”!

As a Marine I would say you hit it right on the head with this video. Great one. Semper Fi. And an OORAH to my fellow devil dogs.

I served as a Marine in the early 90's. I struggle constantly with my love/hate relationship with the Marines. Most of the time I never bring it up unless I'm asked. This video definitely put a coin in the love jar. Thanks Ryan.

Out fucking standing

Ryan, great video. As an Canadian infantry NCO, I had the opportunity to work with both Marines and US Army. Both were overall, good experiences. My battalion at the time (1988-92, 3 PPCLI) was trained in a very “expeditionary” way - flexibility was our aim. Lol, we had Grizzly IFV, Canadian precursors to the LAV3, but trained mostly for traditional “light” infantry operations and amphibious ops. Later as an officer, we had 5,000 Marines arrive in Kandahar “to fuck shit up,” (their words), for both good and bad of the overall mission. Lol. I love both Jarheads and the Big Green Machine…

Thank You for the praise. I liked how you summed it up. Been out of the Marines 30+ years now. I still call myself a Marine.

My wife's grandfather was a marine during WW2. I unfortunately never got to meet him. But I was there for his funeral. He received Marine Corps Funeral Honors, 6-8 marines were there all rank Sergeant or above. It was very moving. The Marines are "something else" and I mean that in the best way possible.

Marines also instill leadership into every Marine no matter the rank, this gives us an advantage if communications are broken or senior leadership is killed we can still be an effective fighting force. It all comes down to a mindset, training and resourcefulness.

Excellent job, this old Marine SGT approves, and sent a share to my Army vet son--grounded him for a week when he joined the light-green outfit:)

When I had been drafted in January 68' not out of fear of war but out of not liking to lay in the mud, I joined the Navy. While at the induction center in Indianapolis, I met a red-haired lanky kid that just joined the Marine corps, I had joined for 4 years with 2 years in the reserves, I asked about his enlistment, and he figured we were obligated for six, so he joined for six. That just floored me. That December when I was up a Vietnamese river I wondered where he was and if he made it out. As you can tell I still wonder about that red-haired kid.

It’s the alcohol tolerance

Well said Brother! I’m a combat vet U.S. Army I fought in Iraq 03-04 3rdID initial invasion. Both my sons are currently infantry Marines!