KG Erwin
Posts: 8981
Joined: 7/25/2000 From: Cross Lanes WV USA Status: offline
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"Lately, I've been considering what makes military units effective over the long haul. There are a handful of divisions that are counted as, 'elite.' Among them are the 82nd Airborne, the Big Red One, and the 101st Airborne. Of course, special operations units are elite. No one would argue that point. There is a very short list of military forces – as opposed to units – that are counted as elite. These include the French Foreign Legion and the Royal Marines. At the very top of this list is the United States Marine Corps. In terms of size and combat power, the Corps dwarfs many of the world's armies. Size alone doesn't equate to combat effectiveness. Neither does technology, seductive though it may be. So, what does? The Marine Corps has a powerful ethos. 'Every Marine a rifleman,' is more than empty words. No matter what job he or she does, every Marine is trained to perform basic combat skills. From the moment recruits step on the yellow footprints, they begin an indoctrination into the traditions and heritage that stretch back to the dawn of America's history. As a combat force, the Corps has developed a fighting reputation second to none. Every one of the Marine divisions can be classed as elite. No Marine division has ever lost a battle, nor failed to achieve its objectives. From the sands of Iwo Jima to the deserts of Kuwait and Iraq, when Marines are given a mission, they get the job done. As the world has changed, so has the Marine Corps. Although it cherishes and maintains its traditions, it has evolved to maintain relevancy in the modern world. As an expeditionary force, the Marine Corps can draw of many years of campaigning to shape its future. The Corps doesn't need to search for a mission." -- Mark "Devil Doc" Flowers, 16 October 2005 http://www.ww2gyrene.org/ Thanks for those thoughts, "Devil Doc". I agree with you 100%.
< Message edited by KG Erwin -- 10/21/2005 12:23:54 AM >
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