United States Marine Corps

The United States Marine Corps (USMC), is a branch of the United States Armed Forces which originally acted as a "naval infantry."

The Marine Corps was originally established by the Second Continental Congress on November 10, 1775. It was re-established after the end of the Revolutionary War on July 11, 1798.

Among the branches of the regular military, the Marine Corps is unique in that it is not the only uniformed service in its service department, the Department of the Navy. It is the smallest of the four branches by personnel, and is led by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, currently General James Conway, and the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, currently Carlton W. Kent.

Major commands

• FMFPAC
• FMFLANT
• MARSOC

Marine Culture

In comparison with other U.S. military services, joining the Marines is more an initiation into a culture than merely learning skills. "Boot Camp" is legendary, although all the services are using variants of the culmination of recruit training, "The Crucible".

Traditionally, the Marines delegate more authority to more junior personnel than the other service, and has the highest ratio of enlisted personnel to officers.

Modern combat formations

Marine Expeditionary Unit

Commanded by a colonel, a MEU is built around a reinforced infantry battalion, with an air and a support component. Navy Ampbibious Ready Groups of specialized amphibious warfare ships, with escorts, carry a MEU at sea.

World War I

• Battle of Belleau Woods

World War II

• Battle of Guadalcanal
• Battle of Tarawa
• Battle of Iwo Jima
• Battle of Saipan

Korean War

• Pusan Perimeter
• Battle of Inchon
• Battle of the Changjin Reservoir

Operation Desert Storm

• Khafji
• Feint at Bubiyan Island
• Liberation of Kuwait

References

1. "Brief History of the United States Marine Corps" United States Marine Corps History Division
2. Official page of the Commandant of the Marine Corps
3. Official page of the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps