question

[Willow]

No, it wasn't.

Well I pray you get over yourself someday

Wow!  That was extremely cruel but not so unexpected.

From the rest of your reply it's obvious you either didn't bother to read or didn't believe what I posted.  I went out of my way to give full credit to the elite of the services.  I attempted to communicate that my comparison of services is at the general levels not at all applying to each member or the individual units.

Get over myself?  What bullshit!  It strikes me that some of the folks with whom I disagree often point accusations elsewhere that should be aimed at themselves.  

[baldo]

I always thought the Marines had the prettiest uniforms.

(That was especially for you Carl.)

Seriously, I always thought the Marine uniform is the sharpest of all the services.  I attended MP school @ Ft. Gordon, Ga.  The Marine Corps sends their personnel there as well.  I was amazed at the amount of time those Marines spent trying to look pretty, The attention to detail re their uniforms, whether dress or utility always impressed me.  I guess that is either a result of Marine DIs beating it into your head, or pride in their uniform, or maybe both.

I absolutely agree. My Dad always kept his uniforms in top shape, even years after he got out. We'd watch the Marine Corp Band every time it was on TV, and he was always in rapt attention.

Whenever I see pictures of Marines in their dress blues (?), I'm always impressed.

At my Dad's funeral, his brothers came in their finest. It was beautiful.

[Rams]

No, I don't buy it that all Marines are SPECIAL in this way.

Sorry, but Willow did not suggest that every Marine was anything.   He said:

As a whole the United States Marine Corps has more discipline emphasized and are more committed to the military way of life.  If one wants to be sure that more enemy are killed for a lower cost, they call the Marines.  If one needs air support to come closer to the enemy and be less concerned for their own safety, they call for Marine flyers.  If one wants their embassies guarded effectively around the world they use the Marines.  Marine artillery will tend to be more accurately delivered than any other.  If one desires the finest military band to perform at the county's capital they will call for the Marines.  If one wants quality training for their Naval officer candidates they will call upon United States Marine Corps drill instructors.

It may not be socially acceptable to express aloud, but anyone who is knowledgeable and considers comparison will identify that the U.S. Marine Corps is the best military force the country has to offer.  We have at least two members who served in both the Marine Corps and the U.S. Army.  I would consider strongly their assessment.

Saying the U.S. Marine Corps is the best service does not mean or imply that every individual Marine is a better fighting man than any U.S. soldier or even sailor.  What it means is that when things are really rough and you need to be sure the job gets done you will send in the Marines.        

Having served in the Marines (enlisted) and the Army (artillery officer, R/W Aviator) and having served with Navy and Air Force units, I whole heartedly agree.    Probably the toughest person I ever knew was a SEAL I attended Airborne training with.    That doesn't mean all are better, tougher or smarter than any other group as a whole.    As a military fighting force, there is no other military force that can stand against them but, there are always those missions where some are better equipped or trained for than the Marines.   This also assumes that the politicians let them do what they were meant to do.   They are by far, the finest fighting force (as a whole) the US has to offer.  

As any tactician will tell you, you have not won the battle until you take and hold the ground.   Not really applicable to the Navy and the Air Force, to include Army Aviation and Artillery, they are all support.  

[Rams]

I always thought the Marines had the prettiest sexiest uniforms.

 I guess that is either a result of Marine DIs beating it into your head, or pride in their uniform, or maybe both.

Made a slight correction for you. 

As to the attention to detail, I'd say a little of both. 

[Rams]

Now how can you be the best and not have the others lesser ? Unless..... Deep down you knew you weren't the best.  It's just some good natured kidding.

As a young Marine, I knew I was a member of the finest fighting force ever assembled on this planet and I still feel that way.   

Maybe, that's pretty hard to quantify. What about Genghis Kahn's hordes, the 300 Spartans, etc. As a young Sailor, I think I was a member of the finest floating flotilla that put the fine fighting forces in harms way. (But we were mostly happy just to get them off our ship) 
All of us ex-military should be proud of ourselves and each other AND BE WILLING TO TAKE SOME RIBBING BETWEEN EACH OTHER.  I think the Spartans would kick butt on some Jarheads.

Meathead, I can assure you, those Marines were happy to get off that boat.    Thanks go out to the Navy, Congress decided in it's infinite wisdom the Marines needed a taxi and food service while not actively fighting.   The Navy is good at that.    As far as Genghis Kahn's hordes, 300 Spartan and ect......    You've been watching too many movies.   

On a side note, I had the opportunity to observe a ROK Marine Battalion once for a few days, they impressed me.   Some seriously tough folks.   

[The emperor has no clothes]

Now how can you be the best and not have the others lesser ? Unless..... Deep down you knew you weren't the best.  It's just some good natured kidding.

As a young Marine, I knew I was a member of the finest fighting force ever assembled on this planet and I still feel that way.   

Maybe, that's pretty hard to quantify. What about Genghis Kahn's hordes, the 300 Spartans, etc. As a young Sailor, I think I was a member of the finest floating flotilla that put the fine fighting forces in harms way. (But we were mostly happy just to get them off our ship) 
All of us ex-military should be proud of ourselves and each other AND BE WILLING TO TAKE SOME RIBBING BETWEEN EACH OTHER.  I think the Spartans would kick butt on some Jarheads.

Meathead, I can assure you, those Marines were happy to get off that boat.    Thanks go out to the Navy, Congress decided in it's infinite wisdom the Marines needed a taxi and food service while not actively fighting.   The Navy is good at that.    As far as Genghis Kahn's hordes, 300 Spartan and ect......    You've been watching too many movies.   

On a side note, I had the opportunity to observe a ROK Marine Battalion once for a few days, they impressed me.   Some seriously tough folks.   

I'm sure they are very tough. And they should be proud of that. We had a Marine temporarily assigned to our squad. Very nice guy and we became pretty good friends. But he was about as soft and dorky as they come. I guess there are exceptions . Honestly I never had any problems with Marines, but I found it humorous whenever a group of us Navy guys would end up in a bar that had Marines in it, they always wanted to fight. Man I was all about catching a buzz and trying to hook up with some local hotties. Them guys idea of fun was to get drunk and get in fights.   

[Rams]

Them guys idea of fun was to get drunk and get in fights.   

Ah Meathead, I guess you didn't realize or know, the "hotties" take the winners home.  ;_

[Varmintmist]

I always thought the Marines had the prettiest uniforms.

(That was especially for you Carl.)
  I was amazed at the amount of time those Marines spent trying to look pretty, The attention to detail re their uniforms, whether dress or utility always impressed me.  I guess that is either a result of Marine DIs beating it into your head, or pride in their uniform, or maybe both.

Its called esprit de corps. Marines take pride in being Marines and looking like a rat bag lets the other Marines down.

Its funny that the Corps gets compared to the elite units of the other services. There is a reason for that, they are a elite unit. A very large elite unit. Put it this way. When you get off of Parris Island, you are a Marine. Then you may or may not be trained in another MOS, but you have your first at graduation. In other services you are nothing until you make your MOS, it was refereed to as the second phase of boot camp.

And the senior service FYI. They were formed first of all the services. The Navy couldnt take it anymore in the 70's and declared the profiteers that carried Continental Marines as Navy.