US Marine ranks.....

[Johnny-Baseball]

Governmental websites note that 10% of Marines deployed to the Pacific theater suffered casualties versus 5% for the Army. Now, considering Marines had no "support/supply/logistics" personnel, their higher casualty rates make sense.

Those websites report that Marine KIAs in WW II (all theaters) totaled 19,773.
Army KIAs in the Pacific theater in WW II totaled 35,909 (including about 2,000 Army Air Force personnel).

Posters' comments that WW II Army Pacific theater troops didn't get the PR that was given to Marines appear to be valid. At the same time, it is also true that a higher percentage of Marines were in harm's way than Army troops.

On a personal note, in 2017 my father (USN FC 2C) told me he pulled body bag duty while aboard his destroyer at Guadalcanal in early 1943. With tears in his eyes, he told me he saw many Marines who had been castrated while still alive and their junk stuffed down their throats to choke them to death. My dad had nothing but the highest respect for "those honorable young Marines."

 

[ptypegreen]

The Marines use Army officer ranks except the Army has Cadets and the Marines have Midshipmen.

 

[Johnny-Baseball]

Midshipmen are students at the Naval Academy (Annapolis). Midshipmen are nothing unless/until they graduate. Upon graduation some become Marines; the rest become Naval officer. If they don't graduate, some enlist, while others depart the military.

Cadets are students at the US Military Academy (West Point). Upon graduation they become Army officers, those who don't graduate either enlist or depart the military.

 

[Watertender]

Midshipmen are students at the Naval Academy (Annapolis). Midshipmen are nothing unless/until they graduate. Upon graduation some become Marines; the rest become Naval officer. If they don't graduate, some enlist, while others depart the military.

Cadets are students at the US Military Academy (West Point). Upon graduation they become Army officers, those who don't graduate either enlist or depart the military.

A friend's son went to the Naval Academy in Annapolis. Upon graduation he became a Marine 2nd Lieutenant. The last I heard he was up for Captain. We are all proud of him.

 

[Bob Wright]

As a matter of interest while on the subject, a TV news item recently showed ROTC graduates from the University of Memphis being sworn in as commissioned officers. About sixwere in dress whites of Navy officers, one in the dress blue of a Marine offficder.

Which raised the question in my mind: What does a newly commissioned ROTC officer do next? That is, is there some kind of transitional training he must take, or does he go directly into Army/Navy life?

Bob Wright

 

[Bigbore5]

If we needed ammo, we could always go over to the Army camp. They always seemed to have a better supply chain than we had.
Either that, or they just didn't like shooting as much as we did.
I remember SEALs bringing grenades back to the armory without the pins in them.
They threw the pins away and carried the grenades, ready to throw.

I remember one ranger in Somalia who threw two grenades,one after the other, with the pins still in them. He wasn't happy when we made him go get them back.

 

[Bigbore5]

As a matter of interest while on the subject, a TV news item recently showed ROTC graduates from the University of Memphis being sworn in as commissioned officers. About sixwere in dress whites of Navy officers, one in the dress blue of a Marine offficder.

Which raised the question in my mind: What does a newly commissioned ROTC officer do next? That is, is there some kind of transitional training he must take, or does he go directly into Army/Navy life?

Bob Wright

I went straight in. You still have had your basic and OTS and all. You will also have spent some summer quarters as a Cadet with the service you are entering. I spent mine at reception and basic training units, mostly Ft. Dix,NJ. ROTC grads have much more experience than people would think

 

[Wyandot Jim]

As a matter of interest while on the subject, a TV news item recently showed ROTC graduates from the University of Memphis being sworn in as commissioned officers. About sixwere in dress whites of Navy officers, one in the dress blue of a Marine offficder.

Which raised the question in my mind: What does a newly commissioned ROTC officer do next? That is, is there some kind of transitional training he must take, or does he go directly into Army/Navy life?

Bob Wright

My Daughter and her future husband both went to the Air Force Academy.
They both cross commissioned and were commissioned into the Navy just before graduation. My Navy Son gave the Oath to Daughter. After graduation they went to Pensacola NAS to learn the ways of the Navy before going to flight school at flying Whiting NAS FL.

As far as ROTC Grads in the Navy they go directly to flight school where they also learn the ways of the Navy.

My DIL went to Navy OTS in RI. after graduation from Texas A&M. After she was commissioned as an Navy Ensign she was sent to Port Hueneme for Seabee training.

 

[Tensaw]

I was in the Coast Guard and discharged as a Petty Officer Second Class, (E-5).

 

[ptypegreen]

NROTC Scholarship Midshipmen go on summer cruises. After freshman year was 3rd class cruise, I spent a month on an ammunition ship with only 2 twin 3"50s for self defense, ugh. 2nd class cruise after sophmore year was the holiday cruise, a week with the Airdales, a week with the Bubbleheads, a week with the Skimmers and a week with the Jarheads. Between junior and senior year I did 1st class cruise on a boomer. Used to be you were obligated to 4 years once junior year started, but sometime after I was commissioned they made the holiday cruise after freshman year and you were obligated starting with sophmore year. If you did not graduate and be commissioned you went to boot camp as an enlisted. Scholarship midshipmen went straight to active duty, in my case Nuclear Power Officer Course. If you went to school on your own or were a NUclear Power Officer Candidate (NUPOC) you went to OCS, also called Knife and Fork School.

 

[Fox Mike]

Many years ago when I was still a Platoon Sergeant we had a new 2nd LT assigned to the unit. He was given the job of Service Platoon Ldr. I knew him before OCS (Officers Candidate School) so he came to me and said he was lost. He said he had no idea what was happening. I 'suggested' he attach himself to the coat tail of the senior Staff Sergeant running the armorers and ask a LOT of questions. He stopped me a couple days later and said "That Sergeant REALLY knows what he is doing!" I told him that is why he is doing what he is doing.

 

[Watertender]

Many years ago when I was still a Platoon Sergeant we had a new 2nd LT assigned to the unit. He was given the job of Service Platoon Ldr. I knew him before OCS (Officers Candidate School) so he came to me and said he was lost. He said he had no idea what was happening. I 'suggested' he attach himself to the coat tail of the senior Staff Sergeant running the armorers and ask a LOT of questions. He stopped me a couple days later and said "That Sergeant REALLY knows what he is doing!" I told him that is why he is doing what he is doing.

The best thing a new Ensign or 2nd Lieutenant can do is find a smart E6 or E7 and ask them for help.
I don't have a military background but learned a lot of my chosen trade from retired Navy Chiefs.

I retired as Chief Engineer and currently work as a 1st Class Engineer. When I was Chief I trained several college graduate Engineers in practical engineering in a high pressure Powerhouse. They would actually ask my superiors if they could take me to other places where they were designing systems for my input on the project. I would be in work blue consulting with the suits and usually they took my advice. A couple of times they didn't and came back to me for more help. Those were costly mistakes on their part.

The current Chief Engineers of several large facilities in the area are people that I helped and trained. I have been welcomed into their facilities and when I am introduced to their crews they always tell them that I was the one who made them into the Chief Engineer that they are.

Not a bad legacy and I am still helping others to become good Chief Engineers or Journeymen in other skilled trades.

 

[MHtractorguy]

While deployed, I found myself driving a dump truck that was assigned to a driver who got himself restricted to the ship.
So, here I am in Egypt with a tactical dump truck (M51) which is probably 40 years old. It was one of only two wheeled vehicles that survived the landing from the Med across the soft sandy beach into the big desert. So, I ended up hauling everything from water to ammo.
An Engineer Platoon commander, 1st LT needed a couple tons of demolitions hauled out into the desert. C4, dynamite, 55 gallon drums of diesel fuel, and several rolls of Det cord. He also wanted to throw a big ammo can full of blasting caps back there with the demo. I refused to haul the blasting caps back there, so he put them in the glove box and rode with his feet against the dashboard, so they couldn't fall out.
After we got to the site, I told him to give me just one of the 40 caps he had in the glove box. I put it in an ammo can and ran some wire about 50 feet away and set that one blasting cap off in that ammo can. He was SHOCKED when it blew that steel can up like a balloon and ripped shrapnel holes all through it. He realized he would have blown a big hole in the sand where the truck was.
He was a very humble LT after that.
That is one example of why Marines say the most dangerous weapon they have is a 2nd Lt with a map.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

As a matter of interest while on the subject, a TV news item recently showed ROTC graduates from the University of Memphis being sworn in as commissioned officers. About sixwere in dress whites of Navy officers, one in the dress blue of a Marine offficder.

Which raised the question in my mind: What does a newly commissioned ROTC officer do next? That is, is there some kind of transitional training he must take, or does he go directly into Army/Navy life?

Bob Wright

My older Brother graduated John Hopkins ROTC and was commissioned as a 2LT....he went directly to flight school and ended up a Cobra pilot.

While in College his summers were spent with the Army......Basic Training, Airborne Jump School, Armor School, Air Assault School. He spent 10 years active and retired as a full bird Colonel in the Army Reserve. While in the Army Reserve he was a Police Officer/Helo Pilot.

I grew up in a Army family......I joined the Navy and I don't like helicopter rides LOL.

 

[wwb]

............

I grew up in a Army family......I joined the Navy and I don't like helicopter rides LOL.

Mixed feelings on helicopter rides.... half the time, it was taking me someplace I REALLY didn't want to go. The other half the time, it was getting me the hell out of there.

 

[blume357]

Long time ago and this was when I had a good bit of testosterone running through me I was told that one's first helicopter ride is better than sex. I scoffed until I strapped into the back side seat of the helicopter and they left the door open and we took off with my boots hanging over the side. Man what a ride... I know I exaggerate... but I needed to pull my feet in when we came to land because of the tops of the pine trees being so close. I'd probably have to clean my shorts if it did that today. The second time I went out we were being trained on how to direct helos into a live fire zone.

 

[Ctsigsd]

The Navy also has Lower Half Rear and Rear Admirals. So one is only half a Rear ( and the lower half at that), while the other is a full Rear. Go figure. Must have something to do with swivel chair design. ;)

Yes..Thier system VERY old..totally Diff..your right bout rear Admirals, lower half and upper ones..

 

[Ctsigsd]

Long time ago and this was when I had a good bit of testosterone running through me I was told that one's first helicopter ride is better than sex. I scoffed until I strapped into the back side seat of the helicopter and they left the door open and we took off with my boots hanging over the side. Man what a ride... I know I exaggerate... but I needed to pull my feet in when we came to land because of the tops of the pine trees being so close. I'd probably have to clean my shorts if it did that today. The second time I went out we were being trained on how to direct helos into a live fire zone.

Yea, remember mine,my ship over to Nimitz for Medical..46 sea knight..Soo cool!

 

[bobski]

seaman 1st 2nd 3rd went away after ww2/korea.

navy is :

seaman recruit
seaman apprentice
seaman
petty officer 3rd class
2nd class
1st class
chief
senior chief
master chief
master chief of the navy

usmc is:

jarhead
jarhead
jarhead
jarhead
jarhead
twist top
twist top
twist top
10 cent refund in certain states

 

[bobski]

navy officer ranks:

ensign
LT junior grade
LT
LCDR
CDR
CAPTAIN
COMMODORE
REAR ADMIRAL
VICE ADMIRAL
ADMIRAL
ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET

usmc officers are:

thats sir to you boys
yew? do i look like a female sheep?
im better than all of you
no youre not i am
oh yeah? look at them thar stripes on my uniform
big deal i got more
try this on for size pleebs
was leading men when you were in diapers
you still are!
im the old man....drop do push ups, all of you

 

[GunnyGene]

navy is :

swabie
swabie
swabie
petty swabie 3rd class
swabie 2nd class
swabie 1st class
chief swabie
senior chief swabie
master baiter
master baiter of the navy

 

[XUSNORDIE]

navy officer ranks:

ensign
LT junior grade
LT
LCDR
CDR
CAPTAIN
COMMODORE
REAR ADMIRAL
VICE ADMIRAL
ADMIRAL
ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET

usmc officers are:

thats sir to you boys
yew? do i look like a female sheep?
im better than all of you
no youre not i am
oh yeah? look at them thar stripes on my uniform
big deal i got more
try this on for size pleebs
was leading men when you were in diapers
you still are!
im the old man....drop do push ups, all of you

Commodore?.......man that's going back some..... :sneaky:

 

[wheelgun1958]

(After post thinking.)

Come to think pf it, the Navy has a rank of "Seaman Third Class." Certainly no Marine wanted to be ranked as "Third Class" anything!

Bob Wright

Nor the former.

 

[bobski]

commodore is reactivated during time of war. the sand box recalled its use.

 

[bobski]

rope ops (HRST) or numerous sticks as j/m were the only time i landed in rotors.

 

[Terry G]

If we needed ammo, we could always go over to the Army camp. They always seemed to have a better supply chain than we had.
Either that, or they just didn't like shooting as much as we did.
I remember SEALs bringing grenades back to the armory without the pins in them.
They threw the pins away and carried the grenades, ready to throw.

That's crazy. When you remove a pin from a grenade it ceases to be your friend. Our grenades in 1969 had a safety wire device as well as a pin. You pulled the pin and then flipped the safety device off with your thumb. It hardly slowed you down and if you didn't throw it, it was a lot safer than scrambling around on the ground for the pin you dropped.

 

[bobski]

seriously.........

private
pfc
lance corporal
corporal
sgt
staff sgt
gunnery sgt
master sgt/1st sgt
sgt major/master gunnery sgt
sgt major of the usmc

officers....

2nd lt
1st lt
captain
major
lt col
col
brig general
major general
lt general
general

 

[bobski]

one of those things i have memorized when i was liaison to joint forces............

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Yea, remember mine,my ship over to Nimitz for Medical..46 sea knight..Soo cool!

46's are anything but cool......my fractured and poorly healed T12 and soon to be redone L3-4-5 along with S-1 remind me that the Sea Knight is NOT cool..... :rolleyes: ....."here is some Motrin, the pain and numbness should subside in a couple days" said some HM.....who was sort of right.....older I get the more it comes back. Both surgeries and all the injections I've had over the years all I can picture is a stupid Sea Knight crashing down on the deck JULY 1987 and feeling a couple inches shorter when I got off than when I boarded......

 

[bobski]

46's were slippery.