The Army and the United States Marine Forces are among the most amazing military organizations worldwide. Both the forces are very unique and also have a lot of differences between them.
If you’re having trouble deciding which of the two would be a better career choice, look no further.
In this article, I’ll provide all the differences you need to know between the Army and the Marines. Later in the article, you’ll also come across the toughest branches of the military.
So let’s get right to it!
What’s the Difference Between the Marines and the Army?
The Army and the Marines have many differences. The main one is that the Army is primarily a military service. However, the Marine Forces are the naval service of the US government.
In terms of size, the US Army is almost double as compared to the US Marine forces. The primary mission of both the Army and the Marines is to protect their country, citizens, and the Constitution.
The selection process and eligibility criteria for both these forces are significantly difficult. However, they have differences in terms of these criteria as well.
For instance, the maximum age to register for the Marine Force is 28 years. The maximum age to register and recruit for the Army service extends to 35 years.
As you know, their primary goal is to protect the country. Both military services use their unique resources to provide security and safety for the United States and its allies. While their goals are the same, they’re each designed for different purposes.
The mission of the Army is to preserve peace and safety. It’s there as the nation’s defense force. It defends national policies and also addresses threats that might endanger the country.
On the other hand, the Marines’ mission is much more specified. They were created to help in naval combat, but now they’ve also evolved to become the quick response force for the country. They’re mobilized during natural disasters or armed conflicts to protect US interests and provide aid.
Comparing Army and Marines: Key Differences
One must compare the two directly to understand the key differences between the Army and the Marines. Here’s a list of a few specific elements that’ll help differentiate between the two forces:
- Mission
- Size
- Method
- Departments
Let’s go into detail about each of the above factors. A point of comparison is each of their sizes. The army is made up of a force of roughly 500,000 active-duty soldiers. Whereas active-duty Marine Corps are only under 200,000.
The Army has multiple subgroups, including the infantry, special forces, and Rangers. The Marines are only a singular unit.
The Marines and the Army also differ in the methods they use on the job. They’re both organized into small units, which can be broken down into platoons, squads, and fire teams. When it comes to executing the task, each pair acts differently.
The US Army is land-based. Therefore, they use trucks, tanks, and all-terrain vehicles as transportation. Comparatively, the Marines handle navy-related missions. Therefore, they use ships, submarines, and amphibious vehicles.
The most fundamental difference between the two military services is the departments they work under. The Marines fall under the Department of the US Navy, which supplies them with important resources such as transportation and medics. In return, the Marines protect their assets.
On the other hand, the US Army is solely responsible for its own forces. It provides independent medical care for its personnel and other necessary services.
Are the Marines Tougher Than the Army?
The Marine Corps typically has to go through a much more intense basic training program than soldiers in the Army. They’ve established a reputation for being the toughest and most highly trained fighters.
Marines are considered far superior to soldiers in terms of technical knowledge. Their way of executing operations is also thought of as better.
The Marines are amphibious military and armed forces that aid the Navy during naval combat or ship captures. Usually, they’re trained to execute operations both online and on water.
This is one reason they’re considered superior to soldiers, who only fight on land. Marines are also much more aggressive than typical soldiers.
They’re considered light, mobile, and rapid armed forces. They differ from soldiers in terms of the proficient way in which they operate. For instance, the Marines are responsible for taking amphibious operations.
Not only do they work with the US Navy, but they can also work with the US Army and the US Air Force. They act as advanced naval bases and are always prepared for diverse conditions. While soldiers outnumber them, the Marines are still considered tougher.
Take a look at this table of differences between a soldier and a marine:
| Marine | Soldier |
| Armed forces of a country- mainly part of the Navy | Member of the Army of the country |
| Naval department | Military department |
| Amphibious forces | Terrestrial forces |
| They aid by becoming part of the manpower for the Navy. | Safeguard the border of the country and fights wars. |
| Example: US Army, Indian Army | Example: US Marine Corps, Royal Thai Marine Corps |
Why is a Marine Not a Soldier?
While both are military services and have the same goal of protecting the country, they’re still different from each other. Marines are distinguished from soldiers by their mission, training, history, and uniform.
People often use the terms interchangeably, mainly because they’re confused. But you can’t call a Marine a soldier, the same way you can’t call a sailor a soldier!
They’re also different because soldiers belong to the Army, and usually, a Marine belongs to the Navy. So, as their departments are different, therefore they can’t be the same. However, Marines have often been called “soldiers of the sea”.
Moreover, “Marine” is a title. One has to earn this by making it through boot camp. This title has a special meaning; many who achieve it are proud.
Many Marines also consider it offensive and insulting to be called a soldier. They argue that there’s deference and cultural significance between the two.
Marines vs. Soldiers: Titles and Identity
However, they do admit that they’re all soldiers at the end of the day. However, they believe that they worked really hard to achieve this specific title and don’t want to be referred to in general.
The terms soldier and marine have very different meanings. Therefore, they should be referred to in different terms as well. A Marine is a sea-borne Warrior, whose main function is to fight ship to ship.
They’re also known to have faster response times when required. This is why their roles have expanded to the Army as well. Marines are proud to achieve this title and wish to be called by it rather than a generic term like soldiers.
What is the Toughest Branch of the Military?
Not only are the Marines tougher than the Army soldiers, but they’re also considered the toughest branch of the military. They’re regarded as the most aggressive branch.
There are many military branches, and the Marine Corps comes on top of them. They’re only one 10th of the size of the Army.
Marines are also the first ones who are called into war. They perform many of the same duties as all the other military branches.
One of the most dangerous jobs in the Marine Corps is as a combat engineer. This is because when soldiers are trapped due to obstacles, a combat engineer has to help by clearing the way.
You could say that it’s similar to construction work, but it’s much riskier because of the dangers of combat operations.
While the Marine Corps is considered the toughest, the US Air Force is considered the easiest military branch overall.
The Department of the Air Force is the most prestigious branch of the military. It focuses on both aerial and space operations. Many of his jobs are performed on the ground.
The most dangerous job in the air force is that of pararescue. Their task is to rescue fellow airmen and women in unreachable areas. They take help from parachutes, scuba gear, and rock climbing equipment.
They’ve to be prepared for any type of condition and terrain. For instance, it can be as hot as the desert or as cold as the Arctic.
Who Has Better Benefits, Army or Marines?
There is very little difference in benefits offered to the Army and the Marine Corps. They’re both offered the same benefits, except for some variations.
The army is a much bigger force with more slots to fill, so it offers more incentives and benefits. They do this to attract more people to join the army because of their larger space. On the other hand, the Marines also have many unique benefits that the army lacks.
One of the greatest differences in benefits between the two services is in terms of education. The Army is the only one offering a college loan repayment program for enlisted soldiers and commissioned officers.
Education and Financial Benefits, Recruitment Bonuses, and Healthcare Systems
Under this program, it repays portions of college loans. Whereas the Marine Corps only offers loan repayments to officers.
Moreover, the Army offers several bonuses for critically needed positions to draw new recruits. For instance, such bonuses are for infantrymen, intelligence analysts, and unit supply specialists. The Marines offer a few bonuses but not as many as the Army.
Another notable difference between the two services is in their healthcare systems. An army doctor always treats a soldier sick and injured at the medical center on their post.
On the other hand, the Marines are part of the Department of the Navy. So, if they’re sick, they must be treated by navy doctors in the appropriate department.
Take a quick look at this video explaining the top 3 differences between the two forces:
Final Thoughts
- The Army and the Marines are unique military organizations in the United States.
- The US Army is significantly larger than the US Marine forces.
- Both aim to protect the nation. The Army focuses on preserving peace and safety and is the nation’s defense force. In contrast, the Marines are quick-response and assist in naval combat.
- Differences exist in age requirements for recruitment. The Marines accept recruits up to 28 years, compared to the Army’s maximum age of 35 for enlistment.
- The Army is land-based, using trucks and tanks. While the Marines handle naval operations, utilizing ships, submarines, and amphibious vehicles.
- The Marines fall under the US Navy’s department and collaborate with them. In contrast, the Army manages its forces independently.
- Marines are renowned for their intense training and technical knowledge. They are considered the toughest and most highly trained fighters.
- It’s important to differentiate between a Marine and a soldier. The reason is they belong to different military departments. And they take pride in their unique titles and achievements.
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