Japan sets out defence strategy amid China tensions

[Thatcher]

I'm still trying to figure out what the Army does that the Marines don't/couldn't do, other than waste money..

And yes, at a basic level, Marine Corps training is more difficult/better. The leadership is better because it's tougher to get promoted in the Marines and in general, the standards are higher.

[eric]

Seems like you're pretty biased here. All you've done is just said repeatedly that the Marines are better and that the army wastes money.

And what is this based on? Reputation?

If anything all you're doing is arguing for a smaller, and more efficient army. Not that we need a Marine Corps.

[Thatcher]

[eric]

Well because it wouldn't accomplish the same goals. The army is about more than just bodies or training, it's an entire infrastructure. We don't have a national "marine guard", do we? Getting rid of the army means getting rid of things like that too. Which is just nonsense.

The point of downsizing the army is to only have what is necessary for force projection, and to keep an infrastructure in place in case of a war. The marine corps doesn't have the equipment, training, people, or ability to match the capabilities of the army in the regard.

The marines have really lost that original purpose. Army airborne operations and special forces are able to deploy as quick, and much quicker respectively, and don't require a substantial naval presence. You can't argue to decrease the size of the navy, in this case.

Your chief complaints here have been:

1. DOD contractors - lol
2. Training - unsubstantiated
3. Cost

The only one here that could possibly be valid is the cost, which is why I suggest getting rid of the marine corps and downsizing the army. Cost is an issue across DoD, though. Mostly due to 2 wars. And your discussion point about the marine corps being "more efficient" is really out of place, because the bottom line is that they are part of the navy, so the budgeting issues and their "efficiency" rests there. If they were their own entity, you bet your ass they'd be wasting just as much as everybody else.

[Thatcher]

To say the Marines have lost their original purpose is misguided, unless you would get rid of the expeditionary force. Would you?

My point about the Army relying too much on contractors has more to do with their inefficiency than anything. The contractors I spoke with said that the Army's equipment came back in the worst shape and that they relied on them to fix everything, whereas the other services could pretty much take care of their gear themselves.

[eric]

"the contractors I spoke with"

I'd get rid of the entire Marine Corps. It's unnecessary.

[Thatcher]

[eric]

Yeah, it is because it's useless.

And yes I would get rid of the entire marine corps. Don't need troops on ships when we have bases and planes.

[Thatcher]

I'm sensing a little animosity towards the Marine Corps here, perhaps an inferiority complex. Getting rid of the MEF is ridiculous.

[NAB]