The US Marine Corps (USMC) is one of five branches of the United States armed
forces. It specializes in conducting amphibious assaults and fighting on ships.
As of 2002, the US Marines it comprised of 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve
Soldiers. Their designation is of corps rather than a service. The US
Marines is a versatile combat force, trained in a variety of combat
operations.
The US Marines act as the provision naval infantry by serving aboard the
naval vessels. They are responsible for carrying out amphibious operations from
the sea onto land. In the World War II, this force has fully developed and used
its expertise in conducting such operations. Its expertise in all essential
elements of combat (air, ground and water) makes it different from other forces
in the US military. Further, all the US Marines
receive training primarily as riflemen.
The US Marine Corps has its origin in the "Continental
Marines" of the American Revolutionary War period. A resolution of the
Continental Congress on November 10, 1775 formed the "Continental Marines".
They acted as landing troops for the Continental Navy. This force disbanded
at the end of the war in April 1783. It reformed again on July 11, 1798. Today
this force is under the Department of the Navy. The US Marines are not a part
of the US Navy. However, they work in close cooperation. This is the only branch
in the US Armed Forces with an authority to act on president’s direction.
The US Marines is an all-purpose, quick-response task force.
It specializes in swift insertion into areas requiring emergency intervention.
The US Marines is capable of operating on ground, air and water. Since its inception,
this force has no record of a full, large-scale retreat.
The US Marine Corps has
flexibility in organization. It can have units of any size. The
US Marines follow the doctrine of the Marine air-ground task force
(MAGTF). Depending on the requirements, an MAGTF unit can be of
any of three sizes.
