A couple of years ago, I was eating breakfast in a hotel in Las Cruces, NM.
About ten young guys in flying suits came in to eat breakfast.
Several times a year, Corpus Christi Navy guys deploy to Cruces to indulge in that big blue sky.
They got food and were sitting all around me. It was about this time of the year.
That means cool mornings and warmer mid days and evenings.
I noticed that only one guy had on a jacket.
Do I asked him 'Why are you the only guy with a jacket?'
He replied, I am a Marine. A Marine is always equipped and ready for any situation.
The rest of these guys are all Navy. Us Marines have to take care of the Navy.
I said that's interesting. The next time you deploy up here you might want to tell the Navy guys to bring their jackets.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

United States Navy - Rules of Engagement

• Adopt an aggressive offshore posture.
• Drink coffee.
• Send in the Marines.
  

U.S.A.F. rules of engagement:

1. Comms call. "You guys outta there?"
2. Push button.
3. Retire to club and swap war stories.

My favorite is some version of:

If you given the order "SECURE THE BUILDING" what the different branches of the US military would do:

The Navy would turn out the lights and lock the doors.

The Army would surround the building with defensive fortifications, tanks and barbed wire.

The Marine Corps would assault the building, using overlapping fields of fire from all appropriate points on the perimeter.

The Air Force would take out a three-year lease with an option to buy.

I've shared a hole/paddy/ditch with many a Marine or a AF FAC. I've had a few hairy rides on a Swift boat. The thing I learned early on was that when the shooting starts, any one of us would sacrifice whatever was needed for our fellow Americans. Interservice rivalries are just fun. My favorite was when I'd be sitting in a bar with my Dad (WWII and Korea Marine) and the bartender would ask if I had been a Marine, my answer was always. "Do I look that stupid to you?" My Dad would give me the "evil eye" and see that I was grinning and break out laughing. I sure miss him.

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Minimize the variables

That rreminds me of two great movies with inter-service rivalry fights. To Hell and Back (Actually--Army vs Army--but was Infantry vs the Air Corps)and also On Wings of Eagles. My favorite part of Eagles was the fight between Navy and Army.

Honorable mention: No Time For Sergeants: USAF vs Army.

Having fun between military branches.

In the workplace there were several Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard vets. And of course their branch was always the best.

I always would tell the Marine members how much I respected them.

They would always ask me why?

I'd say, because they could get you guys to do things they couldn't get us Army guys to do.

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Doesn't hasta call me Johnson

A buddy of mine was in the Navy during the Vietnam era. He's told me several stories of USN/USMC fights. One night in the Philippines one of their shipmates got so drunk that they were wheeling him around in a wheel chair. Some Marines started a fight with them but they left the wheel chair dude alone, assuming that he was in some way injured. He honorably (or stupidly) stood up to fight alongside his pals. When the Jarheads saw that they all turned on him and beat him even more senseless than he already was from the liquor.

Every time I visit D-M AFB I smile, because the first unit inside the gate is the 355th Contracting Squadron.

I used to always love it when we would happen to be on a long flight and stop at a Air Force base to refuel. Since the AF had a guy to drive the fuel truck, one to hook up the ground cable and one to turn the fuel on and off, they would freak when we would figure the fuel loads for the 4 tanks and give the figures to the pilots ( O-1 through O-5) and let them fuel while the other crewman and myself would climb up the side to do the pre-flight.
Once we were in the chopper on a flight, there was no us and them it was we.
Larry

When I joined the Navy, my father asked me, "Why didn't you go into the Air Force like your Uncle and me?"

I looked him straight in the eye and said, "Dad, I really considered the Air Force, but I kind of wanted to be in the military." Wow! Was that a bad choice! He screwed himself 3 feet into the ceiling. He came around once he visited Pensacola and saw what we were doing (being trained by MARINES! ).

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No good deed goes unpunished.

When my older brother was looking at joining the military (1966) my Dad (Naval Air Corps, WW2 and Korea) told us that no matter which branch you joined, join the air wing. The air wing of any branch lived the best. When I got around to enlisting Dad had been dead a couple years and I joined Army Field Artillery. Dad was right.

In country, if we had to drink our beer at room temperature, we could put in for hazardous duty pay.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

After swabbing the decks and emptying the ****cans...

My boss is a tad older than I, and a Vietnam vet. When he became my boss about 14 years ago, and when I asked him, he told me he was a supply procurement NCO in the Air Force before he retired. I thought, "yep, an Air Farce bean counter."

A few years ago, he opened up a little more, and told me he'd initially been in Air Police over in 'Nam.

This year I participated in bringing "The Moving Wall" to our town. It was THEN that I learned he'd earned a SILVER STAR in one of many nasty firefights he was in . . . riding the back of an Air Force jeep firing an M-60 near "Monkey Mountain" I believe he called it. I also learned he'd served two tours in Vietnam and escorted/guarding a lot of convoys from Saigon to one air base or another.

Last week we were sitting in a meeting where I was running sound and presentation video, and he was riding shotgun to my right. I said something and he squinted like he was aggravated as he tried to listen to me. It was THEN I learned for the first time that he is nearly deaf in his left ear from his time in Vietnam, guarding B-52s . . . for there were times when he couldn't listen for other sounds with earmuffs on.

Yep . . . some folks don't talk much . . .

Re: Any given piece of used equipment:

Army- Clean it.
Navy- Paint it.
Marines-Break it.
Air Force - Buy a new one.

Sea Bees are Marines that get out with a actual job skill

Air Force Communications; An airman using the latest in electronic satellite equipment and high speed radio.

Navy Communications; A seaman using the ELF system and most advanced above and below sea com equipment.

Army Communications; A soldier using secret coded ultra high tech equipment.

Marine Communications; Tossing a troop out of a C130 with a note in his hand.

Love all our services and those who serve in them.

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

Me, I was in the US armed forces.

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It's Alive !!

biggest fight I ever started: while in guam I was sitting between a marine and a sailor in a club. I asked the marine if he knew why the marine corps were formed. I told him the sailor on the other side of me said it was because the army formed the K-9 corps and the navy got jealous. I stepped back just in time. love the old days. lee

Who is going to read it to the other Marines when he lands?
Is there a swabbie down there with em, or did you mean to say 'picture' instead of note?

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

I was in the Army's Navy...While stationed in Viet Nam I worked with the Navy, SeeBee's, Marines and even the Air Force on one occaison. We hauled the SeeBees and their equipment out to a little island off the coast to help them set up a radar installation and dock for the RVNs. We hauled the Marines up a couple of rivers and then a few days later came back to bring them home. The Air Force came to our help when we got caught out at sea during Typhoon Kate and were able to give our position to a U.S. destroyer who were unable to get close enough to shoot us a line and tow us to safety, eventually a South Korean LST was able to get a line to us on the third try so I can even add them to the list. I have to say that my experience working with all of our troops has been rewarding, we all had jobs to do and for the most part carried out our missions to the best of our ability.

Have you ever seen Air Force Navy folks? That would be AF boat operators wearing Navy uniforms and AF insignia.
They were mostly used as crash recovery boats Around overwater ranges.
The ones I saw and rode on their boats were down at the Water Survival School on Biscay Bay, FL.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

We had a Navy guy in charge of security, fire, etc. at the research lab where I worked that was full of civilian scientists and engineers. He would always get on the horn and declare that the 'building was secure'. Everyone asked, "Exactly what does that mean?" He never put forth his definition, I think he enjoyed having everybody not know what he was talking about.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I related this story but I had a neighbor, a little guy with a very likeable easy going manner. It wasn't until his funeral that I found that he was a tail gunner on a B-17 with two Purple Hearts.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

One of my Cousins joined the safe military branch, the USAF. They made him a medic. Vietnam just went big time. They sent him there and gave him a job riding helicopters to do inland pickups for down pilots etc.

His helicopter was shot down, some did not make it, the rest were firing their 1911's and cussing them selves for not bringing rifles and more ammo. Cuz had several bullet holes. I am pretty sure he said they went down close to some Marines who saved them. But it could have been Army guys. He had served 11 months in Nam and was sent state side to recover. He was told he did not have to worry about going back, his 11 months was close enough to a full tour.

When he got orders it was Nam for another year. He was not happy. He had turned down OCS several times because he did not want to extend.

When he hit the ground in Nam he filled out the paper work, was accepted in short order to OCS, went back to the states, became an officer and a gentleman in medical supply, made the USAF a career.

He is one that did not take AF desk job jokes lightly.

Let's see, I had 4 years of NJROTC in HS, 10 years in the Army as enlisted as a medic on AD and USAR, another 10 in the AFR and ANG as an SP, got my commission in the USAR then went on Army AD in 03. My take,

Ther are only 2 branches of the military, (look in the Constitution) the Army and Navy. The AF is a corporation, and the USMC is a cult!

Sweepers Sweepers Man Your Brooms: An Enlisted Man's Story - Jeff Zahratka - Google Books


Way too much to say for me since I am a bit long winded.
This book says a lot.
I am even in it.
The good stuff wasn't printed. Don't know why I tell the stories a lot.
Guess Jeff was worried about law suits or an A@s whopping.

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Have a blessed day ,
Bull

I was stationed on Okinawa 76-78 and while I was there, the Marine logo was "We're looking for a few good men".

While we were at the Kadena PX one day, a Marine full bird was standing in line behind us. My wife asked what he was and I told her. She up and asked the full bird if he knew why the Marines were looking for a few good men? He said no, tell me. She said "Cause they don't have any".

Every non Marine around broke out laughing.

Yep, she loved the military hazing

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Slim, U.S. Army, Ret.

Corpsman, obviously. JK

Might have been a different "monkey mountain"..This is the one that is easily seen from most of Danang..Easily secured from invaders as it was on the end of the peninsula..

"Monkey Mountain is located on the end of a peninsular, near the city of Da Nang. The 366th SPS and Marines provided security for the radar and communications facility located on top. In the late 60's, Sentry Dogs (from the US Navy Sentry Dog Section) were used to enhance security. Handlers rotated for a week tour on the mountain and enjoyed the cool weather. "
K-9 MWD: Monkey Mountain, Da Nang AB, RVN.

"Sweepers, Sweepers, man your brooms. Give the ship a good sweepdown fore and aft. Sweep down all decks, ladders and passageways. Empty all trash and garbage (in the receptacles provided for on the pier/over the fantail) (or "hold all trash and garbage on station"). Now Sweepers."

I wonder if the smoking lamp is lit anymore.

All funny, but in 6yrs active & 17 N.G. I never saw a fight over service branch........Except in old movies.

Best one I heard was from a Navy Intel puke. When asked why she didn't enlist in the Marine Corps, she stated that she tried but just couldn't fit her head in that jar. Her body has never been found.

For everyone who has worn the uniform they have earned the right to give the other Services harassment. Like camouflage, harassment must be continuous to be effective.

Correct, Marine.


So,
They don't lose a Marine when they employ this method.
They teach them to land on their heads.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

I tried to join the Coast Guard before I joined the Navy. They told me I had to be over 6' tall and I was 5'11". I asked them why and they said if the ship sinks you have to be tall enough to wade ashore. We tried that on some CG sailors once in a bar and they said they had already heard it and just ignored us. Probably a good thing.

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That's just somebody talkin.

My BIL is a old Coastie. He calls it "the wading pool navy."

Marine Corps Rules:

1. Be courteous to everyone, friendly to no one.
2. Decide to be aggressive enough, quickly enough.
3. Have a plan.
4. Have a back-up plan, because the first one probably won't work.
5. Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet.
6. Do not attend a gunfight with a handgun whose caliber does not start with a '4.'
7. Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammo is cheap. Life is expensive.
8. Move away from your attacker. Distance is your friend. (Lateral & diagonal preferred.)
9. Use cover or concealment as much as possible.
10. Flank your adversary when possible. Protect yours.
11. Always cheat; always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.
12. In ten years nobody will remember the details of caliber, stance, or tactics. They will only remember who lived.
13. If you are not shooting, you should be communicating your intention to shoot.

Navy SEAL's Rules:

1. Look very cool in sunglasses.
2. Kill every living thing within view.
3. Adjust Speedo.
4. Check hair in mirror.

US Army Rangers Rules:

1. Walk in 50 miles wearing 75 pound rucksack while starving.
2. Locate individuals requiring killing.
3. Request permission via radio from 'Higher' to perform killing.
4. Curse bitterly when mission is aborted.
5. Walk out 50 miles wearing a 75 pound rucksack while starving.

US Army Rules:

1. Curse bitterly when receiving operational order.
2. Make sure there is extra ammo and extra coffee.
3. Curse bitterly.
4. Curse bitterly.
5. Do not listen to 2nd LTs; it can get you killed.
6. Curse bitterly.

US Air Force Rules:

1. Have a cocktail.
2. Adjust temperature on air-conditioner.
3. See what's on HBO.
4. Ask 'What is a gunfight?'
5. Request more funding from Congress with a 'killer' Power Point presentation.
6. Wine & dine ''key' Congressmen, invite DOD & defense industry executives.
7. Receive funding, set up new command and assemble assets.
8. Declare the assets 'strategic' and never deploy them operationally.
9. Hurry to make 13:45 tee-time.
10. Make sure the base is as far as possible from the conflict but close enough to have tax exemption.

US Navy Rules:

1. Go to Sea.
2. Drink Coffee.
3. Deploy Marines

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Forum consigliere

As a retired Navy Intel puke I admit I never heard that one before and it's doggone funny!

This is true - we were in Joint units, called "Purple" as you probably know, and the hazing was a given and routine. My favorite has always been the one about the USAF not being military. I have a very close friend who was a missile puke, spent all of his time in those nuclear silos - hates guns and had to wear one every day! - he groans every time I remind him that his daddy (retired Army) was in the military and he should have been, too.

Interesting question. I'm far enough removed now that I can't say that it was "recently". "Recently" ain't recent anymore.

Just attended a reunion of Intel CPOs last weekend - everyone's looking WAY older than I remembered - because we are. It was great fun.

***ISCS YODA***

This is the real thing. I didn't experience all of it, because I was mostly on aircraft carriers and already a petty officer, and I didn't get to Norfolk (**** City in Navy terminology) until after Hampton Boulevard was razed, but this guy doesn't even need to start off with the standard "This is no ****, fellas."

The best Navy personnel were those medics attached to Marine units and those Navy pilots that dropped napalm when and where ordered.

I don't put down any service, but I have smile at their cultural differences.

The last time I visited MCAS Yuma, the sentry at the gate was wearing exquistly pressed class As. After checking my ID, he snapped to attention, saluted, and shouted, "Good afternoon, sir!"

The last time I visted D-M AFB, the sentry was wearing a baggy camouflage uinform. She smiled and said "hi." After checking my ID, she waved her hand in the vicinity of her forehead and wished me a nice day. But she had a very sincere smile.

Add Air Force A-10 drivers to that list. Pilot made a BRDM look a lot more appealing shortly after we ran across one on a leisurely Sunday drive in a soft back HMMWV.

This story was told to us by our commander, a Navy Captain, at an all-hands meeting.

During the Vietnam war three pilots; one Navy, one Air Force, and one Marine Corps had been shot down. They were being held in a VC camp waiting transport to the Hanoi Hilton.

They secretly agreed that if they got their chance they would make a break for it. One day they saw their chance and took it, all three running together as fast as they could. The Air Force guy was the first to tire and they stopped under a tree. The others didn't want to leave him behind but he said he would climb the tree and pretend to be a bird. The others ran on and sure enough when the guards and dogs came to his tree, he cupped his hands and said "caw, caw." The guards and dogs assumed it was a bird and ran after the other two.

After about 10 more minutes of flat out running the Navy guy pulled up gasping for air under another tree. He said don't worry about me, I'll climb this tree and pretend to be a squirrel. The Marine ran on and sure enough when the guards and dogs got to the tree he made whatever sounds a squirrel makes and they ran on.

The Marine finally pulled up under a tree completely gassed. Like the others he saw his chance to hide and climbed the tree. When his pursuers circled the tree he cupped his hands and called out, "MOOOO!"

I was at a base a couple of years ago that had been BRAC'd and absorbed into the neighboring Army post. One night we had an on-base shooting. The call went out as "active shooter." It turned out to be an Army dude shooting at his Army baby momma in (formerly AF) base housing. As we were still in transition, there were still two separate CPs. This was a significant emotional event for the AF, so they held an after-action meeting to discuss how we had handled it. When asked for input, the Deputy Provost Marshal from the Army post said something to the effect of, "I know this is new to you AF folks, but this kind of behavior is a weekly occurrence on an Army post."

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Where's my dad's America?

I haven't thought thru the list for a while, but I'll give it a go:
-> Grandpa Ray was Army for WWI
-> Dad (also Ray, but NOT 'Junior!') was Army for WWII and USAF (Activated from reserves) for Korea
-> Uncle Glenn was Army Air Corps for WWII and USAF for Korea, stayed in for a career and made full-bird. Dad never really forgave him for having induced him to join the USAFR after WWII under the premise, "C'mon, what're the odds of another war in the next 50 years?"
-> Uncle Ed (Aunt V's second; liked a man who'd worn a uniform) was in the Navy for WWII, & a USS Indianapolis survivor
- > Cousins Ray & Stevewent AF; cousin Tony's a career Army man, in physical therapy.
I was the first and only thus far to join Uncle Sam's Misguided Children. I'm told that back a ways in our family tree we have sure-enough pirates in the bloodline, so maybe that explains it.

I can't really engage in inter-service harassment without offending some relative or their shade... But it was my Uncle Ed who told me that the only reason the Navy still existed was that God simply refused to allow Marines to walk on water.

It was a fact that among my cohort, we had a secret respect and envy for the Air Force enlisted folks, for their continued, inexplicable skill in duping their officers into doing most of their fighting and dying for them.

Would be funny except for one thing, no navy personnel could ever run full out for ten minutes. LOL

Two airmen were driving across country on leave. They come to a Marine Corps base and decide to visit. They approach the gate and the Marine Guard walks up to the driver's window, and taps on it with his nightstick.

The driver rolls down the window, and the Marine smacks him in the head with
the stick. The driver says, Why'd you do that?

The Marine says, You're on a United States Marine Corps Base, son. When I come up to your car, you'll have your ID card ready.

Driver says, I'm sorry, We're in the Air Force, and we didn't know.

The Marine examines the I.D. card and gives it back to the driver.

The Marine walks around to the passenger side and taps on the window. The passenger rolls his window down, and the Marine smacks him with the nightstick.
The passenger says, What'd you do that for?

The Marine says, Just making your wishes come true.

The passenger says, Huh?

The Marine says, I know that as soon as you pull away you're gonna say, 'I wish that sucker would've tried that **** with me!'

Somewhere I have a photo my girlfriend snapped of me taking the enlistment oath at my swearing in day.

It was administered to me by an abundantly pregnant Air Force captain.

The difference between Air Force and Navy/Marine close air support? One you can almost see and the other you can almost touch.