How the US armed services differ:

[Financial.Velociraptor]

If the President orders the Army to secure a building: They post sentries on every floor and at every entrance/exit point. They create a perimeter with fencing and wire.

If the President orders the Marines to secure a building: They call in a Halo drop with extensive air and ground support, leveling every structure in the immediate vicinity and killing anything with a pulse for good measure.

If the President orders the Navy to secure a building: They lock and tag every room, remove any liquids or volatiles, and stock everything in sight with mothballs; documenting every step of the process in excruciating detail.

If the President orders the Air Force to secure a building: They acquire a 3-5 year lease with an option to purchase.

[Michael in ABQ]

Having been in the Army 17 years and worked closely with the Air Force and Navy this is very accurate. The Navy has a whole process and time standard on how to clean a weapon. The Army has a squad leader saying it's not clean enough and then the Supply Sergeant checking it before you put it back in the arms room. Very different philosophies. The only problem with the Air Force one is that the lease will take 18-24 months to execute (this is basically my job).

[Travis]

Having been in the Army 17 years and worked closely with the Air Force and Navy this is very accurate. The Navy has a whole process and time standard on how to clean a weapon. The Army has a squad leader saying it's not clean enough and then the Supply Sergeant checking it before you put it back in the arms room. Very different philosophies. The only problem with the Air Force one is that the lease will take 18-24 months to execute (this is basically my job).

By which point higher headquarters no longer wants it or you now need a bigger building because circumstances changed over the years.

[Travis]

The Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, CIA, FBI, and LAPD are tasked with bringing an evil snake in the forest to justice.

Paratrooper:
Parachutes into the forest despite being told by EVERYBODY how stupid of an idea it is. Does it anyways, lands, breaks ankle. Kills the snake.

Armor:
Runs over snake, giggles and looks for more snakes.

Infantry:
Snake sees them coming a mile away. Hides until they get bored of shooting trees and leave.

Army Aviation:
Has GPS grid to snake. Couldn't find snake. Back to base for crew rest and a manicure.

Ranger:
Plays with the snake, then eats it.

SEAL:
Expends all ammunition, several grenades and calls for naval gunfire in a failed attempt to kill the snake. The snake bites the SEAL then retreats to safety. SEAL then writes a book about the glorious struggle and options for a movie.

Artillery:
Kills snake, but in the process kills several hundred civilians with a massive Time On Target with three Field Artillery battalions in support. Mission is considered a success and all participants are awarded Silver Stars. (Cooks, Mechanics, Legal Clerks etc)

Marine Recon:
Follows the snake and gets lost.

Para rescue:
Wounds the snake in first encounter, and then feverishly works to save the snakes life.

U.S. Special Forces:
Makes contact with snake, ignores all State Department directives and Theater Commander Rules of Engagement by building rapport with snake and winning its heart and mind. Trains it to kill other snakes. Files enormous travel settlement upon return.

Army Signal Corps: Informs the commander that he could easily communicate with the snake using just his voice. Commander insists that he NEEDS to video conference with the snake, with real-time streaming positional and logistical data on the snake displayed on video screens to either side. Gives Signal Corps $5 Billion to make this happen. SigO abuses the 2 smart people on his team to make it happen, while everybody else stands around, bitches, and takes credit. In the end, General Dynamics and several sub-contractors make a few billion dollars, the two smart people get out and go to work for them, and the commander gets what he asked for which only works in fiber-optic based simulations. The snake dies of old age.

US Air Force:
Levels the forest with several hundred tons of bombs ruining the forest for the next decade. Tells the press "we're pretty sure we got him" and replays the video of the strike on the highest volume whenever they ask questions.

CIA:
They place animal informants throughout the forest. They question all plant and mineral witnesses. After three months of extensive investigations they conclude that snakes do not exist.

FBI:
After two weeks with no leads they burn the forest, killing everything in it, including the snake, and they make no apologies. The snake had it coming.

LAPD:
Comes back out of the forest after an hour dragging a bloody rabbit behind him who is screaming "okay, okay, I'm a fucking snake!"

[scottish]

Wait - you mean to say that General Dynamics is hiring the *smart* people from the military?

[Kierun]

Why's the Coast Guard always left out of the parties?

Semper Paratus

[RetiredAt63]

Why's the Coast Guard always left out of the parties?

Semper Paratus

So how would the Coast Guard handle those situations?    ;-)   Well, I'm sure, but how?

[TheGrimSqueaker]

Why's the Coast Guard always left out of the parties?

Semper Paratus

So how would the Coast Guard handle those situations?    ;-)   Well, I'm sure, but how?

Drop supplies, shoot at it a bit, throw it a life jacket, rescue all the good looking guys from the other services (or girls) and go to a Navy bar and drink beer.

We should ask @Sailor Sam

[ObviouslyNotAGolfer]

I never served myself, but when I was a kid, I was obsessed with planes (especially the big jets) and I thought of joining the Air Force to fly KC-10s, C-141s, or C5s, and then get a job with one of the airlines (PSA and Southwest stewardesses---mmmmmmm!) .

Anywhoo:

ARMY soldiers have to go on a five mile hike carrying heavy packs in the hot sun, and they all say, "Aw man, what is this shit!?"

MARINES have to go on a ten mile hike through the mud, while being fired at, and they all say, "I love this shit!!"

NAVY SEALS have to go on a 15 mile trek through the swamp while being fired at and strafed, and bombed. They all say, "Give me more of this shit!!"

AIR FORCE pilots are sitting in their air-conditioned barracks when the cable TV fails, and they say, "Aw man, what is this shit??"

[MasterStache]

I never served myself, but when I was a kid, I was obsessed with planes (especially the big jets) and I thought of joining the Air Force to fly KC-10s, C-141s, or C5s, and then get a job with one of the airlines (PSA and Southwest stewardesses---mmmmmmm!) .

Anywhoo:

ARMY soldiers have to go on a five mile hike carrying heavy packs in the hot sun, and they all say, "Aw man, what is this shit!?"

MARINES have to go on a ten mile hike through the mud, while being fired at, and they all say, "I love this shit!!"

NAVY SEALS have to go on a 15 mile trek through the swamp while being fired at and strafed, and bombed. They all say, "Give me more of this shit!!"

AIR FORCE pilots are sitting in their air-conditioned barracks when the cable TV fails, and they say, "Aw man, what is this shit??"

Don't knock the Air Force. Pararescue is considered by many to be the toughest military school out there. In the past classes have graduated one or even zero Airman. That is one hell of an attrition rate. I served in a special warfare unit and our last official graduation requirement in tech school was a timed 12 mile ruck with 50 lbs. Pilots make up such a tiny fraction of actual Air Force personnel. FWIW I worked with some bad ass pilots who loved "getting dirty" with us. 

[ObviouslyNotAGolfer]

Not knocking the Air Force--I wanted to join myself at one point. Getting shot down and captured behind enemy lines is not for wimps!

And by the way: "Nobody kicks ass without tanker gas!"

[Michael in ABQ]

I never served myself, but when I was a kid, I was obsessed with planes (especially the big jets) and I thought of joining the Air Force to fly KC-10s, C-141s, or C5s, and then get a job with one of the airlines (PSA and Southwest stewardesses---mmmmmmm!) .

Anywhoo:

ARMY soldiers have to go on a five mile hike carrying heavy packs in the hot sun, and they all say, "Aw man, what is this shit!?"

MARINES have to go on a ten mile hike through the mud, while being fired at, and they all say, "I love this shit!!"

NAVY SEALS have to go on a 15 mile trek through the swamp while being fired at and strafed, and bombed. They all say, "Give me more of this shit!!"

AIR FORCE pilots are sitting in their air-conditioned barracks when the cable TV fails, and they say, "Aw man, what is this shit??"

Don't knock the Air Force. Pararescue is considered by many to be the toughest military school out there. In the past classes have graduated one or even zero Airman. That is one hell of an attrition rate. I served in a special warfare unit and our last official graduation requirement in tech school was a timed 12 mile ruck with 50 lbs. Pilots make up such a tiny fraction of actual Air Force personnel. FWIW I worked with some bad ass pilots who loved "getting dirty" with us.

4-hour standard right? The Army standard for a 12-miler is 3 hours.

[Travis]

I never served myself, but when I was a kid, I was obsessed with planes (especially the big jets) and I thought of joining the Air Force to fly KC-10s, C-141s, or C5s, and then get a job with one of the airlines (PSA and Southwest stewardesses---mmmmmmm!) .

Anywhoo:

ARMY soldiers have to go on a five mile hike carrying heavy packs in the hot sun, and they all say, "Aw man, what is this shit!?"

MARINES have to go on a ten mile hike through the mud, while being fired at, and they all say, "I love this shit!!"

NAVY SEALS have to go on a 15 mile trek through the swamp while being fired at and strafed, and bombed. They all say, "Give me more of this shit!!"

AIR FORCE pilots are sitting in their air-conditioned barracks when the cable TV fails, and they say, "Aw man, what is this shit??"

Don't knock the Air Force. Pararescue is considered by many to be the toughest military school out there. In the past classes have graduated one or even zero Airman. That is one hell of an attrition rate. I served in a special warfare unit and our last official graduation requirement in tech school was a timed 12 mile ruck with 50 lbs. Pilots make up such a tiny fraction of actual Air Force personnel. FWIW I worked with some bad ass pilots who loved "getting dirty" with us.

4-hour standard right? The Army standard for a 12-miler is 3 hours.

With a 35 pound load.

[RetiredAt63]

And you all left out the Coast Guard again!

[RetiredAt63]

And you all left out the Coast Guard again!

The forgotten bastard step-child of the armed forces. Our Semper Paradus apparently translate to Simply Forgot Us ;-). As in "Simply forgot us is our cry. They left us here to die. They left us here without our beer and and now we sit and cry cry cry".

Obviously the Coast Guard is well prepared for this situation.   You even have a verse.

So, what is the CG's version of the hike?

[MasterStache]

I never served myself, but when I was a kid, I was obsessed with planes (especially the big jets) and I thought of joining the Air Force to fly KC-10s, C-141s, or C5s, and then get a job with one of the airlines (PSA and Southwest stewardesses---mmmmmmm!) .

Anywhoo:

ARMY soldiers have to go on a five mile hike carrying heavy packs in the hot sun, and they all say, "Aw man, what is this shit!?"

MARINES have to go on a ten mile hike through the mud, while being fired at, and they all say, "I love this shit!!"

NAVY SEALS have to go on a 15 mile trek through the swamp while being fired at and strafed, and bombed. They all say, "Give me more of this shit!!"

AIR FORCE pilots are sitting in their air-conditioned barracks when the cable TV fails, and they say, "Aw man, what is this shit??"

Don't knock the Air Force. Pararescue is considered by many to be the toughest military school out there. In the past classes have graduated one or even zero Airman. That is one hell of an attrition rate. I served in a special warfare unit and our last official graduation requirement in tech school was a timed 12 mile ruck with 50 lbs. Pilots make up such a tiny fraction of actual Air Force personnel. FWIW I worked with some bad ass pilots who loved "getting dirty" with us.

4-hour standard right? The Army standard for a 12-miler is 3 hours.

Not sure. I went through over 20 years ago. I do know because we were aligned with different Army units (Infantry, Armor, Airborne, Air Assault, Special Ops, Ranger etc.) etc. our training standards always met or exceeded Army training standards. Our ruck weight was typically heavier because we carried more (radios, batteries, etc). But our PT standards were the same as the Army standards.

Edit: I managed to find the criteria for graduation. It's 12 miles with a minimum weight of 50 lbs in under 3 hours. So still the same as when I went through.

[Michael in ABQ]

I never served myself, but when I was a kid, I was obsessed with planes (especially the big jets) and I thought of joining the Air Force to fly KC-10s, C-141s, or C5s, and then get a job with one of the airlines (PSA and Southwest stewardesses---mmmmmmm!) .

Anywhoo:

ARMY soldiers have to go on a five mile hike carrying heavy packs in the hot sun, and they all say, "Aw man, what is this shit!?"

MARINES have to go on a ten mile hike through the mud, while being fired at, and they all say, "I love this shit!!"

NAVY SEALS have to go on a 15 mile trek through the swamp while being fired at and strafed, and bombed. They all say, "Give me more of this shit!!"

AIR FORCE pilots are sitting in their air-conditioned barracks when the cable TV fails, and they say, "Aw man, what is this shit??"

Don't knock the Air Force. Pararescue is considered by many to be the toughest military school out there. In the past classes have graduated one or even zero Airman. That is one hell of an attrition rate. I served in a special warfare unit and our last official graduation requirement in tech school was a timed 12 mile ruck with 50 lbs. Pilots make up such a tiny fraction of actual Air Force personnel. FWIW I worked with some bad ass pilots who loved "getting dirty" with us.

4-hour standard right? The Army standard for a 12-miler is 3 hours.

Not sure. I went through over 20 years ago. I do know because we were aligned with different Army units (Infantry, Armor, Airborne, Air Assault, Special Ops, Ranger etc.) etc. our training standards always met or exceeded Army training standards. Our ruck weight was typically heavier because we carried more (radios, batteries, etc). But our PT standards were the same as the Army standards.

Edit: I managed to find the criteria for graduation. It's 12 miles with a minimum weight of 50 lbs in under 3 hours. So still the same as when I went through.

Ok. I did a quick Google search and found a 4-hour, 12-mile standard for Combat Air Controllers.

The Army standard is 35 pounds but usually our rucks weighed more than that, albeit generally not quite 50 pounds if it was a timed ruck march. For actual operations in the field, absolutely it would be 50 pounds or more between extra ammo, batteries, equipment, etc. But in those cases we moved slower as it wasn't a timed march along a clear road but usually cross-country where a 4 mph pace is much harder to keep up simply due to the terrain.

[MasterStache]

I never served myself, but when I was a kid, I was obsessed with planes (especially the big jets) and I thought of joining the Air Force to fly KC-10s, C-141s, or C5s, and then get a job with one of the airlines (PSA and Southwest stewardesses---mmmmmmm!) .

Anywhoo:

ARMY soldiers have to go on a five mile hike carrying heavy packs in the hot sun, and they all say, "Aw man, what is this shit!?"

MARINES have to go on a ten mile hike through the mud, while being fired at, and they all say, "I love this shit!!"

NAVY SEALS have to go on a 15 mile trek through the swamp while being fired at and strafed, and bombed. They all say, "Give me more of this shit!!"

AIR FORCE pilots are sitting in their air-conditioned barracks when the cable TV fails, and they say, "Aw man, what is this shit??"

Don't knock the Air Force. Pararescue is considered by many to be the toughest military school out there. In the past classes have graduated one or even zero Airman. That is one hell of an attrition rate. I served in a special warfare unit and our last official graduation requirement in tech school was a timed 12 mile ruck with 50 lbs. Pilots make up such a tiny fraction of actual Air Force personnel. FWIW I worked with some bad ass pilots who loved "getting dirty" with us.

4-hour standard right? The Army standard for a 12-miler is 3 hours.

Not sure. I went through over 20 years ago. I do know because we were aligned with different Army units (Infantry, Armor, Airborne, Air Assault, Special Ops, Ranger etc.) etc. our training standards always met or exceeded Army training standards. Our ruck weight was typically heavier because we carried more (radios, batteries, etc). But our PT standards were the same as the Army standards.

Edit: I managed to find the criteria for graduation. It's 12 miles with a minimum weight of 50 lbs in under 3 hours. So still the same as when I went through.

Ok. I did a quick Google search and found a 4-hour, 12-mile standard for Combat Air Controllers.

The Army standard is 35 pounds but usually our rucks weighed more than that, albeit generally not quite 50 pounds if it was a timed ruck march. For actual operations in the field, absolutely it would be 50 pounds or more between extra ammo, batteries, equipment, etc. But in those cases we moved slower as it wasn't a timed march along a clear road but usually cross-country where a 4 mph pace is much harder to keep up simply due to the terrain.

Yeah combat controllers typically don’t ruck as much as we do. Their pipeline is still significantly more difficult though.

[Travis]

I've spent the last 22 years either fighting wars we didn't need, or preparing for wars that will probably never happen. Meanwhile on every other day of the week...

https://www.dvidshub.net//video/773353/coast-guard-medevacs-man-160-miles-east-boston

[Michael in ABQ]

I've spent the last 22 years either fighting wars we didn't need, or preparing for wars that will probably never happen. Meanwhile on every other day of the week...

https://www.dvidshub.net//video/773353/coast-guard-medevacs-man-160-miles-east-boston

My best friend's dad, our Boy Scout Scoutmaster, and a third friend were going diving off the coast of Oregon. Their boat sank and the Coast Guard rescued them. Had they not been there all three would have surely died. As it was, the only reason the survived was they were in dry suits so they could survive in the ocean for a few hours. For years afterwards my friend's dad hosted an annual party for the Coast Guard crew that rescued them.

I've got a lot of respect for the Coast Guard. Day in and day out the work they do with search and rescue and law enforcement is far more meaningful than what the rest of us do do which is mainly preparing to fight the next war.