[TMSuchman]

Actually the Coasties are the smallest force, but they have a larger budget than the Marine Corps. The corps recieves less than 9% of the overall DOD budget. The Navy & Air Force recieves a large part of the monies due to they have the most expensive toys, and are always fighting for the bigger newer toys to play with. Never mind that most in these two services will not see any combat time where as a Marine is expected to be ready to drop what ever they are doing and go on patrol like any "grunt". In fact ALL Marines are riflemen first then whatever your job is second, whether that be a supply clerk,records clerk,cook,truck driver, Crash crewman,ect...[you get the idea] So we may get our headlines, we don't get enough of the DOD pie by a long shot.

[Blue Scourge]

So we may get our headlines, we don't get enough of the DOD pie by a long shot

No arguments here....you guys get the shaft...this is coming from an Airman.

Never mind that most in these two services will not see any combat time where as a Marine is expected to be ready to drop what ever they are doing and go on patrol like any "grunt".

I can't speak of the Navy but the Air Force has been doing a helluva lot of ground work in Iraq and Afghanistan...plus it's not technically our mission. We do our mission and we do a damned good job at it....such as the Marines do a damned good job at theirs.

You didn't do it but it burns me when people say the USAF doesn't do anything or never fights.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Truer words have not been spoken. :)

[Half Vast Conspiracy]

The Navy does most of the acquisition for the Marines too, right? That would account for some of the disparity.

[El Gato]

Most all the services have upgraded the combat skills of their nominally "non combat" personell. Still nowhere up to the level of a Marine aircraft mechanic of course. :)