The United States Marine Corps (USMC) forms the second-smallest branch of the United States Armed Forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve members. The USMC serves as a versatile combat element, adapted to a wide variety of combat situations. Its original purpose, giving it the name Marine Corps, comprised the provision naval infantry (combat forces serving aboard naval vessels), and carrying out amphibious operations from the sea onto land. The Marines fully developed and utilized the latter tactic in World War II, most notably in the Pacific Island Campaign. The Marine Corps forms part of the Department of the Navy (but not part of the United States Navy). The Marine Corps has a reputation for being a fierce and effective fighting force, and is famous for the fact that US Marines have never in their entire history resorted to a full, large-scale retreat. -Nicholas F. Abel
Marine Info
Creation and history
Commandant of the Marine Corps
Reputation of the Marine Corps
Symbols of the Marine Corps
Louis Cukela
