Originally Posted by whocarz

The 101st Airborne was created as an infantry division in WW1, then a paratrooper division in WW2, but during Vietnam was turned into an Airmobile division, which means they move around by helicopter. I believe they are the only division in the world that relies entirely upon helicopters for transportation. During Gulf War 1, they managed to fly the entire division behind enemy lines in about 24 hours, then fly to another location, causing massive disruption, etc.

I'm pretty confident that the only US paratrooper division nowadays is the 82nd Airborne, also known as the All American division. They were created as a regular infantry division in 1917 and later reorganized as a paratrooper division during WW2.

Now to address Mr. Mephisto's questions. Basically, each of the forces you mentioned are considered "elite" but they all do different jobs.

Navy SEALs: Part of the Navy (obviously), they are used for clandestine operations, including unconventional warfare, direct action, combating terrorism, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, information warfare, security assistance, counter-drug operations, personnel recovery and hydrographic reconnaissance. Their primary method of insertion and extraction are maritime. Each SEAL is an extremely tough individual, and their reputation as badasses are deserved. Perhaps their most widely known failure, Patilla Field in Panama, stems from the fact that SEALs are not trained for a conventional assault on an airfield. The job should have been handled by Army Rangers.

Army Delta Force: Primarily used in counter-terror operations, there isn't a whole lot of info about Delta Force. However, they can be considered roughly equivilant to the SEALs, just with a more limited scope and not based on maritime operations, although they do train to operate in aquatic environs.

Army Green Berets: Primarily concerned with clandestine operations, and providing combat training to, and operating with, indigenous troops.

Army Rangers: More highly trained than regular Army soldiers, Rangers are organized as Light Infantry, used to spearhead assaults, and support special operations units, such as SEALs and Delta Force. Their training is roughly equivilant to Marines, but without the maritime aspect. Of course, if asked which is better, however, a Ranger will claim Rangers are, and the Marine will claim Marines are.

Marines: The land fighting arm of the Navy. Marines specialize in amphibious assaults and taking ground. They are primarily concerned with clearing the enemy out of the area, so that it can later be occupied by regular Army units. Every Marine, whether a cook or supply clerk or infantry man, is considered a Rifleman first and foremost. This allows support personnel to be sent to the front with confidence that they will fight efficiently.

Marine Force RECON: This is the elite of the Marines, and are used to scout even further ahead of the main body than the Reconnaissance Battalions, aquiring information on enemy positions, etc.

I hope I didn't fuck anything up, and if I did, please feel free to point it out.

Originally Posted by smooth

I hope no marine sees your post
I think they'd reply if anything that in so far as they are part of the Navy, it's only that they are the best part! But I haven't met any Corpman who didn't bristle at that kind of statement.

The Marine Corps fall under the Department of the Navy, not the US Navy branch of service (seamen)--people like mephisto (non-US citizens) might not know that they are two different entities. The Dept. provides civilian leadership to the branch of the Navy.

The Marine Corps are actually the oldest US military force. They don't have their own sea transportation, although I can't remember why, there was at one time a reason stated to me. It could be because the intention was never to have them be a standing military branch in the sense of what we think, but a flexable and powerful force that was ultra portable to be injected into places the Navy, Army, or Air Force doesn't really cover. Thus, each and every marine is first and foremost a fighting soldier, even support personnel are "fighters" first.