# How do the branches of the (US) military differ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 14, 2019, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050 "2019-07-14T02:20:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/61 "2019-07-15T22:40:14Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > Who trains the Army’s fixed wing pilots? The Army. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/62 "2019-07-15T22:46:20Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > Who trains the Army’s fixed wing pilots? Short answer, contractors. All Army pilots train to be helicopter pilots. Later they can opt to try for a fixed wing slot. The most prevalent Army airplane is the C-12. They do that transition at Dothan Airport with a civilian contractor. > **[Inside the Army's fixed-wing flight training](https://www.defensenews.com/video/dntv/2017/10/08/inside-the-armys-fixed-wing-flight-training/)** > > Defense News’ Jeff Martin visits Dothan, Alabama, to enter the world of fixed-wing training for U.S. Army aviators — from classrooms, to simulators, to training flights with contractor CAE. (Jeff Martin/Staff) ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/63 "2019-07-15T22:50:13Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > In this case, “throwing money at the problem” just consisted of naming a guy who knew what he was doing as the cook, and then letting him do that job. They were using the same raw materials, he said. Which I suppose meant pulling that guy off of some other job, but then, most of what the personnel will be doing at a Cold War European base is probably busywork, anyway. At least, until/unless you get to the Moments of Sheer Terror that were those bases’ reason for existence, but at that point, I don’t think anyone would be complaining about the food any more. My own experience in Germany from '86-'88 pretty much backs this up. Our DFAC (2nd Squadron, 2nd ACR, Bamberg, Germany) was, literally, Award-Winning. Other DFACs in our area…not so much, even though they drew from the same warehouses/support. The difference was our Command gave a damn, and it reflected in the choice of personnel assigned to manage/run the DFAC. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/64 "2019-07-15T23:09:01Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > I was referring to [Naval Support Facility Saratoga Springs](http://www.militarybases.us/navy/naval-support-facility-saratoga-springs/). I guess time marches on – this activity was down in Scotia when I was there in the early '90s – apparently it moved to Saratoga Springs in 1999. In any event, as your link states: “The primary mission of Naval Support Activity, Saratoga Springs is to support the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) Ballston Spa, NY.” (Which despite the name, is actually in West Milton.) I was assigned to the NPTU for my nuclear prototype training. Anyway, NSA Saratoga Springs is there because of the NPTU, and I explained in my previous post why the NPTU is located where it is (i.e. “in the mountains near riverless Saratoga Springs, NY”). ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/65 "2019-07-15T23:22:53Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > Who trains the Army’s fixed wing pilots? The Army does. Who trains the Air Force helicopter pilots? The Army does. We had 10 USAF students in my flight school class in 1980. At least that is how it was back then, things may have changed. Didn’t see Loachs post. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/66 "2019-07-15T23:27:46Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > In this case, “throwing money at the problem” just consisted of naming a guy who knew what he was doing as the cook, and then letting him do that job. They were using the same raw materials, he said. And the same recipe book, according to the guy in charge of the mess hall of my former Air Guard unit. We were a tactical field unit, i.e. expected to go out and set up a radar site somewhere other than an air base. We usually trained that way (living in tents, etc.) in annual field training. We sometimes got favorable comments from visiting superior officers about the high quality of the field kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/67 "2019-07-15T23:43:01Z")
> [@robby](#): > > The rumors of the local residents as to why there was such a large installation in the middle of nowhere were entertaining. The reality was less so – it was first built there in the 1950s away from large population centers in case there was a nuclear accident. (Although on this note, I will say that the nuclear power plants on site were extremely well designed, operated, and maintained. Similar to getting surgery at a teaching hospital, everything was done by the book.) They were just getting back to their roots. The USN was founded in nearby Whitehall, NY (according to some interpretations of history). ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2019, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/68 "2019-07-16T01:41:52Z")
> [@robby](#): > > In any event, as your link states: “The primary mission of Naval Support Activity, Saratoga Springs is to support the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) Ballston Spa, NY.” (Which despite the name, is actually in West Milton.) I was assigned to the NPTU for my nuclear prototype training. The actual address is too good not to cite: 360 Atomic Project Road, Ballston Spa, NY. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2019, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/69 "2019-07-16T01:49:34Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Certainly not the first in the fight. That was the Army in the Philippines and the Navy in Pearl Harbor. > > The Marines were the principle force during several well known operations in the Pacific but there were more soldiers than Marines in theater and the Army had more killed and wounded. The Marines have better PR and many think they conducted the war in the Pacific by themselves. Guadalcanal was the first major land offensive of the Pacific theater. Interestingly, the Marines like to say that the Navy abandoned them there, but actually, the Navy lost more men in the various sea battles around the island than the Marines lost during the campaign. ---
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2019, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/70 "2019-07-16T12:58:00Z")
Perusing the many responses to the initial question regarding differences, I didn’t see something unique to the Marine Corps. Every Marine, regardless of what schools he may eventually attend is first a foremost a rifleman. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2019, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/71 "2019-07-16T13:03:52Z")
> [@SanDiegoTim](#): > > Perusing the many responses to the initial question regarding differences, I didn’t see something unique to the Marine Corps. Every Marine, regardless of what schools he may eventually attend is first a foremost a rifleman. So every Marine (including cooks, drivers, mechanics, clerks) carries a rifle at all times and leaps to defend their camp when attacked? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2019, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/72 "2019-07-16T13:18:03Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > So every Marine (including cooks, drivers, mechanics, clerks) carries a rifle at all times and leaps to defend their camp when attacked? They don’t carry a rifle while doing their other jobs, but all Marines are required to qualify with a rifle on an annual test. And that means all Marines, from those in combat arms to members of the band to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. The ethos is that yes, each one of them would be able defend their camp when attacked, though of course the Marines who are riflemen as their military occupational specialty would surely be much more proficient in battle. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2019, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/73 "2019-07-16T13:27:30Z")
I’m sorry, but firing a rifle once per year does not make you a rifleman. And how are they supposed to be able to fight if they don’t carry weapons? Are they supposed to tell the enemy to take a time out why they swing by the armory and the firing range? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2019, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/74 "2019-07-16T13:43:36Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I’m sorry, but firing a rifle once per year does not make you a rifleman. And how are they supposed to be able to fight if they don’t carry weapons? Are they supposed to tell the enemy to take a time out why they swing by the armory and the firing range? Well, now you’re just being silly. Essentially the Marine Corps is saying that every single member should know how to fire a rifle decently, not that every single member is qualified to be part of MARSOC (if it is still called that, I can’t keep up). It’s roughly equivalent to saying that people should all learn how to swim – that doesn’t mean you need to carry flippers and goggles everywhere. I mean, [is the plan for these people to tell mother nature to take a time out why [sic] they swing by the gym to get their swimsuits and floaties?](https://twitter.com/DildineWTOP/status/1148216148372197376) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2019, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/75 "2019-07-16T14:06:38Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Well, now you’re just being silly. Essentially the Marine Corps is saying that every single member should know how to fire a rifle decently, not that every single member is qualified to be part of MARSOC (if it is still called that, I can’t keep up). But don’t all Army, Navy and Air Force servicemembers also learn how to use rifles in Basic Training? How is that any different? ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2019, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/76 "2019-07-16T14:16:17Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > But don’t all Army, Navy and Air Force servicemembers also learn how to use rifles in Basic Training? How is that any different? No, all of the other Service members don’t learn to fire rifles in basic training. And they don’t have an annual qualification. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2019, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/77 "2019-07-16T14:30:32Z")
> [@spifflog](#): > > No, all of the other Service members don’t learn to fire rifles in basic training. And they don’t have an annual qualification. Wow, seriously? Then I stand corrected. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2019, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/78 "2019-07-16T14:56:34Z")
> [@spifflog](#): > > No, all of the other Service members don’t learn to fire rifles in basic training. And they don’t have an annual qualification. Since when? The Air Force has had basic rifle training since at least the 1960s, and I suspect the Navy does too. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2019, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/79 "2019-07-16T15:14:00Z")
Come to think of it, another one of my uncle’s anecdotes might be even more relevant (though I don’t know how typical it was). One time he was on KP duty, and he and another private had to crack a whole bunch of eggs (IIRC, for making pancakes for a large number of men). He was proud of the fact that he got it done without dropping any pieces of eggshell into the batter… whereupon the sergeant in charge of them grabbed a big handful of the discarded shells and crumbled them in, because Army food is _supposed_ to be bad. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2019, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/80 "2019-07-16T15:24:31Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Since when? The Air Force has had basic rifle training since at least the 1960s, and I suspect the Navy does too. But not every airman and sailor are required to qualify annually with a rifle. Every Marine is, regardless of job. Every Marine is responsible with having basic rifle and marksmanship skills. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050.md?page=5)