# 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:** 6\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/161 "2019-07-22T18:14:12Z")
Pretty inaccurate summary you put together there, innit? ---
**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 22, 2019, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/162 "2019-07-22T20:17:30Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > In the ‘Blue Cube’ of Sunnyvale CA that was demolished in 2014 (images, including demolition — [Blue Cube Sunnyvale - Google Search](https://is.gd/8x50DF)). No kidding! I remember the story that Vice President someone tried to visit the Blue Cube and was refused entry. Now, I don’t believe it for a second… but I did know someone who said the most important thing he did in his career was hastily relocate some equipment out of a SCIF there that was being flooded due to a plumbing accident. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/163 "2019-07-22T23:46:13Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Huh, I thought that tank crewmen were assigned a tank as their primary weapon. We certainly claimed that. (Modified) Tables of Organization and Equipment ((M)TOE) also specify a primary weapon for each soldier in the unit. That’s what needs to be fired during mandatory individual weapons qualification (IWQ). There’s entirely separate training requirements for the crew served tank gunnery qualification. The rifle provided to the crew on an Abrams was not anyone’s primary weapon. It was just an extra individual weapon available for crew use. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/164 "2019-07-23T00:10:57Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And if the latter, how does the Army solve the retention program? As pointed out it’s the latter. There are special [flight pays](https://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/special-pay/flight-pay.html) that mean the don’t get paid at the same rate as someone else with the same time in service and rank would. Retention bonuses are frequently tied to specific specialties instead of just being Army wide, as well. That piece is not necessarily aviation specific. It’s specialty specific wherever the personnel managers see a developing issue. I’d also guess that there’s some involvement of choice during the initial recruitment process. People that are really concerned about living in the relatively austere conditions that Army aviation offers are probably less likely to join the Army. ---
**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 23, 2019, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/165 "2019-07-23T14:09:15Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > No kidding! I remember the story that Vice President someone tried to visit the Blue Cube and was refused entry. > > Now, I don’t believe it for a second… but I did know someone who said the most important thing he did in his career was hastily relocate some equipment out of a SCIF there that was being flooded due to a plumbing accident. Hmmm, not sure when (and who) that was. I worked there in the early 1990s. ---
**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 23, 2019, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050/166 "2019-07-23T14:11:04Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > [Yet, even the Coast Guard shoots better than the Marine Corps.](https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2018/10/22/even-the-coast-guard-has-sharper-snipers-than-the-marines/) Well, good for them! Way to go, Coast Guard! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-branches-of-the-us-military-differ/837050.md?page=8)