I suppose it has a certain bureaucratic elegance:
For the first time ever, a bill that would change the name of the Department of the Navy will be voted on as a standalone measure on the House floor.
The legislation, which would rename the Department of the Navy to the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps, will be debated on the House floor in April, according to bill sponsor Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.). The measure, which has 368 co-sponsors, is expected to easily pass the lower chamber.
It has always bugged the Marine officers of my acquaintance that the fell under the Department of the Navy, a fact I enjoyed reminding them of when they’d gotten too big for their Bellevilles.
I guess I’ll have to work on something else.
Well, you can always remind them that it’s “The Department of the Navy and — as an afterthought — Marine Corps.”
Of course, they’ll probably retort that they’re the only ones who *lead* during the shipboard dances…
….as in The Department of the Navy and Marine Corps too.
What? More homo jokes? Which are funny, if done in a spirit of lighthearted teasing.
It’s nice to see they’re tackling the big problems.
So now NAMs (I’m Sorry, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals) are going to be even more wordy?
Oh no, new stationary.
“Oh no, new stationary.”
and new flags, new heraldry, new web pages, new all sorts of stuff that will cost lots of money and result in much waste.
wanna bet they take it out of operations funding?
MARINE = My Ass Rides In Navy Equipment
Lex … What are Bellevilles? Some kind of knickers — that you could get in a twist?
Marianne
Why is it that I suspect “…something else.” will not be too much of a challenge for this group?
Bellevilles are regrettably the new redwings. (boots)
At least my Marine friends wearing gold wings are still called “Naval Aviators” – something some of them dislike for some reason.
Of course they disliked it — the proper term is “Nasal Respirators”…
Red Wing work boots are nigh on to indestructable. What is wrong with the flight boots?
The Marines of my acquaintance didn’t like the fact they were part of the Navy. Period. Calling them Naval Infantry really got their goats.
My USMC friends have no issue with the old construct. They simply remind me (loudly enough for anyone in range) that they belong to the Men’s Dept.
Lex: The link’s busted.
BUTCH: good one!
Marines call Sailors “Squids”, because Squids have no backbones, Sailors call Marines “Marines”, because that can’t think of anything more derogotory.
You clearly haven’t spent much time around the Navy. “Jarhead” is only the beginning.
Prelude to the next Obama cost cutting initiative:
The Department of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.
Of course that will still require the same, or larger, civilian headquarters staff in DOD to manage.
But, think of the redundant overlapping of ground forces, air forces and field staffs they can eliminate. Kind of like the old “Buy one airplane and let them take turns flying it.” approach.
After all, how much military force do you need to deliver relief supplies around the world on an occasional basis? And to fly Congressional Delegations in their accustomed style to their accustomed junket locations?
What’s wrong with being “Naval Infantry”, as they are. That’s pretty special enough to make them 1337, if you ask me. They’re, like, “Of the Navy, but not in it.” Please don’t change any thing about the Marines unless absolutely necessary. Of all of the armed forces, they are the ones who have most successfully resisted the efforts of the latter-day doodahs who have so frighteningly messed up the other services.
P.s. Sometime around the time I was born, I think somebody said something like, “The United States doesn’t need the Marine Corps, but the people of the United States _want_ to have the Marine Corps.
I want us to have the Marine Corps. Hell, it scares the poo out of nasty foreigners, and sets an example of crazy badassedness for the rest of us!
MARINES were always happy to see me & my crew – My SEABEES go everywhere the MARINES go and we make sure they get the things they needed, especially when they ran out of gear and they would “borrow” items from our TOA..
I enjoyed being with my Marine Brothers and especially enjoyed the company of our Marine sisters. There’s something special about being with a young lady who could love you tonight, but would kick your ass in the morning if you did something untoward….
(Insert sound of Old Navy Seabee laughing in the AFGHN desert here)
I don’t believe any of the Marines I served with had any problem being in the Department of the Navy. If we didn’t have a navy, there would be no reason for the Corps to exist. This whole issue must be due to someone’s bruised ego.
Link doesn’t work very well…
Should we get the Marines to fix it?
Semper Fi,
Rich
Rich, are you sure you want that? There might be collateral damage, with icky splatter.
Sure-Most of my service friends are current
or retired Marines-they know how to get things
done and I like their style. They’ve done so much
more with less than anyone I know.
Besides, who ensures Naval Officer Candidates
are trained properly?
Never had a problem with it personally. As bc noted above, whenever someone snarked that Marines were still the Department of the Navy, I’d just retort, “Yeah, the MEN’S department!” and leave it at that. Still and all, it does make sense; every commercial out there on OIF/OEF refers to the Navy/Marine Corps team, and it isn’t an idle reference. The USN & USMC have had a close working relationship ever since the original leathernecks were employed as sharpshooters from the rigging back in the days of John Paul Jones. Having been on two WESTPACs, I can attest to the camaraderie that is shared between the blue/green team. Oh sure, there’s the usual interservice rivalry, but the same exists b/w different communities; i.e., brownshoes, SWOs, bubbleheads, etc.
Aren’t squids just a more highly developed form or marine life?