US+Marine+Corps

__History__
 * On November 10, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized two battalions of marines. [[image:http://lighthouse-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/frigate-essex-1799.jpg width="220" height="158" align="right" caption="US Frigate Essex"]]
 * The first successful expeditionary mission was a successful raid on New Providence in the Bahamas (March 1776).
 * The marines served in the Quasi War with France, the conflicts with the Barbary pirates, the War of 1812, the Seminole War, the Mexican War, the Spanish-American War, the Boxer Rebellion, both World Wars, the Korean War, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf War, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
 * Marines have served as land forces as well as soldiers at sea.
 * The Marine Corps has established itself as one of the premiere fighting formations in the world.

​__Organization__ __Weaponry​__ __Training__
 * The National Security Act of 1947 established the Marine Corps.
 * The Act provides that the Corps will be organized into no fewer than three combat divisions and three air wings.
 * The marines will provide forces of combined arms with supporting air components for service with the fleet
 * The marines will develop tactics, techniques, and equipment for use by landing forces.
 * The marines will also perform any tasks that the president commands.
 * Sixty percent of the Marine Corps's forces are in concentrated in the Fleet Marine Forces.
 * The Fleet Marine Forces have divisions between the Atlantic and Pacific.
 * The commanding general of the either fleet is subordinate to the commander in chief of thier respective fleets.
 * A marine division is comparable to that of a US Army division in size, organization, and combat strength, but the Marines use a more direct form of assault on enemy positions on the theory that it will produce fewer casualties later on.
 * The Marines use amphibious warfare and tactical/strategical specialties.
 * Units of the Marine Corps for operations include Marine Amphibious Force (MAF), Marine Amphibious Brigade (MAB), Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), Fleet Marine Forces (FMF), and Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU). (These are listed in decreasing size.)
 * The US has experienced smaller conflicts under politically fluid situations, so the Marines have contributed with Expeditionary Strike Groups (ESG), Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU), and Marine Expeditionary Brigades (MEB).
 * Ships used by the marines for naval warfare include amphibious warships, cruisers, frigates, destroyers, and attack submarines.
 * The Marines utilize a variety of combat arms including rifles, pistols, machine guns, shotguns, grenades and launchers, mines, vehicle/air-craft mounted guns, as well as non-lethal weapons
 * Boot camp training takes place at Paris Island, South Carolina, or San Diego, California. Officers train in Quantico, Virginia, and marine aviators receive training in Pensacola, Florida.
 * There is a large combined arms training in the California desert. The major logistics bases of the Marines are in Albany, Georgia and Barstow, California.
 * The marine's slogan is //Semper Fidelis// (Always Faithful) and they remain first to react in the war against global terrorism.[[image:http://blogs.technet.com/blogfiles/seanearp/WindowsLiveWriter/GoingBacktoBootCamp_A848/full_metal_jacket_blueray.jpg width="452" height="287" caption="Boot Camp"]]

Source: Grolier Online Encyclopedia