United States Marine Corps (USMC)
The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. The U.S. Marine Corps is one of the four branches in the U.S. Department of Defense as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States.
The Marine Corps has been a component of the U.S. Department of the Navy since 1834, working closely with naval forces for training, transportation, and logistics. The USMC operates posts on land and aboard sea-going amphibious warfare ships around the world, and several of the Marines' tactical aviation squadrons, primarily Marine Fighter Attack squadrons, are also embedded in Navy carrier air wings and operate from the Navy's nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
Two battalions of Continental Marines were formed on 10 November 1775 in Philadelphia as an Infantry force capable of fighting for independence both at sea and on shore. The role of the Corps has since grown and evolved, expanding to aerial warfare and earning popular titles such as "America's third air force" and "second land army". The Marine Corps has distinguished itself as it has served in the majority of American wars, from its inception to the modern era, and attained prominence in the 20th century when its theories and practices of amphibious warfare proved prescient and ultimately formed the cornerstone of the Pacific campaign of World War II.
By the mid-20th century, the U.S. Marine Corps had become a major theorist and the dominant practitioner of amphibious warfare. Its ability to rapidly respond on short notice to expeditionary crises gives it a strong role in the implementation and execution of American foreign policy. The USMC has around 194,000 active duty members and just under 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2010. It is the smallest of the U.S. Armed Forces within the U.S. Department of Defense.
 USMC_logo-200px.jpgUnited States Marine Corps (USMC) Logo |  USMC_flag-2000.jpg |  Operation_Moshtarak.jpgMarine Cpl Jason Ducote and Lcpl Jacob Cooper, of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, engaging the enemy during Operation Moshtarak in Afghanistan's Helmand Province on the outskirts of Marjah. Feb 14 2010 |
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 USMC_Security_Guard_reviews_security_alarm_system-2004.jpgA U.S. Marine Security Guard reviews the embassy's security alarm system with the regional security officer at a U.S. embassy. December 2004 |  US_Marines_Talisman_Saber_07-2100x1680px.jpgCpl. Jesse Woods (a rifleman) and other U.S> MArines with the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade’s 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, treks along a road here, June 24, on a unit movement during Exercise Talisman Saber 2007 at Shoalwater Bay in Australia. |  U.S.-Marines-and-Iraqi-police-officer-conduct-patrol_20-Dec-06.jpgU.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) and an Iraqi police officer conduct a patrol in Haqlaniyah, Iraq. Dec. 20, 2006 |
 Battle_of_Nassau-4971x3285px.jpgOil painting on canvas by V. Zveg, 1973, depicting Continental Sailors and Marines landing on New Providence Island, Bahamas, on 3 March 1776. |  The_hornet_and_penguin_600x353px.jpgThe action between Hornet and Penguin, the final engagement between British and American forces during the War of 1812, which led to the capture and destruction of the British ship by Marine infantrymen. |  3-3_India_CO_1st-Plt_Desert_Storm_1990-1.jpg |
 Storming_of_Chapultepec.jpgThe Battle of Chapultepec (Storming of Chapultepec) by James Walker (1819 - 1889) Oil on canvas, 1858 Canvas measurement Height: 93.5 inch |  USMC_NCO-with-sword_5-Marines-with-fixed-bayonets_Washington-Navy-Yard_1864-1280Pictured by an unknown photographer, five U.S. Marine Corps privates with fixed bayonets under the command of their non-commissioned officer (NCO), who displays his M1859 Marine NCO sword. Navy Yard, Washington, DC, April 1864. |  American_Marines_in_Belleau_Wood-1918-Georges_Scott-896x674px.jpgGeorges Scott (1873-1943) illustration "American Marines in Belleau Wood (1918)" |
 USMC_flag_1914-1939.jpgThe flag of the U.S. Marine Corps from 1914 to 1939. |  USMC_War_Memorial_Felix-de-Weldon_1954_6320x240px.jpgPhotograph of the USMC War Memorial, which depicts the flag-raising on Iwo Jima. The memorial is modeled on Joe Rosenthal's famous 'Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima' photograph. |  USMC_Korea-close-air-support-Chosin_26Dec50_3000x2332px.JPEGU.S. Marines watch explosions of bombs dropped by Marine Vought F4U Corsairs during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, Korea. 26 December 1950 |
 U.S.-Marines_CompanyG_2d_Battalion_7th_Marines-direct-concentration-of-fire-at-eU.S. Marines with Company G, 2d Battalion, 7th Marines, direct a concentration of fire at the enemy during Operation Allen Brook. 8 May 1968 |  Marines_in_Saddams_palace- Operation_Iraqi_Freedom_1720x1160px.jpgMembers of 1st Platoon, India Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines during the Desert Shield-Desert Storm deployment in 1990-1991. |  BG Archibald_Henderson 1600x2000px.jpgBrevet Brigadier General Archibald Henderson, Commandant of the Marine Corps. |
 HQ-and-Service-Company_3-3_Marines-dawn patrol-Nawa_ District_Afghanistan-30May1Marines from Headquarters & Service Company, 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines, conducting a dawn patrol in Nawa District, Afghanistan. 30 May 2010 |  Marines offload 3-CH-46 from C-5 1500x2250px.jpgMarines unload 3 CH-46 helicopters from an Air Force C-5 Galaxy at Al Asad Airbase. 8/17/2005 |  Marine and sailor train with rifles in Djibouti 5616x3744px.JPGA U.S. Marine, left, with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and a Sailor with the amphibious assault ship USS Nassau (LHA 4) take part in small arms and M249 light machine gun training on a range in Djibouti April 19, 2010. |
 FORECON_VBSS_training 1152x1728px.jpgA team of Marine Force Recon operators training during a Maritime Interdiction Operation (MIO) exercise-example of black operations. |  EGA-2000px.jpg |  Colonel_John_Glenn_official_photo 1600x2000px.jpgCol. John Glenn, the first Marine astronaut. |
 MARSOC_are_shooting_with_M4_at_Washoe_Coutny_Reginal_Shooting_Facility 800x497pxMarines and sailors with a company from 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, sight in on their targets as they conduct shooting drills as part of their Dynamic Assault package at the Washoe County Regional Shooting Facility in Reno, Nev. |  USMC-dismounting-AAV_Djibouti_29Mar10_3888x2430px.jpgCpl. Daniel Mallory, a squad leader with 1st platoon, Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, posts security at the rear of an Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) as team leader Lance Cpl. Daniel Pursley, exits towards their objective point during a mechanized assault as part of a live fire range in Djibouti, Africa, March 29. |  USS_Bonhomme_Richard_(LHD-6)_welldeck 2100x1500px.jpgPacific Ocean - Amphibious Assault Vehicles assigned to the 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion, Camp Pendleton, Calif., enter the well deck aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). |
 AACunningham_1stMarineAviator 300x200px.jpgFirst Lieutenant Alfred A. Cunningham, United States Marine Corp — designated Naval Aviator No. 5 and the first Marine pilot. c. 1912 |