US Marine Corps
<p style=" margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; line-height: 19px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b>United States Marine Corps</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(<b>USMC</b>) is a branch of the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Armed_Forces" title="United States Armed Forces" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">United States Armed Forces</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>responsible for providing<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_projection" title="Power projection" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">power projection</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>from the sea,<sup id="cite_ref-OMFTS_5-0" class="reference" style=" line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps#cite_note-OMFTS-5" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; white-space: nowrap; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>using the mobility of the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy" title="United States Navy" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">United States Navy</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to deliver<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_Air-Ground_Task_Force" title="Marine Air-Ground Task Force" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">combined-arms task forces</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>rapidly. It is one of seven<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniformed_services_of_the_United_States" title="Uniformed services of the United States" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">uniformed services of the United States</a>. In the civilian leadership structure of the United States military, the Marine Corps is a component of the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_the_Navy" title="United States Department of the Navy" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">United States Department of the Navy</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-USN_org_6-0" class="reference" style=" line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps#cite_note-USN_org-6" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; white-space: nowrap; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-NSA1947sec206_7-0" class="reference" style=" line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps#cite_note-NSA1947sec206-7" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; white-space: nowrap; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>often working closely with<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy_operating_forces_organization" title="United States Navy operating forces organization" class="mw-redirect" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">U.S. naval forces</a>for training, transportation, and logistic purposes; however, in the military leadership structure the Marine Corps is a separate branch.<sup id="cite_ref-NSA1947sec606_8-0" class="reference" style=" line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps#cite_note-NSA1947sec606-8" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; white-space: nowrap; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup>
Captain<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Nicholas" title="Samuel Nicholas" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Samuel Nicholas</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>formed two battalions of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Marines" title="Continental Marines" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Continental Marines</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>on 10 November 1775 in<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia" title="Philadelphia" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Philadelphia</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>as<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_(military)" title="Marine (military)" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">naval infantry</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-tpub_9-0" class="reference" style=" line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps#cite_note-tpub-9" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; white-space: nowrap; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span>[</span>10<span>]</span></a></sup><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Since then, the mission of the Marine Corps has evolved with changing<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_doctrine" title="Military doctrine" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">military doctrine</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_policy_of_the_United_States" title="Foreign policy of the United States" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">American foreign policy</a>. The Marine Corps has served in<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_the_United_States" title="Military history of the United States" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">every American armed conflict</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and attained prominence in the 20th century when its theories and practices of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_amphibious_operations" title="United States amphibious operations" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">amphibious warfare</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>proved prescient and ultimately formed the cornerstone of the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_War" title="Pacific War" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Pacific campaign</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">World War II</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Warren_10-0" class="reference" style=" line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps#cite_note-Warren-10" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; white-space: nowrap; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>By the mid-20th century, the Marine Corps had become the dominant theorist and practitioner of amphibious warfare.<sup id="cite_ref-USMC-WW2-I-I-2_11-0" class="reference" style=" line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps#cite_note-USMC-WW2-I-I-2-11" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; white-space: nowrap; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-USMC-WW2-IV-II-1_12-0" class="reference" style=" line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps#cite_note-USMC-WW2-IV-II-1-12" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; white-space: nowrap; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span>[</span>13<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-USMC-WW2-V-VI-1_13-0" class="reference" style=" line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps#cite_note-USMC-WW2-V-VI-1-13" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; white-space: nowrap; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Its ability to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_deployment_force" title="Rapid deployment force" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">rapidly respond</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>on short notice to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expeditionary_warfare" title="Expeditionary warfare" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">expeditionary crises</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>gives it a strong role in the implementation and execution of American foreign policy.<sup id="cite_ref-forwardfromthesea_14-0" class="reference" style=" line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps#cite_note-forwardfromthesea-14" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; white-space: nowrap; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup>
As of 2010 the United States Marine Corps included just under 203,000 active duty Marines and just under 40,000<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps_Reserve" title="United States Marine Corps Reserve" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">reserve Marines</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-ConMar_2010Almanac_1-1" class="reference" style=" line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps#cite_note-ConMar_2010Almanac-1" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; white-space: nowrap; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It is the smallest of the United States' armed forces in the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Defense" title="United States Department of Defense" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Department of Defense</a>. The<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Coast_Guard" title="United States Coast Guard" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">United States Coast Guard</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is smaller, about one-fifth the size of the Marine Corps, but it does not normally operate under the DoD. The Marine Corps is nonetheless larger than the armed forces of many significant military powers, being larger than the active duty<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Defense_Forces" title="Israel Defense Forces" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Israel Defense Forces</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and the active duty<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Army" title="British Army" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">British Army</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference" style=" line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps#cite_note-15" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; white-space: nowrap; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference" style=" line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps#cite_note-16" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; white-space: nowrap; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span>[</span>17<span>]</span></a></sup></p>