Question for military buffs--why do sailors hate marines?

[mistertrickster]

Is it just some kind of old rivalry?

I got the impression from reading "Billy Budd" that the marines were sort of the 'police' for the common sailors. They were always armed and the seamen were not. Does that have anything to do with it?

[Tyler Durden]

1. Squids need no reason to hate Gi-rines.

"Here I sit on the ol' latrine, giving birth to a new MARINE!"

KIDDING!!! I was a Hospital Corpsman/Field Medic: that's as close to being a Marine as you can get without actually being one!

[commander bunnypants]

10. same here!!!

Did you go through FMS training?

I sined up for OR school. I woulda gone to an aircrafft carrier

CB

[FILAM23]

17. Don't bet on it

I spent over 21 years as a HM, spent 11 of those years with the Marines.
We had many OR techs assigned with us.

[sarge43]

2. That possibly and

back in the day, marines had no routine ship's duties, so the sailors were resentful. "The sods sit on their arses while we bust ours." might have been the kindest thing said.

[mistertrickster]

3. Makes sense, thanks . . . nt

[sarge43]

6. You're welcome

Also the marines probably answered back, "Right. All you swabs are good for is to get us real warriors to the real fighting" and the hilarity ensued.

[Orrex]

4. Because marines keep making "seamen" jokes

And all the sailors can come back with is "jarhead" commentary.

[DemsRBetterLovers]

7. origin of Jarhead

comes from the revolutionary war. the newly formed US marine corp's men were picked from the largest, strongest lot of the US military. Sailors of the day were not required to be very tall, and the warships will built around a smaller height. Marines would hit their heads on the deck beams above them while they were down in the ship, hence Jarhead.

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

8. I just thought you might want some more seamen on your poopdeck

I love Family Guy

[Orrex]

9. That's better than seamen in your messhall, I suppose

I can't stand Family Guy, by the way. I'd rather use a spoon dig my brain out through my nostril than watch that show.

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

11. Gee, sounds like you really love the show

:P I can see why one wouldn't like it though. It's usually just twenty minuets of one liner's with little or no plot.

[Orrex]

15. Au contraire!

The ability to make splooge-puns is not predicated on a fondness for any show.

And all of this reminds me of the old whaling captain who watched in horror as the sperm smashed his dingy, scattering his seamen over the waves.

(that's a Bulwer-Lytton award-winner, but I can't find the exact quote, alas!)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. "police" is pretty accurate. Even in the modern navy.

Watch a Hollywood movie set on a Navy ship. Usually there's some dramatic scene where the good guy or sometimes the bad guy gets sent to the brig and is escorted by statuesque marines.

[Rambis]

12. Lt. Kendrick

No, I like all you Navy boys. Every time we've gotta go someplace and fight, you fellas always give us a ride.
A Few good Men

[Submariner]

24. Glad to oblige

:*

[ohiosmith]

13. Bad ass knows.

[UTUSN]

14. Ding ding DING!!!!1 The answer to the question is in The Last Detail

An all time great, true to life movie, JUST the way lifers act. That said, I detest inter-branch feuding.

[FILAM23]

16. Actually

most of it is good natured fun..However there are a few medical/religious
personnel in the Navy that had to serve with the Marines who might hate them.
But the reason the Marines hate the Navy is easy,
They are part of the Department of the Navy and seeing that on their paychecks
pisses them off.

[Ezlivin]

18. Because their uniforms look so much better

When I was in the USN we had these dreadful uniforms that made us look like the Good Humor Ice Cream man. Even an ugly Marine (no shortage there) looked better in his dress uniform that any sailor.

My wife, also USN, worked at CINCPACFLT and she got along famously with the Marine guards. I never had a problem with Marines, either. It was those damned Soviets I didn't like!

[Benfea]

19. Navy dislikes marines because they're jarheads.

Marines dislike navy because they're a bunch of squids.

As long as we're dealing in military stereotypes, army guys are a bunch of slobs and air force people are nothing more than yuppies in uniform.

[sarge43]

20. "yuppies in uniform"

Well, no espresso for you!

[Benfea]

21. Well, that *is* the stereotype....

...although I believe the phrase most often used is actually "pampered yuppies in uniform." ;)

[sarge43]

22. True

Although I never felt pampered, but, yes, we zoomers generally had it better.

[WoodyTobiasJr]

23. LOL - seamen

Reminds me of this Family Guy quote:

Peter: So uhh, Mr. Pewterschmidt, the big race is tomorrow eh? Bet you're gonna need some strapping men to help you with your boat.
Mr. Pewterschmidt: Are you calling me gay?
Peter: No. No. I just; I just thought you might want some extra seamen on your poopdeck.