I would like to argue that Force Recon is far tougher than MARSOC. I talked with an active duty Force Recon Marine (I cheked his credentials) who went out for MARSOC. He was so dissapointed with the program, he returned to Recon. Also, First Recon Marines held off roughly 250-300 NVA during the Vietnam war with only 18 men.
What's this about "like US Marines protect the President and Royal Marines protect the Queen"? I thought the US Secret Service protected the President, and I'm pretty sure that the Guards Division and the Household Cavalry (units of the British Army), and the Royal Protection Branch (of the London Metropolitan Police) guard the Queen. Those aren't Royal Marines outside Buckingham Palace.
Hide / Show RepliesMarines fly the president in helicopters. My Gunnery Sergeant was the crew Chief for Marine One. I'd also assume there is an RTT (Marine SWAT) or something similar, team dedicated to the president when he is on Marine One.
Marine sentries also stand guard around the West Wing whenever the President is in the building, though they're more or less the President's doormen (that's not derogatory, it's actually one of the most prestigious billets in the USMC). Along with Navy seabees, they serve a similar function at Camp David.
The Marine Presidential Guard is now mostly for ceremony. They are checked thoroughly for any rounds before taking duty and their rifles are even removed of their firing pins.
This troper, a civilian working with Marines on a near-daily basis, once met a Marine who took an rpg to the face. Granted, it was through a viewport, but still...
I just moved the real life section to the trivia namespace because...well because it was just trivia and nothing to do with the concept.
Hide / Show RepliesYeah, I could see some Real Life examples being relevant, but the ones here were just "This guy was a Marine," nothing particularly to do with the legend of the USMC, which is what this trope is all about.
Jet-a-Reeno!
Previous Trope Repair Shop thread: Unclear Description, started by SolipSchism on Nov 3rd 2014 at 6:47:02 PM
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman