There are several main branches of the U. military: the Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy and the Coast Guard. It can be argued that the most important are the Marines because they are the " first to fight"" (Schading (Ph.D)) in any given situation. Their ability to wear down enemy forces determines whether or not the other branches will be able to swing a victory. Their purpose, training, and war record also set them apart from the other branches because those things basically make a Marine what he is - a Marine - and not an airmen or sailor.

             The United States Marine Corps was established as a branch in the military during the fall of 1775 by the Second Continental Congress (Schading (Ph.D)) in response to the conflict between American and Great Britain at the time because Patriots wanted to stop British forces from crossing the Atlantic Ocean into the colonies (Lawliss). As time progressed and Marines proved to be excellent in their work, this purpose would continue to change. In 1798, the Marine Corps simply had the mission of "any duty on shore as the President, at his discretion, shall direct.(Lawliss) By 1947, it was given an big upgrade: "to provide marine forces with combined arms and supporting air components for service with the U.S. Fleet in the seizure or defense of naval bases, and for land operations as may be essential to a naval campaign; provide service on armed vessels of the Navy and security detachments for the protection of naval property at naval stations and bases; develop doctrines, tactics, and techniques, and equipment employed by landing forced in amphibious operations; provide marine forces for airborne operations; and serve as sentinels over American embassies and consulates around the world.(Schading (Ph.D)) Today, that remains the same but the organization also carries the motto, "Semper Fedelis or "Always Faithful" and an emblem of an eagle, globe, and anchor (Schading (Ph.