Training in water

[usmc03wannabe]

Do infantry Marines spend alot of time training in the water, swimming ect?

I've read that alot of time is spent on ship since Marines are amphibious, but other then that is alot of training emphasized on being in the water, oceans, rivers ect?

Hope this makes sense.

[Sgted]

In boot camp (circa '65) we went through drown proofing.
Into the water with full combat gear, back pack, rifle, etc.
I think this was to train you in all water situations.
Of course the training took place in an indoor pool which really cannot duplicate river rapids or any swiftwater.

[MillRatUSMC]

Amphibious

adj 1: relating to military forces prepared for operations launched from the sea against an enemy shore;
Seeing that we spend a great deal of time in or around the oceans.
Swimming skills are required.
But the Marine Corps has in recent times been used more like the Army than the primary mission assigned to the Marine Corps..
Below are some things that the Marine Corps is capable of doing and has done in the past.

Amphibious operations are a vital military capability that is associated most closely with the Marine Corps. For this reason alone, it is incumbent upon you to understand the mission of the Marines.

Amphibious Assault

The Marines are the U.S. military's specialists in amphibious assault. As such, the Marine Corps has a unique role in studying, training in, and executing the mission of amphibious warfare.

Land combat incident to naval campaigns

Marines must be prepared to engage in sustained land combat beyond the initial assault. After Marines have secured a beachhead or port facility, they must be able to defend it against counterattack and press on toward objectives which lie inland.

Additional Duties

In two important early laws defining the mission of the Marine Corps, an important phrase was included. It states that “...the Marine Corps shall perform such other duties as the President may direct.”

These additional duties have included:
State Department guard duty (embassies);
White House duties;
Providing security forces for naval shore stations;
Providing ships' detachments;
Engaging in sustained inland ground operations

Status of the Marine Corps

The Marine Corps is a separate military service possessing distinct statutory roles and missions.

However, the Marine Corps is a part of the Department of the Navy and comes directly under the Secretary of the Navy.

Today’s Marine Corps

Being a specialized and complex type of operation,
the amphibious landing requires specialized
amphibious equipment and techniques, especially in
aval gunfire support and amphibious craft and vehicles.

Through its rich history and experiences in amphibious
operations, the Marine Corps remains the primary force
in readiness to continue the development of amphibious
operations planning.

Semper Fidelis/Semper Fi
Ricardo