How do you explain the different Military Branches to a civilian?

A

AFBoyMom

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The Army, Navy, and Marines are all brothers in a family.
  • Army is the oldest... Mom and Dad made all their parenting mistakes with him.
  • The Navy is the middle son. They are explorers who left home and no one cared.
  • The Marines are the youngest. Mom and Dad let them do whatever they wanted and they still have an inferiority complex due to their size.
Well, Mom and Dad got a divorce once all the boys were grown. Mom eventually got remarried - to a rich guy - and quickly gave birth to a fourth son, the Air Force. Now she loves him the most... showers him with the best toys and buys him whatever he wants. When they go on vacation they fly first class, stay in 5-star hotels, and enjoy the finest meals. The Air Force is spoiled rotten and his three older brothers have a bitter resentment toward him for this.

Finally there is the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard is the rich step dad’s son form his first marriage. None of the other brothers think or act like he is part of the family.

That is the best way to explain the various service branches and their internal dynamics to civilians.
 
Army = Predominantly Ground
Navy = Predominantly Sea
AF = Predominantly Air & Space
USMC = Predominantly Strike Force
Coast Guard = Predominantly protecting our coasts
US Merchant Marines = Predominantly transportation and logistics :wiggle:
 
Except y’all forgot Space Guardians....

In OP’s example, how about the recently discovered child, revealed through someone’s ancestry dot com DNA testing one year, a random Christmas gift for that hard to by for person on your list??
 
I like Mr. Mullen’s description the best. As it is, most people have a fairly poor understanding of our military beyond the rudimentary things they pick up via their respective politically motivated news source.

The family metaphor is fine as an inside joke — yes, I know it’s satire — among those who’ve served (and those who love them). But as a means of enlightening the masses, I’d opt for the straightforward and practical. Our citizens need to be educated, as the military has become distant, exotic and even foreign.
 
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MullenLE said:
Army = Predominantly Ground
Navy = Predominantly Sea
AF = Predominantly Air & Space
USMC = Predominantly Strike Force
Coast Guard = Predominantly protecting our coasts
US Merchant Marines = Predominantly transportation and logistics :wiggle:
Click to expand...
well said
 
Space Force? I keep having to remind myself we have a new baby in the family.
 
Capt MJ said:
Space Force? I keep having to remind myself we have a new baby in the family.
Click to expand...
Absolutely! My wife's cousin's husband jut got orders to go to Space Command. They are looking forward to getting back to Colorado. He's Army LtCol. It's a joint command.
 
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