unfluff

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en" xmlns:og="http://opengraphprotocol.org/schema/" xmlns:fb="http://www.facebook.com/2008/fbml"> <head> <title>The Few. The Proud. The Marines ... Getting a Makeover?</title> <meta name="description" content="(Aug. 13) -- Declaring "the maritime soul of the Marine Corps" is at stake, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has ordered a review of the seaborne service that since 9/11 has functioned more like a "second land army."" /> <meta name="keywords" content="news, update, breaking, nation, U.S., elections, world, entertainment, sports, business, weird news, health, science, latest news articles, breaking news, current news, top news" /> <link rel="canonical" href="http://www.aolnews.com/2010/08/13/the-few-the-proud-the-marines-getting-a-makeover/"/> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> <meta http-equiv="pragma" content="no-cache" /> <meta http-equiv="imagetoolbar" content="no" /> <meta name="robots" content="all" /> <meta name="MSSmartTagsPreventParsing" content="true" /> <meta property="og:url" content="http://www.aolnews.com/2010/08/13/the-few-the-proud-the-marines-getting-a-makeover/" /> <meta property="og:description" content="(Aug. 13) -- Declaring "the maritime soul of the Marine Corps" is at stake, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has ordered a review of the seaborne service that since 9/11 has functioned more like a "second land army.""/> <meta property="og:title" content="The Few. The Proud. The Marines ... Getting a Makeover?" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:app_id" content="137032999653250" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="AOL News" /> <meta property="og:image" content="http://o.aolcdn.com/photo-hub/news_gallery/6/8/680919/1281734929876.JPEG " /> <style type="text/css"> @import url(/media/style.css); body {background-color:white;} </style> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://o.aolcdn.com/os_merge/?file=/aol/aol-facebook-social.css&file=/aol/aol-most-popular.min.css" /> <link rel="SHORTCUT ICON" href="http://o.aolcdn.com/art/ch_news/aol_favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" /> <script type="text/javascript">var _sf_startpt=(new Date()).getTime()</script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="screen" href="http://o.aolcdn.com/art/webwidgets/sfsw_v1_3/feeds_subscribe_en_us.css" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="screen" href="http://o.aolcdn.com/os/aol/5-aol-comments.css" /> <style type="text/css"> .article h1 {width:100%} .catgryNws .catgryNwsheadOld{padding:10px 18px 4px 13px;border-bottom:1px solid #ccc;} .catgryNws .catgryNwsheadOld a{background:url(http://o.aolcdn.com/os/sphere/art/sphrsprite) no-repeat 0 0;display:block;height:22px;width:100%;} .catgryNws .catgryNwsheadOld .pd{background-position:0px -1700px;} .catgryNws .catgryNwsheadOld .gnn{background-position:0px -1800px;} .catgryNws .catgryNwsheadOld h2{float:left;font:bold 14px arial;margin-bottom:6px;text-transform:uppercase;} #related-videos .result-box {overflow:hidden} #GH_ .GH_nav_list a {background:transparent url(http://o.aolcdn.com/os/news/art/news-hdr-sprite-2) no-repeat scroll right -437px;} #GH_ .GH_nav_UL {z-index:10000;} </style> <script type="text/javascript"> // AOL GetJS (function(g){var d=g.getElementsByTagName("head")[0]||g.documentElement,c={},e={},f={},b={},h={};function a(j,r){var o=b[j]=this._c,q=g.createElement("script"),n=0,p,m=p="text/javascript",k="c",i=(function(s){s[s]=s+"";return s[s]!=s+""})(new String("__count__"));function l(s,t){function u(w){do{if(!c[w]){return 0}}while(w=b[w]);return 1}var v=f[s];if(t===m){v&&v();l(h[s],k)}else{s&&u(s)&&!e[s]&&a(s,v)}}f[j]=r;if(o&&!i){h[o]=j;p=k}q.type=p;q.src=j;p===m&&(e[j]=1);q.onload=q.onreadystatechange=function(){if(!n&&(!q.readyState||q.readyState==="loaded"||q.readyState==="complete")){c[j]=n=1;l(j,p);q.onload=q.onreadystatechange=null;d.removeChild(q)}};d.insertBefore(q,d.firstChild);return{_c:j,getJS:a}}window.Aol||(Aol={});Aol.getJS=a})(document); window.AOL = window.Aol // end AOL GetJS //Aol.getJS("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/aol/jquery-1.4.4.min.js"); </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/os/aol/jquery-1.4.4.min.js"></script> <meta name="robots" content="noodp,noydir" /> <style type="text/css"> #sphereW .spwContent {display:none;} .mainTitle {display:none;} #sphereWire { display:none;} .ad948x250{padding-left:15px} #sphereW {height:275px;} #sphereW .spwEbrTxtNoImg {display:none;} #sphereW .spwEbrTxtHz, #sphereW .spwEbrTxtVe {display:none;} #sphereW .spwblktime {display:none;} #sphereW .spwHeadlineNoImgEyebr, #sphereW h4, #sphereW .spwHeadlineNoImg {padding-top:0} #sphereAndNow {height:378px;} .ledestorypromo .ledehdr {height:auto;} .ledestorynopromo{display:none;} .ledestorypromo .ledeftr {margin-top:0px;} .ledestorypromo .healthHdln img { padding:0;} .ledestorypromo{padding-top:5px;} .sphereAndNow {height:378px;} .ledestorypromo .healthHdln .ledestorynoimage{display:none;} /* Breaking News Seo Fix #breakingNews {color:#fff;text-align:left;padding:0 0 10px 0; clear:both; display: none; font:normal 12px arial; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing:.05em;} #breakingNews .breakingHeadline {background:#000000;float:left;padding:10px;font:normal 12px arial; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing:.05em;} #breakingNews .breakingText {background:#CC0000;padding:10px 10px 10px 146px;font:normal 12px arial; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing:.05em;} #breaking-link a {color:#FFFF33;} */ .ledestory .creditfield{font:9px arial; color:#666666;} .ledestorypromo .creditfield{font:9px arial; color:#666666;} .fauxArticle{padding:3px; width:636px; background:#EDEDED; _width:600px; margin-top:5px; margin-left:-3px; border:none;} .fauxArticle{_width:630px;} .fauxArticle .title{padding:5px 10px; text-transform:uppercase; font-size:12px; font-weight:bold; font-family:arial; border-left:1px solid #bcbbbb; border-top:1px solid #bcbbbb; border-right:1px solid #bcbbbb; margin-right:0; _width:600px; _margin-left:5px;} .fauxArticle .body{padding:10px; border:1px solid #bcbbbb; height:125px; _width:600px; _margin-left:5px;} .fauxArticle .body img{float:left; margin-left:450px;margin-top:-120px} .fauxArticle .body .fauximg .fauxCredit{float:right; margin-right:10px; font:9px arial; color:#9D9E99;} .fauxArticle .body .text1{float:left; width:450px;} .fauxArticle .body .text1 .header a{font-size:18px; font-family:georgia; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:5px; color:#000000;} .fauxArticle .body .text1 .header a:hover{color:#000000;} .fauxArticle .body .text1 p{font-family:georgia; font-size:12px; line-height:17px;} .fauxArticleHide{display:none;} .ledestory .shareRtng {width:120px;} .ledestory .shareThis {padding-right:0px;} .aol-share span.separator,.aol-share a {float:right;} </style> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="screen" href="http://o.aolcdn.com/os/news/css/1-aol-photo-gallery.css" /> </head> <body>  <div style="height:0;"><script language="JavaScript"></script> <script language="JavaScript" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/omniunih.js"></script> <script language="JavaScript"></script>  </div> <script src="http://o.aolcdn.com/ads/adsWrapper.js"></script> <script> adSetAdURL("/_uac/adpage.html"); adSetOthAT("kvcmsid=bsd:19592478;"); adSetUGC = 0; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> bN_cfg={ //h: ["www.aolnews.com"], h: location.hostname, p: [['NW_articleCreatedate','1281731940'] , ['NW_articleID','19592478'], ['NW_category','news'], ['NW_assettype','article'], ['NW_title','The Few. The Proud. The New Marines?'], ['Module Name','News Add This/Share This'], ['Group Name','control'], ['Module Version','addthis']] }; Aol.getJS("http://o.aolcdn.com/js/mg2.js"); </script> <style type="text/css"> .aol-move-curtain { font: 14px/18px helvetica,arial,sans-serif !important; display: block; height: 300px; width: 980px; position: relative; text-align: left; margin: 0 auto; } .aol-move-curtain .curtain p { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 0; height: 0; overflow: hidden; } .aol-move-curtain .curtain a { display: inline; float: left; width: 637px; padding-top: 200px; height: 100px; text-align: center; color: #ccc; margin-right: 52px; } .aol-move-curtain h2 { clear: none; color: #7cdbcf; font: bold 15px/15px helvetica,arial,sans-serif !important; margin: 0; padding: 30px 0 18px 0; text-transform: uppercase; } .aol-move-curtain ul { list-style-type: none; margin: 0; padding: 0 30px 0 0; zoom: 1; } .aol-move-curtain ul li { line-height: 1.1; margin: 0 0 16px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0; zoom: 1; } .aol-move-curtain ul li img { border: 2px solid #fff; display: block; float: left; height: 58px; margin: 0 15px 0 0; width: 74px; } .aol-move-curtain ul li a { color: #fff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; } .aol-move-curtain ul li a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } .aol-move-curtain .more { display: block; position: absolute; background-color: transparent; width: 179px; height: 36px; bottom: 40px; right: 111px; margin: 0; text-indent: -99em; text-decoration: none; overflow: hidden; } .aol-move-curtain { background: url(http://o.aolcdn.com/os/aol/move-curtain/aol-news.png); } .aol-move-curtain h2 { color: #7fdccf; } </style> <div class="aol-move-curtain"> <div class="curtain"> <p>AOL News has a new home! <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com">The Huffington Post</a>.</p> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com">Click here to visit the new home of AOL News!</a> </div> <h2>Hot on HuffPost:</h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/20/orangutan-ape-towel_n_931548.html" title="Orangutan At Japanese Zoo Cools Itself With Towel (VIDEO)"><img src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/333582/thumbs/s-ORANGUTAN-VIDEO-mini.jpg" /> WATCH: Orangutan Cools Off In A Shockingly Human Manner </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/20/jon-huntsman-rick-perry-bernanke-climate-change_n_932263.html" title="Jon Huntsman Blasts Rick Perry Over Evolution, Climate Change, Ben Bernanke Comments"><img src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/334011/thumbs/s-JON-HUNTSMAN-RICK-PERRY-mini.jpg" /> Jon Huntsman Blasts Rick Perry Over Evolution, Climate Change, Ben… </a></li> </ul> <a class="more" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com">See More Stories</a> </div> <div id="cntnr" class="main"> <div class="clrFx" id="hdr"> <div id="ad" class="adBanner"> <script type="text/javascript">  </script> <noscript> <a href="http://ar.atwola.com/link/'93305208'/aol"> <img src="http://ar.atwola.com/image/'93305208'/aol" alt="Click here to visit our advertiser." width="728" height="90" border="0" /> </a> </noscript> </div> <style type="text/css"> #GH_ .GH_nav_LI{margin-right:0;} #GH_ .GH_nav_list_UL{left:-200px;z-index:10000;} </style> <div id="GH_" class="GH_newheader"><div id="GH_hat"> <ul class="GH_hat_UL" id="GH_hat_links"> <li class="GH_hat_LI"><a target="_blank" id="GH_hat_A_first" class="GH_hat_A GH_hat_links_A" href="http://www.aol.com"> </a></li> <li class="GH_hat_LI"><a target="_blank" class="GH_hat_A GH_hat_links_A" href="http://webmail.aol.com/?_AOLLOCAL=mail">MAIL</a></li> <li class="GH_hat_LI"><ul class="GH_hat_UL" id="GH_hat_more"> <li class="GH_hat_LI">You might also like:</li><li class="GH_hat_LI"><a class="GH_hat_A GH_hat_more_A" target="_self" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/"> News</a>,</li> <li class="GH_hat_LI"><a class="GH_hat_A GH_hat_more_A" target="_self" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/politics/"> Politics</a></li> <li class="GH_hat_LI GH_hat_LI_more"> and <a class="GH_hat_A GH_hat_more_A" href="#" id="GH_hat_more_link">More</a></li></ul></li></ul> <ul class="GH_hat_UL" id="GH_hat_tools"> <li class="login-status"></li> </ul></div> <div id="GH_guts"><div id="GH_brand"><a id="GH_brand_link" href="/">Sphere</a></div> <div id="GH_search_tab"> <ul> <li id="newstab" ><a onclick="changeTab('newstab'); return false;" href="#">News</a></li> <li id="webtab" class="tab_selected"><a onclick="changeTab('webtab'); return false;" href="#">Web </a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="GH_search" class=""> <form method="get" id="GH_search_form" name ="GH_search_form" action="http://aolnews.search.aol.com/search?q=" onsubmit="return validateHeaderText(this)"><input type="text" id="GH_search_field" value="Search News and Topics" name="query" onblur="javascript:if(this.value=='')this.value='Search News and Topics' " onfocus="this.value='';"/><input type="submit" id="GH_search_button" value=""/><div id="GH_search_results"></div></form></div> <div id="GH_searchT1" class="hide"> <form id="top_search_form" method="post" name="gh_top_search" action="http://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=" target="_blank"> <input type="text" onblur="javascript:if(this.value=='')this.value='Search the Web' ;removecolor();" id="top_search_input" name="sym" value="Search the Web" onmouseover="cancelCloseTime();" onmouseout="closeTime();" onfocus="this.value='';changecolor();searchwebactive();" onkeypress="return submitWebSearch(event);"/> <input type="submit" id="srch_btn" title="Search" value="" onclick="return submitWebSearch('onclick');"/> </form></div></div> <ul id="GH_nav"> <li class="GH_nav_LI"><a target="_self" class="GH_nav_A" href="/">Main</a></li> <li class="GH_nav_LI"><a target="_self" class="GH_nav_A" href="/category/nation/">Nation</a></li> <li class="GH_nav_LI"><a target="_self" class="GH_nav_A" href="/category/world/">World</a></li> <li class="GH_nav_LI"><a target="_self" class="GH_nav_A" href="/category/money/">Business</a></li> <li class="GH_nav_LI"><a target="_self" class="GH_nav_A" href="/category/entertainment/">Entertainment</a></li> <li class="GH_nav_LI"><a target="_self" class="GH_nav_A" href="/category/sports/">Sports</a></li> <li class="GH_nav_LI"><a target="_self" class="GH_nav_A" href="/category/politics/">Politics</a></li> <li class="GH_nav_LI"><a target="_self" class="GH_nav_A" href="/category/health/">Health</a></li> <li class="GH_nav_LI"><a target="_blank" class="GH_nav_A" href="http://weirdnews.aol.com/">Weird</a></li>  <li class="GH_nav_LI"><a target="_self" class="GH_nav_A" href="/category/goodnews/">Good</a></li> <li class="GH_nav_LI GH_nav_list"><a target="_self" class="GH_nav_A" href="/"><span>More</span></a> <ul id="GH_nav_list_ul_col2" class="GH_nav_list_UL"> <li><a target="_self" href="/category/crime/">Crime</a></li> <li class="GH_nav_list_r"><a target="_self" href="/category/tech/">Tech</a></li>  <li class="GH_nav_list_r"><a target="_self" href="/category/science/">Science</a></li> <li><a target="_self" href="/team/">Meet Our Team</a></li>  <li><a target="_self" href="/about/">About Us</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="GH_fb_link"><a class="GH_nav_A showFB" target="feedback" rel="nofollow" href="/help-and-feedback/">Help & Feedback</a></li></ul></div> <div id="skybox" class="ltstHlnes"> <a class="prevArw" href="javascript:void(0);" title="Previous"></a> <div id="skySlider" class="slider tabSelected"> <ul class="slides tabSelected"><li class="lineup "><div class="edtrPostImg"><a class="skyText" target="_self" href="http://weirdnews.aol.com/2011/05/29/charges-dropped-against-s_n_868538.html">ACLU Victory: Charges Dropped Against Denver Man Who Gave Cops The Finger</a></div></li><li class="lineup "><div class="edtrPostImg"><a class="skyText" target="_self" href="http://weirdnews.aol.com/2011/05/26/the-amazing-kreskin-ufo_n_866929.html">EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: The Amazing Kreskin On UFOs, Doomsday And His Own Mysterious Future</a></div></li><li class="lineup "><div class="edtrPostImg"><a class="skyText" target="_self" href="http://weirdnews.aol.com/2011/05/27/chinese-prisoners-forced-to-play-video-games_n_868104.html">Chinese Prisoners Forced To Play Video Games In Bizarre Scheme</a></div></li><li class="lineup "><div class="edtrPostImg"><a class="skyText" target="_self" href="http://weirdnews.aol.com/2011/05/26/decapitated-head-of-catholic-saint-on-auction-block_n_866694.html">Skull Of St. Vitalis, Patron Saint Of Genital Disease, To Be Sold At Auction</a></div></li><li class="lineup "><div class="edtrPostImg"><a class="skyText" target="_self" href="http://weirdnews.aol.com/2011/05/29/ernestine-shepherd-worlds-oldest-female-bodybuilder_n_868577.html">Exclusive Video: 74-Year-Old Grandma Struts Her Stuff In Lycra Outfits At Muscle Shows</a></div></li><li class="lineup "><div class="edtrPostImg"><a class="skyText" target="_self" href="http://weirdnews.aol.com/2011/05/26/cicada-noise_n_867407.html">Cicada Chirping Could Cause Hearing Damage</a></div></li><li class="lineup "><div class="edtrPostImg"><a class="skyText" target="_self" href="http://weirdnews.aol.com/2011/05/23/ivan-stoiljkovic-magnet-boy-croatia-hoax_n_865773.html">What Makes Croatia's 'Magnet Boy' So Sticky?</a></div></li><li class="lineup "><div class="edtrPostImg"><a class="skyText" target="_self" href="http://weirdnews.aol.com/2011/05/25/colorado-san-luis-valley-ufos-watchtower-judy-messoline_n_865682.html">Colorado's UFO Watchtower A Hotspot For Saucer Sightings</a></div></li></ul> </div> <a class="nextArw" href="javascript:void(0);" title="Next"></a> </div> </div> <div class="clrFx" id="main"> <div id="lftCntnr"> <div id="aolOriginal"><img src="http://o.aolcdn.com/os/news/art/aoloriginal.gif" width="83" height="33" id="aoloriginal" /></div> <a title="Nation" href="/category/nation/"><div class="categoryHeadline">Nation</div></a> <div id="article" class="article hnews hentry item"> <div class="postTop clrFx"> <div class="artHeadline"> <h1 class="entry-title">The Few. The Proud. The New Marines?</h1> </div> <div class="postTime"> <abbr class="published updated" title="2010-08-13T16:39:00-04:00">Aug 13, 2010 – 4:39 PM</abbr> </div> </div> <div class="smallText" id="articleStr">  <div class="artUtils" id="artUtilsTop"> <div class="utilsLt"> <span class="txtSize"> <span class="labTxtSize">Text Size</span> <a title="large font" class="at300c" rel="largeText" id="incFont"></a> <a title="small font" class="decFontOff" rel="smallText" id="decFont"></a> </span> </div> <div id="addthisTop" class="utilsRt"> <a name="aol-share" class="aol-share" data-bid="655" data-pid="19592478" href="mailto:yourfriend@email.com?subject=Check this out:The Few. The Proud. The New Marines?&body=http://www.aolnews.com/2010/08/13/the-few-the-proud-the-marines-getting-a-makeover/" title="The Few. The Proud. The New Marines?">Email This</a></div> </div>  <div class="clear"></div> <div class="writerProfile"> <a href="/team/andrea-stone/"><img alt="Andrea Stone" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.aolnews.com/media/2010/12/andrea-stonepic.jpg"></img></a> <p class="author vcard"> <a href="/team/andrea-stone/"><b class="fn">Andrea Stone</b></a> <span class="blogtitle">Senior Washington Correspondent</span> </p> </div> <div id="article-entry-content" class="entry-content"> WASHINGTON (Aug. 13) -- Declaring "the maritime soul of the Marine Corps" is at stake, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has ordered a review of the seaborne service that since 9/11 has functioned more like a "second land army."<br /> <br /> In a <a href="http://www.defense.gov/speeches/speech.aspx?speechid=1498">speech</a> in San Francisco, Gates spoke of "anxiety" over the future role of the service after nearly a decade of fighting on land in Afghanistan and Iraq. He said some feel the Corps has "become too heavy, too removed from their expeditionary, amphibious roots and the unique skill sets those missions require." Though many Marines are battle-tested, some "may never have stepped aboard a ship."<br /> <div class="enhMed rightWrap"><img src="http://o.aolcdn.com/photo-hub/news_gallery/6/8/680919/1281734929876.JPEG" alt="U.S. marines embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu" /> <div class="credit">US Navy / Getty Images</div> <div class="caption">U.S. Marines embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu in the Indian Ocean board a Marine Corps helicopter on Thursday. Defense Secretary Robert Gates wants to see the Marine Corps return to its amphibious roots.</div> </div> <br /> Gates did not say Thursday whether the force structure review, to be led by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Gen. James Amos, the incoming Marine commandant, will result in "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzccgMy0P6s">the few</a>" becoming fewer after <a href="http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/end-strength.htm">bulking up</a> in recent years. But in a separate session with sailors aboard the destroyer USS Higgins, the Pentagon chief said the Corps had "<a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2010/aug/12/world/la-fg-gates-speech-20100813">gotten too big</a>" and would be trimmed.<br /> <br /> That prediction is in line with a larger <a target="_self" href="http://www.aolnews.com/article/defense-secretary-gates-blasts-military-spending/19469040">overhaul</a> that Gates detailed this week. It will involve <a target="_self" href="http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/defense-secretary-robert-gates-says-belt-tightening-will-eliminate-major-command/19586734">belt-tightening</a> across all the services and at the Pentagon to wring out $100 billion in savings over the next five years.<br /> <br /> The days of <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0219.html">storming Iwo Jima</a> are long gone. Marines still belt out "<a href="http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/marine.htm">From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli</a>," but as they learned in Somalia, where journalists <a href="http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/ssi/media2.pdf">beat them ashore</a> in Mogadishu, times have changed. <br /> <br /> Marines deployed aboard Navy ships remain the go-to ready forces in a crisis. Unlike the Army, they are lightly equipped to move quickly ashore by sea or air to conduct evacuations, relief operations or initiate combat. Traditionally the first in, they also are usually the first out, replaced after a few weeks by heavier Army troops trained for the long haul. <br /> <br /> That "unique ability to project combat forces from the sea under uncertain circumstances -- forces quickly able to protect and sustain themselves -- is a capability that America has needed in this past decade and will require in the future," Gates said.<br /> <br /> About 1,000 Marines flew in to the Afghan desert from ships more than 400 miles away in the Northern Arabian Sea to start the war against the Taliban in October 2001. Almost nine years later, though, 20,000 Marines are still fighting in that landlocked country, doing a job nearly indistinguishable from their soldier brethren. <br /> <br /> "These warriors are writing a new chapter in the Marine Corps roll of honor with their blood and their sweat," Gates said.<br /> <br /> Despite the Corps' <a href="http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usmc/history.htm">storied history</a> as the Navy's on-board landing force, the Pacific campaign of World War II was the only period in history when the service focused almost exclusively on amphibious assaults. The last major combat landing was during the Korean War at Inchon.<br /> <br /> "It is proper to ask whether large-scale amphibious assault landings along the lines of <a href="http://www.marines.com/main/index/winning_battles/history/missions/inchon_landing">Inchon</a> are feasible," Gates told an audience that included retired Marines. "New anti-ship missiles with long range and high accuracy may make it necessary to debark from ships 25, 40 or 60 or more miles at sea."<br /> <br /> Beach landings have become so rare that the Marines made <a href="http://www.gazette.com/articles/marines-99772-amphibious-military.html">headlines</a> in June when the Corps put on an amphibious training exercise at California's Camp Pendleton.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, military observers questioned Gates' concern about blurring the lines between soldiers and Marines.<br /> <br /> "They are a second land army -- and a third air force, by the way. That's not necessarily a bad thing. It provides a competing way of operating. What could be more American than such a competition?" said Thomas Ricks, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and author of "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Making-Corps-Thomas-Ricks/dp/0684848171">Making the Corps</a>," about how Marines inculcate their culture at boot camp. <br /> <br /> "I wouldn't make a lot of changes to the Marines right now. They tend to be very handy in the first phases of wars -- <a href="http://www.worldwar2database.com/html/guadalcanal.htm">Guadalcanal</a> in World War II, the <a href="http://www.koreanwar-educator.org/topics/pusan/">Pusan Perimeter</a> in Korea," he added. "I'd make bigger changes in the Army, really taking seriously the mission to train foreign security forces. And I'd look for really big savings more in the support areas than in the teeth area."<br /> <br /> But Andrew Bacevich, a national security expert at Boston University and a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, said the Marines have become an "example of the redundancies that permeate our defense establishment. ... Redundancies can be good as long as you can afford them. We no longer can."<br /> <br /> Anthony Cordesman, a defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, cautioned against too much tinkering with an organization established by the Continental Congress in 1775.<br /> <br /> "The reality is, when you have one of the most successful combat units in the world," he said, "you do not conduct fascinating social experiments to see if you can transform it into something else." </div> <div style="border-top:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-bottom:1px solid #CCCCCC;margin-bottom:15px;"> <script type="text/javascript"> adsonar_placementId=1511988;adsonar_pid=994774;adsonar_ps=-1;adsonar_zw=615;adsonar_zh=185;adsonar_jv="ads.tw.adsonar.com"; </script> <script language="JavaScript" src="http://js.adsonar.com/js/adsonar.js"></script></div> Filed under: <a href="/category/nation/">Nation</a>, <a href="/category/politics/">Politics</a>, <a href="/category/top-stories/">Top Stories</a> <div class="tagged"><i>Tagged:</i> <a href="http://www.aolnews.com/tag/armed+forces/">armed forces</a>, <a href="http://www.aolnews.com/tag/Defense+Secretary+Robert+Gates/">Defense Secretary Robert Gates</a>, <a href="http://www.aolnews.com/tag/Marines/">Marines</a>, <a href="http://www.aolnews.com/tag/military/">military</a></div> </div> <div id="default-copyright"> <i><center><font face=arial size=3>Follow AOL News on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/aolnews">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/aolnews">Twitter.</a></font></center></i><br /><br /> 2011 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.</i></div> <style type="text/css">#default-copyright{display:none;}</style> <div class="articleCpRght"><i><center><font face=arial size=3>Follow us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/aolweirdnews">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/aolweirdnews">Twitter.</a></font></center></i><br /><br /> 2011 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.</div> </div> <style type="text/css"> .aol-facebook-like {float: left; padding-right: 316px; width: 50px;} </style> <div class="artUtils" id="artUtilsBottom"> <div class="articleFaceBook"> <a name="aol-facebook-like" class="aol-facebook-like"><fb:like href="http://www.aolnews.com/2010/08/13/the-few-the-proud-the-marines-getting-a-makeover/" layout="button_count" show_faces="false" action="like" width="300"></fb:like></a> </div> <div id="addthisBtm" class="utilsCt"><a name="aol-share" class="aol-share" data-bid="655" data-pid="19592478" href="mailto:yourfriend@email.com?subject=Check this out:The Few. The Proud. The New Marines?&body=http://www.aolnews.com/2010/08/13/the-few-the-proud-the-marines-getting-a-makeover/" title="The Few. The Proud. The New Marines?">Email This</a></div> <div class="clear"></div> </div>  <div id="gcpFCMain"> <ul class="gcpFCNoFeaturedCmntList"> <li class="gcpFCNumCmntItm"> <a class="gcpFCNumCmnt" href="/discuss/2010/08/13/the-few-the-proud-the-marines-getting-a-makeover#gcpDiscussPageUrlAnchor">219 <span>comments</span></a> </li> <li class="gcpFCNumCmntItm"><a class="gcpFCAddCmntBtn" href="/discuss/2010/08/13/the-few-the-proud-the-marines-getting-a-makeover#gcpDiscussPageUrlAnchor">add your comment</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="wwwfullmodule"> <h2 class="wwwHdr">Hot Leads</h2><div class="wwwMod"> <div class="verticalphoto"> <a target="_blank" href="http://blog.trutv.com/dumb_as_a_blog/2011/06/15-dumb-facts-about-sharks-.html"><img src="http://o.aolcdn.com/photo-hub/news_gallery/7/0/700843/1294263517436.JPEG" alt="Headline Photo"/></a><span class="imgcredit">AP</span></div><div class="wwwBody"> <div class="wwwMain"><a href="http://blog.trutv.com/dumb_as_a_blog/2011/06/15-dumb-facts-about-sharks-.html" target="_blank">15 Amazing Things You Didn't Know About Sharks</a><br/> -- TruTV<br/></div> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.oddee.com/item_97796.aspx" target="_blank">12 Craziest Swimsuits</a> -- Oddee</li> <li><a href="http://www.oddee.com/item_97817.aspx" target="_blank">10 Spooky Ghostly Recordings</a> -- Oddee</li> <li><a href="http://blog.trutv.com/dumb_as_a_blog/2011/05/women-love-to-tell-dumb-lies-to-men.html" target="_blank">10 Dumb Lies Women Tell Men</a> -- Dumb As A Blog</li> <li><a href="http://www.cracked.com/article_19205_10-famous-unsolved-mysteries-easily-explained-by-science.html" target="_blank">10 Paranormal Mysteries Easily Explained by Science</a> -- Cracked</li> <li><a href="http://www.forteantimes.com/features/articles/5407/raiders_of_the_lost_grail.html" target="Same Window">Nazi Raiders of the Lost Holy Grail</a> -- Fortean Times</li> <li><a href="http://www.oddee.com/item_97718.aspx" target="Same Window">7 Unusual Ways to Combat Impotence</a> -- Oddee</li> </ul> </div></div></div> <div class="thindividerline"></div> <html> </html> <script src="http://o.aolcdn.com/os/aol/jquery.aolphotogallery.min.js"></script> <script> (function($){ $("[name='aol-photo-gallery']").aolPhotoGallery(); })(jQuery); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> var authConfig = { "authDevId" : "ao106HS28rHt73lS", "authTabs" : ['aol', 'aim'], "pictureUrlSelector":"#picture-url", "gcpAuthSelectorTemp":"loginLink", "priSignInAuthSelector":"#loginLink", "priSignOutAuthSelector": "#logoutLink", "secSignInAuthSelector": "#gcpSignInLink", "secSignOutAuthSelector": "#gcpSignOutLink", "secUserPicUrlSelector":"", "secSignedInHTML": '<h3 id="gcpAddCommentHdrTop">Post a Comment</h3><div class="gcpAuthCont"><p id="gcpAuthSignedIn">Signed in as: <span class="gcpAuthUserName">@multiAuthUserDispName@</span>(<a id="gcpSignOutLink" class="gcpSignOutUrl" href="#">Sign out</a>)</p><p class="gcpAuthHelpAndFeedback"><a href="/category/help-and-feedback">Help and Feedback</a></p><div class="clear"></div></div>', "secSignedOutHTML": '<h3 id="gcpAddCommentHdrTop">Post a Comment</h3><div class="gcpAuthCont"><div id="gcpAuthLeft"><p id="gcpAuthSignedOut"><a id="gcpSignInLink" class="gcpSignInUrl" href="#"><span>sign in</span></a></p></div><p id="gcpAuthList" class="authServ">(You can use your AOL or AIM accounts)</p><div class="clear"></div></div>', "secAuthCont" : "#gcpAuthWrap", "hideGCPComments" : false }; </script> </div> <div id="rghtRail"> <div class="adContainer ad300x250"> <script type="text/javascript">  </script><noscript><a href="http://ar.atwola.com/link/93310483/aoladp?target=_blank&border=0" target="_blank"> <img src="http://ar.atwola.com/image/93310483/aoladp" alt="advertisement" width="300" height="250" border="0" /></a></noscript> </div> <div class="clear"></div> <style type="text/css"> .aol-most-popular-social .articles a { color: #000 !important; } </style> <div class="aol-most-popular-social"> <h4><b>HuffPost AOL Social News</b> <span class="pane-nav">Most Popular</span></h4> <div class="articles"> <ul> <li> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/libyan-rebels-close-in-on-gaddafi_n_932370.html" title="Libyan Rebels Close In On Gaddafi"><img data-src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/334093/thumbs/s-LIBYAN-REBELS-mini.jpg" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/js/x.gif" /> Libyan Rebels Close In On Gaddafi </a> <div class="facebook"> <div class="aol-faux-facebook-like" data-width="180" data-colorscheme="light" data-show-faces="false" data-layout="button_count" data-action="like" data-href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/libyan-rebels-close-in-on-gaddafi_n_932370.html"> <a><b>Like</b></a> <p><b></b><i></i> 147 </p> </div> </div> </li> <li> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/tv-soundoff-sunday-talkin_n_932368.html" title="TV SoundOff: Sunday Talking Heads"><img data-src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/190597/thumbs/s-FIVE-BOX-mini.jpg" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/js/x.gif" /> TV SoundOff: Sunday Talking Heads </a> <div class="facebook"> <div class="aol-faux-facebook-like" data-width="180" data-colorscheme="light" data-show-faces="false" data-layout="button_count" data-action="like" data-href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/tv-soundoff-sunday-talkin_n_932368.html"> <a><b>Like</b></a> <p><b></b><i></i> 11 </p> </div> </div> </li> <li> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/jon-huntsman-2012-candidates-this-week_n_932399.html" title="Jon Huntsman Blasts 2012 GOP Candidates On ABC's 'This Week'"><img data-src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/334122/thumbs/s-JON-HUNTSMAN-2012-mini.jpg" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/js/x.gif" /> Jon Huntsman Blasts Rivals As 'Fringe' Candidates With 'Zero Substance' </a> <div class="facebook"> <div class="aol-faux-facebook-like" data-width="180" data-colorscheme="light" data-show-faces="false" data-layout="button_count" data-action="like" data-href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/jon-huntsman-2012-candidates-this-week_n_932399.html"> <a><b>Like</b></a> <p><b></b><i></i> 68 </p> </div> </div> </li> <li> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/social-security-disabilit-benefits-insolvency_n_932409.html" title="Social Security Disability Program Pushed To Brink Of Insolvency"><img data-src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/334140/thumbs/s-SOCIAL-SECURITY-DISABILITY-mini.jpg" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/js/x.gif" /> Social Security Disability Program On Brink Of Insolvency </a> <div class="facebook"> <div class="aol-faux-facebook-like" data-width="180" data-colorscheme="light" data-show-faces="false" data-layout="button_count" data-action="like" data-href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/social-security-disabilit-benefits-insolvency_n_932409.html"> <a><b>Like</b></a> <p><b></b><i></i> 124 </p> </div> </div> </li> <li> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/maxine-waters-tea-party-jobs-unemployment_n_932421.html" title="Maxine Waters On Jobs, Unemployment: 'The Tea Party Can Go Straight To Hell'"><img data-src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/334150/thumbs/s-MAXINE-WATERS-TEA-PARTY-JOBS-mini.jpg" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/js/x.gif" /> Maxine Waters: 'The Tea Party Can Go Straight To Hell' </a> <div class="facebook"> <div class="aol-faux-facebook-like" data-width="180" data-colorscheme="light" data-show-faces="false" data-layout="button_count" data-action="like" data-href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/maxine-waters-tea-party-jobs-unemployment_n_932421.html"> <a><b>Like</b></a> <p><b></b><i></i> 227 </p> </div> </div> </li> <li> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/tropical-storm-irene-near_n_932360.html" title="Tropical Storm Irene Nearing Hurricane Status As Harvey Weakens"><img data-src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/334089/thumbs/s-TROPICAL-STORM-IRENE-mini.jpg" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/js/x.gif" /> Tropical Storm Irene Nearing Hurricane Status As Harvey Weakens </a> <div class="facebook"> <div class="aol-faux-facebook-like" data-width="180" data-colorscheme="light" data-show-faces="false" data-layout="button_count" data-action="like" data-href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/tropical-storm-irene-near_n_932360.html"> <a><b>Like</b></a> <p><b></b><i></i> 2K </p> </div> </div> </li> <li> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/bashar-assad-syrian-leader_n_932353.html" title="Bashar al-Assad, Syrian Leader, Now A Global Pariah"><img data-src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/334074/thumbs/s-BASHAR-ASSAD-mini.jpg" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/js/x.gif" /> Syrian Leader Now A Global Pariah </a> <div class="facebook"> <div class="aol-faux-facebook-like" data-width="180" data-colorscheme="light" data-show-faces="false" data-layout="button_count" data-action="like" data-href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/bashar-assad-syrian-leader_n_932353.html"> <a><b>Like</b></a> <p><b></b><i></i> 37 </p> </div> </div> </li> <li> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/20/rick-perry-evolution-intelligent-design_n_932073.html" title="Rick Perry Knocks Evolution Again: 'God Is How We Got Here'"><img data-src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/333869/thumbs/s-RICK-PERRY-EVOLUTION-mini.jpg" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/js/x.gif" /> Rick Perry: 'God Is How We Got Here' </a> <div class="facebook"> <div class="aol-faux-facebook-like" data-width="180" data-colorscheme="light" data-show-faces="false" data-layout="button_count" data-action="like" data-href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/20/rick-perry-evolution-intelligent-design_n_932073.html"> <a><b>Like</b></a> <p><b></b><i></i> 8K </p> </div> </div> </li> <li> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/elijah-cummings-obama-black-community-unemployment_n_932388.html" title="Elijah Cummings: Obama Needs To 'Fight Harder,' African-Americans 'Totally Frustrated'"><img data-src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/334110/thumbs/s-ELIJAH-CUMMINGS-OBAMA-UNEMPLOYMENT-mini.jpg" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/js/x.gif" /> Elijah Cummings: Obama Needs To 'Fight Harder' For Black Community </a> <div class="facebook"> <div class="aol-faux-facebook-like" data-width="180" data-colorscheme="light" data-show-faces="false" data-layout="button_count" data-action="like" data-href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/elijah-cummings-obama-black-community-unemployment_n_932388.html"> <a><b>Like</b></a> <p><b></b><i></i> 1K </p> </div> </div> </li> <li> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/mexican-soccer-match-suspended-gunfire_n_932359.html" title="Mexican Soccer Match Suspended Because Of Gunfire"><img data-src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/334084/thumbs/s-SOCCER-mini.jpg" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/js/x.gif" /> Mexican Soccer Match Suspended Because Of Gunfire </a> <div class="facebook"> <div class="aol-faux-facebook-like" data-width="180" data-colorscheme="light" data-show-faces="false" data-layout="button_count" data-action="like" data-href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/mexican-soccer-match-suspended-gunfire_n_932359.html"> <a><b>Like</b></a> <p><b></b><i></i> 29 </p> </div> </div> </li> <li> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/michele-bachmann-seeks_n_932318.html" title="Michele Bachmann Seeks To Broaden Appeal"><img data-src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/334052/thumbs/s-BACHMANN-mini.jpg" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/js/x.gif" /> Michele Bachmann Seeks To Broaden Appeal </a> <div class="facebook"> <div class="aol-faux-facebook-like" data-width="180" data-colorscheme="light" data-show-faces="false" data-layout="button_count" data-action="like" data-href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/michele-bachmann-seeks_n_932318.html"> <a><b>Like</b></a> <p><b></b><i></i> 1K </p> </div> </div> </li> <li> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/20/chris-matthews-reince-pri_n_932149.html" title="Chris Matthews, Reince Priebus Spar About GOP, Tea Party (VIDEO)"><img data-src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/333949/thumbs/s-CHRIS-MATTHEWS-mini.jpg" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/js/x.gif" /> WATCH: Matthews Yells At GOP Chair </a> <div class="facebook"> <div class="aol-faux-facebook-like" data-width="180" data-colorscheme="light" data-show-faces="false" data-layout="button_count" data-action="like" data-href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/20/chris-matthews-reince-pri_n_932149.html"> <a><b>Like</b></a> <p><b></b><i></i> 1K </p> </div> </div> </li> <li> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/20/jon-huntsman-rick-perry-bernanke-climate-change_n_932263.html" title="Jon Huntsman Blasts Rick Perry Over Evolution, Climate Change, Ben Bernanke Comments"><img data-src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/334011/thumbs/s-JON-HUNTSMAN-RICK-PERRY-mini.jpg" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/js/x.gif" /> Jon Huntsman Blasts Rick Perry Over Evolution, Climate Change, Ben Bernanke Comments </a> <div class="facebook"> <div class="aol-faux-facebook-like" data-width="180" data-colorscheme="light" data-show-faces="false" data-layout="button_count" data-action="like" data-href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/20/jon-huntsman-rick-perry-bernanke-climate-change_n_932263.html"> <a><b>Like</b></a> <p><b></b><i></i> 5K </p> </div> </div> </li> <li> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mohamed-elerian/why-washington-urgently-n_b_932423.html" title="Mohamed el-Erian: Why Washington Urgently Needs to Break America's Negative Feedback Loop"><img data-src="" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/js/x.gif" /> Mohamed el-Erian: Why Washington Urgently Needs to Break America's Negative Feedback Loop </a> <div class="facebook"> <div class="aol-faux-facebook-like" data-width="180" data-colorscheme="light" data-show-faces="false" data-layout="button_count" data-action="like" data-href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mohamed-elerian/why-washington-urgently-n_b_932423.html"> <a><b>Like</b></a> <p><b></b><i></i>