U. S. MARINE CORPS

Consisting of nearly 200,000 personnel the U.S. Marine Corps is undoubtedly the world's largest elite force and probably one of the oldest.   The U.S. Marine Corps' sheer size marks it out as different from other special forces.   The Corps is divided into three divisions with three air wings.   The Corps has over four hundred aircraft giving it more air power than most of the world's air forces.   The Marine Corps' role is three-fold.   One, to provide a strong amphibious capability.   Two, to provide corpsmen for the guarding of ships and naval bases.   And three, to undertake additional duties ordered by the U.S. President.   The Marine Corps provides the military guard at United States embassies around the world.

The Marine Corps is a self-contained army.   It maintains its own artillery and armoured vehicles and has twenty-one squadrons of aircraft.

The Marine Corps has been involved in every major conflict involving the United States this century.   In the past twenty-five years it has seen action in Vietnam, Grenada, Panama and the Gulf War.