Since the Vietnam war has there been an actual "front line"?

Question

I asked a Marine about Army & Marine Infantry differences today and he replied "Marines are front line fighters", I keep up on the current war situation as much as the next guy and am under the impression that there is no front line. If I'm wrong please correct me.

Answer 1

I believe FEBA will be an antique term before we know it. There are no true front lines any more. (FEBA = Forward Edge of Battle, for those who might ask)

Answer 2

where was the actual front line during Vietnam? Army Infantry are just as front line as Marine Infantry.

Answer 3

When fighting against an insurgency there is no front line.  Being on a FOB might keep you out of direct combat but you can still be killed by rocket or mortar fire.  The only "real" rear lines (besides the US) are outside Iraq and Afghanistan.

Answer 4

The last actual front line in a war was during the start of the Gulf War.  Korea had them but Vietnam and the current conflict does not.  The term as used in the military is saying that you have combat troops, referred to as front line troops, then rear echelon troops meaning support or more security/guard types.  Marine units, even according to Army generals, are considered to be more of an attack/assault force then security or guard type.  A stated during some of the heavier fighting by the previous commander in Iraq he used the Marines to assault and take the area and then used the Army troops to secure and hold it when asked about the Marine causality rate being higher then the Army's.  You will lose troops in the assault then in the holding or guarding side.  This is also why the Commandt of the Marine Corps asked to redeploy Marines from Iraq to Afghanistan because the assault type troops are needed in Afghanistan and not as much in Iraq.

Answer 5

Sort of.  In parts of Southern Afghanistan the Marines were sent in to clean it up and it was clear that certain parts were hostile and Marines would face resistance there.

Since Vietnam there have been front lines.  Desert Storm is a notable example.

Answer 6

There was no specific :front line" in Viet Nam. There were always battles of one size or another going on all over the country.Yes Marines are the front line fighters in the context that the get sent in first but the fact is that if you are fighting anywhere it is the front line. Being shot at makes it that and the Army is as much a front line organization as the Marines. Just not as tough.

Recon 65-67

Semper Fi