I think that the reputation of the Marine Corps has more to do with its actual historical performance on the battlefield rather than considerations such as the selectivity of its recruitment or basic training something that probably would distinguish it in the European perspective that you cite Another consideration is the scope size and responsibility of the Corps  The Marine Corps is not and has never been organized across its entire organization as a specialoperationstype organization such as the SEALs Special Forces or if you will Royal Marines or SAS  The article points out that the Corps is larger than the British Army in its entirety  What the Marine Corps has done for most of its history and what has distinguished it largely from the US Army is serve as a mobile and convenient expeditionary force in coordination with the Navy in a large number of small actions in support of US policy most of them in the Western Hemisphere or in Asia  THe US didnt even maintain a large standing peacetime Army until after   Outside those years when a major war was being fought technically the US Congress has declared war only five times in history if someone saw an armed American in their country that person was likely to be a Marine I would argue that the most relevant perspective on the reputation of the Marine Corps would be the perspectives and memories of its historical enemies  I would invite anyone interested and will work myself to find and document in this article reliable quotes and sources of those who have encountered Marines in battle     August  UTC