The active Corps totals 173,000 of which about 10,000 are women.
Parris Island trains about 18,000 recruits a year.
In 1999, Marines served in some 20 countries or regions, not including US embassies. Six Marines guard the Dublin embassy and 26 the Paris embassy.
Marine Expeditionary Units of 2,200 personnel can be deployed anywhere in the world at short notice.
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1999 operations by Marines included supporting the UN in East Timor, the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, humanitarian relief in hurricane devastated Central America and peace-keeping in Bosnia.
A Marine private earns a maximum $1,005 a month; a staff sergeant $2,277; a captain $4,139; a colonel $7,015 and a major-general $9,048. Free housing, meals and other privileges are also provided.