The few, the proud, the ass kickers. AKA Andrew and the boys.

[Flangepart]

StarFleet Marines. When clowns in cloth shirts are just cannon fodder. Am i the only one  who can't dig why the Trek people won't admit the need for professional, down and dirty warriors on the ships of StarFleet? There are fan groups that keep the Corps alive, but Paramount won't make it offical. Why is that, do ya' think?  Personaly, i believe to do so they would have to admit that sometimes, hard as it is to admit, you can't always talk your self out of a problim....and if you doubt that, i have one word. Dominuion : How bout another :Jem-hadar? In that spirit, what Marine related stories/characters come to mind in B-movie land? Bolwing away Martians in "Invaders from mars"? Takeing on the city ships in "Independance day"? Also, what kind of Ass kicking would you like to see? Me....i'd like to see the Marines get ahold of Meca Kong(updated like Meca Godzilla), and go teach some Kaiju the meaning of pain. Could be fun! Why, working out the wepons fit keeps me entertained......ahem....so! What saw you, folks?

[Jay O'Connor]

IIRC, from a few of the Trek movies had security forces in some sort of light body armor and helmets and heavy duty weapons.

[J.R.]

I think maybe the Trek honchos won't make the Marines official because the Star Trek Universe, and Starfleet itself, are supposed to be Utopian places of discovery and unity. They only go into battle or war when absolutely necessary. Having armored soldiers aboard the ships would kind of kill the scientific research angle. "To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before... Semper Fi!"

[Flangepart]

Kind of what i was thinking. Jay was thinking ST/The Motion Picture for the security in body armor.See how quickly they lost that? In the DS9 eph. with Tosk the born victem, the alien hunters had some kick ass armor. Energy restant and flexable, it's kind of what a Fleet Marine would have. Built in Tricorder and shields, it might make for a real battle scene. Like Heinlineian Power armor. If they could build Data's body, what problim? I agreewith your conclusion. It also explains why they don't admit the N.C.C. = Naval Construction Contract....even though thats what it said in the original Tech Manual! Oooooh, can't say Naval, that would be so uncouth. No...just perfectly logical.