The main method of marine deployment is via drop pods (as shown in Quake 2) or drop ships (as shown in Quake 4), though this isn't always safe, with the SMC being reputed to negligently drop their soldiers in the wrong zones, for example deep in Strogg territory, which has taken many lives. This is coupled with elite training to make the marines exceptionally effective against the Strogg.

The SMC possesses high technology, enough to go toe-to-toe with the Strogg military on the aliens' own soil. It is unclear how the SMC was formed but it may have been created as a response to the Strogg invasion, and its assault ships and much of its weapons may have been developed using captured Strogg technology from the invasion. is much better equipped, with planetary assault ships and drop pods used to invade the Strogg homeworld. Presumably its origins lie in the Global Defence Force or GDF, the main body of Earth's defending armies that repelled the Strogg invasion. is thrown into the bloodiest battles humanity has known and is ready to take massive casualties in often near-suicidal operations to defend the Earth. Comprised of exceptionally brave soldiers, the S.M.C. The Space Marine Corps, or S.M.C., is the branch of Earth's combined military that acts as an expeditionary force in the counter-invasions of Stroggos in retaliation for the Strogg attack on Earth. Stroggos under the assault of the SMC second wave (also note the rear view of a large SMC carrier ship)

Quake 4 marine