United States Armed Forces
United States Joint Service Color Guard on parade at Fort Myer in Arlington County, Virginia. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the For the military meaning see Armed forces. For the Soviet sports society see Armed Forces (sports society Armed Forces Fort Myer is a US Army post adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County Virginia, across the Potomac River The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state
Service branches	U.S. Army U.S. Marine Corps U.S. Navy U.S. Air Force U.S. Coast Guard
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief	George W. Bush
Secretary of Defense	Robert M. Gates
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff	Admiral Michael Mullen
Military age	17-45 years old[1]
Available for military service	67,742,879 males, age 18-49 (2005 est. The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. Robert Michael Gates (born September 25 1943) is currently serving as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense. Admiral Michael Glenn "Mike" Mullen, USN (born October 4 1946) is the 17th and current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs ), 67,070,144 females, age 18-49 (2005 est. )
Fit for military service	54,609,050 males, age 18-49 (2005 est. ), 54,696,706 females, age 18-49 (2005 est. )
Reaching military age annually	2,143,873 males (2005 est. ), 2,036,201 females (2005 est. )
Active personnel	1,426,713 [1] (ranked 2nd)
Reserve personnel	1,458,500
Expenditures
Budget	$548. This is a list of countries sorted by the total number of active troops where the military manpower of a country is measured by the total amount of active troops within the command 9 billion [2] (ranked 1st)
Percent of GDP	3. This is a list of countries by military expenditures using the latest information available 9 (2007 est. )
Related articles
History	Colonial wars American Revolutionary War Early national period Continental expansion American Civil War Post-Civil War era World War I (1917-1918) World War II (1941-1945) Cold War (1945–1991) Post-Cold War era (1991–2001) War on Terrorism (2001–present)
Ranks	United States Army officer rank insignia, United States Army enlisted rank insignia, United States Navy officer rank insignia, United States Navy enlisted rates, United States Marine Corps officer rank insignia, United States Marine Corps enlisted rank insignia United States Air Force officer rank insignia, United States Air Force enlisted rank insignia, United States Coast Guard ranks

The United States Armed Forces are the overall unified military forces of the United States. Colonial war is a form of conflict fought between the foreign occupiers of a Colony and the colony's indigenous population colonists or the military forces of a rival In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" The military history of the United States spans a period of over two centuries The military history of the United States spans a period of over two centuries Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South The military history of the United States spans a period of over two centuries World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Cold War is the state of conflict tension and competition that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR and their respective allies from the The Post-Cold War era began immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union and according to differing accounts ended on September 11 2001 or is still The War on Terrorism (also known as the War on Terror) is the common term for the military political and legal, and ideological conflict and specifically for U See also United States Army enlisted rank insignia United States warrant officer rank insignia Ranks and insignia Command In each command of company sized units and smaller there is assigned a senior enlisted who is the monitor and advocate of the Enlisted Personnel to the commanding Commissioned officers in the Navy have pay grades ranging from W-2 to W-5 and O-1 to O-10 with O-10 being the highest those with paygrades between W-2 to W-5 are considered specialists in their Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below --> United States Navy enlisted rate Commissioned Officers are distinguished from other officers by their commission, which is the formal written authority issued in the name of the President of the United States Current insignia Wear of insignia On the Air Force Mess Dress uniform officer rank insignia are embroidered in silver or gold thread on detachable The chart below represents the current Enlisted rank insignia of the United States Air Force. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the For the military meaning see Armed forces. For the Soviet sports society see Armed Forces (sports society Armed Forces The United States military was first formed during the Continental Congress and was permanently established after World War II. The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including ^[2]

Its component branches are:

• United States Army
• United States Marine Corps
• United States Navy
• United States Air Force
• United States Coast Guard

All branches are part of the United States Uniformed Services and are under civilian control with the President serving as Commander-in-chief. The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. The United States has seven federal uniformed services that commission officers as defined by Title 10, and subsequently structured and organized A civilian under International humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her Country 's Armed forces. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by A commander-in-chief is the Commander of a nation's Military forces or significant element of those forces All branches except the Coast Guard are part of the Department of Defense, which is under the authority of the Secretary of Defense, who is also a civilian. The United States Department of Defense ( DOD or DoD) is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government The United States Secretary of Defense ( SECDEF) is the head of the U The Coast Guard falls under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security. During wartime, the Coast Guard may be placed under the Department of Defense through the Department of the Navy. The United States Department of the Navy was established by an Act of Congress on April 30 1798 to provide administrative and technical support and civilian leadership ^[3] There are also other military forces in the United States which fall solely under the individual control of each state, the State Defense Forces, which are not part of the Department of Defense. State Defense Forces ( SDF) (also known as State Guards, State Military Reserves, or State Militias) in the United States are military

As of May 2007, about 1,426,705 people are on active duty in the military with an additional 1,458,400 people in the seven reserve components. The Reserve Components of the United States Department of Defense and United States Department of Homeland Security (in the case of the United States Coast Guard ^[4] As it is currently a volunteer military, there is no conscription. A volunteer military or all-volunteer military is one which derives its manpower from volunteers rather than Conscription or mandatory service Conscription (also known as the draft, the call-up or national service) is a general term for involuntary labor demanded by some established authority Women are not allowed to serve in some combatant positions, but they do serve in combat areas where they can and do come under enemy fire. ^[5]

Much of U. S. military capability is involved in logistics and transportation, which enable rapid buildup of forces as needed. Logistics is the management of the flow of Goods, Information and other resources including Energy and people between the point of origin and the point The Air Force maintains a large fleet of C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster, and C-130 Hercules transportation aircraft with a substantial fleet of aerial refueling tankers. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Aerial refueling, also called air refueling, in-flight refueling ( IFR) air-to-air refueling ( AAR) or tanking, is The Marine Corps maintains Marine Expeditionary Units at sea with the Navy's Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. A Marine Expeditionary Unit ( MEU, pronounced M-YOO formerly called Marine Amphibious Unit ( MAU) is the smallest Marine Air-Ground Task Force The Navy's 11 active aircraft carriers, combined with a military doctrine of power projection, enables a flexible response to potential threats. An aircraft carrier is a Warship designed with Military doctrine is the concise expression of how military forces contribute to campaigns major operations Battles and engagements It is a guide

Organization

Main article: United States Department of Defense#Organization

Under the United States Constitution, the President of the United States is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The United States Department of Defense ( DOD or DoD) is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme Law of the United States. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by A commander-in-chief is the Commander of a nation's Military forces or significant element of those forces To coordinate military action with diplomacy, the President has an advisory National Security Council headed by a National Security Advisor. The White House National Security Council ( NSC) in the United States is the principal forum used by the President for considering National The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, commonly referred to as the National Security Adviser (abbreviated NSA, or sometimes ANSA Under the President is the United States Secretary of Defense, a Cabinet Secretary responsible for the Department of Defense. The United States Secretary of Defense ( SECDEF) is the head of the U A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of Government, typically representing the executive branch. The United States Department of Defense ( DOD or DoD) is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government Both the President and Secretary of Defense are advised by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which includes the service branch chiefs led by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Joint Chiefs of Staff ( JCS) is a group comprising the Chiefs of service of each major branch of the Armed services in the United States armed forces The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ( CJCS) is by law the highest ranking military officer overall in the United States Armed The Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ( VJCS) is by law the second highest ranking military officer overall in the United States Armed Forces ranking

History

Main article: Military history of the United States

Choctaw chief/U. The military history of the United States spans a period of over two centuries The Choctaw are a Native American people originally from the Southeastern United States ( Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana) S. General Pushmataha, 1824. Pushmataha (c1760's - 24 December 1824; also spelled Pooshawattaha, Pooshamallaha, or Poosha Matthaw) the "Indian General"

Prior to and during the founding of the United States, military forces were supplied by untrained militia commanded by the states. When the Continental Congress first ordered a Continental Army to be formed, it was to be made up of militia from the states. The Congress of the Confederation or the United States in Congress Assembled was the governing body of the United States of America from March 1, That army, under the command of General George Washington, won the Revolutionary War, but afterwards was disbanded. George Washington (February 22 1732 December 14 1799 served as the first President of the United States of America (1789&ndash1797 and led the In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots"

However, it soon became obvious that a standing army and navy were required. The United States Navy began when Congress ordered several frigates in 1794, and a standing army was created, however it was still only minimal and it relied mostly on contributions from state militia in times of war.

Between the founding of the nation and the Civil War, American military forces fought and won against Barbary Coast pirates; fought the War of 1812 against the British, which ended in the status quo; and won several southwestern territories from the Mexicans in the Mexican-American War. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South The Barbary pirates, also sometimes called Ottoman corsairs, were Muslim Pirates and Privateers that operated from North Africa, from The War of 1812 was fought between the United States of America and the British Empire, particularly Great Britain and her North American colonies Status quo is a Latin term meaning the present existing state of affairs or "the state in which"

In 1861, with the beginning of the Civil War, many military forces, including many of the nation's best generals, became part of the Confederate military, and both armies fought a long, bloody struggle which consumed 600,000 lives and ended in Union (U. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South The Confederate States of America (also called the Confederacy, the Confederate States, and CSA) formed as the government set up from 1861 During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty-three S. ) victory in 1865.

Battle of Antietam. Based on 1860 census figures, 8% of all white males aged 13 to 43 died in the Civil War. The United States Census is a decennial Census mandated by the United States Constitution. ^[6]

In the period between the Civil War and the 1890s, the military was allowed to languish, although units of the U. S. Army did fight Native Americans as settlers moved into the center of the United States. Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States By the end of the century, though, America was rapidly becoming a new world power. The military fought the Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War, along with several Latin American interventions, and Teddy Roosevelt sent the Great White Fleet around the world in a display of American power. Theodore Roosevelt (ˈroʊzəvɛlt October 27 1858 January 6 1919 also known as T The Great White Fleet was the popular nickname for the United States Navy battle fleet that completed a Circumnavigation of the globe from December 16, In addition, the Militia Act of 1903 established the National Guard. For the National Guard of a State and other countries' National Guard see National Guard.

The United States entered World War I in 1917 and played a major role in the Allied victory. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All It languished in the interwar period, but as tensions mounted leading up to World War II, the force was put back into shape. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including U. S. Army troops were a large component of the forces that took North Africa, Italy, and landed in France at D-Day, and U. North Africa or Northern Africa is the Northernmost Region of the African Continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. D-Day may also refer to Decimal Day in the United Kingdom. D-Day is a term often used in Military parlance to denote S. Navy, Marine, and Army troops were heavily involved in the Pacific campaign against Japan and its allies. The Pacific War was the part of World War II —and preceding conflicts—that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands and in East Asia, between For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics.

The end of World War II was the start of the Cold War, a large but ultimately non-violent struggle between the United States and its NATO Allies against the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies. Cold War is the state of conflict tension and competition that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR and their respective allies from the The North Atlantic Treaty In general allies are people groups or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 The Warsaw Pact (see Nomenclature) was an organization of Communist states in Central and Eastern Europe. Hundreds of thousands of U. S. troops were deployed to Europe in anticipation of a struggle that never came. A troop is a Military unit, originally a small force of Cavalry, subordinate to a Squadron and headed by the troop leader

However, U. S. troops did participate in proxy wars in Korea and Vietnam. A proxy war is the war that results when two powers use third parties as substitutes for fighting each other directly The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia The Korean War, with North Korea and China against South Korea, the U. North Korea is the commonly used short form name for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK) a State located in East Asia, Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː S. , and other UN troops, ultimately returned the status quo ante. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security Status quo ante, Latin for "the way things were before" incorporating the term Status quo, may refer to In Law, the objective of a The Vietnam War between North Vietnam and South Vietnam and the U. The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRVN or less commonly Vietnamese Democratic Republic (Việt Nam Dân Chủ Cộng Hòa was a Country on the northern half of Vietnam "RVN" redirects here RVN is also the former callsign of a TV station in Wagga Wagga New South Wales Australia S. resulted in a cease-fire; after U. S. troops were pulled out of the country North Vietnam invaded South Vietnam. The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRVN or less commonly Vietnamese Democratic Republic (Việt Nam Dân Chủ Cộng Hòa was a Country on the northern half of Vietnam "RVN" redirects here RVN is also the former callsign of a TV station in Wagga Wagga New South Wales Australia

Assault landing at Omaha Beach in Normandy

In the 1980s, the U. Omaha Beach was the Code name for one of the principal landing points of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings Normandy (Normandie Norman: Normaundie) is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. S. military fought Operation Just Cause in Panama and Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada. The United States invasion of Panama, codenamed Operation Just Cause, was the Invasion of Panama by the United States in December 1989 Panama, officially the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá) is the southernmost country of Central America. The Invasion of Grenada, codenamed Operation Urgent Fury, was an Invasion of the nation of Grenada, an island in the Caribbean Sea 100 miles north Grenada (grɪˈneɪdə is an Island nation that includes the southern Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. The United States conducted various combat operations in the Persian Gulf against Iran, most notably Operation Praying Mantis. Operation Praying Mantis was an April 18, 1988 attack by US naval forces in retaliation for the Iranian mining of the Persian In addition, the Goldwater-Nichols Act completely reorganized the military. The Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 reworked the command structure of the United States military.

By 1989, it was clear the Soviet Union was on the verge of collapse. However, when Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1991, the United States entered the Persian Gulf War. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. The State of Kuwait ( دولة الكويت IPA [dawlatt̪ alkuwajt̪]) is a sovereign Arab Emirate on the coast of the Persian Gulf, enclosed The coalition of US military forces and other nations easily defeated the Iraqi Army with minimal losses, proving the viability on a large scale of the all-volunteer military. Pre-2003 History The first Iraqi military forces established by the British were the Iraq Levies several battalions of troops tasked to guard the Royal Air Force bases After this brief war and the breakup of the Soviet Union, the U. S. military was used in a variety of roles throughout the remainder of the 1990s, including Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Somalia and other "hot spots". See also Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslavia ( Serbo-Croatian Somalia ( Soomaaliya; الصومال) officially the Somali Republic ( Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliya, جمهورية الصومال) and formerly known

War on Terrorism

Main article: War on Terrorism

After the September 11th terrorist attacks in 2001, U. The War on Terrorism (also known as the War on Terror) is the common term for the military political and legal, and ideological conflict and specifically for U S. military forces have been extensively engaged in the War on Terror. U. S. and NATO forces invaded Afghanistan in 2001; and in 2003, the U. Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF is the official name used by the U Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, S. and several other countries invaded Iraq. The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, the Occupation of Iraq, or the War in Iraq, is an ongoing Military campaign In both operations, U. S. forces comprise the vast majority of the soldiers and equipment. While the initial invasion of Iraq was swift and successful, the occupation quickly bogged down after the defeat of the conventional Iraqi forces, with daily violence and terrorist attacks. However, some milestones have been reached, such as the capture and execution of Saddam Hussein and democratic elections. Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti ( Arabic: ar صدام حسين عبد المجيد التكريتي --> April 28 1937 &ndash December 30

Personnel

In absolute dollar terms, the U. S. military budget is by far the highest of any country in the world. By 2008, with the US spending substantial sums in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, US national defense spending surpassed the combined spending of the rest of the world. [3]

The United States military is the second-largest in the world, after the People's Liberation Army of China, and has troops deployed around the globe. This is a list of countries sorted by the total number of active troops where the military manpower of a country is measured by the total amount of active troops within the command The People's Liberation Army ( PLA) ( is the unified Military organization of all land sea and air forces of the People's Republic of China. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National

In early 2007, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates proposed to the President to increase the overall size of the military by approximately 92,000 troops over the course of five years. Robert Michael Gates (born September 25 1943) is currently serving as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense. Specifically, the proposal calls for an Army troop cap of 545,000 to 550,000 active duty soldiers and a troop cap of 202,000 to 205,000 active duty Marines. The total active duty force of the United States after the buildup will be about 1,479,000. ^[7]

As in most militaries, members of the U. S. Armed Forces hold a rank, either that of officer or enlisted, and can be promoted. Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in Armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines An officer is a member of an armed force who holds a position of authority An enlisted rank in the Military of the United States is any rank below a commissioned officer.

Personnel in each service

As of October 31, 2007 (women as of September 2006) [4]

Personnel stationing

Overseas

As of December 2007, U. S. Forces were stationed at more than 820 installations in at least 39 countries. ^[8] Some of the largest contingents are:

As of May 5, 2007, there were about 160,000 U. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The United States Forces Japan ( USFJ, 在日米軍) refers to the various divisions of the United States Armed Forces that are stationed in Japan. South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː United States Forces Korea ( USFK) refers to the ground air and naval divisions of the United States Armed Forces stationed in South Korea. Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located S. troops in Iraq, according to Lt. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. Gen. Ray Odierno, the commander of day-to-day operations for Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, the Occupation of Iraq, or the War in Iraq, is an ongoing Military campaign ^[9] About 19,500 U. S. troops are engaged elsewhere throughout the Middle East, with the bulk in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF is the official name used by the U Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت,

Within the United States

Including U. S. territories and ships afloat within territorial waters

A total of 1,079,059 personnel are on active duty within the United States and its territories (including those afloat):^[10]

Types of Personnel

Junior Enlisted

Prospective servicemembers are recruited often from high school and college, the target age being 18 to 28 year olds. The term continental United States refers to the 48 contiguous states located on the North American continent south of the border with Canada plus the District The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent Guam ( Chamorro: cha Guåhån) officially the Territory of Guam, is an island in the western Pacific Ocean and is an organized unincorporated Puerto Rico (ˌpwertoˈriko officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ("Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico" {{lang-en|"Associated Free State of Puerto Rico"}} Military recruitment is the act of requesting people usually male adults to join a military voluntarily With parent/guardian permission, applicants can enlist at the age of 17 and participate in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP). The Delayed Entry Program, also mistakenly called the Delayed Enlistment Program is a program where individuals going into active duty in the United States Armed Forces enlist In this program, the applicant is given the opportunity to participate in locally sponsored military-related activities, which can range from sports to competitions (each recruiting station DEP program will vary), led by recruiters or other military liaisons.

After enlistment, new recruits undergo Basic Training (also known as boot camp in the Navy and Marines), followed by schooling in their primary Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) at any of the numerous MOS training facilities around the world. Recruit training is the initial Indoctrination and instruction given to new military personnel Each branch conducts basic training differently. For example, Marines send all non-infantry MOSs to an infantry skills course known as Marine Combat Training prior to their technical schools, while Air Force Basic Military Training graduates attend Technical Training and are awarded an Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) at the apprentice (3) skill level. The Air Force Specialty Code ( AFSC) is an Alphanumeric code used by the United States Air Force to identify an Air Force Specialty (AFS The terms for this vary greatly, for example, new Army recruits undergo Basic Combat Training (BCT), followed by Advanced Individual Training (AIT), while the Navy send its recruits to Recruit Training and then to "A" schools to earn a rating. Recruit training is the initial Indoctrination and instruction given to new military personnel United States Army Basic Training (also known as Initial Entry Training is a rigorous program of physical and mental training required in order for an individual to become Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below --> United States Navy ratings

Initially, recruits without higher education or college degrees will hold the paygrade of E-1, and will be elevated to E-2 usually soon after the completion of Basic Training (with a minimum of six months Time-In-Service). Different services have different incentive programs for enlistees, such as higher initial ranks for college credit and referring friends who go on to enlist as well. Participation in DEP is one way recruits can achieve rank before their departure to Basic Training.

There are several different authorized paygrade advancement requirements in each junior enlisted rank category (E-1 to E-3), which differ by service. Enlistees in the Army can attain the initial paygrade of E-4 (Specialist) with a full four-year degree, but the highest initial entry paygrade is usually E-3. Promotion through the junior enlisted ranks is generally noncompetitive, with promotions occurring upon attaining a specified number of years of service, a specified level of technical proficiency, and/or maintenance of good conduct.

Noncommissioned Officer

Main article: Non-commissioned officer

With very few exceptions, becoming a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in the United States military is accomplished by progression through the lower enlisted ranks. A non-commissioned officer (sometimes noncommissioned officer) also known as an NCO or Noncom, is an enlisted member of an Armed force A non-commissioned officer (sometimes noncommissioned officer) also known as an NCO or Noncom, is an enlisted member of an Armed force Unlike promotion through the lower enlisted tier, however, promotion to NCO is generally competitive. NCO ranks begin at E-4 or E-5, depending on serviceand are generally attained between three and six years of service. Junior NCOs function as first-line supervisors and squad leaders, training the junior enlisted in their duties and guiding their career advancement.

While by law considered part of the non-commissioned officer corps, senior noncommissioned officers (SNCOs) referred to as Chief Petty Officers in the Navy and Coast Guard, or staff noncommissioned officers in the Marine Corps, perform duties more focused on leadership rather than technical expertise. A non-commissioned officer (sometimes noncommissioned officer) also known as an NCO or Noncom, is an enlisted member of an Armed force Chief Petty Officer is a non-commissioned officer or equivalent in many naval services and coast guards. Promotion to the SNCO ranks (E-7 through E-9 in the Navy and Coast Guard; E-6 through E-9 in the Marine Corps) is highly competitive. Manning at the pay grades of E-8 and E-9 are limited by Federal law to 2. 5% and 1% of a service's enlisted force, respectively. SNCOs act as leaders of small units and as staff. Some SNCOs manage programs at headquarters level, and a select few wield responsibility at the highest levels of the military structure. Most unit commanders have a SNCO as an enlisted advisor. All SNCOs are expected to mentor junior commissioned officers as well as the enlisted in their duty sections. The typical enlistee can expect to attain SNCO rank at between 10 and 16 years of service.

Each of the five services employs a single senior enlisted advisor at departmental level. This individual is the highest ranking enlisted member within his respective service and functions as the chief advisor to the service secretary, service chief of staff, and Congress on matters concerning the enlisted force. The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses These individuals carry responsibilities and protocol requirements equivalent to general and flag officers. They are as follows:

• Sergeant Major of the Army
• Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
• Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
• Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
• Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard

Warrant Officer

Main article: Warrant Officer (United States)

Additionally, all services except for the U. The Sergeant Major of the Army is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Army. Origin In 1966, the opportunity was given to sailors in the Navy's two largest concentration areas Norfolk Virginia and San Diego California to Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (official abbreviation is SgtMajMarCor, sometimes informally abbreviated as SMMC or SgtMajMC) is a unique The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Air Force. Master Chief Petty Officers of the Coast Guard 1969-1973 BMCM Charles Calhoun 1973-1977 YNCM Philip F In the United States military, a Warrant Officer (grade W-1 to W-5 is ranked as an officer above the senior-most enlisted ranks as well as officer cadets and candidates but S. Air Force have an active Warrant Officer corps. In the United States military, a Warrant Officer (grade W-1 to W-5 is ranked as an officer above the senior-most enlisted ranks as well as officer cadets and candidates but Above the rank of Warrant Officer One, these officers may also be commissioned, but usually serve in a more technical and specialized role within units. More recently though they can also serve in more traditional leadership roles associated with the more recognizable officer corps. With one notable exception (helicopter and fixed wing pilots in the U. S. Army), these officers ordinarily have already been in the military often serving in senior NCO positions in the field in which they later serve as a Warrant Officer as a technical expert. Most Army pilots have served some enlisted time, it is also possible to enlist, complete basic training, go directly to the Warrant Officer Candidate school at Fort Rucker, Alabama, and then on to flight school. Warrant officers in the U. S. military garner the same customs and courtesies as commissioned officers. They may attend the Officer's club, receive a command and are saluted by junior warrant officers and all enlisted service members.

The Air Force ceased to grant warrants in 1959 when the grades of E-8 and E-9 were created. Most non-flying duties performed by warrant officers in other services are instead performed by senior NCOs in the Air Force.

Commissioned Officer

There are five common ways to receive a commission as an officer in one of the branches of the U. An officer is a member of an armed force who holds a position of authority S. military (although other routes are possible).

• Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
• Officer Candidate School (OCS): This can be through active-duty OCS academies, or, in the case of the National Guard, through state-run academies. ROTC links here For other uses see ROTC (disambiguation A Reserve Officers' Training Corps ( ROTC) ROTC produces officers in all branches Officer Candidate School or Officer Cadet School ( OCS) are institutions which train civilians and enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a commission
• Service Academies (United States Military Academy at West Point, New York; United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland; United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado; the United States Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut; and the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York. The United States Service academies, also known as the United States Military Academies, are federal academies for the undergraduate education and training of "USMA" redirects here For other uses see USMA (disambiguation The United States Military Academy (also known as USMA, The United States Naval Academy is an undergraduate college in Annapolis, Maryland, United States that educates and commissions officers of the United States The United States Air Force Academy ( USAFA or Air Force) is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officers for the United States Air The United States Coast Guard Academy ( USCGA) is the Military academy of the United States Coast Guard. The United States Merchant Marine Academy is one of the five United States service academies. )
• Direct commission - civilians who have special skills that are critical to sustaining military operations and supporting troops may receive direct commissions. Uniformed officers who serve on Active duty or in the reserves in many cases receive their commission through a Direct Commission Officer ( DCO These officers occupy leadership positions in the following areas: law, medicine, dentistry, nurse corps, intelligence, supply-logistics-transportation, engineering, public affairs, chaplain corps, oceanography, and others.
• Battlefield commission - Under certain conditions, enlisted personnel who have skills that separate them from their peers can become officers by direct commissioning of a commander so authorized to grant them. A battlefield commission is given to Enlisted Soldiers who are promoted to the rank of Commissioned officer for outstanding leadership on the field of This type of commission is rarely granted and is reserved only for the most exceptional enlisted personnel; it is done on an ad hoc basis, typically only in wartime. No direct battlefield commissions have been awarded since the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia The Air Force and Navy do not employ this commissioning path.

Officers receive a commission assigning them to the Officer Corps from the President (with the consent of the Senate). An officer is a member of an armed force who holds a position of authority The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives

Through their careers, officers usually will receive further training at one or a number of the many U.S. military staff colleges. Staff colleges (also command and staff colleges or war colleges) train Military officers in the administrative staff and policy aspects of their profession

Company grade officers (pay grades O-1 through O-3) function as leaders of smaller units or sections of a unit, typically with an experienced SNCO assistant and mentor. Field grade officers (pay grades O-4 through O-6) lead significantly larger and more complex operations, with gradually more competitive promotion requirements. General officers, or flag officers, serve at the highest levels and oversee major portions of the military mission. A flag officer is a commissioned officer who is senior enough to be entitled to fly a Flag to represent where he exercises command

Five Star Ranking

Main article: 5 star rank

These are ranks of the highest honor and responsibility in the armed forces, but they are not usually given during peacetime service:

• General of the Army
• Fleet Admiral
• General of the Air Force

No corresponding rank exists for the United States Marine Corps or the United States Coast Guard. An officer of 5 star rank is a very senior commander in many of the armed services holding a rank described by the NATO code of OF-10. General of the Army (GA is a five-star General officer and is the highest possible rank in the United States Army. Fleet Admiral of the United States Navy (FADM or more commonly referred to as Fleet Admiral, is a five-star Flag officer rank and is the highest possible General of the Air Force (GOAF is a five-star General officer rank and is the highest possible rank in the United States Air Force.

The rank of General of the Armies is considered senior to General of the Army, but was never held by active duty officers at the same time as persons who held the rank of General of the Army. General of the Armies (or in its full title General of the Armies of the United States) is the highest possible rank in the United States Army It has been held by two people: John J. Pershing who received the rank in 1919 after World War I, and George Washington who received it posthumously in 1976 as part of the American Bicentennial celebrations. John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB ( September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948) was an officer in the United States Army George Washington (February 22 1732 December 14 1799 served as the first President of the United States of America (1789&ndash1797 and led the The United States Bicentennial was celebrated on Sunday July 4, 1976, the 200th Anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence While it is unclear whether Pershing's acknowledged seniority to the World War II era Generals of the Army was due to his rank being superior or because his appointment was earlier, in Washington's appointment by Public Law 94-479, General of the Armies of the United States was established as having "rank and precedence over all other grades of the Army, past or present," clearly making it superior to General of the Army.

Other

Doctrines

• Full-spectrum dominance

Education and training

• United States military academies
• United States military staff colleges

People

• Awards and decorations of the United States military
• Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance
• TRICARE - Health care plan for the U. Full-spectrum dominance is a military concept whereby a joint military structure achieves control over all elements of the battlespace using land, air, maritime The United States Service academies, also known as the United States Military Academies, are federal academies for the undergraduate education and training of Staff colleges (also command and staff colleges or war colleges) train Military officers in the administrative staff and policy aspects of their profession Awards and decorations of the United States military are Military decorations which recognize service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance ( SGLI) is a Life insurance available to all Active duty members of the Uniformed services of the United States TRICARE, formerly known as the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services ( CHAMPUS) is the Managed care component of the United S. uniformed services

Lists

• List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces
• List of land vehicles of the U.S. Armed Forces

See also

See also the Uniformed services of the United States

References

External links

• Official U.S. DOD site
• United States Order of Battle
• Global Security on U.S. Military Operations
• Military News
• Today's Military website
• US Military ranks and rank insignia
• Defence Talk