United States Armed Forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States.[11] The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard.[12][13] All six armed services are among the eight uniformed services of the United States.[14]
Each of the different military services is assigned a role and domain. The U.S. Army conducts land operations, while the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps conduct maritime operations, with the Marine Corps specializing in amphibious and maritime littoral operations in support of the Navy. The U.S. Air Force conducts air operations, while the U.S. Space Force conducts space operations. The U.S. Coast Guard is unique in that it is a military branch specializing in maritime operations and also a law enforcement agency.[15][16]
The president of the United States is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and forms military policy with the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS), both federal executive departments, acting as the principal organs by which military policy is carried out.
The U.S. Armed Forces are one of the largest military forces in terms of personnel. They draw their personnel from a large pool of professional volunteers. Although military conscription has been used in the past, it has not been used in the U.S. since 1973. The Selective Service System retains the power to conscript males, and requires that all male citizens and residents residing in the U.S. between the ages of 18–25 register with the service.
The U.S. Armed Forces are considered the world's most powerful military.[17] The military budget of the United States was US$693 billion in 2019, the highest in the world.[18] In 2018, that accounted for 36 percent of the world's defense expenditures. The U.S. Armed Forces has significant capabilities in both defense and power projection due to its large budget, resulting in advanced and powerful technologies which enables a widespread deployment of the force around the world, including around 800 military bases outside the United States.[19] The U.S. Air Force is the world's largest air force, while the U.S. Army Aviation Branch is the second largest. The U.S. Naval Air Forces is the fourth largest air arm in the world and is the largest naval aviation service, while U.S. Marine Corps Aviation is the world's seventh largest air arm.[20] The U.S. Navy is the world's largest navy by tonnage.[21] The U.S. Coast Guard is the world's 12th largest maritime force.[22] The U.S. Space Force is the world's only active independent space force.[23][24]
History
The history of the U.S. Armed Forces dates back to 14 June 1775, with the creation of the Continental Army, even before the Declaration of Independence marked the establishment of the United States.[25] The Continental Navy, established on 13 October 1775, and Continental Marines, established on 10 November 1775, were created in close succession by the Second Continental Congress in order to defend the new nation against the British Empire in the American Revolutionary War.[26][27]
These forces demobilized in 1784 after the Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War. The Congress of the Confederation created the current United States Army on 3 June 1784.[25] The United States Congress created the current United States Navy on 27 March 1794 and the current United States Marine Corps on 11 July 1798.[26][28] All three services trace their origins to their respective Continental predecessors. The 1787 adoption of the Constitution gave Congress the power to "raise and support armies", to "provide and maintain a navy" and to "make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces", as well as the power to declare war. The President of the United States is the U.S. Armed Forces' commander-in-chief.[29]
The United States Coast Guard traces its origin to the formation of the Revenue Cutter Service on 4 August 1790, which merged with the United States Life-Saving Service on 28 January 1915 to establish the Coast Guard.[30][31] The United States Air Force was established as an independent service on 18 September 1947; it traces its origin to the formation of the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps, which was formed 1 August 1907 and was part of the Army Air Forces before being recognized as an independent service in the National Security Act of 1947.[32] The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps was formerly considered to be a branch of the United States Armed Forces from 29 July 1945 until 3 July 1952, and is now one of the eight uniformed services of the United States [33]
The United States Space Force was established as an independent service on 20 December 2019. It is the sixth branch of the U.S. military and the first new branch in 72 years.[34] The origin of the Space Force can be traced back to the Air Force Space Command, which was formed 1 September 1982 and was a major command of the United States Air Force.[35]
Structure
Presidential command over the U.S. Armed Forces is established in Article II in the Constitution whereby the president is named as the "Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States."[36] The United States Armed Forces are split between two cabinet departments, with the Department of Defense serving as the primary cabinet department for military affairs and the Department of Homeland Security responsible for administering the United States Coast Guard.[37]
The military chain of command flows from the President of the United States to the secretary of defense (for services under the Defense Department) or secretary of homeland security (for services under the Department of Homeland Security), ensuring civilian control of the military. Within the Department of Defense, the military departments (Department of the Army, United States Department of the Navy, and Department of the Air Force) are civilian led entities that oversee the coequal military service branches organized within each department. The military departments and services are responsible for organizing, training, and equipping forces, with the actual chain of command flowing through the unified combatant commands.[38]
The Joint Chiefs of Staff, although outside the operational chain of command, is the senior-most military body in the United States Armed Forces. It is led by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who is the military head of the armed forces and principal advisor to the president and secretary of defense on military matters. Their deputy is the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Other members include the chief of staff of the Army, commandant of the Marine Corps, chief of naval operations, chief of staff of the Air Force, chief of space operations, and the chief of the National Guard Bureau.[39] The commandant of the Coast Guard is not an official member of the Joint Chiefs, but sometimes attends meetings as the one of the military service chiefs. The Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman is the most senior enlisted member in the United States Armed Forces.[40]
Leadership of the Armed Forces, to include the president of the United States, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Homeland Security and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are members of the United States National Security Council, which advises the president on national security, military, and foreign policy matters.[41] The National Security Advisor, Homeland Security Advisor, and the Deputy National Security Advisor may also be members of the United States Armed Forces.[42][43] The National Security Council Deputies Committee also includes the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.[44] Military leadership, including the Secretary of Defense, United States Secretary of Homeland Security, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also sit on the National Space Council.[45]
Unified combatant command
Unified combatant commands are joint military commands consisting of forces from multiple military departments, with their chain of command flowing from the president, to the secretary of defense, to the commanders of the combatant commands. Each service organizes, trains, and equips forces that are then presented to the unified combatant commands through service component commands. Special Operations Command and Cyber Command also present theater special operations commands or joint force headquarters – cyber to other combatant commanders. Army components are typically dual-hatted as the joint force land component, Navy components are typically dual-hatted as the joint force maritime component, and Air Force components are typically dual-hatted as the joint force air component, with the theater special operations command dual-hatted as the joint force special operations component, and Space Force component typically dual-hatted as the joint force space component.[46]
| Name | Mission | Headquarters | Subunified commands | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) | Conducts U.S. military operations in Africa. | Kelley Barracks, Germany | |||
| U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) | Conducts U.S. military operations in the Middle East and Central Asia. | MacDill Air Force Base, Florida | |||
| U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) | Conduct U.S. military cyber operations. | Fort Meade, Maryland |
| ||
| U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) | Conducts U.S. military operations in Europe. | Patch Barracks, Germany | |||
| U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) | Conducts U.S. military operations in the Indo-Pacific. | Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii | |||
| U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) | Conducts U.S. military operations in North America and homeland defense operations. | Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado | |||
| U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) | Conducts U.S. military operations in Central America, South America, and the Carribean. | Doral, Florida | |||
| U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) | Conducts U.S. military operations in outer space. | Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado | |||
| U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) | Develops and employs special operations forces. | MacDill Air Force Base, Florida | |||
| U.S. Strategic Command | Conduct strategic deterrence, nuclear operations, nuclear command, control, and communications, joint electromagnetic spectrum operations, global strike, and missile defense operations.[47] | Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska | |||
| U.S. Transportation Command | Conduct globally integrated mobility operations. | Scott Air Force Base, Illinois | |||
Combat support agencies
Combat support agencies are Department of Defense agencies that have a combat support mission, involving providing support for operating forces engaged in planning for, or conducting, military operations, including support during conflict or in the conduct of other military activities related to countering threats to U.S. national security. This mission is focused on providing support to echelons at the CCMD level and below and may not encompass the full scope of the CSA’s mission.[48]
| Name | Mission | Headquarters | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) | Provide contract administration services for the Department of Defense.[49] | Fort Lee, Virginia | |
| Defense Health Agency (DHA) | Provide and augment medical capabilities for combatant commands.[50] | Falls Church, Virginia | |
| Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) | Provide, operate and assure command, control, information-sharing capabilities.[51] | Fort Meade, Maryland | |
| Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) | Provide military intelligence to warfighters, defense policymakers and force planners in the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community, in support of U.S. military planning and operations and weapon systems acquisition.[52] | Defense Intelligence Agency Headquarters, Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling, Washington D.C. | |
| Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) | Manages the end-to-end global defense supply chain.[53] | Fort Belvoir, Virginia | |
| Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) | Identify, develop, and field solutions to counter weapons of mass destruction and emerging threats.[54] | Fort Belvoir, Virginia | |
| National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) | Delivers geospatial intelligence to policymakers, military service members, intelligence professionals and first responders.[55] | Fort Belvoir, Virginia | |
| National Security Agency / Central Security Service (NSA/CSS) | Provides timely and accurate cryptologic support, knowledge, and assistance to the military cryptologic community.[56] Provide actionable signals intelligence and cybersecurity support to the Armed Forces.[57] | Fort Meade, Maryland | |
Service branches
The United States Armed Forces is composed of six coequal military service branches. Five of the branches, the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, United States Air Force, and United States Space Force are organized under the Department of Defense's military departments. The United States Coast Guard is nominally under the Department of Homeland Security, but may be transferred to the Department of Defense's Department of the Navy (which is the civilian entity that oversees the coequal U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy) at the direction of the president or congress. With the exception of the Coast Guard, the military services only organize, train, and equip forces. The unified combatant commands are responsible for operational control of non-service retained forces.
Each of the different military services is assigned a role and domain. The U.S. Army conducts land operations, while the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps conduct maritime operations, with the Marine Corps specializing in amphibious and maritime littoral opeations in support of the Navy. The U.S. Air Force conducts air operations, while the U.S. Space Force conducts space operations. The U.S. Coast Guard is unique in that it is a military branch specializing in maritime operations and also a law enforcement agency.[15][16]
U.S. Army
The United States Army (USA) is the United States Armed Forces' land force and is the largest and oldest service. Originally established in 1775 as the Continental Army, it consists of one million soldiers across the Regular Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard.[58] The Army serves as the Armed Forces principal land service, responsible for conducting land warfare operations.[59]
The U.S. Army is organized under the Department of the Army, which is a military department under the leadership of the secretary of the Army and under secretary of the Army. The U.S. Army itself is led by the chief of staff of the Army and vice chief of staff of the Army, both generals who are advised by the sergeant major of the Army.[60]
The Army's primary responsibility is to conduct prompt and sustained land combat as part of the joint force. Army landpower focuses on destroying an enemy's armed forces, occupying its territory, and breaking the will of an adversary.[61]
The five core competencies of the Army are:
- Prompt and sustained land combat
- Combined arms operations:
- Combined arms maneuver and wide area security
- Armored and mechanized operations
- Airborne and air assault operations
- Special operations
- Set and sustain the theater for the joint force
- Integrate national, multinational, and joint power on land[61]
The thirteen specified functions of the Army are:
- Conduct prompt and sustained combined arms combat operations on land in all environments and types of terrain, to include complex urban environments, in order to defeat enemy ground forces, and seize, occupy, and defend land areas.[62]
- Conduct air and missile defense to support joint campaigns and assist in achieving air superiority. This is conducted by the Army's Air Defense Artillery Branch, specifically by the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, and Army Space and Missile Defense Command.[62]
- Conduct airborne and air assault, and amphibious operations. The Army has primary responsibility for the development of airborne doctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures. Army airborne and air assault operations are conducted by the XVIII Airborne Corps, 11th Airborne Division, 82nd Airborne Division, 101st Airborne Division, and the 173rd Airborne Brigade.[62]
- Conduct civil affairs operations. Civil affairs operations are conducted by the United States Army Special Operations Command, predominantly under United States Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command and the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade.[62]
- Conduct riverine operaitons.[62]
- Occupy territories abroad and provide for the initial establishment of a military government pending transfer of this responsibility to other authorities.[62]
- Interdict enemy sea power, space power, air power, and communications through operations on and from the land.[62]
- Provide logistics to joint operations and campaigns, including joint over-the-shore and intra-theater transport of time-sensitive, mission-critical personnel and materiel. This is primarily conducted through the Army Logistics Branch, including the Quartermaster Corps, Ordnance Corps, Transportation Corps, and through Army Materiel Command's Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command.[62]
- Provide support to space operations to enhance joint campaigns, in coordination with the other military services (primarily the United States Space Force), combatant commands (primarily United States Space Command), and other U.S. government departments and agencies. Army space operations are conducted by Army Space and Missile Defense Command.[62]
- Conduct authorized civil works programs, to include projects for the improvement of navigation, flood control, beach erosion control, and other water resource developments in the United States, its territories, and its possessions, and conduct other civil activities prescribed by law. These are conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers.[62]
- Provide intra-theater aeromedical evacuation. These missions are flown by the Army Medical Service Corps and Army Aviation Branch.[62]
- Conduct reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition.
- Operate land lines of communication. This is primarily conducted through the Transportation Corps and Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command.[62]
Infantry
The Infantry Branch forms the core of the service's land combat power. U.S. Army infantry are generally equipped with the M4 carbine and M249 light machine gun, which will be replaced by the XM7 rifle and XM250.[63]
Infantry is a core part of the Army's Brigade Combat Teams. The most numerous variant, the Infantry Brigade Combat Team, comprise light infantry battalions who fight on foot. Infantry Brigade Combat Teams of the 82nd Airborne Division are air assault capable, with infantry soldiers being transported by U.S. Army Aviation UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters.[64] Infantry Brigade Combat Teams of the 11th Airborne Division, 82nd Airborne Division, and 173rd Airborne Brigade are capable of airborne operations, in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force's transport aircraft.[65] Finally, Infantry Brigade Combat Teams assigned to the 10th Mountain Division specialized in mountain warfare.[66] Standard Infantry Brigade Combat Teams are assigned to the 25th Infantry Division, which offers additional training in jungle warfare.[67]
Armored Brigade Combat Teams comprise mechanized infantry battalions mounted in the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle. Divisions with Armored Brigade Combat Teams include the 1st Infantry Division, 3rd Infantry Division, 4th Infantry Division, 1st Armored Division, and 1st Cavalry Division.[68] Stryker Brigade Combat Teams are centered around Stryker infantry battalions operating out of the Stryker. Divisions with Stryker Brigade Combat Teams include the 2nd Infantry Division, 4th Infantry Division, 11th Airborne Division, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, and 3rd Cavalry Regiment.[69]
United States Army Rangers with the 75th Ranger Regiment are an elite special operations infantry force in United States Army Special Operations Command, specializing in air assault and airborne infiltration methods. The three primary missions of the 75th Ranger Regiment are special operations raids, forcible entry operations, such as an airfield seizure to enable the Air Force to bring in more forces, and special reconnaissance.[70][71] As a special operations force, Army Rangers are generally better equipped than standard infantry, utilizing the FN SCAR rifle.[72]
Army Special Forces
Army Special Forces, commonly known as Green Berets after their iconic headgear, are among the most elite soldiers in the Army. Special Forces conduct unconventional warfare, enabling a resistance movement or insurgency to coerce, disrupt, or overthrow a government or occupying power by operating through or with an underground force in a denied area, foreign internal defense, training and equipping foreign allied military forces to defend against insurgency, subversion, terrorism, and other security threats, and security force assistance, training and developing the defense capabilities of friendly and developing nations. More direct missions include counterinsurgency, direct action, and special reconnaissance in hostile, denied, or diplomatically or politically sensitive environments, to collect or verify information of strategic significance.[73] Special Forces are trained military free-fall parachuting and combat diver skillsets.[74] Army Special Forces are considered the most versatile special operations force in the entire world, operating as a multi-purpose force since 1952.[75]
Armor and Cavalry
The Armor Branch traces its history back to the United States Cavalry, and are responsible for tank and cavalry reconnaissance operations.[76]
The U.S. Army fields the M1 Abrams main battle tank in Armored Battalions as part of Armored Brigade Combat Teams across the 1st Armored Division, 1st Cavalry Division, 1st Infantry Division, 3rd Infantry Division, and the 4th Infantry Division. Each Armored Brigade Combat Team also possesses a cavalry squadron equipped with M2 Bradleys for scouting and security. Styker Brigade Combat Teams from the 2nd Infantry Division, 4th Infantry Division, 11th Airborne Division, 2nd Cavlary Regiment, and 3rd Cavalry Regiment have a cavalry squadron equipped with Strykers. Infantry Brigade Combat Teams from the 10th Mountain Division, 11th Airborne Division, 25th Infantry Division, 82nd Airborne Division, 101st Airborne Division, and 173rd Airborne Brigade have a cavalry squadron equipped with the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.[77]
Field Artillery
The Field Artillery's mission is to destroy, suppress or neutralize the enemy by cannon, rocket or missile fire.[78] Rocket systems include the M142 HIMARS and M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System, which are corps-level asset found in field artillery brigades. Towed artillery includes the M119 howitzer in Infantry Brigade Combat Teams and the M777 howitzer found in both Infantry and Stryker Brigade Combat Teams. The M109 self-propelled howitzer is utilized in Armored Brigade Combat Teams.[79]
During the Cold War, Army field artillery was responsible for the service's ballistic missile programs, including the PGM-11 Redstone, which was the first large ballistic missile in the U.S. arsenal, the MGM-31 Pershing, and the Pershing II.[80] In 2023, the Army is intending to field the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon and has reestablished larger artillery formations like the 56th Artillery Command.[81][82][83]
Air Defense Artillery
The Air Defense Artillery is responsible for defending geopolitical assets and providing maneuver forces with the freedom to move on the battlefield by deterring the enemy and destroying aerial threats, missile attacks, and surveillance platforms.[84] Weapons employed by Air Defense Artillery include the FIM-92 Stinger man-portable air-defense system, AN/TWQ-1 Avenger, for short range air defense, and the counter rocket, artillery, and mortar 20mm gun system. The Iron Dome provides air defense against rockets, artillery, mortars, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles, while the MIM-104 Patriot is capable of defeating a wide range of threats including aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, ballistic and cruise missiles, and Weapons of Mass Destruction.[85]
The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense protects strategic critical assets by conducting long-range endo-and-exo-atmospheric engagements of ballistic missiles using the world’s largest air-transportable X-band radar. The Ground-Based Midcourse Defense is an anti-ballistic missile system operated by Army Space and Missile Defense Command to defend the United States homeland against an intercontinental ballistic missile attack.[86] Major Air Defense Artillery units include the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command and Army Space and Missile Defense Command's 100th Missile Defense Brigade.[87][88]
Air Defense Artillery has an extremely close relationship with the Air Force through its Air and Missile Defense Commands and the Space Force through Army Space and Missile Defense Command, given their shared missile defense and space roles. In 1962, Air Defense Artillery achieved the first intercept of a ballistic missile with a nuclear-tipped Nike Zeus and operated the Nike Zues as an anti-satellite weapon after completing a successful intercept in 1963.[89][90]
Army Aviation
Army Aviation, distinct from the U.S. Air Force and its predecessors, began as part of the field artillery in 1942. Small spotter planes were used to spot for artillery and naval bombardment, as well as to perform observation. These few aircraft formed the core of Army Aviation once the U.S. Air Force gained independence. In 1983, the Army created the Aviation Branch, for the first time since the Air Force's independence consolidating aviation under a single organization.[91]
The mission of Army Aviation is to find, fix and destroy any enemy through fire and maneuver and to provide combat support and combat service support in coordinated operations as an integral member of the combined arms team.[92] Major aircraft include the AH-64 Apache, which serves as the Army's attack helicopter, the UH-60 Black Hawk, and the CH-47 Chinook for troop and cargo transport. Army Aviation also flies the MQ-1C Gray Eagle drone.[93]
A specialized unit within Army Aviation, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) serves as a special operations unit and operates modified variants of the MH-60 Black Hawk, MH-47 Chinook, and the MH-6 Little Bird.[94]
Army Cyber Corps and Army Signal Corps
Established in 2014, the Army Cyber Corps is responsible for conducting cyberspace operations, electronic warfare, and information operations. The Cyber Corps was created by merging resources from the Army Signal Corps and the Military Intelligence Corps.[95] The Signal Corps is responsible for running the U.S. Army's communications networks.[96]
The Army Signal Corps was previously responsible for operating the Army's payloads on the Wideband Global SATCOM satellite through the 53rd Signal Battalion. In 2022, the Army transferred its mission to the Space Force's 53rd Space Operations Squadron, ending the Signal Corps' space mission.[97]
Army commands
The U.S. Army is organized into four major Army Commands, nine Army Service Component Commands, which serve as the Army component and joint force land component commanders for the unified combatant commands, and thirteen direct reporting units.[98]
| Name | Mission | Headquarters | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headquarters Department of the Army (HQDA) | Army service headquarters led by the chief of staff of the Army. | The Pentagon, Virgina | ||
| Army Commands | ||||
| U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) | Provides Army land forces to unified combatant commands.[99] | Fort Bragg, North Carolina | ||
| U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) | Provides technology, acquisition support, and logistics for Army land forces.[100] | Redstone Arsenal, Alabama | ||
| U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) | Recruits, trains, and educates Army soldiers and develops Army doctrine.[101] | Fort Eustis, Virginia | ||
| U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC) | Leads Army modernization efforts , including developing future force requirements, designing future force organizations, and delivering materiel capabilities.[102] | Austin, Texas | ||
| Army Service Component Commands | ||||
| U.S. Army Cyber Command (USARCYBER) | Integrates and conducts Army cyberspace, electromagnetic warfare, and information operations. U.S. Army component to United States Cyber Command. | Fort Gordon, Georgia | ||
| Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) | U.S. Army transportation and logistics command. U.S. Army and joint force land component command to United States Transportation Command. | Scott Air Force Base, Illinois | ||
| U.S. Army Central (USARCENT) | Army and joint force land component command to United States Central Command. | Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina | ||
| U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) | Army and joint force land component command to United States European Command and United States Africa Command. | Lucius D. Clay Kaserne, Germany | ||
| U.S. Army North (USARNORTH) | Army and joint force land component command to United States Northern Command. | Fort Sam Houston, Texas | ||
| U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) | Army and joint force land component command to United States Indo-Pacific Command. | Fort Shafter, Hawaii | ||
| U.S. Army South (USARSOUTH) | Army and joint force land component command to United States Southern Command. | Fort Sam Houston, Texas | ||
| U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC) | Army service component command to United States Strategic Command and United States Space Command. Also supports United States Northern Command by defending the United States from ballistic missile attack.[103] | Redstone Arsenal, Alabama | ||
| U.S. Army Special Operations Command | Army service component command to United States Special Operations Command | Fort Bragg, North Carolina | ||
U.S. Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps (USMC) serves as the U.S. Armed Forces' naval land force, responsible for executing amphibious warfare and operating in the maritime littorals in support of the U.S. Navy. Originally established in 1775 as the Continental Marines, the Marine Corps consists of the Regular Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Reserve.[104] The Marine Corps maintains a very close relationship with the U.S. Navy, its sister service in the Department of the Navy. Although the Marine Corps has previously operated as an independent land force alongside the Army, its primary purpose is to serve as part of a unified naval service alongside the Navy in the maritime domain.[105]
The U.S. Marine Corps is organized under the Department of the Navy, which is a military department under the leadership of the secretary of the Navy and the under secretary of the Navy. The U.S. Marine Corps itself is led by the commandant of the Marine Corps and the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, both generals who are advised by the sergeant major of the Marine Corps.[104]
The Marine Corps statutory mission is outlined in 10 U.S.C. § 5063 and as originally introduced under the National Security Act of 1947, with its three primary areas of responsibility including:
- Seizure or defense of advanced naval bases and other land operations to support naval campaigns;
- Development of tactics, technique, and equipment used by amphibious landing forces in coordination with the Army and Air Force; and
- Such other duties as the President or Department of Defense may direct.
The seven specified functions of the Marine Corps are:
- Seize and defend advanced naval bases or lodgments to facility subsequent joint operations.[62]
- Provide close air support for ground forces.[62]
- Conduct land and air operations essential to the prosecution of a naval campaign or as directed.[62]
- Conduct complex expeditionary operations in the urban littorals and other challenging environments.[62]
- Conduct amphibious operations, including engagement, crisis response, and power projection operations to assure access. The Marine Corps has primary responsibility for the development of amphibious doctrine, tactics, techniques, and equipment.[62]
- Conduct security and stability operations and assist with the initial establishment of a military government pending transfer of responsibility to other authorities.[62]
- Provide security detachments and units for service on armed vessels of the Navy, provide protection of naval property at naval stations and bases, provide security at designated U.S. embassies and consulates, and perform other such duties as the president or secretary of defense may direct. These additional duties may not detract from or interfere with the operations for which the Marine Corps is primally organized. Marine Corps Security Force Regiment is responsible for supporting the Navy with Marine security operations, while the Marine Security Guard protects embassies and consulates of the United States Department of State.[62]
Fleet Marine Force
The combat power of the Marine Corps is centralized in the Fleet Marine Force (FMF), which itself is organized into Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, to support the U.S. Navy's Fleet Forces Command, and Fleet Marine Force Pacific, which supports the U.S. Navy's U.S. Pacific Fleet.[105]
The basic Marine Corps unit for conducting operations is the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF), which combines Marine Corps and Navy land, air, sea, and cyberspace capabilities into a single command. There are three different sized variants of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force, but each consists of a command element, ground combat element, aviation combat element, and logistics combat element.[106]
A Marine ground combat element (GCE) is centered around Marine infantry, typically armed with a M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle.[107] Unlike the Army, the Marine Corps does not train their own combat medics, relying on the Navy to provide hospital corpsman.[108] These infantry units are supported by Marine Corps combat engineers, who conduct engineer reconnaissance, obstacle system emplacement, and breaching operations, and Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance teams. While the Marine Corps no longer operates its own tanks, opting to request support from the Army if needed, it maintains Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalions which operates the LAV-25 amphibious armored reconnaissance vehicle. Assault Amphibian Battalions operate the Assault Amphibious Vehicle and Amphibious Combat Vehicle, which enable the ground combat element to conduct amphibious landing operations.[109] Marine Corps artillery operates the M777 howitzer and the M142 HIMARS, both supporting the ground combat element and the Navy at sea by striking enemy ships. [110][111]
The Marine aviation combat element (ACE) is the operational arm of Marine Corps Aviation, working to support the ground combat element. The F-35B Lightning II and AV-8B Harrier II are flown by off of Navy amphibious assault ships, while the F-35C Lightning II and F/A-18 Hornet are flown off of Navy carriers by Marine Corps pilots. The Marine Corps also operates the KC-130J to serve as a tanker and tactical airlift platform. The UH-1Y Venom helicopter provides the Marine Corps with light transport and attack, while the AH-1Z Viper is a dedicated attack helicopter. Medium lift squadrons fly the MV-22 Osprey, while heavy lift squadrons use the CH-53K King Stallion. The Marine Corps has also begun flying unmanned aerial vehciles, such as the MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-8 Fire Scout. [112] Notably, the aviation combat element also includes Low-Altitude Air Defense Battalions, which employ the FIM-92 Stinger surface to air missile.[113]
The smallest MAGTF is the Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), which are typically forward deployed on Navy ships. Commanded by a colonel, a Marine Expeditionary Unit consist of 2,200 marines split across a battalion landing team (ground combat element), composite helicopter squadron (aviation combat element), and a combat logistics element (logistics element). Marine Expeditionary Units are supplied for 15 days.[106] Forward deployed Marine Expeditionary Units are often embarked on Navy amphibious assault ships as part of an amphibious ready group.[114]
The next sized MAGTF is the Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), which are organized for specific missions. Commanded by a brigadier general, Marine Expeditionary Brigades consist of 4,000 to 16,000 marines across a Regimental-sized ground combat element, a Marine Aircraft Group, and a Combat Logistics Regiment. Marine Expeditionary Brigades are supplied for 30 days and offer increased firepower and airpower over the Marine Expeditionary Unit.[106]
The largest MAGTF is the Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), which are primary warfighting forces for larger operations. A Marine Expeditionary Force is commanded by a lieutenant general and consist of 46,000 to 90,000 marines. Currently there are only three Marine Expeditionary Forces, each with its own Marine Division, Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Logistics Group, and Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group. Marine Expeditionary Forces are supplied for 60 days.[106]Certain elements are held at the Marine Expeditionary Force level, such as Force Reconnaissance. The MEF Information Group (MIG) also provides a number of functions, such as the intelligence battalion, radio battalion which conduct signals intelligence, electronic warfare, and cyberspace operations, communications battalion, the MEF support battalion, and the Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company.[115][116]
While not a MAGTF, the Marine Corps has begun to reorganize some of its regiments into Marine Littoral Regiments (MRL), which are similar in size to a Marine Expeditionary Unit. A Marine Littoral Regiment is a self-deployable force, designed to be naval in nature and operate in the littoral region. A Marine Littoral Regiment consists of a littoral combat team, a littoral anti-air battalion, and a combat logistics battalion. Notably, the Marine Littoral Regiment has no aviation combat element, unlike a Marine Expeditionary Unit.[117]
Another Marine Corps element that does not function as part of the MAGTF are the Marine Raider Regiment, who function under United States Marine Forces Special Operations Command. Marine Raiders specialize in specialize in direct action, unconventional warfare, maritime interdiction, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, counterterrorism, and counterinsurgency missions.[118]
Marine Corps commands
Under Headquarters Marine Corps, the Marine Corps is organized into the Fleet Marine Force, multiple commands, and Marine Corps service components to the unified combatant commands.
The United States Navy (USN) is the United States Armed Forces' maritime force. Originally established in 1775 as the Continental Navy, the U.S. Navy consists of the Regular Navy and the Navy Reserve. The Navy is the United States' principal maritime service, responsible for maritime warfare operations.[124]
The U.S. Navy is organized under the Department of the Navy, which is a military department under the leadership of the secretary of the Navy and the under secretary of the Navy. The U.S. Navy itself is led by the chief of naval operations and the vice chief of naval operations, both admirals who are advised by the master chief petty officer of the Navy.[124]
The five enduring functions of the Navy are:[125]
The nine specified tasks of the Navy are:
- Conduct offensive and defensive operations associated with the maritime domain including achieving and maintaining sea control, to include subsurface, surface, land, air, space, and cyberspace.[62]
- Provide power projection through sea-based global strike, to include nuclear and conventional capabilities; interdiction and interception capabilities, maritime and/or littoral fires, to include naval surface fires; and close air support for ground forces.[62]
- Conduct ballistic missile defense. This is executed through the Navy's Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System.[62]
- Conduct ocean, hydro, and river survey and reconstruction.[62]
- Conduct riverine operations. This is conducted by the Maritime Expeditionary Security Force and Naval Special Warfare Command.[62]
- Establish, maintain, and defense sea bases in support of naval, amphibious, land, air, or other joint operations as directed.[62]
- Provide naval expeditionary logistics to enhance the deployment, sustainment, and redeployment of naval forces and other forces operating within the maritime domain, to include joint sea bases, and provide sea transport for the Armed Forces other than which is organic to the individual military services, United States Special Operations Command, and United States Cyber Command. This is conducted by the Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group and Military Sealift Command.[62]
- Provide support for joint space operations to enhance naval operations, in coordination with the other military services (primarily the United States Space Force), combatant commands (primarily United States Space Command), and other U.S. government departments and agencies. U.S. Navy space operations are conducted by Navy Space Command.[62]
- Conduct nuclear operations in support of strategic deterrence, to include providing and maintaining nuclear surety and capabilities.[62]
The Naval Surface Forces (NAVSURFOR) is the backbone of the U.S. Navy's combat power, conducting surface warfare operations and operating its fleet of combat surface ships.[126]
The Naval Surface Forces operates eleven nuclear powered aircraft carriers (CVN), split between the Nimitz-class and the newer Gerald R. Ford-class. Aircraft carriers are the centerpiece of the U.S. Navy's combat power, forming the nucleus of its eleven carrier strike groups (CSG). Each aircraft carrier has an embarked carrier air wing from the Naval Air Forces.[127]
The Naval Surface Forces also operate 116 surface combatants. These include the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers, Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers (DDG) and Zumwalt-class stealth guided-missile destroyers. Cruisers and destroyers ofthen operate as part of a larger formations, where they serve as escorts for anti-aircraft and anti-submarine operations, but they also are able to conduct sea control and striker operations ashore with their tomahawk cruise missiles. The Navy also operates a complement smaller of Freedom-class and Independence-class littoral combat ships (LCS) that can be modularly reconfigured for specific mission sets.[128][129] Having lacked a frigate since the Oliver Hazard Perry-class was decommissioned, the Navy is in the process of acquiring the new Constellation-class guided-missile frigates (FFG).[130]
Finally, the Naval Surface Forces operate 31 amphibious warfare ships to support the Fleet Marine Force and its embarked Marine Air-Ground Task Forces as part of an amphibious ready group or expeditionary strike group. This includes the America-class landing helicopter assault (LHA) ships which can carry U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II fighters and helicopters, and Wasp-class landing helicopter dock (LHD) ships, which can carry both F-35B fighters, helicopters, and landing craft. These are in addition to the San Antonio-classs amphibious transport docks (LPD), and the Whidbey Island-class and Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ships.[131][132]
The Naval Submarine Forces (NAVSUBFOR) is often referred to as the "silent service," consisting of 68 commissioned submarines.[133]
Los Angeles-class, Seawolf-class, and Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines are capable of performing sea control mission by destroying enemy submarines and surface ships, conducting surveillance and reconnaissance, performing irregular warfare, covert troop insertion, mine and anti-mine operations, and land attack missions with tomahawk cruise missiles.[134]
Ohio-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) have the sole mission of being launch platforms for nuclear submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). Each carries 20 UGM-133 Trident II SLBMs. The Navy is currently in the process of procuring the Columbia-class SSBNs to replace the Ohio-class.[135] Some Ohio-class submarines have been converted to cruise-missile submarines (SSGN), capable of carrying 154 tomahawk cruise missiles and deploying 66 special operations forces personnel, such as Navy SEALs.[136]
The Naval Air Forces (NAVAIRFOR) is the Navy's naval aviation arm, centered around the carrier air wing. The core of the carrier air wing are the Naval Air Forces strike fighter squadrons (VFA), which fly the F-35C Lightning II stealth fighter and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. A variant of the F/A-18, the EA-18G Growler is an electronic-warfare aircraft flown by electronic attack squadrons (VAQ) off of carriers or land bases. The E-2 Hawkeye provides carriers with airborne early warning and command and control, while the C-2A Greyhound keeps carriers supplied. The CMV-22B Osprey is currently in the process of replacing the C-2 Greyhound for carrier resupply.[137]
The Naval Air Forces also operate the MH-60 Seahawk for anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, and search and rescue operations. The MH-53E is primarily used for anti-mine warfare, but can also be used for assault support.[137]
Although primally centered on carriers, the Naval Air Forces do operate a small number of land-based aircraft. These include the P-3C Orion and P-8A Poseidon, which conduct anti-submarine warfare operations and serve as maritime patrol aircraft, alongside the unmanned MQ-4C Triton. The E-6 Mercury is also flown by the Navy to communicate instructions to U.S. strategic forces.[138][137]
The Naval Information Warfare Forces (NAVINFOR) were created in 2009 to integrate the Navy's communications, networks, naval intelligence, oceanography, meteorology, cryptology, electronic warfare, cyberspace operations, and space elements into a single organization. The mission of Navy information warfare is to provide assured command and control, battlespace awareness, and integrated fires to achieve freedom of maneuver across all warfighting domains.[139]
In 2022, the Navy lost its only space operations unit when the Naval Satellite Operation Center, established in 1962, and its 13 Navy communications satellites transferred to the U.S. Space Force and became the 10th Space Operations Squadron.[140]
Naval Expeditionary Combat Forces, sometimes known as "sand sailors" operate ashore or in the littoral regions under Navy Expeditionary Combat Command.[141] Their purpose is to clear the battlespace of hazards to the navy, secure maritime terrain, sea liens of communication, and resources, build infrastructure, awareness, logistics chains, and partnerships, and protect the Navy's fleets, facilities, and forces.[142]
Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams are responsible for conducting countering explosive devices that may present a hazard and also are able to clear harbors of navigational hazards, engage in underwater search and rescue, and perform limited underwater repairs on ships.[143] The Maritime Expeditionary Security Force conducts operations in the littoral regions, including harbors, rivers, bays, and on land to provide maritime security operations. These include port and harbor security.[144] The Naval Construction Force, or Seabees, are Navy engineers, able to construct facilities in support of naval operations while also providing force protection.[145]
Naval Special Warfare are maritime special operations forces under Naval Special Warfare Command. These include the United States Navy SEALs and Special warfare combatant-craft crewmen. [146]
The U.S. Navy is organized into eight navy component commands, which command operational forces and serve as joint force maritime component commands, fifteen shore commands, which support the fleets' operating forces, five systems commands, which oversee the technical requirements of the Navy, and nine type commands, which administratively manage units of a certain type.
| Name | Mission | Headquarters | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) | Navy service headquarters led by the chief of naval operations. | The Pentagon, Virgina | ||
| Navy operating forces | ||||
| U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF) / U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command (NAVFORNORTH) | Trains, certifies, and provides Navy forces for naval, joint, and combined operations. Navy service component and joint force maritime component command to United States Northern Command and United States Strategic Command.[147]\ | Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Virgina | ||
| U.S. Pacific Fleet (PACFLT) | Navy service component and joint force maritime component command to United States Indo-Pacific Command. | Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii | ||
| U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) | Navy service component and joint force maritime component command to United States Central Command. | Naval Support Activity Bahrain | ||
| U.S. Fleet Cyber Command (FCC) / U.S. Navy Space Command (NAVSPACE) | Navy service component to United States Cyber Command and United States Space Command | Fort Meade, Maryland | ||
| U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) | Navy service component and joint force maritime component command to United States European Command and United States Africa Command. | Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy | ||
| U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO) | Navy service component and joint force maritime component command to United States Southern Command. | Naval Station Mayport, Florida | ||
| U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command (USNSWC) | Navy service component to United States Special Operations Command. | Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California | ||
| Military Sealift Command | Navy service component and joint force maritime component command to United States Transportation Command. | Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia | ||
U.S. Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the United States Armed Forces' air force. Originally established in 1947 when it gained independence from the U.S. Army, it traces its history back to through the United States Army Air Forces, United States Army Air Corps, United States Army Air Service, the Division of Military Aeronautics, Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps, to the birth of Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps on 1 August 1907. The U.S. Air Force serves as the principal air service, responsible for aerial warfare operations. The U.S. Air Force is composed of the Regular Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard. [148]
The U.S. Air Force is organized under the Department of the Air Force, which is a military department under the leadership of the secretary of the Air Force and under secretary of the Air Force. The U.S. Air Force itself is led by the chief of staff of the Air Force and vice chief of staff of the Air Force, both generals who are advised by the chief master sergeant of the Air Force.
The five core missions of the Air Force are:[149]
- Air superiority
- Global integrated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
- Rapid global mobility
- Global strike
- Command and control
The eight specified functions of the Air Force are:[150]
- Conduct nuclear operations in support of strategic deterrence, to include providing and maintaining nuclear surety and capabilities.
- Conduct offensive and defensive operations, to include appropriate air and missile defense, to gain and maintain air superiority and air supremacy as required, to enable the conduct of operations by U.S. and allied land, sea, air, space, and special operations forces.
- Conduct global precision attack, to include strategic attack, interdiction, close air support, and prompt global strike.
- Provide timely, globally integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability and capacity from forward deployed locations and globally distributed centers to support world-wide operations.
- Provide rapid global mobility to employ and sustain organic air and space forces and other military service and U. S. Special Operations Command forces, as directed, to include airlift forces for airborne operations, air logistical support, tanker forces for in-flight refueling, and assets for aeromedical evacuation.
- Provide agile combat support to enhance the air and space campaign and the deployment, employment, sustainment, and redeployment of air and space forces and other forces operating within the air and space domains, to include joint air and space bases, and for the Armed Forces other than which is organic to the individual military services and U.S. Special Operations Command in coordination with the other military services, combatant commands, and U.S. Government departments and agencies.
- Conduct global personnel recovery operations including theater-wide combat and civil search and rescue in coordination with the other military services, combatant commands, and DoD components.
- Conduct globally integrated command and control for air and space operations.
Combat Air Force
The Combat Air Force (CAF) comprises the majority of the Air Force's combat power, consisting of its fighter, bomber, intercontinental ballistic missile, and special operations forces. [151]
The Air Force's fighter forces are led by Air Combat Command's Fifteenth Air Force, with other fighter units under Pacific Air Forces and United States Air Forces in Europe. Air Force fighters are predominantly used to achieve air superiority and strike enemy ground and naval forces. The Air Force operates an expanding force of fifth-generation fighters. The F-22A Raptor stealth fighter is designed to replace the F-15C in air superiority operations carrying two AIM-9 Sidewinder and six AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles. It also has a significant air-to-ground mission, carrying two GBU-32 Joint Direct Attack Munition bombs, in addition to two AIM-9 and two AIM-120 missiles.[152] Ultimately, the F-22 is intended to be replaced by the sixth-generation fighter Next Generation Air Dominance program.[153] The F-22 is complemented by the more numerous F-35A Lightning II multi-role stealth fighter, which are in the process of replacing the F-16C fighters and A-10 attack aircraft in air superiority and ground attack roles, to include the nuclear strike mission.[154][155]
The Air Force still operates an extremely sizable force of fourth-generation fighters. The F-15C Eagle is a dedicated air superiority fighter, while the F-15E Strike Eagle was modified to be a duel-role strike fighter, carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons.[156][157] The F-15C Eagle and F-15E Strike Eagle are both being replaced by the F-15EX Eagle II, which is significantly more advanced.[158] The F-16C Fighting Falcon is a multirole fighter that served as the primary Air Force fighter for decades, including as a dual-capable tactical nuclear strike fighter.[159][160] The A-10C Thunderbolt II attack aircraft was the first Air Force fighter specifically designed for the close air support mission, operating against enemy ground forces and light naval ships with its GAU-8 Avenger gatling cannon and array of air to ground munitions.[161]
The Air Force's bomber forces are organized under Air Force Global Strike Command's Eighth Air Force, executing long-range strike operations. The B-2A Spirit stealth bomber is capable of conducting both conventional and nuclear strike operations, flying through air defenses.[162] The B-1B Lancer, to contrast, is a supersonic bomber that carries only conventional munitions and serves as the backbone of the bomber force.[163] Both the B-2A Spirit and the B-1B Lancer are being replaced by the B-21 Raider stealth bomber, which can be equipped with both conventional and nuclear munitions.[164] The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that the Air Force has flown since the 1950s and operates a variety of conventional and nuclear munitions, including the AGM-86 air-launched cruise missile.[165]
The Air Force's intercontinental ballistic missile forces are organized under Air Force Global Strike Command's Twentieth Air Force, serving as the land-component of the nuclear triad. The LGM-30G Minuteman III serves as the only ballistic missile operated by the Air Force, with 400 stationed in hardened silos.[166] The LGM-30G will be replaced by the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile.[167]
The Air Force's special operations forces are organized under Air Force Special Operations Command, consisting of both special operations aviation and Air Force special tactics airmen on the ground. The AC-130J Ghostrider gunships have the primary mission of close air support and air interdiction, using cannons and precision guided munitions.[168] The MC-130J Commando II, also a variant of the C-130 Hercules, fly exfiltration and resupply operations for special operations forces, along with conducting air to air refueling for helicopters.[169] The CV-22 Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft used for the infiltration and exfiltration of special operations forces.[170] While not under Air Force Special Operations Command, rescue operations are supported by the HC-130J Combat King II and HH-60W Jolly Green II combat rescue aircraft.[171] The MQ-9 Reaper also serves as remotely piloted intelligence and strike aircraft, serving under Air Force Special Operations Command and Air Combat Command.[172]
Air Force Special Tactics are the ground special warfare force of the U.S. Air Force, integrating air-ground operations. Special Tactics conduct four core missions. Global access teams assess and open airfields, ranging from international airports to dirt strips, in permissive or hostile locations to facilitate the landing and operation of air forces. Precision strike teams are trained to direct aircraft and other forces to conduct kinetic and non-kinetic strikes, as well as humanitarian aid drops. Special Tactics teams also conduct personnel recovery missions, possessing significant medical and rescue experience. Finally, Special Operations Surgical Teams conduct surgery and medical operations in battlefield operations in support of special operations.[173]
The Air Force also operates a wide array of reconnaissance aircraft under Air Combat Command's Sixteenth Air Force, including the RQ-4 Global Hawk drone, U-2 Dragon Lady, and RC-135 Rivet Joint. Air Force operations are typically supported by command and control aircraft, such as the E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system. The E-3 Sentry is in the process of being replaced by the E-7A Wedgetail.[174]
Mobility Air Force
The Mobility Air Force (MAF) are organized under Air Mobility Command and comprise the Air Force's airlift, air refueling, and aeromedical evacuation forces.[175]
The airlift forces operate three different major aircraft. The C-5M Super Galaxy is the largest aircraft in the Air Force, serving as a strategic transport aircraft.[176] The C-17A Globemaster III is the airlift forces most flexible aircraft, conducting both strategic and tactical airlift operations. It is also capable of conducting airborne operations for the Army and aerial resupply through airdropping cargo.[177] Finally, the C-130J Super Hercules is a tactical airlifter, conducting both cargo airlift and supporting Army airborne operations.[178] Other major airlift platforms include the VC-25, which serves as the personal plane of the president of the United States, better known as Air Force One.[179]
The Air Force also operates three major aerial refueling tankers. The KC-46A Pegasus is its most modern tanker, replacing the aging KC-10A Extenders.[180] The remaining tanker is the KC-135 Stratotanker, which has flown since the 1950s.[181] Tankers are also capable of conducting limited airlift operations.
Air Force commands
The U.S. Air Force is organized into nine major commands, which conduct the majority of the service's organize, train, and equip functions and command forces attached to the combatant commands as joint force air component commands.[182]
| Name | Mission | Headquarters | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headquarters Air Force (HAF) | Air Force service headquarters led by the chief of staff of the Air Force. | The Pentagon, Virgina | |
| Major Commands | |||
| Air Combat Command (ACC) | Primary provider of combat air forces to the unified combatant commands. Air Combat Command operates fighter, reconnaissance, battle-management, and electronic-combat aircraft.[183] | Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia | |
| Air Education and Training Command (AETC) | Recruits, trains, and educates airmen and develops Air Force doctrine.[184] | Joint Base San Antonio, Texas | |
| Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) | Operates the Air Force strategic bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile forces. Air Force component and joint force air component command for United States Strategic Command.[185] | Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana | |
| Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) | Manages installation and mission support, discovery and development, test and evaluation, and life cycle management services and sustainment for every major Air Force weapon system.[186] | Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio | |
| Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) | Manages Air Force reserve forces. | Robins Air Force Base, Georgia | |
| Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) | Organizes, trains, and equips air commandos. Air Force component and joint force air component command for United States Special Operations Command.[187] | Hurlburt Field, Flordia | |
| Air Mobility Command (AMC) | Primary provider of air mobility forces to the unified combatant commands. Air Force component and joint force air component command for United States Transportation Command.[188] | Scott Air Force Base, Illinois | |
| Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) | Air Force component and joint force air component command for United States Indo-Pacific Command. | Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii | |
| United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) | Air Force component and joint force air component command for United States European Command and United States Africa Command. | Ramstein Air Base, Germany | |
U.S. Space Force
The United States Space Force (USSF) is the United States Armed Forces' space force and is the newest military branch. Originally established in 2019, it traces its history through Air Force Space Command and the Western Development Division to 1954. The United States Space Force is the principal space service, responsible for space warfare operations.[189] The U.S. Space Force is composed of the Regular Space Force, not yet having organized a reserve component outside of the Air Force.
The U.S. Space Force is organized under the Department of the Air Force, which is a military department under the leadership of the secretary of the Air Force and under secretary of the Air Force. The U.S. Space Force itself is led by the chief of space operations and vice chief of space operations, both generals who are advised by the chief master sergeant of the Space Force.[190]
The five core competencies of the Space Force are:[191]
- Space security
- Combat power projection
- Space mobility and logistics
- Information mobility
- Space domain awareness
The five specified functions of the Space Force are:
- Provide freedom of operation for the United States in, from, and to space.[62]
- Provide prompt and sustained space operations.[62]
- Protect the interests of the United States in space.[62]
- Deter aggression in, from, and to space.[62]
- Conduct space operations.[62]
Other functions of the Space Force are executed by its deltas including:
- Space domain awareness, conducted by Space Delta 2, monitors all manmade objects in orbit from low earth orbit to deep space.[192]
- Space electromagnetic warfare, conducted by Space Delta 3, for offensive and defensive space control operations.[193]
- Missile warning, conducted by Space Delta 4, uses orbital spacecraft and ground-based radars to conduct theater and strategic missile warning for the United States and its international partners.[194]
- Command and control of space forces, conducted by Space Delta 5.[195]
- Cyberspace and space access, conducted by Space Delta 6, includes operating the Satellite Control Network and cyber defense operations.[196]
- Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, conducted by Space Delta 7 and Space Delta 18.[197]
- Operation of military satellite communications and the global positioning system, conducted by Space Delta 8.[198]
- Orbital warfare, conducted by Space Delta 9, for protect and defend operations and providing U.S. national decision authorities with response options to deter and, when necessary, defeat orbital threats.[199]
- Space launch operations, conducted by Space Launch Delta 30 and Space Launch Delta 45, out of Vandenberg Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Space Force commands
The Space Force is organized into three field commands and multiple component field commands, which serve as joint force space component commands for the unified combatant commands.[200]
| Name | Mission | Headquarters | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headquarters Space Force (HSF) | Space Force service headquarters led by the chief of space operations. | The Pentagon, Virgina | |
| Field commands | |||
| Space Operations Command (SpOC) | The Space Force's operations field command, conducting space operations, cyberspace operations, and intelligence operations. Space Force component and joint force space component command to United States Space Command.[201] | Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado | |
| Space Systems Command (SSC) | Conducts research, development, acquisitions, and sustainment of Space Force systems and conducts space launch operations. | Los Angeles Air Force Base, California | |
| Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) | Conducts Space Force training, education, doctrine development, and test. | Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado | |
| Component field commands and Space Force elements | |||
| U.S. Space Forces Indo-Pacific (USSPACEFOR-INDOPAC) | Space Force component and joint force space component command for United States Indo-Pacific Command.[202] | Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii | |
| U.S. Space Forces Central (USSPACEFOR-CENT) | Space Force component and joint force space component command for United States Central Command. | MacDill Air Force Base, Florida | |
| U.S. Space Forces Korea (USSPACEFOR-KOR) | Space Force component and joint force space component command for United States Forces Korea. | Osan Air Base, South Korea | |
| Space Force Element, National Reconnaissance Office (SFELM NRO) | Space Force component for the National Reconnaissance Office.[203] | Chantilly, Virginia | |
U.S. Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the United States Armed Forces' maritime security, maritime search and rescue, and maritime law enforcement force. It was first established in 1790 as the United States Revenue-Marine, and consists of the Regular Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Reserve.
Although it is always one of the six military branches, the Coast Guard is organized under the Department of Homeland Security under the leadership of the secretary of Homeland Security and the deputy secretary of Homeland Security. During time of war, the U.S. Coast Guard can be transferred to the Department of the Navy[204] The Coast Guard itself is led by the commandant of the Coast Guard and vice commandant of the Coast Guard, both admirals advised by the master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard.[205]
The Coast Guard has six major operational mission programs, through which it executes its 11 statutory missions:[206]
- Maritime law enforcement
- Maritime response
- Maritime prevention
- Maritime transport system management
- Maritime security operations
- Defense operations
Maritime law enforcement operations focus on protecting the United States maritime boarders and assuring its maritime sovereignty. The Coast Guard conduct operations to suppress violations of U.S. law at sea, including counter-illegal migration and transnational organized crime operations. Codified mission executed under the maritime law enforcement program include drug interdiction, migrant interdiction, living marine resources, and other law enforcement.[206]
Maritime response operations see the Coast Guard conducting search and rescue operations and rescuing mariners, responding to maritime disasters. Codified missions include search and rescue and marine environmental protection (response activities).[206]
Maritime prevention operations prevent marine casualties and property losses, minimize security risks, and protect the marine environment. The Coast Guard does so by developing and enforcing federal regulations, conducting safety and security inspections, and analyzing port security risk assessments. Codified missions include ports, waterways, and coastal security, marine safety, and marine environmental protection (protection activities).[206]
Maritime transport system management ensures a safe, secure, and environmentally sound waterways system. Codified missions include maintaining aides to navigation and ice operations.[206]
Maritime security operations includes activities to detect, deter, prevent, and disrupt terrorist attacks, and other criminal acts in the U.S. maritime domain. It includes the execution of antiterrorism, response, and select recovery operations. This mission performs the operational element of the Coast Guard's Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security mission and complements our Maritime Response and Prevention efforts. Codified missions include ports, waterways, and coastal security (response activities).[206]
Coast Guard Defense Operations deploys the Coast Guard globally under the Department of Defense's unified combatant commands, where they operate under the joint force maritime component commands. Codified missions include defense readiness. [206]
Coast Guard commands
The U.S. Coast Guard is organized into two area commands that cover the entire globe.[207]
| Name | Mission | Headquarters | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coast Guard Headquarters (USCG HQ) | Coast Guard service headquarters led by the commandant of the Coast Guard. | Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building, Washington D.C. | |
| Operating commands | |||
| Coast Guard Atlantic Area (LANTAREA) | Conducts Coast Guard operations east of the Rocky Mountains, to include the Atlantic Ocean, Carribean, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. | Coast Guard Station Portsmouth, Virgina | |
| Coast Guard Pacific Area (PACAREA) | Conducts Coast Guard operations west of the Rocky Mountains, to include the Indo-Pacific region. | Coast Guard Base Alameda, California | |
| Coast Guard Cyber Command (CGCYBER) | Conduct Coast Guard cyber operations and collaborate with United States Cyber Command.[208] | ||
Budget
The United States has the world's largest military budget. In the fiscal year 2019, $693 billion in funding were enacted for the DoD and for "Overseas Contingency Operations" in the War against Terrorism.[18] Outside of direct DoD spending, the United States spends another $218 to $262 billion each year on other defense-related programs, such as Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, nuclear weapons maintenance and DoD.
In FY2016 $146.9 billion was allocated for the Department of the Army, $168.8 billion for the Department of the Navy, $161.8 billion for the Department of the Air Force, and $102.8 billion for DoD-wide spending.[209] By function, $138.6 billion was requested for personnel, $244.4 billion for operations and maintenance, $118.9 billion for procurement, $69.0 billion for research and development, $1.3 billion for revolving and management funds, $6.9 billion for military construction, and $1.3 billion for family housing.[209]
Personnel
The U.S. Armed Forces is the world's third largest military by active personnel, after the Chinese's People's Liberation Army and the Indian Armed Forces, consisting of 1,359,685 servicemembers in the regular armed forces with an additional 799,845 servicemembers in the reserves as of 28 February 2019.[210]
While the United States Armed Forces is an all-volunteer military, conscription through the Selective Service System can be enacted at the president's request and Congress' approval, with all males ages 18 through 25 who are living in the United States are required to register with the Selective Service.[211] Although the constitutionality of registering only males for Selective Service was challenged by federal district court in 2019, its legality was upheld by a federal appeals court in 2020.[212]
As in most militaries, members of the U.S. Armed Forces hold a rank, either that of officer, warrant officer or enlisted, to determine seniority and eligibility for promotion. Those who have served are known as veterans. Rank names may be different between services, but they are matched to each other by their corresponding paygrade.[213] Officers who hold the same rank or paygrade are distinguished by their date of rank to determine seniority, while officers who serve in certain positions of office of importance set by law, outrank all other officers in active duty of the same rank and paygrade, regardless of their date of rank.[214] In 2012, it was reported that only one in four persons in the United States of the proper age meet the moral, academic and physical standards for military service.[215]
Personnel by service
2020 Demographic Reports [216] and end strengths for reserve components.[209][217][218][219][220][221][222]
| Component | Military | Enlisted | Officer | Male | Female | Civilian |
| U.S. Army | 481,254 | 387,974 | 93,280 | 465,784 | 69,345 | 299,644 |
| U.S. Marine Corps | 180,958 | 159,508 | 21,450 | 181,845 | 15,551 | 20,484 |
| U.S. Navy | 341,996 | 286,337 | 55,659 | 265,852 | 62,168 | 179,293 |
| U.S. Air Force | 329,614 | 265,369 | 64,245 | 270,462 | 50,750 | 174,754 |
| U.S. Space Force | 6,434 | 3,692 | 2,742 | |||
| U.S. Coast Guard | 42,042 | 32,782 | 8,239 | |||
| Total active | 1,347,106 | 1,137,916 | 236,826 | 1,219,510 | 210,485 | 681,232 |
| Army National Guard | 336,879 | 291,865 | 45,014 | |||
| U.S. Army Reserve | 190,699 | 153,064 | 37,635 | |||
| U.S. Marine Corps Reserve | 38,473 | 34,079 | 4,394 | |||
| U.S. Navy Reserve | 57,650 | 43,596 | 14,054 | |||
| Air National Guard | 106,549 | 91,274 | 15,275 | |||
| Air Force Reserve | 68,216 | 54,658 | 13,558 | |||
| U.S. Coast Guard Reserve | 6,142 | 5,086 | 1,056 | |||
| Total reserves | 807,562 | 673,622 | 130,986 | |||
| Other DoD personnel | 108,833 |
Rank structure
Rank in the United States Armed Forces is split into three distinct categories: officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel. Officers are the leadership of the military, holding commissions from the president of the United States and confirmed to their rank by the Senate. Warrant officers hold a warrant from the secretaries of the military departments, serving as specialist in certain military technologies and capabilities. Upon promotion to chief warrant officer 2, they gain a commission from the president of the United States. Enlisted personnel constitute the majority of the armed forces, serving as specialists and tactical-level leaders until they become senior non-commissioned officers or senior petty officers. Military ranks across the services can be compared by U.S. Uniformed Services pay grade or NATO rank code.[223]
Officer corps
Officers represent the top 18% of the armed forces, serving in leadership and command roles.[227] Officers are divided into three categories:[223]
- O-1 to O-3: Company grade officers in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force or junior officers in the Navy and the Coast Guard.
- O-4 to O-6: Field grade officers in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force or mid-grade officers in the Navy and Coast Guard.
- O-7 to O-10: General officers in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force or flag officers in the Navy and Coast Guard.
Officers are typically commissioned as second lieutenants or ensigns with a bachelor's degree after several years of training and education or directly commissioning from civilian life into a specific specialty, such as a medical professional, lawyer, chaplain, or cyber specialist.[228][229]
The United States Military Academy commissions officers into the United States Army.
The United States Naval Academy commissions officers into the United States Marine Corps and United States Navy.
The United States Air Force Academy commissions officers into the United States Air Force and United States Space Force.
The United States Coast Guard Academy commissions officers into the United States Coast Guard.
Officers are commissioned through the United States service academies, Reserve Officer Training Corps programs, and the Officer Candidate and Officer Training Schools. During a time of war, officers may be promoted to five-star ranks, with general of the Army, fleet admiral, and general of the Air Force the only five-star ranks currently authorized.[230]
Warrant officer corps
| NATO rank | WO-5 | WO-4 | WO-3 | WO-2 | WO-1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uniformed services pay grade | W-5 | W-4 | W-3 | W-2 | W-1 | |||||
| United States Army | ||||||||||
| Chief warrant officer 5 | Chief warrant officer 4 | Chief warrant officer 3 | Chief warrant officer 2 | Warrant officer 1 | ||||||
| United States Marine Corps | ||||||||||
| Chief warrant officer 5 | Chief warrant officer 4 | Chief warrant officer 3 | Chief warrant officer 2 | Warrant Officer 1 | ||||||
| United States Navy | ||||||||||
| Chief warrant officer 5 | Chief warrant officer 4 | Chief warrant officer 3 | Chief warrant officer 2 | Warrant officer 1 | ||||||
| U.S. Coast Guard | ||||||||||
| Chief warrant officer 4 | Chief warrant officer 3 | Chief warrant officer 2 | ||||||||
| NATO rank | WO-5 | WO-4 | WO-3 | WO-2 | WO-1 | |||||
| Uniformed services pay grade | W-5 | W-4 | W-3 | W-2 | W-1 | |||||
Warrant officers are specialists, accounting for only 8% of the officer corps.[227] Warrant officers hold warrants from their service secretary and are specialists and experts in certain military technologies or capabilities. The lowest-ranking warrant officers serve under a warrant, but they receive commissions from the president upon promotion to chief warrant officer 2. They derive their authority from the same source as commissioned officers but remain specialists, in contrast to commissioned officers, who are generalists. There are no warrant officers in the Air Force or Space Force.[223]
Warrant officers are typically non-commissioned officers before being selected, with the exception of the Army Aviation where any enlisted grade can apply for a warrant. Army Warrant officers attend the Army Warrant Officer Candidate School.[231]
Enlisted corps
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uniformed services pay grade | Special | E-9 | E-8 | E-7 | E-6 | E-5 | E-4 | E-3 | E-2 | E-1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States Army[224] | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman | Sergeant Major of the Army | Command sergeant major | Sergeant major | First sergeant | Master sergeant | Sergeant first class | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Specialist | Private first class | Private | Private | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States Marine Corps[225] | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman | Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps | Sergeant major | Master gunnery sergeant | First sergeant | Master sergeant | Gunnery sergeant | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private first class | Private | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States Navy[226] | Pending Approval | united, states, armed, forces, military, forces, united, states, armed, forces, consists, service, branches, army, marine, corps, navy, force, space, force, coast, guard, armed, services, among, eight, uniformed, services, united, states, emblems, armed, force. The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States 11 The armed forces consists of six service branches the Army Marine Corps Navy Air Force Space Force and Coast Guard 12 13 All six armed services are among the eight uniformed services of the United States 14 United States Armed ForcesEmblems of the U S Armed Forces service branchesFounded14 June 1775 247 years ago 1775 06 14 a Service branches U S Army U S Marine Corps U S Navy U S Air Force U S Space Force U S Coast GuardHeadquartersThe Pentagon Arlington County VirginiaLeadershipCommander in ChiefPresident Joe BidenSecretary of DefenseLloyd AustinSecretary of Homeland SecurityAlejandro MayorkasChairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffGEN Mark A Milley USAVice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffADM Christopher W Grady USNSenior Enlisted Advisor to the ChairmanSEAC Ramon Colon Lopez USAFPersonnelMilitary age17 with parental consent 18 for voluntary service b ConscriptionOnly males register at age 18 conscription inactive since 1973 Available formilitary service17 million 4 age 18 25 2016 Reaching militaryage annually2 million 5 2016 Active personnel1 328 000 6 ranked 3rd Reserve personnel799 500 7 ExpendituresBudgetUS 782 billion 2022 8 ranked 1st Percent of GDP3 42 2019 9 IndustryDomestic suppliersListForeign suppliers United Kingdom 10 Germany 10 Annual importsUS 8 904 billion 2010 2021 10 Annual exportsUS 115 5 billion 2010 2021 10 Related articlesHistoryMilitary history of the United States List of engagementsAmerican Revolutionary WarWhiskey RebellionIndian WarsBarbary WarsWar of 1812Patriot WarMexican American WarUtah WarCortina TroublesReform WarAmerican Civil War New York City draft riotsLas Cuevas WarSpanish American WarBanana WarsPhilippine American WarBoxer RebellionBorder WarWorld War IRussian Civil WarWorld War IICold War Puerto Rican Nationalist Revolts Korean War Second Taiwan Strait Crisis 1958 Lebanon crisis Dominican Civil War Bay of Pigs Invasion Cuban Missile Crisis Vietnam War Korean DMZ Conflict Operation Eagle Claw Multinational Force Lebanon Invasion of Grenada Operation Golden Pheasant Invasion of PanamaPersian Gulf WarSomali Civil War Operation Gothic Serpent Battle of MogadishuBosnian War Operation Deliberate Force Operation Deny FlightKosovo War Operation Allied Force1999 East Timorese crisisGlobal War on Terrorism Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan Philippines Horn of Africa Trans Sahara Iraq War Intervention against ISIL War in North West PakistanMilitary deployment after Hurricane KatrinaPakistan United States skirmishesOtherRanksCommissioned officer Army officer Marine Corps officer Navy officer Air Force officer Space Force officer Coast Guard officerWarrant officer Army warrant officer Marine Corps warrant officer Navy warrant officer Coast Guard warrant officerEnlisted Army enlisted Marine Corps enlisted Navy enlisted Air Force enlisted Space Force enlisted Coast Guard enlistedEach of the different military services is assigned a role and domain The U S Army conducts land operations while the U S Navy and U S Marine Corps conduct maritime operations with the Marine Corps specializing in amphibious and maritime littoral operations in support of the Navy The U S Air Force conducts air operations while the U S Space Force conducts space operations The U S Coast Guard is unique in that it is a military branch specializing in maritime operations and also a law enforcement agency 15 16 The president of the United States is the commander in chief of the armed forces and forms military policy with the Department of Defense DoD and Department of Homeland Security DHS both federal executive departments acting as the principal organs by which military policy is carried out The U S Armed Forces are one of the largest military forces in terms of personnel They draw their personnel from a large pool of professional volunteers Although military conscription has been used in the past it has not been used in the U S since 1973 The Selective Service System retains the power to conscript males and requires that all male citizens and residents residing in the U S between the ages of 18 25 register with the service The U S Armed Forces are considered the world s most powerful military 17 The military budget of the United States was US 693 billion in 2019 the highest in the world 18 In 2018 that accounted for 36 percent of the world s defense expenditures The U S Armed Forces has significant capabilities in both defense and power projection due to its large budget resulting in advanced and powerful technologies which enables a widespread deployment of the force around the world including around 800 military bases outside the United States 19 The U S Air Force is the world s largest air force while the U S Army Aviation Branch is the second largest The U S Naval Air Forces is the fourth largest air arm in the world and is the largest naval aviation service while U S Marine Corps Aviation is the world s seventh largest air arm 20 The U S Navy is the world s largest navy by tonnage 21 The U S Coast Guard is the world s 12th largest maritime force 22 The U S Space Force is the world s only active independent space force 23 24 Contents 1 History 2 Structure 2 1 Unified combatant command 2 2 Combat support agencies 3 Service branches 3 1 U S Army 3 1 1 Infantry 3 1 2 Army Special Forces 3 1 3 Armor and Cavalry 3 1 4 Field Artillery 3 1 5 Air Defense Artillery 3 1 6 Army Aviation 3 1 7 Army Cyber Corps and Army Signal Corps 3 1 8 Army commands 3 2 U S Marine Corps 3 2 1 Fleet Marine Force 3 2 2 Marine Corps commands 3 3 U S Navy 3 3 1 Naval Surface Forces 3 3 2 Naval Submarine Forces 3 3 3 Naval Air Forces 3 3 4 Naval Information Forces 3 3 5 Naval Special Warfare and Naval Expeditionary Combat Forces 3 3 6 Navy commands 3 4 U S Air Force 3 4 1 Combat Air Force 3 4 2 Mobility Air Force 3 4 3 Air Force commands 3 5 U S Space Force 3 5 1 Space Force commands 3 6 U S Coast Guard 3 6 1 Coast Guard commands 4 Budget 5 Personnel 5 1 Personnel by service 5 2 Rank structure 5 2 1 Officer corps 5 2 2 Warrant officer corps 5 2 3 Enlisted corps 5 3 Women in the armed forces 6 Order of precedence 7 See also 8 Notes 9 Citations 10 External linksHistoryMain articles Military history of the United States History of the Army Marine Corps Navy Air Force Space Force and Coast Guard The history of the U S Armed Forces dates back to 14 June 1775 with the creation of the Continental Army even before the Declaration of Independence marked the establishment of the United States 25 The Continental Navy established on 13 October 1775 and Continental Marines established on 10 November 1775 were created in close succession by the Second Continental Congress in order to defend the new nation against the British Empire in the American Revolutionary War 26 27 These forces demobilized in 1784 after the Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War The Congress of the Confederation created the current United States Army on 3 June 1784 25 The United States Congress created the current United States Navy on 27 March 1794 and the current United States Marine Corps on 11 July 1798 26 28 All three services trace their origins to their respective Continental predecessors The 1787 adoption of the Constitution gave Congress the power to raise and support armies to provide and maintain a navy and to make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces as well as the power to declare war The President of the United States is the U S Armed Forces commander in chief 29 The United States Coast Guard traces its origin to the formation of the Revenue Cutter Service on 4 August 1790 which merged with the United States Life Saving Service on 28 January 1915 to establish the Coast Guard 30 31 The United States Air Force was established as an independent service on 18 September 1947 it traces its origin to the formation of the Aeronautical Division U S Signal Corps which was formed 1 August 1907 and was part of the Army Air Forces before being recognized as an independent service in the National Security Act of 1947 32 The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps was formerly considered to be a branch of the United States Armed Forces from 29 July 1945 until 3 July 1952 and is now one of the eight uniformed services of the United States 33 The United States Space Force was established as an independent service on 20 December 2019 It is the sixth branch of the U S military and the first new branch in 72 years 34 The origin of the Space Force can be traced back to the Air Force Space Command which was formed 1 September 1982 and was a major command of the United States Air Force 35 StructurePresidential command over the U S Armed Forces is established in Article II in the Constitution whereby the president is named as the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States and of the Militia of the several States when called into the actual Service of the United States 36 The United States Armed Forces are split between two cabinet departments with the Department of Defense serving as the primary cabinet department for military affairs and the Department of Homeland Security responsible for administering the United States Coast Guard 37 The military chain of command flows from the President of the United States to the secretary of defense for services under the Defense Department or secretary of homeland security for services under the Department of Homeland Security ensuring civilian control of the military Within the Department of Defense the military departments Department of the Army United States Department of the Navy and Department of the Air Force are civilian led entities that oversee the coequal military service branches organized within each department The military departments and services are responsible for organizing training and equipping forces with the actual chain of command flowing through the unified combatant commands 38 The Joint Chiefs of Staff in December 2020 The Joint Chiefs of Staff although outside the operational chain of command is the senior most military body in the United States Armed Forces It is led by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who is the military head of the armed forces and principal advisor to the president and secretary of defense on military matters Their deputy is the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Other members include the chief of staff of the Army commandant of the Marine Corps chief of naval operations chief of staff of the Air Force chief of space operations and the chief of the National Guard Bureau 39 The commandant of the Coast Guard is not an official member of the Joint Chiefs but sometimes attends meetings as the one of the military service chiefs The Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman is the most senior enlisted member in the United States Armed Forces 40 Leadership of the Armed Forces to include the president of the United States Secretary of Defense Secretary of Homeland Security and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are members of the United States National Security Council which advises the president on national security military and foreign policy matters 41 The National Security Advisor Homeland Security Advisor and the Deputy National Security Advisor may also be members of the United States Armed Forces 42 43 The National Security Council Deputies Committee also includes the Deputy Secretary of Defense Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 44 Military leadership including the Secretary of Defense United States Secretary of Homeland Security and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also sit on the National Space Council 45 Unified combatant command Main article Unified combatant command Unified combatant commands areas of responsibility Unified combatant commands are joint military commands consisting of forces from multiple military departments with their chain of command flowing from the president to the secretary of defense to the commanders of the combatant commands Each service organizes trains and equips forces that are then presented to the unified combatant commands through service component commands Special Operations Command and Cyber Command also present theater special operations commands or joint force headquarters cyber to other combatant commanders Army components are typically dual hatted as the joint force land component Navy components are typically dual hatted as the joint force maritime component and Air Force components are typically dual hatted as the joint force air component with the theater special operations command dual hatted as the joint force special operations component and Space Force component typically dual hatted as the joint force space component 46 Name Mission Headquarters Subunified commands U S Africa Command USAFRICOM Conducts U S military operations in Africa Kelley Barracks Germany U S Central Command USCENTCOM Conducts U S military operations in the Middle East and Central Asia MacDill Air Force Base Florida U S Cyber Command USCYBERCOM Conduct U S military cyber operations Fort Meade Maryland Cyber National Mission Force U S European Command USEUCOM Conducts U S military operations in Europe Patch Barracks Germany U S Indo Pacific Command USINDOPACOM Conducts U S military operations in the Indo Pacific Camp H M Smith Hawaii U S Forces Japan U S Forces Korea U S Northern Command USNORTHCOM Conducts U S military operations in North America and homeland defense operations Peterson Space Force Base Colorado Alaskan Command U S Southern Command USSOUTHCOM Conducts U S military operations in Central America South America and the Carribean Doral Florida U S Space Command USSPACECOM Conducts U S military operations in outer space Peterson Space Force Base Colorado U S Special Operations Command USSOCOM Develops and employs special operations forces MacDill Air Force Base Florida Joint Special Operations Command Special Operations Command Africa Special Operations Command Central Special Operations Command Europe Special Operations Command Korea Special Operations Command North Special Operations Command Pacific Special Operations Command South U S Strategic Command Conduct strategic deterrence nuclear operations nuclear command control and communications joint electromagnetic spectrum operations global strike and missile defense operations 47 Offutt Air Force Base Nebraska U S Transportation Command Conduct globally integrated mobility operations Scott Air Force Base IllinoisCombat support agencies Main article combat support agency Combat support agencies are Department of Defense agencies that have a combat support mission involving providing support for operating forces engaged in planning for or conducting military operations including support during conflict or in the conduct of other military activities related to countering threats to U S national security This mission is focused on providing support to echelons at the CCMD level and below and may not encompass the full scope of the CSA s mission 48 Name Mission Headquarters Defense Contract Management Agency DCMA Provide contract administration services for the Department of Defense 49 Fort Lee Virginia Defense Health Agency DHA Provide and augment medical capabilities for combatant commands 50 Falls Church Virginia Defense Information Systems Agency DISA Provide operate and assure command control information sharing capabilities 51 Fort Meade Maryland Defense Intelligence Agency DIA Provide military intelligence to warfighters defense policymakers and force planners in the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community in support of U S military planning and operations and weapon systems acquisition 52 Defense Intelligence Agency Headquarters Joint Base Anacostia Bolling Washington D C Defense Logistics Agency DLA Manages the end to end global defense supply chain 53 Fort Belvoir Virginia Defense Threat Reduction Agency DTRA Identify develop and field solutions to counter weapons of mass destruction and emerging threats 54 Fort Belvoir Virginia National Geospatial Intelligence Agency NGA Delivers geospatial intelligence to policymakers military service members intelligence professionals and first responders 55 Fort Belvoir Virginia National Security Agency Central Security Service NSA CSS Provides timely and accurate cryptologic support knowledge and assistance to the military cryptologic community 56 Provide actionable signals intelligence and cybersecurity support to the Armed Forces 57 Fort Meade MarylandService branchesThe United States Armed Forces is composed of six coequal military service branches Five of the branches the United States Army United States Marine Corps United States Navy United States Air Force and United States Space Force are organized under the Department of Defense s military departments The United States Coast Guard is nominally under the Department of Homeland Security but may be transferred to the Department of Defense s Department of the Navy which is the civilian entity that oversees the coequal U S Marine Corps and U S Navy at the direction of the president or congress With the exception of the Coast Guard the military services only organize train and equip forces The unified combatant commands are responsible for operational control of non service retained forces Each of the different military services is assigned a role and domain The U S Army conducts land operations while the U S Navy and U S Marine Corps conduct maritime operations with the Marine Corps specializing in amphibious and maritime littoral opeations in support of the Navy The U S Air Force conducts air operations while the U S Space Force conducts space operations The U S Coast Guard is unique in that it is a military branch specializing in maritime operations and also a law enforcement agency 15 16 U S Army Main article United States Army 1st Armored Division infantry an M2 Bradley armored vehicle and AH 64 Apache attack helicopters as part of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve in Syria The United States Army USA is the United States Armed Forces land force and is the largest and oldest service Originally established in 1775 as the Continental Army it consists of one million soldiers across the Regular Army Army Reserve and Army National Guard 58 The Army serves as the Armed Forces principal land service responsible for conducting land warfare operations 59 The U S Army is organized under the Department of the Army which is a military department under the leadership of the secretary of the Army and under secretary of the Army The U S Army itself is led by the chief of staff of the Army and vice chief of staff of the Army both generals who are advised by the sergeant major of the Army 60 The Army s primary responsibility is to conduct prompt and sustained land combat as part of the joint force Army landpower focuses on destroying an enemy s armed forces occupying its territory and breaking the will of an adversary 61 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers parachuting from a U S Air Force C 17 Globemaster III transport plane The five core competencies of the Army are Prompt and sustained land combat Combined arms operations Combined arms maneuver and wide area security Armored and mechanized operations Airborne and air assault operations Special operations Set and sustain the theater for the joint force Integrate national multinational and joint power on land 61 101st Airborne Division soldiers conducting an air assault operation from CH 47 Chinooks in Afghanistan The thirteen specified functions of the Army are Conduct prompt and sustained combined arms combat operations on land in all environments and types of terrain to include complex urban environments in order to defeat enemy ground forces and seize occupy and defend land areas 62 Conduct air and missile defense to support joint campaigns and assist in achieving air superiority This is conducted by the Army s Air Defense Artillery Branch specifically by the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command and Army Space and Missile Defense Command 62 Conduct airborne and air assault and amphibious operations The Army has primary responsibility for the development of airborne doctrine tactics techniques and procedures Army airborne and air assault operations are conducted by the XVIII Airborne Corps 11th Airborne Division 82nd Airborne Division 101st Airborne Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade 62 Conduct civil affairs operations Civil affairs operations are conducted by the United States Army Special Operations Command predominantly under United States Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command and the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade 62 Conduct riverine operaitons 62 Occupy territories abroad and provide for the initial establishment of a military government pending transfer of this responsibility to other authorities 62 Interdict enemy sea power space power air power and communications through operations on and from the land 62 Provide logistics to joint operations and campaigns including joint over the shore and intra theater transport of time sensitive mission critical personnel and materiel This is primarily conducted through the Army Logistics Branch including the Quartermaster Corps Ordnance Corps Transportation Corps and through Army Materiel Command s Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command 62 Provide support to space operations to enhance joint campaigns in coordination with the other military services primarily the United States Space Force combatant commands primarily United States Space Command and other U S government departments and agencies Army space operations are conducted by Army Space and Missile Defense Command 62 Conduct authorized civil works programs to include projects for the improvement of navigation flood control beach erosion control and other water resource developments in the United States its territories and its possessions and conduct other civil activities prescribed by law These are conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers 62 Provide intra theater aeromedical evacuation These missions are flown by the Army Medical Service Corps and Army Aviation Branch 62 Conduct reconnaissance surveillance and target acquisition Operate land lines of communication This is primarily conducted through the Transportation Corps and Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command 62 Infantry Main article Infantry Branch United States U S Army 2nd Cavalry Regiment soldiers providing security in Zabul Province Afghanistan during the War in Afghanistan The Infantry Branch forms the core of the service s land combat power U S Army infantry are generally equipped with the M4 carbine and M249 light machine gun which will be replaced by the XM7 rifle and XM250 63 Infantry is a core part of the Army s Brigade Combat Teams The most numerous variant the Infantry Brigade Combat Team comprise light infantry battalions who fight on foot Infantry Brigade Combat Teams of the 82nd Airborne Division are air assault capable with infantry soldiers being transported by U S Army Aviation UH 60 Black Hawk and CH 47 Chinook helicopters 64 Infantry Brigade Combat Teams of the 11th Airborne Division 82nd Airborne Division and 173rd Airborne Brigade are capable of airborne operations in cooperation with the U S Air Force s transport aircraft 65 Finally Infantry Brigade Combat Teams assigned to the 10th Mountain Division specialized in mountain warfare 66 Standard Infantry Brigade Combat Teams are assigned to the 25th Infantry Division which offers additional training in jungle warfare 67 Armored Brigade Combat Teams comprise mechanized infantry battalions mounted in the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle Divisions with Armored Brigade Combat Teams include the 1st Infantry Division 3rd Infantry Division 4th Infantry Division 1st Armored Division and 1st Cavalry Division 68 Stryker Brigade Combat Teams are centered around Stryker infantry battalions operating out of the Stryker Divisions with Stryker Brigade Combat Teams include the 2nd Infantry Division 4th Infantry Division 11th Airborne Division 2nd Cavalry Regiment and 3rd Cavalry Regiment 69 United States Army Rangers with the 75th Ranger Regiment are an elite special operations infantry force in United States Army Special Operations Command specializing in air assault and airborne infiltration methods The three primary missions of the 75th Ranger Regiment are special operations raids forcible entry operations such as an airfield seizure to enable the Air Force to bring in more forces and special reconnaissance 70 71 As a special operations force Army Rangers are generally better equipped than standard infantry utilizing the FN SCAR rifle 72 Army Special Forces Main article United States Army Special Forces A U S Army Special Forces team during a counterterrorism training exercise in Qatar Army Special Forces commonly known as Green Berets after their iconic headgear are among the most elite soldiers in the Army Special Forces conduct unconventional warfare enabling a resistance movement or insurgency to coerce disrupt or overthrow a government or occupying power by operating through or with an underground force in a denied area foreign internal defense training and equipping foreign allied military forces to defend against insurgency subversion terrorism and other security threats and security force assistance training and developing the defense capabilities of friendly and developing nations More direct missions include counterinsurgency direct action and special reconnaissance in hostile denied or diplomatically or politically sensitive environments to collect or verify information of strategic significance 73 Special Forces are trained military free fall parachuting and combat diver skillsets 74 Army Special Forces are considered the most versatile special operations force in the entire world operating as a multi purpose force since 1952 75 Armor and Cavalry Main article Armor Branch 1st Cavalry Division M1 Abrams tanks during a training exercise in Germany The Armor Branch traces its history back to the United States Cavalry and are responsible for tank and cavalry reconnaissance operations 76 The U S Army fields the M1 Abrams main battle tank in Armored Battalions as part of Armored Brigade Combat Teams across the 1st Armored Division 1st Cavalry Division 1st Infantry Division 3rd Infantry Division and the 4th Infantry Division Each Armored Brigade Combat Team also possesses a cavalry squadron equipped with M2 Bradleys for scouting and security Styker Brigade Combat Teams from the 2nd Infantry Division 4th Infantry Division 11th Airborne Division 2nd Cavlary Regiment and 3rd Cavalry Regiment have a cavalry squadron equipped with Strykers Infantry Brigade Combat Teams from the 10th Mountain Division 11th Airborne Division 25th Infantry Division 82nd Airborne Division 101st Airborne Division and 173rd Airborne Brigade have a cavalry squadron equipped with the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle 77 Field Artillery Main article Field Artillery Branch United States M142 HIMARS from the 5th Battalion 3rd Field Artillery Regiment The Field Artillery s mission is to destroy suppress or neutralize the enemy by cannon rocket or missile fire 78 Rocket systems include the M142 HIMARS and M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System which are corps level asset found in field artillery brigades Towed artillery includes the M119 howitzer in Infantry Brigade Combat Teams and the M777 howitzer found in both Infantry and Stryker Brigade Combat Teams The M109 self propelled howitzer is utilized in Armored Brigade Combat Teams 79 During the Cold War Army field artillery was responsible for the service s ballistic missile programs including the PGM 11 Redstone which was the first large ballistic missile in the U S arsenal the MGM 31 Pershing and the Pershing II 80 In 2023 the Army is intending to field the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon and has reestablished larger artillery formations like the 56th Artillery Command 81 82 83 Air Defense Artillery Main article Air Defense Artillery Branch An MIM 104 Patriot missile battery in Alaska operated by the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade The Air Defense Artillery is responsible for defending geopolitical assets and providing maneuver forces with the freedom to move on the battlefield by deterring the enemy and destroying aerial threats missile attacks and surveillance platforms 84 Weapons employed by Air Defense Artillery include the FIM 92 Stinger man portable air defense system AN TWQ 1 Avenger for short range air defense and the counter rocket artillery and mortar 20mm gun system The Iron Dome provides air defense against rockets artillery mortars missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles while the MIM 104 Patriot is capable of defeating a wide range of threats including aircraft helicopters UAVs ballistic and cruise missiles and Weapons of Mass Destruction 85 The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense protects strategic critical assets by conducting long range endo and exo atmospheric engagements of ballistic missiles using the world s largest air transportable X band radar The Ground Based Midcourse Defense is an anti ballistic missile system operated by Army Space and Missile Defense Command to defend the United States homeland against an intercontinental ballistic missile attack 86 Major Air Defense Artillery units include the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command and Army Space and Missile Defense Command s 100th Missile Defense Brigade 87 88 Air Defense Artillery has an extremely close relationship with the Air Force through its Air and Missile Defense Commands and the Space Force through Army Space and Missile Defense Command given their shared missile defense and space roles In 1962 Air Defense Artillery achieved the first intercept of a ballistic missile with a nuclear tipped Nike Zeus and operated the Nike Zues as an anti satellite weapon after completing a successful intercept in 1963 89 90 Army Aviation Main article United States Army Aviation Branch Formation of UH 60 Blackhawks with the 1st Cavalry Division Army Aviation distinct from the U S Air Force and its predecessors began as part of the field artillery in 1942 Small spotter planes were used to spot for artillery and naval bombardment as well as to perform observation These few aircraft formed the core of Army Aviation once the U S Air Force gained independence In 1983 the Army created the Aviation Branch for the first time since the Air Force s independence consolidating aviation under a single organization 91 The mission of Army Aviation is to find fix and destroy any enemy through fire and maneuver and to provide combat support and combat service support in coordinated operations as an integral member of the combined arms team 92 Major aircraft include the AH 64 Apache which serves as the Army s attack helicopter the UH 60 Black Hawk and the CH 47 Chinook for troop and cargo transport Army Aviation also flies the MQ 1C Gray Eagle drone 93 A specialized unit within Army Aviation the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment Airborne serves as a special operations unit and operates modified variants of the MH 60 Black Hawk MH 47 Chinook and the MH 6 Little Bird 94 Army Cyber Corps and Army Signal Corps Main articles Cyber Corps United States Army and United States Army Signal Corps Soldiers with the 1st Space Brigade conducting a training exercise Established in 2014 the Army Cyber Corps is responsible for conducting cyberspace operations electronic warfare and information operations The Cyber Corps was created by merging resources from the Army Signal Corps and the Military Intelligence Corps 95 The Signal Corps is responsible for running the U S Army s communications networks 96 The Army Signal Corps was previously responsible for operating the Army s payloads on the Wideband Global SATCOM satellite through the 53rd Signal Battalion In 2022 the Army transferred its mission to the Space Force s 53rd Space Operations Squadron ending the Signal Corps space mission 97 Army commands The U S Army is organized into four major Army Commands nine Army Service Component Commands which serve as the Army component and joint force land component commanders for the unified combatant commands and thirteen direct reporting units 98 Name Mission Headquarters Headquarters Department of the Army HQDA Army service headquarters led by the chief of staff of the Army The Pentagon VirginaArmy Commands U S Army Forces Command FORSCOM Provides Army land forces to unified combatant commands 99 Fort Bragg North Carolina U S Army Materiel Command AMC Provides technology acquisition support and logistics for Army land forces 100 Redstone Arsenal Alabama U S Army Training and Doctrine Command TRADOC Recruits trains and educates Army soldiers and develops Army doctrine 101 Fort Eustis Virginia U S Army Futures Command AFC Leads Army modernization efforts including developing future force requirements designing future force organizations and delivering materiel capabilities 102 Austin TexasArmy Service Component Commands U S Army Cyber Command USARCYBER Integrates and conducts Army cyberspace electromagnetic warfare and information operations U S Army component to United States Cyber Command Fort Gordon Georgia Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command SDDC U S Army transportation and logistics command U S Army and joint force land component command to United States Transportation Command Scott Air Force Base Illinois U S Army Central USARCENT Army and joint force land component command to United States Central Command Shaw Air Force Base South Carolina U S Army Europe and Africa USAREUR AF Army and joint force land component command to United States European Command and United States Africa Command Lucius D Clay Kaserne Germany U S Army North USARNORTH Army and joint force land component command to United States Northern Command Fort Sam Houston Texas U S Army Pacific USARPAC Army and joint force land component command to United States Indo Pacific Command Fort Shafter Hawaii U S Army South USARSOUTH Army and joint force land component command to United States Southern Command Fort Sam Houston Texas U S Army Space and Missile Defense Command USASMDC Army service component command to United States Strategic Command and United States Space Command Also supports United States Northern Command by defending the United States from ballistic missile attack 103 Redstone Arsenal Alabama U S Army Special Operations Command Army service component command to United States Special Operations Command Fort Bragg North CarolinaU S Marine Corps Main article United States Marine Corps 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit Marines during a simulated amphibious assault operation The United States Marine Corps USMC serves as the U S Armed Forces naval land force responsible for executing amphibious warfare and operating in the maritime littorals in support of the U S Navy Originally established in 1775 as the Continental Marines the Marine Corps consists of the Regular Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Reserve 104 The Marine Corps maintains a very close relationship with the U S Navy its sister service in the Department of the Navy Although the Marine Corps has previously operated as an independent land force alongside the Army its primary purpose is to serve as part of a unified naval service alongside the Navy in the maritime domain 105 The U S Marine Corps is organized under the Department of the Navy which is a military department under the leadership of the secretary of the Navy and the under secretary of the Navy The U S Marine Corps itself is led by the commandant of the Marine Corps and the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps both generals who are advised by the sergeant major of the Marine Corps 104 The Marine Corps statutory mission is outlined in 10 U S C 5063 and as originally introduced under the National Security Act of 1947 with its three primary areas of responsibility including Seizure or defense of advanced naval bases and other land operations to support naval campaigns Development of tactics technique and equipment used by amphibious landing forces in coordination with the Army and Air Force and Such other duties as the President or Department of Defense may direct A 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit AH 1Z Viper flying over the USS Anchorage LPD 23 The seven specified functions of the Marine Corps are Seize and defend advanced naval bases or lodgments to facility subsequent joint operations 62 Provide close air support for ground forces 62 Conduct land and air operations essential to the prosecution of a naval campaign or as directed 62 Conduct complex expeditionary operations in the urban littorals and other challenging environments 62 Conduct amphibious operations including engagement crisis response and power projection operations to assure access The Marine Corps has primary responsibility for the development of amphibious doctrine tactics techniques and equipment 62 Conduct security and stability operations and assist with the initial establishment of a military government pending transfer of responsibility to other authorities 62 Provide security detachments and units for service on armed vessels of the Navy provide protection of naval property at naval stations and bases provide security at designated U S embassies and consulates and perform other such duties as the president or secretary of defense may direct These additional duties may not detract from or interfere with the operations for which the Marine Corps is primally organized Marine Corps Security Force Regiment is responsible for supporting the Navy with Marine security operations while the Marine Security Guard protects embassies and consulates of the United States Department of State 62 Fleet Marine Force Main article Fleet Marine Force Four Marine Corps F 35B Lightning II stealth fighters flying over the USS America LHA 6 The combat power of the Marine Corps is centralized in the Fleet Marine Force FMF which itself is organized into Fleet Marine Force Atlantic to support the U S Navy s Fleet Forces Command and Fleet Marine Force Pacific which supports the U S Navy s U S Pacific Fleet 105 The basic Marine Corps unit for conducting operations is the Marine Air Ground Task Force MAGTF which combines Marine Corps and Navy land air sea and cyberspace capabilities into a single command There are three different sized variants of a Marine Air Ground Task Force but each consists of a command element ground combat element aviation combat element and logistics combat element 106 A Marine ground combat element GCE is centered around Marine infantry typically armed with a M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle 107 Unlike the Army the Marine Corps does not train their own combat medics relying on the Navy to provide hospital corpsman 108 These infantry units are supported by Marine Corps combat engineers who conduct engineer reconnaissance obstacle system emplacement and breaching operations and Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance teams While the Marine Corps no longer operates its own tanks opting to request support from the Army if needed it maintains Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalions which operates the LAV 25 amphibious armored reconnaissance vehicle Assault Amphibian Battalions operate the Assault Amphibious Vehicle and Amphibious Combat Vehicle which enable the ground combat element to conduct amphibious landing operations 109 Marine Corps artillery operates the M777 howitzer and the M142 HIMARS both supporting the ground combat element and the Navy at sea by striking enemy ships 110 111 MV 22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft from VMX 22 taking off from the USS Wasp LHD 1 The Marine aviation combat element ACE is the operational arm of Marine Corps Aviation working to support the ground combat element The F 35B Lightning II and AV 8B Harrier II are flown by off of Navy amphibious assault ships while the F 35C Lightning II and F A 18 Hornet are flown off of Navy carriers by Marine Corps pilots The Marine Corps also operates the KC 130J to serve as a tanker and tactical airlift platform The UH 1Y Venom helicopter provides the Marine Corps with light transport and attack while the AH 1Z Viper is a dedicated attack helicopter Medium lift squadrons fly the MV 22 Osprey while heavy lift squadrons use the CH 53K King Stallion The Marine Corps has also begun flying unmanned aerial vehciles such as the MQ 9 Reaper and MQ 8 Fire Scout 112 Notably the aviation combat element also includes Low Altitude Air Defense Battalions which employ the FIM 92 Stinger surface to air missile 113 The smallest MAGTF is the Marine Expeditionary Unit MEU which are typically forward deployed on Navy ships Commanded by a colonel a Marine Expeditionary Unit consist of 2 200 marines split across a battalion landing team ground combat element composite helicopter squadron aviation combat element and a combat logistics element logistics element Marine Expeditionary Units are supplied for 15 days 106 Forward deployed Marine Expeditionary Units are often embarked on Navy amphibious assault ships as part of an amphibious ready group 114 The next sized MAGTF is the Marine Expeditionary Brigade MEB which are organized for specific missions Commanded by a brigadier general Marine Expeditionary Brigades consist of 4 000 to 16 000 marines across a Regimental sized ground combat element a Marine Aircraft Group and a Combat Logistics Regiment Marine Expeditionary Brigades are supplied for 30 days and offer increased firepower and airpower over the Marine Expeditionary Unit 106 The largest MAGTF is the Marine Expeditionary Force MEF which are primary warfighting forces for larger operations A Marine Expeditionary Force is commanded by a lieutenant general and consist of 46 000 to 90 000 marines Currently there are only three Marine Expeditionary Forces each with its own Marine Division Marine Aircraft Wing Marine Logistics Group and Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group Marine Expeditionary Forces are supplied for 60 days 106 Certain elements are held at the Marine Expeditionary Force level such as Force Reconnaissance The MEF Information Group MIG also provides a number of functions such as the intelligence battalion radio battalion which conduct signals intelligence electronic warfare and cyberspace operations communications battalion the MEF support battalion and the Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company 115 116 Marine Raiders with the 1st Marine Raider Battalion conducting a visit board search and seizure operation While not a MAGTF the Marine Corps has begun to reorganize some of its regiments into Marine Littoral Regiments MRL which are similar in size to a Marine Expeditionary Unit A Marine Littoral Regiment is a self deployable force designed to be naval in nature and operate in the littoral region A Marine Littoral Regiment consists of a littoral combat team a littoral anti air battalion and a combat logistics battalion Notably the Marine Littoral Regiment has no aviation combat element unlike a Marine Expeditionary Unit 117 Another Marine Corps element that does not function as part of the MAGTF are the Marine Raider Regiment who function under United States Marine Forces Special Operations Command Marine Raiders specialize in specialize in direct action unconventional warfare maritime interdiction special reconnaissance foreign internal defense counterterrorism and counterinsurgency missions 118 Marine Corps commands Under Headquarters Marine Corps the Marine Corps is organized into the Fleet Marine Force multiple commands and Marine Corps service components to the unified combatant commands Name Mission Headquarters Headquarters Marine Corps HQMC Marine Corps service headquarters led by the commandant of the Marine Corps The Pentagon VirginaFleet Marine Force and Marine Corps commands Fleet Marine Force Atlantic FMFLANT U S Marine Corps Forces Command MARFORCOM Provides Marine Corps forces in support of the U S Navy s United States Fleet Forces Command Also serves as United States Marine Corps Forces Command commanding Marine Corps retained service forces and providing forces for joint naval and service requirements 119 Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads Virginia Fleet Marine Force Pacific FMFPAC Provides Marine Corps forces in support of the U S Navy s United States Pacific Fleet 120 Camp H M Smith Hawaii Marine Corps Systems Command MARCORSYSCOM Acquisition command for all Marine Corps ground and information technology programs 121 Marine Corps Base Quantico Virginia U S Marine Corps Forces Reserve MARFORRES Oversees and maintains the U S Marine Corps reserve forces 122 Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans LouisianaMarine Corps service components U S Marine Corps Forces Central Command MARCENT Marine Corps component to United States Central Command MacDill Air Force Base Florida U S Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command MARFORCYBER Marine Corps component to United States Cyber Command Fort Meade Maryland U S Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa MARFOREUR AF Marine Corps component to United States European Command and United States Africa Command Panzer Kaserne Germany U S Marine Corps Forces Pacific MARFORPAC Marine Corps component to United States Indo Pacific Command Camp H M Smith Hawaii U S Marine Corps Forces Northern Command MARFORNORTH Marine Corps component to United States Northern Command Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads Virginia U S Marine Corps Forces Southern Command MARFORSOUTH Marine Corps component to United States Southern Command Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans Louisiana U S Marine Corps Forces Space Command MARFORSPACE Marine Corps component to United States Space Command Offutt Air Force Base Nebraska 123 U S Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command Marine Corps component to United States Special Operations Command Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune North CarolinaU S Marine Corps Forces Strategic Command MARFORSTRAT Marine Corps component to United States Strategic Command Offutt Air Force Base NebraskaU S Navy Main article United States Navy USS John C Stennis CVN 74 and USS Ronald Reagan CVN 76 conducting dual carrier strike group operations as part of the United States Seventh Fleet The United States Navy USN is the United States Armed Forces maritime force Originally established in 1775 as the Continental Navy the U S Navy consists of the Regular Navy and the Navy Reserve The Navy is the United States principal maritime service responsible for maritime warfare operations 124 The U S Navy is organized under the Department of the Navy which is a military department under the leadership of the secretary of the Navy and the under secretary of the Navy The U S Navy itself is led by the chief of naval operations and the vice chief of naval operations both admirals who are advised by the master chief petty officer of the Navy 124 A Naval Air Forces F 35C Lightning II flying over the USS Zumwalt DDG 1000 The five enduring functions of the Navy are 125 Sea control Power projection Deterrence Maritime security Sealift The USS Vicksburg CG 69 USS Roosevelt DDG 80 USS Carney DDG 64 and USS The Sullivans DDG 68 launching a coordinated missile volley The nine specified tasks of the Navy are Conduct offensive and defensive operations associated with the maritime domain including achieving and maintaining sea control to include subsurface surface land air space and cyberspace 62 Provide power projection through sea based global strike to include nuclear and conventional capabilities interdiction and interception capabilities maritime and or littoral fires to include naval surface fires and close air support for ground forces 62 Conduct ballistic missile defense This is executed through the Navy s Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System 62 Conduct ocean hydro and river survey and reconstruction 62 Conduct riverine operations This is conducted by the Maritime Expeditionary Security Force and Naval Special Warfare Command 62 Establish maintain and defense sea bases in support of naval amphibious land air or other joint operations as directed 62 Provide naval expeditionary logistics to enhance the deployment sustainment and redeployment of naval forces and other forces operating within the maritime domain to include joint sea bases and provide sea transport for the Armed Forces other than which is organic to the individual military services United States Special Operations Command and United States Cyber Command This is conducted by the Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group and Military Sealift Command 62 Provide support for joint space operations to enhance naval operations in coordination with the other military services primarily the United States Space Force combatant commands primarily United States Space Command and other U S government departments and agencies U S Navy space operations are conducted by Navy Space Command 62 Conduct nuclear operations in support of strategic deterrence to include providing and maintaining nuclear surety and capabilities 62 Naval Surface Forces Main article Naval Surface Forces The stealth destroyer USS Zumwalt DDG 1000 alongside the USS Independence LCS 2 The Naval Surface Forces NAVSURFOR is the backbone of the U S Navy s combat power conducting surface warfare operations and operating its fleet of combat surface ships 126 The Naval Surface Forces operates eleven nuclear powered aircraft carriers CVN split between the Nimitz class and the newer Gerald R Ford class Aircraft carriers are the centerpiece of the U S Navy s combat power forming the nucleus of its eleven carrier strike groups CSG Each aircraft carrier has an embarked carrier air wing from the Naval Air Forces 127 The Naval Surface Forces also operate 116 surface combatants These include the Ticonderoga class guided missile cruisers Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers DDG and Zumwalt class stealth guided missile destroyers Cruisers and destroyers ofthen operate as part of a larger formations where they serve as escorts for anti aircraft and anti submarine operations but they also are able to conduct sea control and striker operations ashore with their tomahawk cruise missiles The Navy also operates a complement smaller of Freedom class and Independence class littoral combat ships LCS that can be modularly reconfigured for specific mission sets 128 129 Having lacked a frigate since the Oliver Hazard Perry class was decommissioned the Navy is in the process of acquiring the new Constellation class guided missile frigates FFG 130 Finally the Naval Surface Forces operate 31 amphibious warfare ships to support the Fleet Marine Force and its embarked Marine Air Ground Task Forces as part of an amphibious ready group or expeditionary strike group This includes the America class landing helicopter assault LHA ships which can carry U S Marine Corps F 35B Lightning II fighters and helicopters and Wasp class landing helicopter dock LHD ships which can carry both F 35B fighters helicopters and landing craft These are in addition to the San Antonio classs amphibious transport docks LPD and the Whidbey Island class and Harpers Ferry class dock landing ships 131 132 Naval Submarine Forces Main article Naval Submarine Forces The USS Albuquerque SSN 706 attack submarine underway in the Atlantic Ocean The Naval Submarine Forces NAVSUBFOR is often referred to as the silent service consisting of 68 commissioned submarines 133 Los Angeles class Seawolf class and Virginia class nuclear powered attack submarines are capable of performing sea control mission by destroying enemy submarines and surface ships conducting surveillance and reconnaissance performing irregular warfare covert troop insertion mine and anti mine operations and land attack missions with tomahawk cruise missiles 134 Ohio class nuclear powered ballistic missile submarines SSBN have the sole mission of being launch platforms for nuclear submarine launched ballistic missile SLBM Each carries 20 UGM 133 Trident II SLBMs The Navy is currently in the process of procuring the Columbia class SSBNs to replace the Ohio class 135 Some Ohio class submarines have been converted to cruise missile submarines SSGN capable of carrying 154 tomahawk cruise missiles and deploying 66 special operations forces personnel such as Navy SEALs 136 Naval Air Forces Main article Naval Air Forces An F A 18F Super Hornet from VX 23 flies over the USS Gerald R Ford CVN 78 The Naval Air Forces NAVAIRFOR is the Navy s naval aviation arm centered around the carrier air wing The core of the carrier air wing are the Naval Air Forces strike fighter squadrons VFA which fly the F 35C Lightning II stealth fighter and the F A 18E F Super Hornet A variant of the F A 18 the EA 18G Growler is an electronic warfare aircraft flown by electronic attack squadrons VAQ off of carriers or land bases The E 2 Hawkeye provides carriers with airborne early warning and command and control while the C 2A Greyhound keeps carriers supplied The CMV 22B Osprey is currently in the process of replacing the C 2 Greyhound for carrier resupply 137 The Naval Air Forces also operate the MH 60 Seahawk for anti submarine warfare anti ship warfare and search and rescue operations The MH 53E is primarily used for anti mine warfare but can also be used for assault support 137 Although primally centered on carriers the Naval Air Forces do operate a small number of land based aircraft These include the P 3C Orion and P 8A Poseidon which conduct anti submarine warfare operations and serve as maritime patrol aircraft alongside the unmanned MQ 4C Triton The E 6 Mercury is also flown by the Navy to communicate instructions to U S strategic forces 138 137 Naval Information Forces Main article Naval Information Forces The USS Lake Erie CG 70 launching a modified RIM 161 Standard Missile 3 to destroy a non functional National Reconnaissance Office satellite as part of Operation Burnt Frost The Naval Information Warfare Forces NAVINFOR were created in 2009 to integrate the Navy s communications networks naval intelligence oceanography meteorology cryptology electronic warfare cyberspace operations and space elements into a single organization The mission of Navy information warfare is to provide assured command and control battlespace awareness and integrated fires to achieve freedom of maneuver across all warfighting domains 139 In 2022 the Navy lost its only space operations unit when the Naval Satellite Operation Center established in 1962 and its 13 Navy communications satellites transferred to the U S Space Force and became the 10th Space Operations Squadron 140 Naval Special Warfare and Naval Expeditionary Combat Forces Navy SEALs conducting winter warfare training Naval Expeditionary Combat Forces sometimes known as sand sailors operate ashore or in the littoral regions under Navy Expeditionary Combat Command 141 Their purpose is to clear the battlespace of hazards to the navy secure maritime terrain sea liens of communication and resources build infrastructure awareness logistics chains and partnerships and protect the Navy s fleets facilities and forces 142 Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams are responsible for conducting countering explosive devices that may present a hazard and also are able to clear harbors of navigational hazards engage in underwater search and rescue and perform limited underwater repairs on ships 143 The Maritime Expeditionary Security Force conducts operations in the littoral regions including harbors rivers bays and on land to provide maritime security operations These include port and harbor security 144 The Naval Construction Force or Seabees are Navy engineers able to construct facilities in support of naval operations while also providing force protection 145 Naval Special Warfare are maritime special operations forces under Naval Special Warfare Command These include the United States Navy SEALs and Special warfare combatant craft crewmen 146 Navy commands The U S Navy is organized into eight navy component commands which command operational forces and serve as joint force maritime component commands fifteen shore commands which support the fleets operating forces five systems commands which oversee the technical requirements of the Navy and nine type commands which administratively manage units of a certain type Name Mission Headquarters Office of the Chief of Naval Operations OPNAV Navy service headquarters led by the chief of naval operations The Pentagon VirginaNavy operating forces U S Fleet Forces Command USFF U S Naval Forces Northern Command NAVFORNORTH Trains certifies and provides Navy forces for naval joint and combined operations Navy service component and joint force maritime component command to United States Northern Command and United States Strategic Command 147 Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads Virgina U S Pacific Fleet PACFLT Navy service component and joint force maritime component command to United States Indo Pacific Command Naval Station Pearl Harbor Hawaii U S Naval Forces Central Command NAVCENT Navy service component and joint force maritime component command to United States Central Command Naval Support Activity Bahrain U S Fleet Cyber Command FCC U S Navy Space Command NAVSPACE Navy service component to United States Cyber Command and United States Space Command Fort Meade Maryland U S Naval Forces Europe and Africa NAVEUR NAVAF Navy service component and joint force maritime component command to United States European Command and United States Africa Command Naval Support Activity Naples Italy U S Naval Forces Southern Command NAVSO Navy service component and joint force maritime component command to United States Southern Command Naval Station Mayport Florida U S Naval Special Warfare Command USNSWC Navy service component to United States Special Operations Command Naval Amphibious Base Coronado California Military Sealift Command Navy service component and joint force maritime component command to United States Transportation Command Naval Station Norfolk VirginiaU S Air Force Main article United States Air Force A B 2A Spirit stealth bomber from the 509th Bomb Wing is escorted by two F 22A Raptor stealth fighters from the 3rd Wing The United States Air Force USAF is the United States Armed Forces air force Originally established in 1947 when it gained independence from the U S Army it traces its history back to through the United States Army Air Forces United States Army Air Corps United States Army Air Service the Division of Military Aeronautics Aviation Section U S Signal Corps to the birth of Aeronautical Division U S Signal Corps on 1 August 1907 The U S Air Force serves as the principal air service responsible for aerial warfare operations The U S Air Force is composed of the Regular Air Force Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard 148 The U S Air Force is organized under the Department of the Air Force which is a military department under the leadership of the secretary of the Air Force and under secretary of the Air Force The U S Air Force itself is led by the chief of staff of the Air Force and vice chief of staff of the Air Force both generals who are advised by the chief master sergeant of the Air Force Air Mobility Command C 17 Globemasters performing low level flight training The five core missions of the Air Force are 149 Air superiority Global integrated intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance Rapid global mobility Global strike Command and control Air Education and Training Command F 35 Lightning II fighters in flight The eight specified functions of the Air Force are 150 Conduct nuclear operations in support of strategic deterrence to include providing and maintaining nuclear surety and capabilities Conduct offensive and defensive operations to include appropriate air and missile defense to gain and maintain air superiority and air supremacy as required to enable the conduct of operations by U S and allied land sea air space and special operations forces Conduct global precision attack to include strategic attack interdiction close air support and prompt global strike Provide timely globally integrated intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance capability and capacity from forward deployed locations and globally distributed centers to support world wide operations Provide rapid global mobility to employ and sustain organic air and space forces and other military service and U S Special Operations Command forces as directed to include airlift forces for airborne operations air logistical support tanker forces for in flight refueling and assets for aeromedical evacuation Provide agile combat support to enhance the air and space campaign and the deployment employment sustainment and redeployment of air and space forces and other forces operating within the air and space domains to include joint air and space bases and for the Armed Forces other than which is organic to the individual military services and U S Special Operations Command in coordination with the other military services combatant commands and U S Government departments and agencies Conduct global personnel recovery operations including theater wide combat and civil search and rescue in coordination with the other military services combatant commands and DoD components Conduct globally integrated command and control for air and space operations Combat Air Force Main articles Air Combat Command and Air Force Global Strike Command Two F 22A Raptors from the 90th Fighter Squadron The Combat Air Force CAF comprises the majority of the Air Force s combat power consisting of its fighter bomber intercontinental ballistic missile and special operations forces 151 A flight of F 35A Lightning IIs fly in formation The Air Force s fighter forces are led by Air Combat Command s Fifteenth Air Force with other fighter units under Pacific Air Forces and United States Air Forces in Europe Air Force fighters are predominantly used to achieve air superiority and strike enemy ground and naval forces The Air Force operates an expanding force of fifth generation fighters The F 22A Raptor stealth fighter is designed to replace the F 15C in air superiority operations carrying two AIM 9 Sidewinder and six AIM 120 AMRAAM missiles It also has a significant air to ground mission carrying two GBU 32 Joint Direct Attack Munition bombs in addition to two AIM 9 and two AIM 120 missiles 152 Ultimately the F 22 is intended to be replaced by the sixth generation fighter Next Generation Air Dominance program 153 The F 22 is complemented by the more numerous F 35A Lightning II multi role stealth fighter which are in the process of replacing the F 16C fighters and A 10 attack aircraft in air superiority and ground attack roles to include the nuclear strike mission 154 155 The Air Force still operates an extremely sizable force of fourth generation fighters The F 15C Eagle is a dedicated air superiority fighter while the F 15E Strike Eagle was modified to be a duel role strike fighter carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons 156 157 The F 15C Eagle and F 15E Strike Eagle are both being replaced by the F 15EX Eagle II which is significantly more advanced 158 The F 16C Fighting Falcon is a multirole fighter that served as the primary Air Force fighter for decades including as a dual capable tactical nuclear strike fighter 159 160 The A 10C Thunderbolt II attack aircraft was the first Air Force fighter specifically designed for the close air support mission operating against enemy ground forces and light naval ships with its GAU 8 Avenger gatling cannon and array of air to ground munitions 161 A B 52 Stratofortress of the 2nd Bomb Wing and B 2A Spirit of the 509th Bomb Wing fly in formation The Air Force s bomber forces are organized under Air Force Global Strike Command s Eighth Air Force executing long range strike operations The B 2A Spirit stealth bomber is capable of conducting both conventional and nuclear strike operations flying through air defenses 162 The B 1B Lancer to contrast is a supersonic bomber that carries only conventional munitions and serves as the backbone of the bomber force 163 Both the B 2A Spirit and the B 1B Lancer are being replaced by the B 21 Raider stealth bomber which can be equipped with both conventional and nuclear munitions 164 The B 52H Stratofortress is a long range heavy bomber that the Air Force has flown since the 1950s and operates a variety of conventional and nuclear munitions including the AGM 86 air launched cruise missile 165 The Air Force s intercontinental ballistic missile forces are organized under Air Force Global Strike Command s Twentieth Air Force serving as the land component of the nuclear triad The LGM 30G Minuteman III serves as the only ballistic missile operated by the Air Force with 400 stationed in hardened silos 166 The LGM 30G will be replaced by the LGM 35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile 167 A formation of CV 22 Ospreys from the 353rd Special Operations Group The Air Force s special operations forces are organized under Air Force Special Operations Command consisting of both special operations aviation and Air Force special tactics airmen on the ground The AC 130J Ghostrider gunships have the primary mission of close air support and air interdiction using cannons and precision guided munitions 168 The MC 130J Commando II also a variant of the C 130 Hercules fly exfiltration and resupply operations for special operations forces along with conducting air to air refueling for helicopters 169 The CV 22 Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft used for the infiltration and exfiltration of special operations forces 170 While not under Air Force Special Operations Command rescue operations are supported by the HC 130J Combat King II and HH 60W Jolly Green II combat rescue aircraft 171 The MQ 9 Reaper also serves as remotely piloted intelligence and strike aircraft serving under Air Force Special Operations Command and Air Combat Command 172 An Air Force Special Tactics team from the 21st Special Tactics Squadron coordinating operations with an A 10 Thunderbolt II Air Force Pararescue with a HH 60 helicopter in the background Air Force Special Tactics are the ground special warfare force of the U S Air Force integrating air ground operations Special Tactics conduct four core missions Global access teams assess and open airfields ranging from international airports to dirt strips in permissive or hostile locations to facilitate the landing and operation of air forces Precision strike teams are trained to direct aircraft and other forces to conduct kinetic and non kinetic strikes as well as humanitarian aid drops Special Tactics teams also conduct personnel recovery missions possessing significant medical and rescue experience Finally Special Operations Surgical Teams conduct surgery and medical operations in battlefield operations in support of special operations 173 The Air Force also operates a wide array of reconnaissance aircraft under Air Combat Command s Sixteenth Air Force including the RQ 4 Global Hawk drone U 2 Dragon Lady and RC 135 Rivet Joint Air Force operations are typically supported by command and control aircraft such as the E 3 Sentry airborne warning and control system The E 3 Sentry is in the process of being replaced by the E 7A Wedgetail 174 Mobility Air Force Main article Air Mobility Command A KC 46A Pegasus refuels a C 17A Globemaster III The Mobility Air Force MAF are organized under Air Mobility Command and comprise the Air Force s airlift air refueling and aeromedical evacuation forces 175 The airlift forces operate three different major aircraft The C 5M Super Galaxy is the largest aircraft in the Air Force serving as a strategic transport aircraft 176 The C 17A Globemaster III is the airlift forces most flexible aircraft conducting both strategic and tactical airlift operations It is also capable of conducting airborne operations for the Army and aerial resupply through airdropping cargo 177 Finally the C 130J Super Hercules is a tactical airlifter conducting both cargo airlift and supporting Army airborne operations 178 Other major airlift platforms include the VC 25 which serves as the personal plane of the president of the United States better known as Air Force One 179 The Air Force also operates three major aerial refueling tankers The KC 46A Pegasus is its most modern tanker replacing the aging KC 10A Extenders 180 The remaining tanker is the KC 135 Stratotanker which has flown since the 1950s 181 Tankers are also capable of conducting limited airlift operations Air Force commands The U S Air Force is organized into nine major commands which conduct the majority of the service s organize train and equip functions and command forces attached to the combatant commands as joint force air component commands 182 Name Mission Headquarters Headquarters Air Force HAF Air Force service headquarters led by the chief of staff of the Air Force The Pentagon VirginaMajor Commands Air Combat Command ACC Primary provider of combat air forces to the unified combatant commands Air Combat Command operates fighter reconnaissance battle management and electronic combat aircraft 183 Joint Base Langley Eustis Virginia Air Education and Training Command AETC Recruits trains and educates airmen and develops Air Force doctrine 184 Joint Base San Antonio Texas Air Force Global Strike Command AFGSC Operates the Air Force strategic bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile forces Air Force component and joint force air component command for United States Strategic Command 185 Barksdale Air Force Base Louisiana Air Force Materiel Command AFMC Manages installation and mission support discovery and development test and evaluation and life cycle management services and sustainment for every major Air Force weapon system 186 Wright Patterson Air Force Base Ohio Air Force Reserve Command AFRC Manages Air Force reserve forces Robins Air Force Base Georgia Air Force Special Operations Command AFSOC Organizes trains and equips air commandos Air Force component and joint force air component command for United States Special Operations Command 187 Hurlburt Field Flordia Air Mobility Command AMC Primary provider of air mobility forces to the unified combatant commands Air Force component and joint force air component command for United States Transportation Command 188 Scott Air Force Base Illinois Pacific Air Forces PACAF Air Force component and joint force air component command for United States Indo Pacific Command Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam Hawaii United States Air Forces in Europe Air Forces Africa USAFE AFAFRICA Air Force component and joint force air component command for United States European Command and United States Africa Command Ramstein Air Base GermanyU S Space Force Main article United States Space Force The Directed Energy Directorate s Starfire Optical Range used for real time high fidelity tracking and imaging of satellites The United States Space Force USSF is the United States Armed Forces space force and is the newest military branch Originally established in 2019 it traces its history through Air Force Space Command and the Western Development Division to 1954 The United States Space Force is the principal space service responsible for space warfare operations 189 The U S Space Force is composed of the Regular Space Force not yet having organized a reserve component outside of the Air Force The U S Space Force is organized under the Department of the Air Force which is a military department under the leadership of the secretary of the Air Force and under secretary of the Air Force The U S Space Force itself is led by the chief of space operations and vice chief of space operations both generals who are advised by the chief master sergeant of the Space Force 190 Boeing X 37B spaceplane after deorbiting and landing The five core competencies of the Space Force are 191 Space security Combat power projection Space mobility and logistics Information mobility Space domain awarenessThe five specified functions of the Space Force are Provide freedom of operation for the United States in from and to space 62 Provide prompt and sustained space operations 62 Protect the interests of the United States in space 62 Deter aggression in from and to space 62 Conduct space operations 62 Delta IV launch conducted by the U S Space Force s Space Launch Delta 45 Other functions of the Space Force are executed by its deltas including Space domain awareness conducted by Space Delta 2 monitors all manmade objects in orbit from low earth orbit to deep space 192 Space electromagnetic warfare conducted by Space Delta 3 for offensive and defensive space control operations 193 Missile warning conducted by Space Delta 4 uses orbital spacecraft and ground based radars to conduct theater and strategic missile warning for the United States and its international partners 194 Command and control of space forces conducted by Space Delta 5 195 Cyberspace and space access conducted by Space Delta 6 includes operating the Satellite Control Network and cyber defense operations 196 Intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance conducted by Space Delta 7 and Space Delta 18 197 Operation of military satellite communications and the global positioning system conducted by Space Delta 8 198 Orbital warfare conducted by Space Delta 9 for protect and defend operations and providing U S national decision authorities with response options to deter and when necessary defeat orbital threats 199 Space launch operations conducted by Space Launch Delta 30 and Space Launch Delta 45 out of Vandenberg Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Space Force commands The Space Force is organized into three field commands and multiple component field commands which serve as joint force space component commands for the unified combatant commands 200 Name Mission Headquarters Headquarters Space Force HSF Space Force service headquarters led by the chief of space operations The Pentagon VirginaField commands Space Operations Command SpOC The Space Force s operations field command conducting space operations cyberspace operations and intelligence operations Space Force component and joint force space component command to United States Space Command 201 Peterson Space Force Base Colorado Space Systems Command SSC Conducts research development acquisitions and sustainment of Space Force systems and conducts space launch operations Los Angeles Air Force Base California Space Training and Readiness Command STARCOM Conducts Space Force training education doctrine development and test Peterson Space Force Base ColoradoComponent field commands and Space Force elements U S Space Forces Indo Pacific USSPACEFOR INDOPAC Space Force component and joint force space component command for United States Indo Pacific Command 202 Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam Hawaii U S Space Forces Central USSPACEFOR CENT Space Force component and joint force space component command for United States Central Command MacDill Air Force Base Florida U S Space Forces Korea USSPACEFOR KOR Space Force component and joint force space component command for United States Forces Korea Osan Air Base South Korea Space Force Element National Reconnaissance Office SFELM NRO Space Force component for the National Reconnaissance Office 203 Chantilly VirginiaU S Coast Guard Main article United States Coast Guard USCGC Hamilton and TCG Turgutries in the Black Sea The United States Coast Guard USCG is the United States Armed Forces maritime security maritime search and rescue and maritime law enforcement force It was first established in 1790 as the United States Revenue Marine and consists of the Regular Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Reserve Although it is always one of the six military branches the Coast Guard is organized under the Department of Homeland Security under the leadership of the secretary of Homeland Security and the deputy secretary of Homeland Security During time of war the U S Coast Guard can be transferred to the Department of the Navy 204 The Coast Guard itself is led by the commandant of the Coast Guard and vice commandant of the Coast Guard both admirals advised by the master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard 205 Coast Guard Reserve Port Security boat on patrol The Coast Guard has six major operational mission programs through which it executes its 11 statutory missions 206 Maritime law enforcement Maritime response Maritime prevention Maritime transport system management Maritime security operations Defense operationsMaritime law enforcement operations focus on protecting the United States maritime boarders and assuring its maritime sovereignty The Coast Guard conduct operations to suppress violations of U S law at sea including counter illegal migration and transnational organized crime operations Codified mission executed under the maritime law enforcement program include drug interdiction migrant interdiction living marine resources and other law enforcement 206 Maritime response operations see the Coast Guard conducting search and rescue operations and rescuing mariners responding to maritime disasters Codified missions include search and rescue and marine environmental protection response activities 206 Coast Guard aviation MH 60 Jayhawk helicopter with a rescue swimmer Maritime prevention operations prevent marine casualties and property losses minimize security risks and protect the marine environment The Coast Guard does so by developing and enforcing federal regulations conducting safety and security inspections and analyzing port security risk assessments Codified missions include ports waterways and coastal security marine safety and marine environmental protection protection activities 206 Maritime transport system management ensures a safe secure and environmentally sound waterways system Codified missions include maintaining aides to navigation and ice operations 206 Maritime security operations includes activities to detect deter prevent and disrupt terrorist attacks and other criminal acts in the U S maritime domain It includes the execution of antiterrorism response and select recovery operations This mission performs the operational element of the Coast Guard s Ports Waterways and Coastal Security mission and complements our Maritime Response and Prevention efforts Codified missions include ports waterways and coastal security response activities 206 Coast Guard Defense Operations deploys the Coast Guard globally under the Department of Defense s unified combatant commands where they operate under the joint force maritime component commands Codified missions include defense readiness 206 Coast Guard commands The U S Coast Guard is organized into two area commands that cover the entire globe 207 Name Mission Headquarters Coast Guard Headquarters USCG HQ Coast Guard service headquarters led by the commandant of the Coast Guard Douglas A Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building Washington D C Operating commands Coast Guard Atlantic Area LANTAREA Conducts Coast Guard operations east of the Rocky Mountains to include the Atlantic Ocean Carribean Europe Africa and the Middle East Coast Guard Station Portsmouth Virgina Coast Guard Pacific Area PACAREA Conducts Coast Guard operations west of the Rocky Mountains to include the Indo Pacific region Coast Guard Base Alameda California Coast Guard Cyber Command CGCYBER Conduct Coast Guard cyber operations and collaborate with United States Cyber Command 208 BudgetMain article Military budget of the United States Global military expenditures by country for 2019 in US billions according to SIPRI The United States has the world s largest military budget In the fiscal year 2019 693 billion in funding were enacted for the DoD and for Overseas Contingency Operations in the War against Terrorism 18 Outside of direct DoD spending the United States spends another 218 to 262 billion each year on other defense related programs such as Veterans Affairs Homeland Security nuclear weapons maintenance and DoD In FY2016 146 9 billion was allocated for the Department of the Army 168 8 billion for the Department of the Navy 161 8 billion for the Department of the Air Force and 102 8 billion for DoD wide spending 209 By function 138 6 billion was requested for personnel 244 4 billion for operations and maintenance 118 9 billion for procurement 69 0 billion for research and development 1 3 billion for revolving and management funds 6 9 billion for military construction and 1 3 billion for family housing 209 Personnel Active duty military personnel numbers Air Force Marines Navy Army The U S Armed Forces is the world s third largest military by active personnel after the Chinese s People s Liberation Army and the Indian Armed Forces consisting of 1 359 685 servicemembers in the regular armed forces with an additional 799 845 servicemembers in the reserves as of 28 February 2019 210 While the United States Armed Forces is an all volunteer military conscription through the Selective Service System can be enacted at the president s request and Congress approval with all males ages 18 through 25 who are living in the United States are required to register with the Selective Service 211 Although the constitutionality of registering only males for Selective Service was challenged by federal district court in 2019 its legality was upheld by a federal appeals court in 2020 212 As in most militaries members of the U S Armed Forces hold a rank either that of officer warrant officer or enlisted to determine seniority and eligibility for promotion Those who have served are known as veterans Rank names may be different between services but they are matched to each other by their corresponding paygrade 213 Officers who hold the same rank or paygrade are distinguished by their date of rank to determine seniority while officers who serve in certain positions of office of importance set by law outrank all other officers in active duty of the same rank and paygrade regardless of their date of rank 214 In 2012 it was reported that only one in four persons in the United States of the proper age meet the moral academic and physical standards for military service 215 Personnel by service 2020 Demographic Reports 216 and end strengths for reserve components 209 217 218 219 220 221 222 Component Military Enlisted Officer Male Female Civilian U S Army 481 254 387 974 93 280 465 784 69 345 299 644 U S Marine Corps 180 958 159 508 21 450 181 845 15 551 20 484 U S Navy 341 996 286 337 55 659 265 852 62 168 179 293 U S Air Force 329 614 265 369 64 245 270 462 50 750 174 754 U S Space Force 6 434 3 692 2 742 U S Coast Guard 42 042 32 782 8 239Total active 1 347 106 1 137 916 236 826 1 219 510 210 485 681 232 Army National Guard 336 879 291 865 45 014 U S Army Reserve 190 699 153 064 37 635 U S Marine Corps Reserve 38 473 34 079 4 394 U S Navy Reserve 57 650 43 596 14 054 Air National Guard 106 549 91 274 15 275 Air Force Reserve 68 216 54 658 13 558 U S Coast Guard Reserve 6 142 5 086 1 056Total reserves 807 562 673 622 130 986Other DoD personnel 108 833Rank structure Rank in the United States Armed Forces is split into three distinct categories officers warrant officers and enlisted personnel Officers are the leadership of the military holding commissions from the president of the United States and confirmed to their rank by the Senate Warrant officers hold a warrant from the secretaries of the military departments serving as specialist in certain military technologies and capabilities Upon promotion to chief warrant officer 2 they gain a commission from the president of the United States Enlisted personnel constitute the majority of the armed forces serving as specialists and tactical level leaders until they become senior non commissioned officers or senior petty officers Military ranks across the services can be compared by U S Uniformed Services pay grade or NATO rank code 223 Officer corps NATO code OF 10 OF 9 OF 8 OF 7 OF 6 OF 5 OF 4 OF 3 OF 2 OF 1 OF D Student officerUniformed services pay grade Special grade O 10 O 9 O 8 O 7 O 6 O 5 O 4 O 3 O 2 O 1 Officer candidate Cadet United States Army 224 vte VariousGeneral of the Army General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain First lieutenant Second lieutenant Cadet Officer candidate United States Marine Corps 225 vte Various insignia General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain First lieutenant Second lieutenant Midshipman officer candidate United States Navy 226 vte Various insignia Fleet admiral Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Rear admiral lower half Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Lieutenant junior grade Ensign Midshipman officer candidate United States Air Force 226 vte Various insignia General of the Air Force General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain First lieutenant Second lieutenant Cadet Officer trainee United States Space Force 226 vte Various insignia General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain First lieutenant Second lieutenant Cadet Officer trainee United States Coast Guard 226 vte VariousAdmiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Rear admiral lower half Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Lieutenant junior grade Ensign Cadet officer candidateNATO code OF 10 OF 9 OF 8 OF 7 OF 6 OF 5 OF 4 OF 3 OF 2 OF 1 OF D Student officerUniformed services pay grade Special grade O 10 O 9 O 8 O 7 O 6 O 5 O 4 O 3 O 2 O 1 Officer candidate CadetOfficers represent the top 18 of the armed forces serving in leadership and command roles 227 Officers are divided into three categories 223 O 1 to O 3 Company grade officers in the Army Marine Corps Air Force and Space Force or junior officers in the Navy and the Coast Guard O 4 to O 6 Field grade officers in the Army Marine Corps Air Force and Space Force or mid grade officers in the Navy and Coast Guard O 7 to O 10 General officers in the Army Marine Corps Air Force and Space Force or flag officers in the Navy and Coast Guard Officers are typically commissioned as second lieutenants or ensigns with a bachelor s degree after several years of training and education or directly commissioning from civilian life into a specific specialty such as a medical professional lawyer chaplain or cyber specialist 228 229 The United States Military Academy commissions officers into the United States Army The United States Naval Academy commissions officers into the United States Marine Corps and United States Navy The United States Air Force Academy commissions officers into the United States Air Force and United States Space Force The United States Coast Guard Academy commissions officers into the United States Coast Guard Officers are commissioned through the United States service academies Reserve Officer Training Corps programs and the Officer Candidate and Officer Training Schools During a time of war officers may be promoted to five star ranks with general of the Army fleet admiral and general of the Air Force the only five star ranks currently authorized 230 Warrant officer corps NATO rank WO 5 WO 4 WO 3 WO 2 WO 1Uniformed services pay grade W 5 W 4 W 3 W 2 W 1 United States Armyvte Chief warrant officer 5 Chief warrant officer 4 Chief warrant officer 3 Chief warrant officer 2 Warrant officer 1 United States Marine Corpsvte Chief warrant officer 5 Chief warrant officer 4 Chief warrant officer 3 Chief warrant officer 2 Warrant Officer 1 United States Navyvte Chief warrant officer 5 Chief warrant officer 4 Chief warrant officer 3 Chief warrant officer 2 Warrant officer 1 U S Coast Guardvte Chief warrant officer 4 Chief warrant officer 3 Chief warrant officer 2NATO rank WO 5 WO 4 WO 3 WO 2 WO 1Uniformed services pay grade W 5 W 4 W 3 W 2 W 1Warrant officers are specialists accounting for only 8 of the officer corps 227 Warrant officers hold warrants from their service secretary and are specialists and experts in certain military technologies or capabilities The lowest ranking warrant officers serve under a warrant but they receive commissions from the president upon promotion to chief warrant officer 2 They derive their authority from the same source as commissioned officers but remain specialists in contrast to commissioned officers who are generalists There are no warrant officers in the Air Force or Space Force 223 Warrant officers are typically non commissioned officers before being selected with the exception of the Army Aviation where any enlisted grade can apply for a warrant Army Warrant officers attend the Army Warrant Officer Candidate School 231 Enlisted corps NATO code OR 9 OR 8 OR 7 OR 6 OR 5 OR 4 OR 3 OR 2 OR 1Uniformed services pay grade Special E 9 E 8 E 7 E 6 E 5 E 4 E 3 E 2 E 1 United States Army 224 vte No insigniaSenior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman Sergeant Major of the Army Command sergeant major Sergeant major First sergeant Master sergeant Sergeant first class Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Specialist Private first class Private Private United States Marine Corps 225 vte No insigniaSenior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Sergeant major Master gunnery sergeant First sergeant Master sergeant Gunnery sergeant Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Private first class Private United States Navy 226 vte Pending Approval a, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library, article, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||