The United States Air Force got its start in 1947. This highly competitive branch of the U.S. military maintains a force of over 300,000 members. It is the most recent independent branch to be created, but also one of the most versatile. People in the Air Force may serve in a variety of capacities or organizations such as the maintaining of air superiority, global mobility or attack, information management, or combat support. People in the Air Force can be deployed virtually anywhere in the world and often do so much more rapidly than other branches.

In order to qualify for the Air Force, interested applicants must complete a test called the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. The purpose of this test is to determine what a person’s aptitude could be for certain types of jobs within the military. In order to qualify for the most coveted roles of the Air Force, people generally must score very high on the test. In exchange for this qualification, people may be able to secure jobs that are similar to civilian work, with less emphasis on direct combat. This, along with a higher rate of pay, is partly why this branch is so competitive.

As the country’s oldest branch of the military, the United States Army serves as a ground force providing protection for U.S. interests and stability here and abroad. At present, the army maintains a roster of nearly 500,000 soldiers and officers. Some may serve part-time in the Army reserve or the Army National Guard. The rest are in full-time positions, which last from two years up to a whole career. Some people enlist and work their way up, while others participate in programs that allow them to become officers after they finish.

The army is organized by groups of soldiers headed by an officer appropriate to the responsibility. These units have names like:

• Squad
• Platoon
• Company
• Battalion
• Brigade
• Division
• Corps

Each unit does not necessarily have a specific number of members; it depends mostly on the job they are required to do. Officers in the higher ranks, like colonel or general, command units representing thousands of people. In these larger units, enlisted soldiers may still operate under the direction of the officers in charge of their company. But since the army is highly hierarchical, the directions given are typically handed down from a higher official.

Although the United States Coast Guard is considered a branch of the U.S. military, its operations can be significantly different. The Coast Guard is designed to provide:

• Security
• Defense
• Search and rescue
• Law enforcement

The Coast Guard operates under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which distinguishes it from other branches that operate under the Department of Defense. In times of war, its management can be shifted to the Secretary of the Navy. However, this has only happened twice. The first came in 1917 related to World War I. The second came in 1941 related to World War II.

Members of the United States Marine Corps are somewhat different than members of the U.S. Army or U.S. Navy. Specifically, Marines are trained in combat both on land and at sea. This means that, similar to the Army, they focus primarily on warfare. The main distinction is that they are versatile, trained to fight in a variety of conditions. This has been a chief aim of the Marines since the first battalions in 1775, although this branch was not officially separated until decades later. At less than 200,000 active-duty members, the Marines represent a much smaller group than the Army, Navy, or Air Force.

The service commitment for Marines is at least four to six years, which is longer than some other branches. Eligible applicants are typically younger as well. People who want to enlist must be 18 to 29 years old and have a high school diploma. Each recruit has to go through 12 weeks of training in South Carolina or California. Once approved, they can be stationed anywhere throughout the world. To become an officer, Marines typically need to enlist after completing a college ROTC program or complete it during their term of service.

The National Guard is a state-based military force that becomes part of the reserve components of the United States Army and the United States Air Force when activated for federal missions.^[1] It is a military reserve force composed of National Guard military members or units of each state and the territories of Guam, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, for a total of 54 separate organizations. It is officially created under Congress's Article 1 Section 8 ability to "raise and support armies".^[2] All members of the National Guard are also members of the organized militia of the United States as defined by 10 U.S.C. § 246. National Guard units are under the dual control of state governments and the federal government.^[1]

The United States Navy originated in 1775, with a goal to protect American interests on water and near sea ports. The U.S. Navy has nearly 350,000 active-duty members, with another 100,000 or so in the reserve. People who join the Navy and complete a course of training may be stationed in one of almost 300 ships, or in a nearby port. While many members of the Navy participate in active warfare when appropriate, others work in support roles on ships or on U.S. territory. Elite teams include the Navy SEALs and Navy Divers, which require specialized training and placement within a highly competitive unit.

When people join the Navy, they are usually required to commit to a term of at least four years. Some commitments call for a shorter term. This usually involves a short period of intense training, followed by placement in a program of more than 80 specialties. Navy sailors may be stationed almost anywhere in the world, depending on their positions. Some of these positions may include work on an aircraft carrier, which is not unlike a small, floating city. The result is a specialized force that is ready to mobilize quickly.

The latest addition to the U.S. military is the United States Space Force. This branch was started in December 2019 under the National Defense Authorization Act for 2020. Although Space Force is considered a separate branch of the military, it operates under the direction of the Secretary of the Air Force. The goal of the Space Force is to protect American interests in space. Specifically, it concerns protection of the U.S. from space and while in space. With only about 2,500 active-duty members, it is the smallest branch of the armed services.

Although the primary aim of the Space Force is to protect Americans against competing interests on Earth, there are other goals for the service. These include:

• Researching and investigating space mobility
• Analyzing the ability to transmit information through space
• Developing resources for protection of the U.S. and allied countries
• Increasing capacity for defense
• Improving survivability in space

Because the service is so new, its funding is only guaranteed for the first 18 months. Afterward, Congress must authorize money to continue its development and expansion.

Starting a military career: Understanding the different branches of the United States military. Blog RSS. (n.d.). https://www.militaryhomesearch.com/military-branches-explained.php