Military Branches
Army
About
The US Army is the main infantry force with the job of protecting the country and its interests by land. This includes technology such as tanks, ground troops, artillery, attack helicopters, and tactical nuclear weapons. This has always been its role. The oldest military service, it was established by the Continental Congress June 14, 1775. This branch is also the largest, with 76,000 officers and 401,000 enlisted in active duty.
The Army also has two reserves for times of need: the Army National Guard and Army Reserves. Each state has its own National Guard, while the Reserves are property of the US government. However, in times of need the President or Secretary of Defense can "activate" state National Guard members into Federal service.
The US Army is the main infantry force with the job of protecting the country and its interests by land. This includes technology such as tanks, ground troops, artillery, attack helicopters, and tactical nuclear weapons. This has always been its role. The oldest military service, it was established by the Continental Congress June 14, 1775. This branch is also the largest, with 76,000 officers and 401,000 enlisted in active duty.
The Army also has two reserves for times of need: the Army National Guard and Army Reserves. Each state has its own National Guard, while the Reserves are property of the US government. However, in times of need the President or Secretary of Defense can "activate" state National Guard members into Federal service.
Important Dates and Events
14 June 1175- Army officially established 4 July 1176- Declaration of Independence established 1787- Constitution established 1812-1815- War of 1812 1861-1865- Civil War 12 July 1862- Medal of Honor established by Congress 3 March 1931- "The Star Spangled Banner" becomes national anthem 7 December 1941- Pearl Harbor attacked 14 June 1956- Army flag dedicated 1 February 1992- Treaty between US and Russia ends Cold War 11 September, 2001- Terrorists attack US targets 19 March 2003- Operation Iraqi Freedom begins 1 May 2011- Geronimo/Operation Neptune Spear kills Osama bin Laden |
Famous Leaders
George Washington (1732-1799) Jim Bowie (1796-1836) Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) Rutherford B. Hayes (1822-1893) Stonewall Jackson (1824-1863) James Garfield (1831-1881) Sitting Bull (1831-1890) George Custer (1839-1876) Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) |
Important Battles
Battle of Antietam- 17 September 1862
Civil War: George McClellan's forces attack Robert E. Lee' s near Sharpsburg, MD, on the single bloodiest day in American history. It ended in a draw but the retreat of Confederate forces gave Abraham Lincoln the "victory" that he needed to issue the Emancipation Proclamation
Battle of Gettysburg- 1-3 July 1863
Civil War: George G. Meade's forces attack Robert E. Lee's in Gettysburg, PA. After a valiant attack by the Confederates, the Union finally gained victory with causalities from both sides totaling 51,000. It was the south's largest attack on the north and with a Confederate victory, would have ended the war.
Pearl Harbor- 7 December 1941
WWII: Japanese forces attack Pearl Harbor, HI with 3,649 American casualties and major equipment losses. It was the first attack of Americans on American soil and brought the US into the war.
Battle of Normandy- 5 June 1944
WWII: Also known as D-Day, American forces storm Normandy Beach, France. This battle, with hundreds of thousands of casualties, succeeded in bringing the war to western Germany and kept Soviet forces from the possession of northern and western Europe.
Tet Offensive- 31 January 1968
Vietnam War: North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces totaling over 70,000 launch attacks on over 100 cities and towns in South Vietnam in order to hinder American support for South Vietnam. American forces fought valiantly and were able to hold back the Communist forces, marking a turning point in the war.
Battle of Antietam- 17 September 1862
Civil War: George McClellan's forces attack Robert E. Lee' s near Sharpsburg, MD, on the single bloodiest day in American history. It ended in a draw but the retreat of Confederate forces gave Abraham Lincoln the "victory" that he needed to issue the Emancipation Proclamation
Battle of Gettysburg- 1-3 July 1863
Civil War: George G. Meade's forces attack Robert E. Lee's in Gettysburg, PA. After a valiant attack by the Confederates, the Union finally gained victory with causalities from both sides totaling 51,000. It was the south's largest attack on the north and with a Confederate victory, would have ended the war.
Pearl Harbor- 7 December 1941
WWII: Japanese forces attack Pearl Harbor, HI with 3,649 American casualties and major equipment losses. It was the first attack of Americans on American soil and brought the US into the war.
Battle of Normandy- 5 June 1944
WWII: Also known as D-Day, American forces storm Normandy Beach, France. This battle, with hundreds of thousands of casualties, succeeded in bringing the war to western Germany and kept Soviet forces from the possession of northern and western Europe.
Tet Offensive- 31 January 1968
Vietnam War: North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces totaling over 70,000 launch attacks on over 100 cities and towns in South Vietnam in order to hinder American support for South Vietnam. American forces fought valiantly and were able to hold back the Communist forces, marking a turning point in the war.
Important Dates and Events
1 Novermber 1767- First American Naval base 13 October 1775- Birth of the Continental Navy 7 September 1776- First American submarine launched 1794- Naval Act of 1794 creates modern Navy 1798- Creation of US Naval Secretary May 1861- Americans buy ironclad warships 6 October 1884- Naval War College begins teaching 11 May 1915- Creation of Chief of Naval Operations 17 October 1922- First American aircraft carrier used (USS Langley) 15 January 1955- First American nuclear submarine (USS Nautilus) launched |
Famous Leaders
John Paul Jones (1775-1788) John Barry (1775-1803) James Lawrence (1798-1813) Stephen Decatur, Jr. (1798-1820) Commodore Matthew Perry (1809-1855) David Farragut (1810-1870) Chester Nimitz (1905-1966) Theodore Roosevelt (1897-1898) Franklin D. Roosevelt (1913-1920) John F. Kennedy (1941-1945) |
Important Battles
USS Constitution captures HMS Guerriere- 19 August 1812
War of 1812: 400 miles SE of Halifax, Nova Scotia, The USS Constitution captures British ship in the first of a string of single-ship victories over the British Royal Navy by the US Navy
Battle of Lake Erie- 10 September 1813
War of 1812: After a long fight, Master Commandant Oliver H. Perry captures 6 British ships near Put-in-Bay, OH
Battle of Plattsburgh- 6-11 September 1814
War of 1812: British forces advancing down Lake Champlain collide with American forces on the lake and on land. The British are forced to retreat north
USS Maine explodes- 15 February 1898
Spanish-American War: An armored cruiser built for the US Navy to protect interests in Havana, Cuba, explodes. This loss combined with tensions in Cuba leads the US to declare war on Spain two months later.
Battle of Manila Bay- 1 May 1898
Spanish-American War: A Spanish fleet is destroyed by American forces in the first encounter of the Spanish-American forces. This victory paves a path for US conquest of the Philippines
Battle of Santiago de Cuba- 3 July 1898
Spanish-American War: A decisive American victory, the Battle of Santiago de Cuba is a key naval battle of the war resulting in a completely destroyed Spanish fleet
USS Constitution captures HMS Guerriere- 19 August 1812
War of 1812: 400 miles SE of Halifax, Nova Scotia, The USS Constitution captures British ship in the first of a string of single-ship victories over the British Royal Navy by the US Navy
Battle of Lake Erie- 10 September 1813
War of 1812: After a long fight, Master Commandant Oliver H. Perry captures 6 British ships near Put-in-Bay, OH
Battle of Plattsburgh- 6-11 September 1814
War of 1812: British forces advancing down Lake Champlain collide with American forces on the lake and on land. The British are forced to retreat north
USS Maine explodes- 15 February 1898
Spanish-American War: An armored cruiser built for the US Navy to protect interests in Havana, Cuba, explodes. This loss combined with tensions in Cuba leads the US to declare war on Spain two months later.
Battle of Manila Bay- 1 May 1898
Spanish-American War: A Spanish fleet is destroyed by American forces in the first encounter of the Spanish-American forces. This victory paves a path for US conquest of the Philippines
Battle of Santiago de Cuba- 3 July 1898
Spanish-American War: A decisive American victory, the Battle of Santiago de Cuba is a key naval battle of the war resulting in a completely destroyed Spanish fleet
Marine Corps
About
The Marine Corps was created on November 10, 1775 by the Continental Congress with the intention of acting as a landing force for the Navy. in 1798, the Marine Corps was established as a separate service.
Often referred to as the "Infantry of the Navy", the Marines specialize in amphibious operations, meaning they assault, capture, and control "beach heads" to allow attack form all angles. In recent years, the Marines have made great strides in rapid deployment and tend to be a "lighter" force than the Army. Although they tend to be self-sufficient, the Marines do depend on the Navy for some things. Marines have their own aircraft (mainly fighter/bombers and attack helicopters), but depend on the Navy for many logistical and administrative operations. Since the Marine Corps has no doctors, nurses, or enlisted medics, Marines are often accompanied into combat by specially-trained Navy medics.
Besides the Coast Guard, the Marine Corps is the smallest service, containing 18,000 officers and 153,000 enlisted active duty personnel. There is no Marine Corps National Guard, but in times of need supplemental forces are supplied by the Marine Corps Reserves.
The Marine Corps was created on November 10, 1775 by the Continental Congress with the intention of acting as a landing force for the Navy. in 1798, the Marine Corps was established as a separate service.
Often referred to as the "Infantry of the Navy", the Marines specialize in amphibious operations, meaning they assault, capture, and control "beach heads" to allow attack form all angles. In recent years, the Marines have made great strides in rapid deployment and tend to be a "lighter" force than the Army. Although they tend to be self-sufficient, the Marines do depend on the Navy for some things. Marines have their own aircraft (mainly fighter/bombers and attack helicopters), but depend on the Navy for many logistical and administrative operations. Since the Marine Corps has no doctors, nurses, or enlisted medics, Marines are often accompanied into combat by specially-trained Navy medics.
Besides the Coast Guard, the Marine Corps is the smallest service, containing 18,000 officers and 153,000 enlisted active duty personnel. There is no Marine Corps National Guard, but in times of need supplemental forces are supplied by the Marine Corps Reserves.
Important Dates and Events
10 November 1775- Marine Corps established 3 March 1776- First amphibious raid 27 March 1794- USMC and Navy reestablished by Naval Act of 1794 20 February 1815- "Old Ironsides" victory over British 15 May 1862- First Navy-issued Medal of Honor for a Marine 12 November 1908- Marines banned from warships, restored 6 months later 8 March 1911- 1st Marine Division born 22 May 1912- First Marine pilot established 23 February 1945- Flag raised on Iwo Jima 1965- Ground troops begin fighting in Vietnam 1978- First female general officer 1979- First black general officer |
Famous Leaders
John F. Mackie (1861-1865) Dion Williams (1893-1934) Opha Mae Johnson (1918-1919) Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller (1918-1955) Gregory "Pappy" Boyington (1934-1947) John Bolt (1941-1962) Ira Hayes (1942-1945) Frederick C. Branch (1943-1955) Chuck Mawhinney (1967-1970) |
Important Battles
Battle of Belleau Wood- 1-26 June 1918
World War I: After 26 days of combat, American forces (predominantly Marines) defeat German forces, stopping the German offensive and beginning a counterattack. It is here the Marines earned the nickname "Devil Dogs" and publicity for the USMC was sparked
Battle of Midway- 4 June 1942
World War II: The decisive battle of the war in the Pacific followed Japanese capturing areas of the Pacific and Asia. Japanese planned to trap and destroy the US Pacific Fleet but American fores took Japanese forces by surprise and sunk the four carriers that had attacked Pearl Harbor 6 months before
Battle of Guadalcanal- 7 August 1942
World War II: American victory ensured Australia was safe from Japanese invasion and protected the sea route between Australia and America
Battle of Iwo Jima- 19 February- 26 March 19458
World War II: Also known as Operation Detachment, this was the first American attack on Japanese soil that led to an overwhelming American victory after the bloodiest battle of the War in the Pacific (produced iconic photograph Flag Raising on Iwo Jima by Joe Rosenthal)
Battle of Chosin Reservoir- 26 November- 11 December 1950
Korean War: High point in US Marine Corps history, after the victorious closing of the Korean War American forces braved extreme cold to effectively cripple and destroy 7 Chinese divisions
Battle of Belleau Wood- 1-26 June 1918
World War I: After 26 days of combat, American forces (predominantly Marines) defeat German forces, stopping the German offensive and beginning a counterattack. It is here the Marines earned the nickname "Devil Dogs" and publicity for the USMC was sparked
Battle of Midway- 4 June 1942
World War II: The decisive battle of the war in the Pacific followed Japanese capturing areas of the Pacific and Asia. Japanese planned to trap and destroy the US Pacific Fleet but American fores took Japanese forces by surprise and sunk the four carriers that had attacked Pearl Harbor 6 months before
Battle of Guadalcanal- 7 August 1942
World War II: American victory ensured Australia was safe from Japanese invasion and protected the sea route between Australia and America
Battle of Iwo Jima- 19 February- 26 March 19458
World War II: Also known as Operation Detachment, this was the first American attack on Japanese soil that led to an overwhelming American victory after the bloodiest battle of the War in the Pacific (produced iconic photograph Flag Raising on Iwo Jima by Joe Rosenthal)
Battle of Chosin Reservoir- 26 November- 11 December 1950
Korean War: High point in US Marine Corps history, after the victorious closing of the Korean War American forces braved extreme cold to effectively cripple and destroy 7 Chinese divisions
Organization For the most part, Marines deal with the "Rule of Three"- each Marine has 3 things to worry about. Team- four Marines (three team members and a team leader) Squad- Three teams Platoon- Three squads Company (or Battery)- Three platoons Battalion- Three companies/batteries Marine Corps- Three or more divisions Marine aviation is structured differently: Squadron- 4-24 aircraft Group- 3 or more squadrons Wing- 3+ groups |
Air Force
About
The youngest branch of the military, the Air Force has only been a separate branch of the military since the establishment of the National Security Act of 1947. Before 1947, the Air Force was a separate Corps of the Army called the Army Air Force, with the purpose to support Army forces on the ground. In World War II, however, it became clear that air power showed much greater potential than just support of ground forces, leading to the creation of the Air Force in 1947.
The Air Force's mission is to protect the United States and its interests by exploiting air and space. The Air Force employs the use of many types of air craft including fighters, tankers, light and heavy bombers, and transport planes. Helicopters are also used though mostly for rescue of downed aircrew or special operations missions. In addition, all military satellites and nuclear ballistic missiles are the responsibility of this branch.
The Air Force contains 69,000 commissioned officers and 288,000 active duty personnel. In times of need the Air Force is supplemented by the Air Force Reserves and the Air National Guard.
The youngest branch of the military, the Air Force has only been a separate branch of the military since the establishment of the National Security Act of 1947. Before 1947, the Air Force was a separate Corps of the Army called the Army Air Force, with the purpose to support Army forces on the ground. In World War II, however, it became clear that air power showed much greater potential than just support of ground forces, leading to the creation of the Air Force in 1947.
The Air Force's mission is to protect the United States and its interests by exploiting air and space. The Air Force employs the use of many types of air craft including fighters, tankers, light and heavy bombers, and transport planes. Helicopters are also used though mostly for rescue of downed aircrew or special operations missions. In addition, all military satellites and nuclear ballistic missiles are the responsibility of this branch.
The Air Force contains 69,000 commissioned officers and 288,000 active duty personnel. In times of need the Air Force is supplemented by the Air Force Reserves and the Air National Guard.
Important Dates and Events
18 September 1947- Air Force officially established 14 October 1947- First supersonic flight 2 March 1949- First non-stop around-the-world flight 16 July 1953- Recognized absolute speed record broken by 15.751 mph 1 April 1954- Air Force Academy established 31 January 1958- First US satellite launched from Cape Canaveral 5 May 1961- First American in space 20 July 1969- Niel Armstrong sets foot on the moon 18 June 1983- First American woman in space 27 April 1995- GPS satellite constellation officially fully operational 15 September 2004- Dedication and groundbreaking of USAF Memorial |
Famous Airplanes
P-38 Lightning (1939) XP-51 Mustang (1941) P-47 Thunderbolt (1943) F-86 Sabre (1949) F117-A Nighthawk Stealth Fighter (1983) F-18 Super Hornet (1992) |
Important Battles
Battle of St. Mihiel- July 1918
World War I: Greatest air battle of the Great War with the largest air command in history up until that date. Offensive contained 1476 allied planes
Battle of Pusan Perimeter- 4 August- 18 September 1950
Korean War: After UN forces neared defeat, they made one last final push resulting in a victory over 98,000 North Korean men
Operation Babylift- 3-26 April 1975
Vietnam War: Mass evacuation of children from South Vietnam to the United States, saving more than 3,300 children
1991 Bombing of Iraq- 17 January- 23 February 1991
Gulf War: Extensive aerial bombing of Iraq in the Gulf War Air Campaign dropped 88,500 tons of bombs on Iraq, scattering forces and keeping them from replenishing units
Battle of St. Mihiel- July 1918
World War I: Greatest air battle of the Great War with the largest air command in history up until that date. Offensive contained 1476 allied planes
Battle of Pusan Perimeter- 4 August- 18 September 1950
Korean War: After UN forces neared defeat, they made one last final push resulting in a victory over 98,000 North Korean men
Operation Babylift- 3-26 April 1975
Vietnam War: Mass evacuation of children from South Vietnam to the United States, saving more than 3,300 children
1991 Bombing of Iraq- 17 January- 23 February 1991
Gulf War: Extensive aerial bombing of Iraq in the Gulf War Air Campaign dropped 88,500 tons of bombs on Iraq, scattering forces and keeping them from replenishing units
Organization
Airman- Individual Air Force member Section- Two or more airmen (may be skipped) Flight- Two or more airmen, or two or more sections Squadron- Two or more flights Group- Two or more squadrons Wing- Two or more groups Numbered Air Force- Assigned to a geographical area usually in wartime Major Command (MAJCOM)- Wings report to MAJCOMs Air Force- MAJCOMs report to directly to Headquarters, Air Force |