The US Military is one of the world's most sophisticated and advanced forces.  One thing that baffles many people is how many branches of the military there are.  However, there is a reason for this.

Each branch specializes in a special kind of service. While many other countries have typical branches like the Army, Navy,and Air Forces, the US has more specialized branches like the National Guard.  In this guide, we will dive deep into all of them.

All the Different Branches of the US Military

The US military has a total of 6 branches.  And the US president is practically in charge of it all. The President is the final decision-maker. Each branch has its ownspecialization and performs tasks according to its duties.  Here are the six branches:

●     Army

●     Air Forces

●     Navy

●     Coast Guard

●     Marine Corps

●     Space Forces

In addition,the Department of Defense, often shortened to DoD, has control over each military branch. However, it does not have any control over the Coast Guard.  The Coast Guard is under Homeland Security.

There are over 2 million employees, both civilian and military.  Which, in a way, makes it one of the biggest companies in the world. The nuance differences between them can get confusing.  Here is an in-depth look into each branch of the military.

The US Army

The US Army is the primary land battalion.  They are in charge of entering an area and securing it. Moreover, the Army also guards US properties and installations worldwide.

It was established in 1775 and is also the oldest military branch.  Even though it is the main land force, the Army also serves by air.

The Air Force

Secondly, we have the Air Force.  It is often shortened to USAF for US Air Force. During the early 20^th century, the USAF was a part of the US Army.  Later during World War II, it became a separate military branch.

USAF is the nation's primary force and power in the air. It serves both in its homeland and also overseas.  The Air Force hosts much personnel employed in medical, legal, computer science, and engineering fields as well.

The US Navy

Taking care of the sea are the Navy.  However, the Navy also operates military aircraft – it even serves on land. The US Navy maintain order in the sea and ensure the world water ways are safe to travel.

The Navy SEALs are the Elite forces of the Navy. It stands for Sea, Air, and Land forces. Navy SEAL training is one of the most intensive and demanding routines.  It also offers a career in over 60 specialties, including engineering, medical, aviation, and more.

The US Marine Corps

The Marine Corps is US' rapid-reaction force. This military personnel will often be the first on the battle scene. Marines train to be expert warriors. As a result,their training is very intense and demanding too.

The Marine Corps is its own separate branch, but technically it is a part of the NavyForces and was founded in 1775.  You will see Marines in the Navy ships as well.

The US Coast Guard

The Coast Guards, mostly perform duties in domestic waterways.  Missions could be related to Homeland Security or non-homeland security issues. It tackles tasks such as drug prevention and more.

They are the first to respond to protect the US coasts. Missions for the Coast Guard are very different from other branches and are defined by US law.  They often do tasks such as search and rescue missions.

The US Space Forces

Space Forces are the newest branch of the US Military and keep the nation protected inspace.  They research military space power and capabilities of the US and acquire space systems.

The development of this branch is still in progress.  It was signed into law very recently, at the end of 2019.  Therefore, many things about this branch still need to be finalized.

Is the National Guard Part of the US Military?

Technically,the National Guard is not a part of the US Military because it is not a separate branch.  Each state has its own National Guard.  Most US territories and the District of Columbia have their own National Guard too.

So, although the National Guard is an important part of military service, it is a bit of an oddity compared to other separate branches. It consists of Army Guard and Air Force Guard.  And they serve as reserves for their branches.

National Guard members work as part-time service personnel.  One of the recent and largest activations of the National Guard was in 2020 when they helped to provide crucial services tothe people.

They also responded to all kinds of other natural disasters.  Each state’s governors can call upon the National Guard when needed, and so can the President.

Why Does the US Military Have So Many Branches

The different branches of the US Military serve a singular primary goal of national security and peace.  The US is currently operating in more than 100 countries worldwide. There are different branches because they specialize in one specific kind of role and serve a specific purpose.

This is one of the reasons why the US Military is one of the strongest in the world.  Even the US National Guard serves its unique purpose in the overall picture.  Many military members learn critical skills that can later be transferred to civilian life.

However, not all of the members need to be on the front line of battle.  Members of guard forces and reserves work civilian jobs. But they are also full-time military employees.

Wrapping Up

Hopefully, now you have a better understanding of the branches of the military, their operations, and their primary role.  As you can see, not every branch performs a single task and service.

For example, even though the Army is the US' primary defense on land, they also operate in the air. On the other hand, the Air Forces and the Navy can also operate on land.  Navy SEALs, one of the world's most intense and highly-trained military forces, operate in sea, land, and air.

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