United States military
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| United States military | |
|---|---|
| Name | United States Armed Forces |
| Caption | Seal of the United States Department of Defense |
| Founded | 14 June 1775 |
| Current form | 18 September 1947 |
| Branches | United States Army, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Space Force |
| Headquarters | The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia |
| Commander-in-chief | President of the United States |
| Minister title | United States Secretary of Defense |
| Commander title | Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff |
| Age | 17 with parental consent |
| Active | ~1,328,000 |
| Reserve | ~799,500 |
| Percent GDP | 3.5% |
| History | American Revolutionary War, War of 1812, American Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, War in Afghanistan, Iraq War |
| Ranks | Officer, Enlisted |
United States military. The armed forces of the United States, collectively known as the United States military, consist of six service branches operating under the civilian leadership of the United States Department of Defense. Tracing its origins to the Continental Army founded in 1775, it is the world's most powerful military by several metrics, including technological sophistication, global power projection, and defense expenditure. Its primary mission is to protect the security of the United States and its interests abroad, operating from hundreds of bases worldwide, such as Ramstein Air Base in Germany and Camp Humphreys in South Korea.
History
The military's origins lie in the American Revolutionary War, with the Second Continental Congress establishing the Continental Army under George Washington. Key early conflicts that shaped the institution include the War of 1812 and the Mexican–American War. The American Civil War was a transformative period, introducing industrial-era warfare and leading to the establishment of permanent standing forces. The 20th century saw decisive involvement in both World War I and World War II, the latter cementing its status as a global superpower. The subsequent Cold War drove a massive technological and strategic competition with the Soviet Union, involving conflicts like the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The post-Cold War era has been defined by expeditionary operations, including the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, and the Iraq War.
Organization
The military is organized under the United States Department of Defense, headed by the United States Secretary of Defense. The six uniformed services are the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Space Force, and the United States Coast Guard (which reports to the United States Department of Homeland Security during peacetime). Operational command is executed through eleven Unified Combatant Commands, such as United States Indo-Pacific Command and United States Special Operations Command. Key supporting agencies include the Defense Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency.
Personnel
The active-duty force numbers approximately 1.3 million personnel, supplemented by over 799,000 in the Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces and the National Guard of the United States. All personnel swear an oath to the Constitution of the United States, with civilian control vested in the President of the United States as Commander-in-Chief. Senior military advice is provided by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, led by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Notable service academies include the United States Military Academy at West Point and the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis.
Budget and procurement
It possesses the largest military budget in the world, exceeding that of the next several nations combined, and is administered by the United States Congress through annual National Defense Authorization Act legislation. Major procurement programs are managed by entities like the Defense Logistics Agency and involve flagship platforms such as the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier, the F-35 Lightning II, and the Columbia-class submarine. Primary defense contractors include Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, and Northrop Grumman.
Operations and deployments
It maintains a continuous global presence, with major forward operating locations including Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Naval Support Activity Naples in Italy, and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Current major operational commitments involve counter-terrorism support in Africa Command's area of responsibility and freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea. It regularly conducts large-scale multinational exercises like Operation Atlantic Resolve in Europe and Cobra Gold in Thailand.
Technology and capabilities
It maintains overwhelming technological superiority across most domains, including the world's most powerful navy by tonnage and the most advanced air force. Its nuclear triad, consisting of Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, Ohio-class submarines, and B-2 Spirit bombers, is managed by the United States Strategic Command. Cutting-edge research is conducted by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, leading to developments in areas like hypersonic weapons, cyber warfare, and artificial intelligence. The establishment of the United States Space Force in 2019 formalized the focus on dominance in the space domain, operating assets like the Global Positioning System and the Space-Based Infrared System.