branches library

 

Learn about the various branches of the U.S. Military. Find out how they were formed, their role in the nation’s defense, and what it’s like to be a soldier in one of these branches.

Featured Article:  How the U.S. Army Works

The U.S. Army is one of the three main branches of the U.S. military and is primarily concerned with fighting on the ground. Learn all about the U.S. Army from sign up to discharge. See more »

How Delta Force Works

How Delta Force Works

Delta Force is the U.S. military's most elite tactical combat group. Yet the government refuses to deny its existence. Does a well-funded secret force that, allegedly, answers only to the president make the U.S. more secure or more vulnerable?

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How IARPA Works

How IARPA Works

Described by government officials as "disruptive," this research and technology organization is supposed to change the face of U.S. spying. Is IARPA a real-life James Bond Q Branch?

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How is the National Guard different from the regular Army?

How is the National Guard different from the regular Army?

The National Guard serves many purposes and does many jobs for the United States. Learn what the National Guard is and how it differs from the Army and the Air Force.

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How NORAD Works

How NORAD Works

Ever heard of a military operation run out of a hollowed-out mountain? Welcome to NORAD, a defense command that monitors air and space for potential attacks on the U.S. Learn about NORAD and the unique location for the NORAD headquarters.

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How the Army Rangers Work

How the Army Rangers Work

The U.S. Army Rangers are an oddity of the U.S. military special operations forces. Though they can trace their lineage as far back as colonial times, they didn't become a permanent presence in the military until the 1970s.

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How the Green Berets Work

How the Green Berets Work

John F. Kennedy called the green beret "a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction in the fight for freedom" -- a nod to the most formidable arm of the U.S. military. The Green Berets, or Special Forces, are America's first line of defense around the world.

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How the Navy SEALs Work

How the Navy SEALs Work

For most of us, “Special Ops” is what we see in the movies: soldiers trained to kill using their thumb; Charlie Sheen carrying a semi-automatic. But Special Operations are for real, and the U.S. Navy version -- the SEALs -– complete some of the most dangerous military missions. Learn about the Navy SEALs.

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How the U.S. Air Force Works

How the U.S. Air Force Works

The U.S. Air Force is the youngest American military branch, forming in the 20th century after the invention of the airplane. Tasked with protecting the nation's skies and supporting ground troops, the Air Force relies on the most technologically advanced military aircraft in the world.

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How the U.S. Army Works

How the U.S. Army Works

The U.S. Army is one of the three main branches of the U.S. military and is primarily concerned with fighting on the ground. Learn all about the U.S. Army from sign up to discharge.

See more »
How the U.S. Coast Guard Works

How the U.S. Coast Guard Works

Unique among the U.S. armed forces, the Coast Guard is perpetually on active duty, entrusted with lots responsibilities and chronically underfunded. Learn about the U.S. Coast Guard.

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How the U.S. Marines Work

How the U.S. Marines Work

The Marines are the smallest branch of the U.S. military, and arguably the toughest. Learn why there is a Marine Corps, how it's structured, the history behind the Corps, how to join, life inside, and leaving.

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How the U.S. Navy Works

How the U.S. Navy Works

The United States Navy is the largest navy in the world. Learn how the Navy is structured, what ships it uses, what life is like in the Navy and how it has evolved over the years.

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Air Force

Air Force, the air arm of a nation's military forces, usually separately organized as coequal with the army and the navy.

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Air Police

Air Police, the group that exercises police functions among personnel of the U.S.

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Air University

Air University, the center for the professional education of officers and senior noncommissioned officers of the United States Air Force.

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Aircraft Carrier

Aircraft Carrier, a naval vessel that uses airplanes and helicopters as its principal weapons.

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Amphibious Warfare

Amphibious Warfare, military campaigns of combined land and sea forces. Since no military action of any size would be undertaken without also using air power, the word triphibious, meaning use of land, sea, and air forces, has been suggested, but it is not commonly used.

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Armor

Armor, a defensive covering, usually made of metal. It is worn by soldiers, sailors, or airmen to protect them against enemy weapons.

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Army

Army, a large body of men (and sometimes women) trained and armed for land warfare.

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Battalion

Battalion, a military unit usually numbering between 500 and 1,000 men. This term has been loosely used in many countries for centuries to mean any large body of troops.

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