United States Armed Forces
United States Joint Service Color guard on parade at Fort Myer.
Branches of service
U.S. Army U.S. Marine Corps U.S. Navy U.S. Air Force U.S. Coast Guard
Leadership
Headquarters:	The White House
Commander-in-Chief:	George W. Bush
Secretary of Defense:	Robert M. Gates
Personnel
Active personnel:	1,426,713 (Ranked 2nd)
Reserve personnel:	858,500 (List of countries by size of armed forces)
Military age population:	males & females ages 17-49: 109,305,756 (2005 est.).[4]
Reaching military age annually:	males & females: 4,180,074 (2005 est.)
Military age:	17-45 years old [3]
Service law:	Regular Army: No Citizenship Requirement For Enlisted Members / All Officers must be US Citizens. National Guard: Citizens Only.
Industry
Annual spending:	$522 billion [1] (Ranked 1st)
Percent of GDP spent on military:	3.7% (FY2006 est.) (Ranked 26th) Dollar Figure (per capita) $935.64($1470)[2] (ranked 3rd)
History
Colonial wars American Revolutionary War Early national period Continental expansion American Civil War Post-Civil War era First World War (1917-1918) Second World War (1941-1945) Cold War (1945–1991) Post-Cold War era (1991–2001) War on Terrorism (2001–present)
Ranks and insignia

The Military of the United States, officially known as the United States Armed Forces, is structured into five branches consisting of the: Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 520 pixel Image in higher resolution (3000 × 1950 pixel, file size: 913 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) // The Joint Service Color Guard advances the colors during the retirement ceremony of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. ... Orville Wright flying at Fort Myer, September 17, 1908. ... Image File history File links United_States_Department_of_the_Army_Seal. ... The United States Army is one of the armed forces of the United States and has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... Image File history File links USMC_logo. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ... Image File history File links United_States_Department_of_the_Navy_Seal. ... The United States Navy, also known as the USN or the U.S. Navy, is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. ... Image File history File links Seal_of_the_US_Air_Force. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... Image File history File links USCG_S_W.svg‎ File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): United States Navy United States Army United States Marine Corps United States Air Force Military of the United States United States Coast Guard... The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is a branch of the United States armed forces involved in maritime law enforcement, mariner assistance, search and rescue, and national defense. ... This page is about the official residence of the President of the USA. For other White Houses see White House (disambiguation). ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... Dr. Robert Michael Gates (born September 25, 1943) served as Director of Central Intelligence from November 6, 1991 until January 20, 1993 and was Deputy National Security Adviser under Brent Scowcroft during the first Gulf War. ... It has been suggested that List of countries by size of armed forces be merged into this article or section. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Wars of national liberation. ... Combatants American Revolutionaries French Monarchy Spanish Empire Dutch Republic Oneida and Tuscarora tribes Polish volunteers Prussian volunteers Kingdom of Great Britain Iroquois Confederacy Hessian mercenaries Loyalists Commanders George Washington Nathanael Greene Gilbert de La Fayette Comte de Rochambeau Bernardo de Gálvez Tadeusz Kościuszko Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben Sir... The military history of the United States spans a period of less than two and a half centuries. ... The military history of the United States spans a period of less than two and a half centuries. ... This article is becoming very long. ... The military history of the United States spans a period of less than two and a half centuries. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... The post-Cold War era is a time period following the end of the Cold War. ... This article is about U.S. actions after September 11, 2001. ... The armed forces of a state are its government sponsored defense and fighting forces and organizations. ...

• United States Army
• United States Marine Corps
• United States Navy
• United States Air Force
• United States Coast Guard

The U.S. Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also have active duty uniformed officers, know as the Commissioned Officer Corps (see United States Uniformed Services). The United States Army is one of the armed forces of the United States and has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ... The United States Navy, also known as the USN or the U.S. Navy, is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is a branch of the United States armed forces involved in maritime law enforcement, mariner assistance, search and rescue, and national defense. ... Template:Higher standard // History of the United States Public Health Service The United States Public Health Service (PHS) was founded first by President John Adams in 1798 as a loose network of hospitals to support the health of American seamen. ... The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a scientific agency of the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere. ... The United States has seven uniformed services, five military and two civilian. ...

All branches are part of the United States Uniformed Services and are under civilian control with the President of the United States serving as Commander-in-Chief. All branches except the Coast Guard are part of the Department of Defense, which is under the authority of the Secretary of Defense, who is also a civilian. The Coast Guard falls under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security. During wartime, the Coast Guard may be placed under the Department of Defense through the Department of the Navy in times of need acting as a service to the Navy.^[5] In times of armed conflict a civilian is any person who is not a combatant. ... The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. ... Commander-in-Chief (in NATO-lingo often C-in-C or CINC pronounced sink) is the commander of all the military forces within a particular region or of all the military forces of a state. ... The United States Department of Defense (DOD or DoD) is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government relating directly to national security and the military. ... The United States Secretary of Defense is the head of the United States Department of Defense (DoD), concerned with the armed services and The role of the Secretary of Defense is to be the principal defense policy advisor to the President and is responsible for the formulation of general defense... The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), commonly known as Homeland Security, is a Cabinet department of the Federal Government of the United States with the responsibility of protecting the territory of the United States from terrorist attacks and responding to natural disasters. ... Seal The United States Department of the Navy was established by an Act of Congress on April 30, 1798, to provide administrative and technical support, and civilian leadership to the United States Navy and Marine Corps. ...

Approximately 1,426,713 personnel are currently on active duty in the military with an additional 1,259,000 personnel in the seven reserve components .^[6] As it is currently a volunteer military, there is no conscription. Women are not allowed to serve in some combat assignments, but they are allowed to serve in most non-combat specialties. Due to the realities of war some of these non-combat positions see combat regularly. ^[7] The Reserve Components of the Armed Forces of the United States are military organizations with members who generally perform a minimum of 39 days of military duty per year and who augment the active duty (or full time) military when necessary. ... A volunteer military or all-volunteer military is one which derives its manpower from volunteers rather than conscription or mandatory service. ...

Much of U.S. military capability is involved in logistics and transportation, which enable rapid buildup of forces as needed. The Air Force maintains a large fleet of C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster, and C-130 Hercules transportation aircraft with an equally large fleet of aerial refuelling tankers. The Marine Corps maintains Marine Expeditionary Units at sea with the Navy's Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. The Navy's fleet of 11 active aircraft carriers, combined with a military doctrine of power projection, enables a flexible response to potential threats. For these reasons, the United States military is universally considered the most powerful in the world. Look up Logistics in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a military transport aircraft designed to provide strategic heavy airlift over intercontinental distances. ... The C_17 Globemaster III is a strategic airlifter manufactured by Boeing IDS, used by the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force. ... The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop cargo aircraft and the main tactical airlifter for many military forces worldwide. ... Aerial refueling, also called in-flight refueling (IFR) or air-to-air refueling (AAR), is the practice of transferring fuel from one aircraft to another during flight. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ... A Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is the smallest combined forces unit in the United States Marine Corps. ... The United States Navy, also known as the USN or the U.S. Navy, is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. ... Four aircraft carriers, (bottom-to-top) Principe de Asturias, amphibious assault carrier USS Wasp, supercarrier USS Forrestal and light V/STOL carrier HMS Invincible, showing size differences of late 20th century carriers An aircraft carrier is a warship designed to deploy and recover aircraft — in effect acting as a sea... Military doctrine is a level of military planning between national strategy and unit-level tactics, techniques, and procedures. ...

Organization

Under the United States Constitution, the President of the United States is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. To coordinate military action with diplomatic action, the President has an advisory National Security Council headed by a National Security Advisor. Wikisource has original text related to this article: Constitution of the United States of America Page one of the original copy of the Constitution. ... The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. ... Commander-in-Chief (in NATO-lingo often C-in-C or CINC pronounced sink) is the commander of all the military forces within a particular region or of all the military forces of a state. ... The National Security Council (NSC) of the United States is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and cabinet officials. ... -1...

Under the President is the United States Secretary of Defense, a Cabinet Secretary responsible for the Department of Defense. The United States Secretary of Defense is the head of the United States Department of Defense (DoD), concerned with the armed services and The role of the Secretary of Defense is to be the principal defense policy advisor to the President and is responsible for the formulation of general defense... A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. ... The United States Department of Defense (DOD or DoD) is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government relating directly to national security and the military. ...

Both the President and Secretary of Defense are advised by the Joint Chiefs of Staff composed of the service chiefs and led by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States of America symbol The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is a grouping comprising the Chiefs of service of each major branch of the armed services in the United States armed forces. ... The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer of the United States military, and the principal military advisor to the President of the United States. ... The position of Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was created by the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986. ...

The Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 (PL 99-433) reworked the command structure of the United States military, introducing the most sweeping changes to the United States Department of Defense since it was established in the National Security Act of 1947. The Goldwater-Nichols Reorganization Act was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on October 1, 1986. The Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 Pub. ... The United States Department of Defense (DOD or DoD) is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government relating directly to national security and the military. ... President Truman signs the National Security Act Amendment of 1949 with guests in the Oval Office. ... Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was the 40th President of the United States (1981 – 1989) and the 33rd Governor of California (1967 – 1975). ... October 1 is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Goldwater-Nichols Act streamlined the military chain of command, which now runs from the President through the Secretary of Defense directly to unified combat commanders, bypassing the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who were assigned to an advisory role. Each service is responsible for organizing, training and equipping military units for the commanders of the various Unified Commands. This article deals with the military concept. ... The United States Secretary of Defense is the head of the United States Department of Defense, concerned with the armed services and The Secretary is a member of the Presidents Cabinet. ... Map of the United States Unified Combatant Commands (click to enlarge image). ... Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States of America symbol The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is a grouping comprising the Chiefs of service of each major branch of the armed services in the United States armed forces. ...

National Command organizational chart

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1767x750, 26 KB) Summary Drawn by Nicholas F Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1767x750, 26 KB) Summary Drawn by Nicholas F Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ...

Joint Chiefs of Staff

The 4 Service Chiefs together with the Chairman and Vice Chairman form the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer of the United States military, and the principal military advisor to the President of the United States. ... The position of Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was created by the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986. ... Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States of America symbol The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is a grouping comprising the Chiefs of service of each major branch of the armed services in the United States armed forces. ...

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer of the United States military, and the principal military advisor to the President of the United States. ... General Peter Pace (b. ... United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ... The position of Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was created by the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986. ... Admiral Giambastiani, USN Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... The Flag of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army The Chief of Staff of the United States Army (CSA) is the professional head of the United States Army who is responsible for insuring readiness of the Army. ... General George Casey General George William Casey, Jr. ... The Commandant of the United States Marine Corps is the highest ranking officer of the United States Marine Corps and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reporting to the Secretary of the Navy but not to the Chief of Naval Operations. ... James Terry Conway is a Lieutenant General in the United States Marine Corps. ... United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ... The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) is the senior military officer in the United States Navy. ... Admiral Mullen with Royal Norwegian Navy Rear Admiral (RADM) Jan Erik Finseth, the RNoN Chief of Staff Admiral Michael G. Mullen (born October 4, 1946) became the 28th Chief of Naval Operations of the United States Navy, relieving Admiral Vern Clark on 22 July 2005. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... The Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force (CSAF) serves as the senior uniformed United States Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training, and equipage of more than 700,000 active-duty, National Guard, Reserve, and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas. ... General T. Micheal Moseley T. Michael Moseley is the current Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. ... Seal of the Air Force. ...

Unified Combatant Commands

There are 10 Unified Combatant Commands: 6 geographic and 4 functional. A Unified Combatant Command is composed of forces from two or more services, has a broad and continuing mission, and is organized either on a geographical basis (known as Area Of Responsibility, AOR) or on a functional basis. ...

Until 2007, five geographical commands were given responsibilities for United States military operations in various areas of the world as shown on the following map. Emblem of the United States Northern Command. ... Victor Eugene Renuart Jr. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... Peterson Air Force Base (Peterson AFB) is a base of the United States Air Force located in El Paso County, Colorado near Colorado Springs. ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Area  Ranked 8th  - Total 104,185 sq mi (269,837 km²)  - Width 280 miles (451 km)  - Length 380 miles (612 km)  - % water 0. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... Military personnel have started to guard transportation facilities such as Penn Station as part of homeland security efforts. ... Emblem of the United States Central Command. ... William Joseph Fallon (born December 30, 1944) is an Admiral in the United States Navy and took command of U.S. Central Command on March 16, 2007. ... The United States Navy, also known as the USN or the U.S. Navy, is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. ... Aerial Photo of MacDill Air Force Base, Florida - March 1987 MacDill Air Force Base Emblem showing a KC-135 Stratotanker of the 6th Air Mobility Wing with the Tampa Skyline and Gasparilla ship in the background. ... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Largest metro area Miami Area  Ranked 22nd  - Total 65,795[1] sq mi (170,304[1] km²)  - Width 361 miles (582 km)  - Length 447 miles (721 km)  - % water 17. ... Map of the Persian Gulf. ... Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ... The Horn of Africa. ... The United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM or AFRICOM) is a new Unified Combatant Command of the United States military, to have an area of responsibility covering Africa and to be fully operational by September 2008. ... The U.S. European Command (EUCOM) is Unified Combatant Command of the United States military, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. ... General Bantz John Craddock led the United States Southern Command from November 9, 2004 to December 2006. ... Supreme Allied Commander is the title given to the most senior commander of some multinational organisations. ... Shape (OE. sceap Eng. ... City Center seen from Weinsteige Road Stuttgart Palace Square - New Palace Solitude Palace The 1956 TV Tower U.S. Army Kelley Barracks Stuttgart [], located in southern Germany, is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg with a population of 591,528 (as of April 2006) in the city... World map showing the location of Europe. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... The United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM or AFRICOM) is a new Unified Combatant Command of the United States military, to have an area of responsibility covering Africa and to be fully operational by September 2008. ... The United States Pacific Command operates from suburban Honolulu in south central Oahu at the Nimitz-MacArthur Pacific Command Center. ... Timothy J. Keating (here depicted as Vice Admiral) Admiral Timothy J. Keating is Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. ... The United States Navy, also known as the USN or the U.S. Navy, is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. ... Camp H. M. Smith is a United States Marine Corps installation on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. ... OÊ»ahu (usually Oahu outside Hawaiian and Hawaiian English), the Gathering Place, is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous island in the State of HawaiÊ»i. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... World map showing the location of Asia. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The United States Southern Command (also called SOUTHCOM) is responsible for all United States military activities in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean basin. ... Adm. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... Nickname: Location in Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... For other uses, see Central America (disambiguation). ... The United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM or AFRICOM) is a new Unified Combatant Command of the United States military, to have an area of responsibility covering Africa and to be fully operational by September 2008. ... The term Rear Admiral originated from the days of Naval Sailing Squadrons, and can trace its origins to the British Royal Navy. ... City Center seen from Weinsteige Road Stuttgart Palace Square - New Palace Solitude Palace The 1956 TV Tower U.S. Army Kelley Barracks Stuttgart [], located in southern Germany, is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg with a population of 591,528 (as of April 2006) in the city... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Emblem of the United States Special Operations Command. ... Gen. ... Aerial Photo of MacDill Air Force Base, Florida - March 1987 MacDill Air Force Base Emblem showing a KC-135 Stratotanker of the 6th Air Mobility Wing with the Tampa Skyline and Gasparilla ship in the background. ... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Largest metro area Miami Area  Ranked 22nd  - Total 65,795[1] sq mi (170,304[1] km²)  - Width 361 miles (582 km)  - Length 447 miles (721 km)  - % water 17. ... USJFCOM Logo U.S. Joint Forces Command is one of nine unified combatant commands of the U.S. military. ... Lieutenant General Lance L. Smith serves as the Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. ... Seal of the Air Force. ... Supreme Allied Commander is the title given to the most senior commander of some multinational organisations. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  Ranked 35th  - Total 42,793 sq mi (110,862 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 7. ... The armed forces of the United States of America consist of the United States Army United States Navy United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard Note: The United States Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement functions. ... James E. Cartwright General James E. Cartwright is Commander, United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. ... United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ... Offutt Air Force Base (Offutt AFB) is a base of the United States Air Force and a census-designated place (CDP) located in Sarpy County, Nebraska. ... Official language(s) English Capital Lincoln Largest city Omaha Largest metro area Omaha Area  Ranked 16th  - Total 77,421 sq mi (200,520 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 0. ... The United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) is one of nine unified commands of the United Statess Department of Defense. ... General Norton A. Schwartz General Norton A. Schwartz, USAF, is Commander, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. ... Seal of the Air Force. ... Scott Air Force Base (Scott AFB) (IATA: BLV, ICAO: KBLV) is an base of the United States Air Force in St. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ...

The 5 Geographic Commands

February 2007 Draft Map of the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM) showing its creation from parts of USEUCOM, USCENTCOM and USPACOM. (Click to see enlarged image)

Beginning in 2007, a new geographical command for Africa was authorized. This proposed significant changes to the areas of responsibility for other adjacent geographical commands as shown in the accompanying graphic. world map of divided by regional Unified Commands-public resource from pentagon website File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (960x720, 141 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Military of the United States Unified Combatant Command United States Africa Command ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (960x720, 141 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Military of the United States Unified Combatant Command United States Africa Command ... The United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM or AFRICOM) is a new Unified Combatant Command of the United States military, to have an area of responsibility covering Africa and to be fully operational by September 2008. ... The U.S. European Command (EUCOM) is Unified Combatant Command of the United States military, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. ... Emblem of the United States Central Command. ... The United States Pacific Command operates from suburban Honolulu in south central Oahu at the Nimitz-MacArthur Pacific Command Center. ... The United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM or AFRICOM) is a new Unified Combatant Command of the United States military, to have an area of responsibility covering Africa and to be fully operational by September 2008. ...

Personnel

The United States military is ranked second largest in the world, and has troops deployed around the globe. As in most militaries, members of the U.S. Armed Forces hold a rank, either officer or enlisted, and can be promoted. rank. ... An officer is a member of a military or naval service who holds a position of responsibility. ... In military service, an enlisted rank is generally any rating below that of a commissioned officer. ...

Personnel in each service

As of 2004

The United States Army is one of the armed forces of the United States and has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ... The United States Navy, also known as the USN or the U.S. Navy, is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is a branch of the United States armed forces involved in maritime law enforcement, mariner assistance, search and rescue, and national defense. ...

Personnel deployed

Main article: Deployments of the United States Military

The Military of the United States is deployed in many countries across the world. ...

Overseas

As of 2005, the United States occupied over 700 military bases in over 36 countries worldwide.^[9] Some of the largest contingents are:

According to United States Army Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno (lead commander of day-to-day operations for Operation Iraqi Freedom), as of May 5, 2007 there are approximately 160,000 U.S. troops currently deployed in Iraq.^[10] Approximately 15,000 U.S. troops are engaged elsewhere throughout the Middle East, with most forces currently deployed in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. United States Forces Japan (USFJ, Japanese: 在日米軍) refers to the various divisions of the United States Armed Forces that are stationed in Japan. ... United States Forces Korea (USFK, Korean: 주한미군, Hanja: 駐韓美軍) refers to the ground, air and naval divisions of the United States Armed Forces stationed in South Korea. ... For other uses of the term, see Iraq war (disambiguation) The 2003 invasion of Iraq (also called the 2nd or 3rd Persian Gulf War) began on March 20, 2003, when forces belonging primarily to the United States and the United Kingdom invaded Iraq arguably without the explicit backing of the... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Combatants United States Canada Australia United Kingdom Netherlands Philippines (in the Philippines theatre only) Northern Alliance GUAM Poland Italy Visegrad Group Hungary Ethiopia Somalia Estonia Latvia Lithuania Slovakia Vilnius group Croatia Albania Macedonia Romania Bulgaria Taliban al-Qaeda Abu Sayyaf Jemaah Islamiyah Islamic Courts Union Commanders General Tommy Franks Brig. ...

Within the United States

Including U.S. territories and ships afloat within territorial waters

A total of 1,112,684 personnel are on active duty within the United States including:

^[11] Depending on usage, the term continental United States can refer to either: the 48 contiguous states plus the District of Columbia; or the 48 contiguous states plus the District of Columbia and Alaska. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Official language(s) English Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area  Ranked 1st  - Total 663,267 sq mi (1,717,855 km²)  - Width 808 miles (1,300 km)  - Length 1,479 miles (2,380 km)  - % water 13. ...

Types of Personnel

Junior Enlisted

After enlistment, new Army recruits undergo Basic Combat Training (BCT), followed by schooling, referred to as Advanced Individual Training (AIT), in their primary Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) at any of the numerous MOS training facilities around the world. Other branches may use different terminology; for example, Air Force Basic Military Training graduates attend Technical Training, colloquially called "Tech School," and upon completion are awarded an Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) at the apprentice (3) skill level. U.S. Army recruits learn about bayonet fighting skills in an infantry Basic Combat Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) is a job classification in use in the United States Army and Marine Corps. ... The Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) is an alphanumeric code used by the United States Air Force to identify an Air Force Specialty (AFS). ...

Initially, recruits without higher education or college degrees will hold the paygrade of E-1, and will be elevated to E-2 usually after the completion of Basic Combat Training and with a minimum of six months Time-In-Service (TIS). Different services have different incentive programs for enlistees, such as higher initial ranks for college credit and referring friends who go on to enlist as well.

With parent/guardian permission, applicants can enlist at the age of 17 and participate in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP). In this program, the applicant is given the opportunity to participate in locally sponsored military-related activities, which can range from sports to competitions (each recruiting station DEP program will vary), led by recruiters or other military liaisons. Participation in this programs is an example of the different opportunities the recruits have to elevate in rank before their departure to Basic Combat Training. This article, image, template or category belongs in one or more categories. ...

There are several different authorized paygrade advancement requirements in each junior enlisted rank category (E-1 to E-4), which differ by service. Enlistees in the Army can attain the initial paygrade of E-4 (Specialist) with a full four-year degree, but the highest initial entry paygrade is usually E-3. Promotion through the junior enlisted ranks is generally noncompetitive, with promotions occurring upon attaining a specified number of years of service, a specified level of technical proficiency and maintenance of good conduct.

Noncommissioned Officer

With very few exceptions, the only direct path to the non-commissioned officer ranks in the United States military are through the lower enlisted ranks. Unlike promotion through the lower enlisted tier, promotion through the NCO ranks are generally competitive. NCO ranks begin at E-4 (E-5 in the Air Force and, with some exceptions, the Army) and are generally attained at between three and six years of service. Junior noncommissioned officers (pay grades E-4, E-5 and E-6) function as front line supervisors, squad leaders, and technical experts, training the junior enlisted in their duties and guiding their career advancement.

Senior Noncommissioned Officer

While by law considered part of the non-commissioned officer corps, senior noncommissioned officers referred to as Chief Petty Officers in the Navy and Coast Guard perform duties more focused on leadership rather than technical expertise. Promotion to the SNCO ranks (E-7 through E-9) is highly competitive. Manning at the pay grades of E-8 and E-9 are limited by Federal law to 2% and 1% of a service's enlisted force respectively. SNCOs function as leaders of small units and staff functions. Some SNCOs manage programs at headquarters level, and a select few wield responsibility at the highest levels of the military structure. All SNCOs are expected to mentor junior commissioned officers as well as the enlisted in their duty sections. The typical enlistee can expect to attain SNCO rank at between 13 and 18 years of service. A non-commissioned officer (sometimes noncommissioned officer), also known as an NCO or noncom, is a non-commissioned member of an armed force who has been given authority by a commissioned officer. ... Chief Petty Officer is a non-commissioned officer or equivalent in many navies. ...

Each of the five services employs a single senior enlisted advisor at departmental level. This individual is the highest ranking enlisted member within his (no females have yet been so appointed) respective service and functions as the chief advisor to the service secretary, service chief of staff, and Congress on matters concerning the enlisted force. These individuals carry responsibilities and protocol requirements equivalent to general and flag officers. They are: Type Bicameral Houses Senate House of Representatives United States Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D since January 4, 2007 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D since January 4, 2007 Members 535 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political groups (as of November 7, 2006 elections) Democratic Party Republican...

• Sergeant Major of the Army
• Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
• Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
• Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
• Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard

Sergeant Major of the Army insignia (U.S. Army) Sergeant Major of the Army flag (U.S. Army) The Sergeant Major of the Army is a unique rank in the United States Army. ... Good conduct variation Master Chief Petty Officer insignia Master Chief Petty Officer is the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy, just above Senior Chief Petty Officer, and is a non-commissioned officer. ... CMSAF Chevron (1 Nov 2004 - present) CMSAF Chevron (Apr 1964 - 31 Oct 2004) The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF) represents the highest enlisted level of leadership in the United States Air Force, and as such, provides direction for the enlisted corps and represents their interests, as appropriate... This article is about a military rank and position. ... Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard (MCPOCG) is a unique non-commisioned rank in the United States Coast Guard. ...

Officer

There are five common ways for one to receive a commission as an officer in one of the branches of the U.S. military (although other routes are possible). An officer is a member of a military or naval service who holds a position of responsibility. ...

• Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
• Officer Candidate School (OCS): This can be through active-duty military academies, or, in the case of the National Guard, through state-run military academies.
• Service Academies (U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York; U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland; U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado; the U.S. Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York.)
• Direct Commission Officers (DCOs) - civilians who have special skills that are critical to sustaining military operations and supporting troops may receive what are called "direct commissions". These officers occupy leadership positions in the following areas: law, medicine, dentistry, nurse corps, intelligence, supply-logistics-transportation, engineering, public affairs, chaplain corps, oceanography, and others.
• Direct Battlefield Commission - enlisted personnel who have skills that separate them from their peers can become officers if an overseeing general/commander feels such a promotion is appropriate/necessary. This type of commission is rarely granted and is reserved only for the most exceptional enlisted personnel, and it is done on an ad hoc basis, typically only in wartime. No direct battlefield commissions have been awarded since the Vietnam War. The Air Force and Navy do not employ this commissioning path.

Officers receive a commission assigning them to the Officer Corps from the President (with the consent of the Senate). The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is a training program of the United States armed forces present on college campuses to recruit and educate commissioned officers. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... The United States military academies, sometimes known as the United States service academies, are federal academies for the education and training of commissioned officers for the United States armed forces. ... Source: This article contains material from the CIA World Factbook which, as a US government publication, is in the public domain. ... Military officers who serve on active duty or in the reserves in many cases receive their commission through a Direct Commission Officer (DCO) program. ... A battlefield commission is given to enlisted soldiers who are promoted to the rank of Commissioned officer for outstanding leadership on the field of battle. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... In military organizations, a commissioned officer is a member of the service who derives authority directly from a sovereign power, and as such holds a commission from that power. ... The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. ... Seal of the U.S. Senate Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal      Senate composition following 2006 elections The United States Senate is...

Through their careers, officers usually will receive further training at one or a number of the many U.S. military staff colleges. Naval War College Command and General Staff College National War College U.S. Army War College Defense Acquisition University See also Staff College Military Academy United States military academies List of defunct United States military academies Categories: United States university stubs | United States military stubs | Military education and training in...

Company grade officers (pay grades O-1 through O-3) function as leaders of smaller units or sections of a unit, typically with an experienced SNCO assistant and mentor. Field grade officers (pay grades O-4 through O-6) lead significantly larger and more complex operations, with gradually more competitive promotion requirements. General officers, or flag officers, serve at the highest levels and oversee major portions of the military mission, from base command on up.

Warrant Officer

Main article: Warrant Officer (United States)

Additionally, all services except for the U.S. Air Force have an active Warrant Officer corps. Above the rank of Warrant Officer One, these officers are also commissioned officers, but usually serve in a more technical and specialized role within units. More recently though they can also serve in more traditional leadership roles associated with the more recognizable officer corps. With one notable exception, these officers ordinarily have already been in the military often serving in senior NCO positions in the field in which they later serve as a Warrant Officer as a technical expert. The exception to the NCO rule is the case of helicopter and fixed wing pilots in the U.S. Army; although most Army pilots have indeed served some enlisted time, it is also possible to enlist, complete basic training, go directly to the Warrant Officer Candidate school at Fort Rucker, Alabama, and then on to flight school. In the United States military, a Warrant Officer is ranked as an officer above the senior-most enlisted ranks but below the grade of O-1 (NATO: OF-1). ... In the United States military, a Warrant Officer is ranked as an officer above the senior-most enlisted ranks but below the grade of O-1 (NATO: OF-1). ...

The Air Force ceased to grant warrant officer commissions in 1959 when the grades of E-8 and E-9 were created. Most non-flying duties performed by warrant officers in other services are instead performed by senior NCOs in the Air Force. 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

History^[12]

Main article: Military history of the United States

Prior to and during the founding of the United States, military forces were supplied by untrained militia commanded by the states. When the Continental Congress first ordered a Continental Army to be formed, it was to be made up of militia from the states. That army, under the command of General George Washington, won the Revolutionary War, but afterwards was disbanded. The military history of the United States spans a period of less than two and a half centuries. ... The Congress of the Confederation or the United States in Congress Assembled was a body of representatives appointed by the legislatures of the United States from March 1, 1781 to March 4, 1789. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and was later elected the first president of the United States under the U.S. Constitution. ... John Trumbulls Declaration of Independence, showing the five-man committee in charge of drafting the Declaration in 1776 as it presents its work to the Second Continental Congress The American Revolution refers to the period during the last half of the 18th century in which the Thirteen Colonies that...

However, it soon became obvious that a standing army and navy were required. The United States Navy began when Congress ordered several frigates in 1794, and a standing army was created, however it was still only minimal and it relied mostly on contributions from state militia in times of war.

Between the founding of the nation and the Civil War, American military forces fought and won against Barbary Coast pirates; fought the War of 1812 against the British, which ended in the status quo; and won several southwestern territories from the Mexicans in the Mexican-American War. In 1861, with the beginning of the Civil War, many military forces, including the nation's best generals, became part of the Confederate military, and both armies fought a long, bloody struggle which consumed 600,000 lives and ended in Union (U.S.) victory in 1865. This article is becoming very long. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Combatants United States Great Britain Canada Bermuda Eastern Woodland Indians Commanders James Madison Henry Dearborn Jacob Brown Winfield Scott Andrew Jackson George Prevost Isaac Brock† Tecumseh† Strength •U.S. Regular Army: 35,800 •Rangers: 3,049 •Militia: 458,463* •US Navy & US Marines: (at start of war): •Frigates:6 •Other... Combatants United States Mexico Commanders Zachary Taylor Winfield Scott Stephen W. Kearney Antonio López de Santa Anna Mariano Arista Pedro de Ampudia José Mariá Flores Strength 78,790 soldiers 18,000–40,000 soldiers Casualties KIA: 1733 Total dead: 13,271 Wounded: 4,152 25,000 killed or wounded... This article is becoming very long. ... Motto Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God, Our Vindicator) Anthem God Save the South (unofficial) Dixie (traditional) The Bonnie Blue Flag (popular) Capital Montgomery, Alabama (until May 29, 1861) Richmond, Virginia (May 29, 1861–April 2, 1865) Danville, Virginia (from April 3, 1865) Language(s) English (de facto) Government Republic President... In this map:  Union states prohibiting slavery  Union territories  Border states on the Union side which allowed slavery  Kansas, which entered and fought with the Union as a free state after the Bleeding Kansas crisis  The Confederacy  Confederate claimed and sometimes held territories During the American Civil War, the Union...

In the period between the Civil War and the 1890s, the military was allowed to languish, although units of the U.S. Army did fight Native Americans as settlers moved into the center of the United States. By the end of the century, though, America was rapidly becoming a new superpower. The military fought the Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War, along with several Latin American interventions, and Teddy Roosevelt sent the Great White Fleet around the world in a display of American power. In addition, the Militia Act of 1903 established the National Guard. Combatants United States Republic of Cuba Philippine Republic Spain Commanders Nelson A. Miles William R. Shafter George Dewey Máximo Gómez Emilio Aguinaldo Patricio Montojo Pascual Cervera Casualties 3,289 U.S. dead (432 from combat); considerably higher although undetermined Cuban and Filipino casualties Unknown[1] The Spanish–American... Combatants United States Philippines Commanders William McKinley Theodore Roosevelt Emilio Aguinaldo Strength 126,000 soldiers 80,000 soldiers Casualties 4,324 U.S. soldiers dead, 3,000 wounded 2,000 killed, dead, or wounded suffered by the Philippine Constabulary 16,000 soldiers killed est. ... Mort Kuntsler 1977 painting The Great White Fleet Sails. ... The Militia Act of 1903, also known as the Dick Act, was the result of a program of reform and reorganization in the military establishment initiated by Secretary of War Elihu Root following the Spanish-American War of 1898 after the war demonstrated weaknesses in the militia, as well as... The United States National Guard is a component of the United States Army (the Army National Guard) and the United States Air Force (the Air National Guard). ...

The United States entered World War I in 1917 and played a major role in the Allied victory. It languished in the interwar period, but as tensions mounted leading up to World War II, the force was put back into shape. U.S. Army troops were a large component of the forces that took North Africa, Italy, and landed in France at D-Day, and U.S. Navy, Marine, and Army troops were heavily involved in Pacific campaign against Japan and its allies. “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...  Northern Africa (UN subregion)  geographic, including above North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, generally divided politically from Sub-Saharan Africa. ... Land on Normandy In military parlance, D-Day is a term often used to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. ... The Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO) is the term used in the United States for all military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it, in World War II. Pacific War is a more common name, around the world, for the broader conflict between the Allies and Japan...

The end of World War II was the start of the Cold War, a large but ultimately non-violent struggle between the United States and its NATO Allies and the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies. Thousands of U.S. troops were deployed to Europe in anticipation of a struggle that never came. For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... NATO 2002 Summit in Prague. ... Unofficial Seal of the Warsaw Pact Distinguish from the Warsaw Convention, which is an agreement about airlines financial liability and the Treaty of Warsaw (1970) between West Germany and the Peoples Republic of Poland. ...

However, U.S. troops did participate in proxy wars in Korea and Vietnam. The Korean War, with North Korea and China against South Korea, the U.S., and other UN troops, ultimately returned to the status quo. The Vietnam War between North Vietnam and South Vietnam and the U.S., was ultimately a failure, resulting in U.S. pullout and unification of the country under communism. A proxy war is a war where two powers use third parties as a supplement or a substitute for fighting each other directly. ... Combatants United Nations:  Republic of Korea,  Australia,  Belgium,  Luxembourg,  Canada,  Colombia,  Ethiopia,  France,  Greece,  Luxembourg,  Netherlands,  New Zealand,  Philippines,  South Africa,  Thailand,  Turkey,  United Kingdom,  United States Medical staff:  Denmark,  Australia,  Italy,  Norway,  Sweden Communist states:  Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,  Peoples Republic of China,  Soviet Union Commanders... This article is about the United Nations, for other uses of UN see UN (disambiguation) Official languages English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic Secretary-General Kofi Annan (since 1997) Established October 24, 1945 Member states 191 Headquarters New York City, NY, USA Official site http://www. ... The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRVN), or less commonly, Vietnamese Democratic Republic (Vietnamese: Việt Nam Dân Chủ Cá»™ng Hòa), also known as North Vietnam, was proclaimed by Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi, September 2nd1945 and was recognized by the Peoples Republic of China and the... Official language Vietnamese Capital Saigon Last President Duong Van Minh Last Prime Minister Vu Van Mau Area  - Total  - % water 173,809 km² N/A Population  - Total  - Density 19,370,000 (1973 est. ...

In the 1980s, the U.S. military fought Operation Just Cause in Panama and Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada. In addition, the Goldwater-Nichols Act completely reorganized the military. By 1989, it was clear the Soviet Union was on the verge of collapse and it looked like the U.S. military would be left with no one to fight. However, when Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1991, the United States entered the Persian Gulf War. The military forces of the U.S. and other nations easily defeated the Iraqi Army with minimal losses, proving the combat readiness of the new all-volunteer military. After this brief war and the breakup of the Soviet Union, the U.S. military had relatively little to do throughout the remainder of the 1990s, barring interventions in Yugoslavia and Kosovo. Combatants United States Panama Commanders General Carl W. Stiner Manuel Noriega Strength 27,684+ 3,000+ Casualties 23 Dead, 324 Wounded 450 Military, 200-4,000 Civilian U.S. Army 7th Infantry Division (light) soldiers prepare to take La Comandancia in the El Chorrillo neighborhood of Panama City, December 1989. ... The Invasion of Grenada, known to US forces as Operation Urgent Fury, was an invasion of the island nation of Grenada by the military forces of the United States of America and several Caribbean nations. ... The Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 Pub. ... See also: 2003 invasion of Iraq and Gulf War (disambiguation) C Company, 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment, 1st UK Armoured Division The Persian Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of 34 nations led by the United States. ... The New Iraqi Army is being developed by the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team (CMATT) with the ultimate task of assuming responsibility for all Iraqi land-based military operations following the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. ... Yugoslavia (Jugoslavija in Latin, Југославија in Cyrillic, English: Land of the South Slavs) describes four political entities that existed one at a time on the Balkan Peninsula in Europe, during most of the 20th century. ... For uses of the name Kosova, see Kosova (disambiguation). ...

After the September 11th terrorist attacks in 2001, U.S. military forces were an integral part of the War on Terror. U.S. and NATO forces invaded Afghanistan in 2001, and in 2003 the U.S. and several other countries invaded Iraq. While the initial invasion was successful, the occupation quickly bogged down after the defeat of the conventional Iraqi forces, with daily violence and terrorist attacks. However, some milestones have been reached, such as the capture and execution of Saddam Hussein and democratic elections. The World Trade Center on fire The September 11, 2001 attacks were a series of coordinated terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. ... The war on terrorism or war on terror (abbreviated in U.S. policy circles as GWOT for Global War on Terror) is an effort by the governments of the United States and its principal allies to destroy groups deemed to be terrorist (primarily radical Islamist organizations such as al-Qaeda... Combatants United States Canada Australia United Kingdom Netherlands Philippines (in the Philippines theatre only) Northern Alliance GUAM Poland Italy Visegrad Group Hungary Ethiopia Somalia Estonia Latvia Lithuania Slovakia Vilnius group Croatia Albania Macedonia Romania Bulgaria Taliban al-Qaeda Abu Sayyaf Jemaah Islamiyah Islamic Courts Union Commanders General Tommy Franks Brig. ... For other uses, see Iraq war (disambiguation). ... Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti (Arabic: [1]; April 28, 1937[2] – December 30, 2006[3]), was the President of Iraq from July 16, 1979, until April 9, 2003. ...

Expenditures

This article appears to contradict itself. Please see the discussion on the talk page.

Military spending as a percentage of GDP

Main article: Military budget of the United States

The military expenditure of the United States Department of Defense for fiscal year 2006 is: Image File history File links Circle-contradict. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1456x628, 52 KB) Summary Military expenditure as percent of GDP, as listed on the CIA factbook Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Military budget List of countries by military expenditures ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1456x628, 52 KB) Summary Military expenditure as percent of GDP, as listed on the CIA factbook Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Military budget List of countries by military expenditures ... Image File history File links Worldwide_military_spending_2005_(horizontal). ... The US military budget is that portion of the United States discretionary federal budget that is allocated for the funding of the Department of Defense. ... The United States Department of Defense (DOD or DoD) is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government relating directly to national security and the military. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

The United States military budget is larger than the military budgets of the next twenty largest spenders combined, and six times larger than China's, which places second. The United States and its closest allies are responsible for approximately two-thirds of global military spending (of which, in turn, the U.S. is responsible for the vast majority). Military spending accounts for 19% of the United States' federal budget, and approximately half of its federal discretionary spending, which comprises all of the U.S. government's money not accounted for by pre-existing obligations.[2] ^[14] A military budget of an entity, most often a nation or a state is the budget and financial resources dedicated to raising and maintaining armed forces for that entity. ... This article or section seems not to be written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia entry. ...

However, in terms of per capita spending, the U.S. ranks third behind Israel and Singapore^[15]. It is also number 26 in terms of military spending per dollar GDP. ^[16]

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, in 2003 the United States spent approximately 47% of the world's total military spending of US $956,000,000,000.

In 2007 the United States spent over 50% of the world's total military expenditure, or more than all other nations combined.^{[citation needed]}

As a percentage of its GDP, the United States spends 3.7% on military, ranking it 26th in the world. This is higher by percent than France's 2.6%, and lower than Saudia Arabia's 10%^[17]. This 3.7% is low relative to the United States's past 60-some years. ^[18]

Also, since it is an all-volunteer force and since most jobs within it require high degrees of technical skill and personnel retention, the United States armed forces have dramatically higher personnel costs, both military and civilian, compared to the militaries of countries which use conscription, many of which have far more troops than the United States. However, only China has more standing troops than the United States. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with List of countries by number of active troops. ...

Military Buildup

To meet the growing demands in the Middle East and around the world, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates proposed to the President to increase the overall size of the military by approximately 92,000 troops over the course of five years. Specifically, the proposal calls for an Army troop cap of 547,000 active duty soldiers and a troop cap of 202,000 active duty Marines. The total active duty force of the United States after the buildup will be about 1,479,000.^[19]

Notes and sources

Signature Mark of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was established on June 23, 1939 by an act of Congress as the United States Coast Guard Reserve and re-designated as the Auxiliary on February 19, 1941. ... Civil Air Patrol seal The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force (USAF). ... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (129th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... July 27 is the 208th day (209th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 157 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ... January 23 is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ... May 9 is the 129th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (130th in leap years). ... July 21 is the 202nd day (203rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 163 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... There is more than one person with this name: see Robert Leckie (disambiguation). ... July 18 is the 199th day (200th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 166 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (129th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... For the United States holiday, the Fourth of July, see Independence Day (United States). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... August 4 is the 216th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (217th in leap years), with 149 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... May 26 is the 146th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (147th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... May 26 is the 146th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (147th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... February 8 is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ...

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Category:Military of the United States

Military of the United States Portal

• Military history of the United States
  • List of military actions by or within the United States
  • United States military historical joint commands
• United States military academies
• Awards and decorations of the United States military
• United States military staff colleges
• Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance
• List of United States military books
• Full-spectrum dominance
• List of United States military history events
• Uniformed services of the United States
• TRICARE - Health care plan for the U.S. uniformed services

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... The Wikimedia Commons (also called Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ... Image File history File links Naval_Jack_of_the_United_States. ... The military history of the United States spans a period of less than two and a half centuries. ... This is a list of military actions by or within the United States organized by type and then by date. ... U.S. military historical joint commands originated in World War II. President Truman approved the first Unified Command Plan on 14 December 1946. ... The United States military academies, sometimes known as the United States service academies, are federal academies for the education and training of commissioned officers for the United States armed forces. ... Awards and decorations of the United States military are military decorations which recognize a service members service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed forces. ... This article is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Servicemembers Group Life Insurance, or SGLI, is a heavily subsidized life insurance product available to active members of the United States Armed Forces, including ready reservists, commissioned members of NOAA and the Public Health Service, cadets and midshipmen in one of the four service academies, and members of the Reserve... Books about the U.S. military or for members of the military. ... Full-spectrum dominance is the proposed ability of United States armed forces, operating alone or with allies, to defeat any adversary and control any situation across the range of military operations. ... From 1776 to 2007, there have been hundreds of instances of the deployment of United States military forces abroad and domestically. ... The United States has seven uniformed services as defined by Title 10 of the United States Code. ... TRICARE is the United States militarys health plan for military personnel and their dependents. ...

External links

• Official U.S. DOD site
• United States Order of Battle
• Kamouflage.net > U.S. Military camouflage patterns
• Global Security on U.S. Military Operations
• Military News
• Today's Military website
• US Military ranks and rank insignia
• US Military Mottos

Branch links

• U.S. Army
• U.S. Marine Corps
• U.S. Navy
• U.S. Air Force
• U.S. Coast Guard

Military of the United States
U.S. Army | U.S. Marine Corps | U.S. Navy | U.S. Air Force | U.S. Coast Guard