Service Branches — Today's Military (2024)

Ways to Serve

The Military is made up of six branches, each with their own active-duty and part-time components. Each varies in service commitment, location and how its members contribute to the overall mission of protecting our country, though all components are on the same rank-based pay scale.

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  • Service Commitment
  • Military Service Branches

Service Branches — Today's Military (1)

O'Quanne Wolf | Petty Officer Third Class Coast Guard

Service Commitment

Full Time

Full-time members of the Military typically live on base or in military housing. They can also live on ships or in homes off base.

Part Time

Part-time service members include the Reserve and National Guard, and train one weekend per month and two weeks per year.

Service Branches — Today's Military (3)

Army Army

Full/Part Time

Full Time

Army

As the oldest branch of the U.S. Military, the Army protects the security of the United States and its resources.

Part Time

Army Reserve

The Army Reserve trains part time near home until needed, and members deploy alongside the Army.

Army National Guard

Army National Guard members deploy with the Army on a part-time basis. Their service focus is on the state level, but they may also serve nationally.

Service Branches — Today's Military (4)

Marine Corps Marine Corps

Full/Part Time

Full Time

Marine Corps

The Marine Corps is often first on the ground in combat situations.

Part Time

Marine Corps Reserve

Marine Corps reservists train domestically and deploy with the rest of the Corps.

Service Branches — Today's Military (5)

Navy Navy

Full/Part Time

Full Time

Navy

The Navy delivers combat-ready Naval forces while maintaining security in the air and at sea.

Part Time

Navy Reserve

The Navy Reserve trains close to home. They serve in the U.S. or abroad in support of the Navy’s mission.

Service Branches — Today's Military (6)

Air Force Air Force

Full/Part Time

Full Time

Air Force

The Air Force protects American interests at home and abroad with a focus on air power.

Part Time

Air Force Reserve

The Air Force Reserve trains and serves on a part-time basis, performing flying and other specialized missions for the Air Force.

Air National Guard

The Air National Guard trains part time to assist, first on the state level, but they may also serve nationally.

Service Branches — Today's Military (7)

Space Force Space Force

Full Time

Full Time

Space Force

The Space Force defends U.S. interests on land, in the air, and from orbit with a range of advanced training and technology.

Service Branches — Today's Military (8)

Coast Guard Coast Guard

Full/Part Time

Full Time

Coast Guard

The Coast Guard is a maritime force offering military, law enforcement, humanitarian, regulatory and diplomatic capabilities.

Part Time

Coast Guard Reserve

The Coast Guard Reserve typically trains and serves near home, offering the chance to contribute part time and make a difference.

Service Branches — Today's Military (2024)

FAQs

Service Branches — Today's Military? ›

The Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard are the armed forces of the United States. The Army National Guard and the Air National Guard

Air National Guard
The Air Guard's federal mission is to assist the federal government in defending the interests of the United States. The Air Guard maintains well-trained, well-equipped units available for prompt utilization augmenting the United States Air Force if the federal government determines there is a need.
https://diversity.defense.gov › Military Service Information
are reserve components of their services and operate in part under state authority.

What are the current military branches? ›

The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consist of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. All six armed services are among the eight uniformed services of the United States.

What are the 5 branches of the active military? ›

The US military has five branches: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. As shown in the graphic below, the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines are housed under the Department of Defense (DOD). The DOD is headed by The Secretary of Defense, a civilian appointed by the President.

What are the 17 branches of the Army? ›

Branches of the Army
Adjutant GeneralAir Defense ArtilleryArmor
AviationChemical CorpsCorps of Engineers
Cyber CorpsField ArtilleryFinance
InfantryMedical ServicesMilitary Intelligence
Military PoliceOrdnanceQuartermaster
1 more row

Are there 4 or 5 branches of the military? ›

Six branches make up the armed forces of the United States. Find out about each branch's mission and history. Use resources from the National Archives to research the history of the U.S. military.

What is the hardest military branch to get into? ›

The hardest military branch to get into in terms of education requirements is the Air Force. The military branch with the toughest basic training is the Marine Corps. The hardest military branch for non-males because of exclusivity and male dominance is the Marine Corps. What is the smallest military branch?

Which branch deploys the most? ›

Those with the highest average numbers of deployments were the Air Force Guard and reserves (2.24 and 2.58, respectively). Over 80% of the two Coast Guard components and over 75% of the Marine Corps reserves had only one deployment compared with fewer than half those in the Air Force Guard and reserve components.

What is the weakest branch of the military? ›

Of the branches, the Marine Corps was found to be the sole service rated as “strong.” Army and Space Force were considered “marginal,” while the Navy and Air Force were rated as “weak” and “very weak,” respectively.

What is the smallest branch of the military? ›

The Coast Guard is the smallest of the military branches but can become part of the Navy during times of war. The primary mission of the Coast Guard is to protect domestic waterways.

What military branch pays the most? ›

Is it the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard or Space Force? At a basic pay level, the answer is simple. The military pays the same regardless of branch, according to your pay grade and years of service. Your rank determines your pay grade.

What is the biggest branch of the military? ›

The Army is the largest, oldest, and most senior branch of the U.S. military, and can be traced back to the Continental Army, and was founded in order to fight in the Revolutionary War.

What branch do the Green Berets belong to? ›

The Army's Special Forces soldiers known as “Green Berets” are military legends for service members and civilians alike. They take on terrorists through quiet, guerilla war-style missions in foreign countries. Green Beret teams operate in any environment, from city fighting to jungle warfare to desert scouting.

What is a red leg in the Army? ›

Members of the Field Artillery in the United States Army, from the red trouser stripe formerly part of the Artillery uniform. Unionist guerrillas who were headquartered at Lawrence, Kansas, during the American Civil War - see Jayhawker.

What is the most respected military branch? ›

The Marine Corps is the most respected branch of the US military by a wide margin, according to a 2014 Gallup poll. Interestingly, the same poll found that Americans consider the Army to be the most important military branch.

Who goes to war first? ›

The Marine Corps is often first on the ground in combat situations.

What is the oldest branch of the military? ›

Walking Tour: Army

The Army is the oldest and largest service branch in the U.S. military, tracing its roots to the Continental Army established in 1775.

Has anyone been in all 5 military branches? ›

Button has served in all five branches of the military. Bob Button calls his military career... He joined the Merchant Marine in 1945 (while under age) to fight in WWII, then used his credentials there to join the Navy.

Who has the most powerful military? ›

The world's biggest power i.e. 'The United States' has the most powerful army in the world. If we talk about power, in 2024 the US have 104 million soldiers. According to the data, the US government spent US$693 billion on its military in 2023.

Is there a 6th branch of the military? ›

The Space Force is the sixth military service branch of the Department of Defense and functions under the umbrella of the U.S. Air Force.

What is the Air Force equivalent of the Navy SEALs? ›

* PJs and CROs are the Air Force's equivalent of Army Special Forces and Navy SEALs: highly trained and motivated specialists who endure an incredibly grueling training process to earn the right to wear the distinctive flash on their hard earned beret.

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