How Does the US Military Work?

Written by: Anna Pafenberg

There are many ways that people hear about the military, especially the US one. We all know that there have been wars, conflict, and holidays in remembrance and celebration of armed forces, but how are they run and looked after by our government?

The United States is defended by four main groups of people. The army, navy, air force, and marines. There are other branches and people that help out with defense but these are the most widely known. Each group has a different command given by the government. For example the navy works on boats and in the water while the air force deals with planes and other airborne missions and machines. The military’s role overall is to keep peace and protect the country from intrusion and attacks. Sometimes they are also sent to other countries to help out in times of need. Armies are organized through different ranks of power. Basically, every person has a boss, and every boss has a boss that is higher than them to ensure that commands are given efficiently and clearly. The President is the commander and chief of the military, otherwise known as the highest member. 

Most militaries, not just the US, have a lot of branches in their military. The army is usually the largest branch of defense and spends time fighting on land with weapons and tanks. They are also the ones that keep peace in daily civilian life. The navy defends our waters. They operate many types of boats and patrol the coast. The airforce controls planes, helicopters, and jets to defend the air. Other branches such as the coast guard and marines deal with different types of water based defence. The coast guard makes sure that all maritime laws are being upheld and patrol our coast. The marines are a type of navy, but are there for attacks. Lastly, the space force is a division of the air force that deals with space missions and defense in space. 

Overall, the military is beneficial to many. Those who are in it help defend their country and get special benefits and citizens and land are kept safe. While the branches and roles seem complicated, they are detailed and overall simplified for the most efficient terms of labor.