The many groups that make up the United States Military

The United States military is one of the largest and most impressive military forces in the world. The United Service Organizations reports there are roughly 1.3 million active-duty service members.

The U.S. military works to protect and defend Americans and American interests domestically and abroad. The military consists of different groups all working in concert. It also has other organizations that serve military functions even though they are not technically branches of the military .

· Air Force/Air National Guard/Air Force Reserve: The Air Force is the nation's source of air power. The primary mission involves flying different aircraft. Certain duties that were once relegated to the Air Force that involved monitoring satellites and space safety likely will move over to the Space Force, which is newly formed as of 2019.

· Army/Army Reserve: The Army is the dominant land power, which moves into an area, secures it and instills order and values. The Army has an air and marine presence as well. The Army also guards U.S. installations and properties throughout the world. Rangers and Night Stalkers are elite groups within the Army that are equipped to handle unique combat situations.

· Marine Corps/Marine Corps Reserve: The U.S. Marine Corps is technically a part of the Navy, but it stands alone as a separate branch of the military. Marines often are the first boots on the ground in combat situations. They are trained to be a rapid-reaction team, carrying out missions both at sea and on shore.

· Navy/Navy Reserve: The Navy is primarily responsible for being America's sea force. However, Navy personnel also serve on land and in the air. A subset of the Navy is the Sea, Air and Land Forces, best known by the acronym SEALs. They are an elite group that executes the most challenging missions and require specialized training.

· Space Force: The U.S. Space Force was signed into law in December 2019, making it the newest branch of the military. It currently does not have a reserve component. The Space Force is in development.

· Coast Guard: The Coast Guard keeps waterways safe and conducts search and rescue missions on the water. The Coast Guard also plays a role in protecting marine environments as well as preventing the smuggling of illegal substances into the country. In times of peace, the Coast Guard operates under the Department of Homeland Security. In wartime, it serves under the Department of the Navy and may be called up against foreign threats.

· Army National Guard: The Army National Guard serves as a complementary force to active duty members. National Guard members are versatile, handling anything from domestic emergencies to homeland security operations to combat missions to humanitarian aid.

The United States has a powerful military presence that keeps order and peace at home and abroad.