Military — The 6 Branches	 (page 1 of 3)	
Military — The 6 Branches	
ARMY
The army, founded in 1775, is the oldest and largest branch of the military, with 479,785 enlisted in Army 
active duty.  The mission of the Army is "to fight and win our Nation’s wars."  Army is supported by Army 
Reserve (282,884 enlisted) and Army National Guard (336,392 enlisted) who are part-time enlistees who 
undergo: 1) basic training; 2) job training; and 3) serve one weekend each month 
and two weeks each year.   The Army and Army Reserve is managed by the U.S. 
Department of Defense.  Army National Guard is managed by each state.  But, the 
President and Secretary of Defense can activate the Army National Guard if needed.  
Here is how the Army is organized: a) 	Squad	:  10 soldiers commanded by sergeant.  	
b) 	Platoon	:  16-44 soldiers commanded by Lieutenant.  c) 	Battalion:	  300-1000 	
soldiers commanded by Lieutenant Colonel.  d) 	Brigade	:  3,000-5,000 soldiers 	
commanded by Colonel.  e) 	Division:	 10,000-15,000 soldiers commanded by Major 	
General.  f) 	Corps	:  20,000-45,000 soldiers commanded by a Lieutenant General. 	
AIR FORCE
The Air Force, created in 1947, is the youngest military service and current
ly has 
327,878 active enlistees.  Mission of the Air Force is "to fly, fight and win in air, space, and cyberspace."  
Air Force is supported by Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard that is made of part-time enlistees who 
undergo: 1) basic training; 2) job training; and 3) serve one weekend each month and two weeks each year.  
Air Force and Reserve is managed by U.S. Department of Defense.  The Air National Guard is managed 
by each state.  But, U.S. President and Secretary of Defense can activate the  Air National Guard if needed.  
Here is how the Air Force is organized:  a) 	Element 	is 3-4 members with aircraft and commanded by a 	
Technical Sergeant.  b) 	Flight 	is 12-100 members, 4 aircraft, and commanded by Master Sergeant.  Flights 	
have alpha names (Alpha Flight, Bravo Flight).  c) 	Squadron	 is three or more Flights with 8-24 aircraft and 	
commanded by a Captain to Lieutenant Colonel.  Squadrons are assigned numbers 
such as 10	th Fighter Squadron.  d) 	Group	 is several Squadrons and commanded by a 	
Colonel.  e) 	Wing	 is two or more Groups and commanded by a Colonel to Brigadier 	
General.  Wings include all members at one Air Force base (such as 4	th Fighter Wing 	
at Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina).
NAVY
The Navy started in 1775.  The Navy has 332,528 active enlistees.  Mission of 
the Navy is to maintain freedom of the seas and help the Air Force with planes on 
aircraft carriers.  The Navy is supported by Navy Reserves, part-time enlistees who 	
undergo: 1) basic training; 2) job training; and 3) serve one weekend each month and two weeks each year.  
There is no Navy National Guard, but some states have a 	Naval Militias	, staffed by Navy, Marine Corps, 	
and Coast Guard retirees and volunteers.  Naval Militias states include Alaska, New York, Ohio, South 
Carolina, Texas, and California.  Here is how the Navy is organized:  a) 	Task	 - one single vessel.  	
b) 	Squadron	 - small number of vessels.  c) 	Task Group	 - different vessels work together.  	
d) 	Battle Fleet	 - large number of different vessels.  e) 	Fleet	 - all vessels assigned to region such as Pacific 	
Fleet or Persian Gulf Fleet.  Fleets are supported by land naval bases, called Naval Force Commands.	
Military service offers good career opportunities but also includes active duty dangers to your life, em
otions, body parts.

Permission to use with usworkworld.com subscription.  	Military — The 6 Branches	 (page 2 of 3)	
MARINE CORPS
Marine Corps started in 1775.  The Marines has 186,009 active enlistees.  Mission of the Marines is "First 
to Fight" and "Find the enemy and destroy the enemy."  Marines are rapid-reaction focused force to 
accomplish difficult sea or land missions, and are world’s most feared warriors.  Marine Corps is supported 
by Marine Corps Reserves, part-time members who 	undergo: 1) basic training; 2) job training; and 3) serve 	
one weekend each month and two weeks each year.	  There is no Marine Corps National Guard.  The 	
Marine Corps is organized by mission.  	GROUND MISSION:	  1) 	Fire Team	:  4 Marines commanded by 	
Corporal.  2) 	Squad	:  3 Fire Teams commanded by a Corporal or Sergeant.  3) 	Rifle or Weapons Platoon:	 	
3 Squads commanded by Sergeant or Lieutenant. 4) 	Rifle Company:  	3 Platoons commanded by Captain.  	
5) 	Battalion	:  3 Rifle Companies commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel.  6) 	Regiment:  	3 Battalions 	
commanded by Colonel.  7) 	Division	:  3 Regiments commanded by a Major General.  	
AIR MISSION:	  1) 	Squadron	:  6-15 aircraft commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel.  2) 	Group	:  4-6 	
Squadrons commanded by a Colonel).  3) 	Wings:  	3 or more Groups commanded by Major General.	
COAST GUARD
Coast Guard was established in 1790.  In 2002, the Coast Guard was transferred to the 
Department of Homeland Security.  In war time, the President may transfer Coast Guard 
to the Department of Navy.  	Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps operate 	
under the Department of Defense. 	  Coast Guard is smallest military branch with 	
40,830 active duty enlistees. Mission of the Coast Guard is "to protect public, environ	-	
ment, and U.S. economic interests in ports and waterways, along coast, on international 
waters, or maritime region to support national security."  The Coast Guard is supported 
by Coast Guard Reserves, part-time enlistees who 	undergo: 1) basic training; 2) job 	
training; and 3) serve one weekend each month and two weeks each year.  	In addition, 	
a law passed in 1941 gave each state the right to form a 	Coast Guard Auxiliary	 that also reports to U.S. 	
Department of Homeland Security.  Each state's Coast Guard Auxiliary hires non-military workers who are 
"Semper Paratus" (Always Ready) to help boating safety and help the Coast Guard.
SPACE FORCE — NEWEST MILITARY BRANCH
On June 18, 2018, President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon (headquarters for 
the U.S. Department of Defense) to begin planning for the U.S. Space Fo
rce (USSF).  
Space Force was created on December 20, 2019, as a separate branch of th
e military 
within the Air Force branch.  Space Force has about 7,000 active enlistees and is 
growing.  The mission of Space Force is to:  Supervise and guard operations in out
er 
space.  For example, satellites in space may be used for war by foreign 
countries — China and Russia view 
space as a war fighting zone.  With Space Force, the U.S. military is positioning itself as a power player in 
all areas of warfare — including possible wars in space.
Space Force bases are currently located in Los Angeles, California — Buckley, Colorado   — Patrick, 
Florida — Peterson, Colorado — Schriever, Florida — and Vandenburg, California.  Six job speciality 
areas within Space Force are Space Systems Operations — Computer Syst
ems Programming — Cyber 
Security — Cable and Antenna Systems — Cyber Transport Systems — Cyber Systems Operations.  
Recruitment saying for the Space Force is — "Maybe your purpose on th
is planet isn't on this planet." 
Motto for the Space Force is — Semper Supra ("Always Above").  The Space Force is currenlty accepting 
suggestions for titles for enlistee and officer positions.  For more information on the new Space Force, 
including the latest satellite launches, rocket launches, and space defe
nse, visit www.spaceforce.mil

Permission to use with usworkworld.com subscription.  	Military — The 6 Branches	 (page 3 of 3)	
ARMY
1. When was this military branch founded?
2. What is the number of active duty enlistees?
3. By whom is this branch supported?  (List 2) 
4. What 3 things do part-time members undergo?
5. By whom is Army Reserve managed?
6. By whom is Army National Guard managed? 
7. What number of soldiers are in:  a) Squad? 
 b) Platoon?  c) Battalion?  d) Brigade?  
 e) Division?  f) Corps?
8. List the commander of:  a) Squad.  b) Platoon.  
 c) Battalion.  d) Brigade.  e) Divison.  f) Corps.
AIR FORCE
1. When was the Air Force founded?
2. What is the number of active duty enlistees?
3. By whom is the Air Force supported?  (List 2)
4. Describe size of: a) Element.  b) Flight.  
 c) Squadron.  d) Group.  e) Wing.
5. List the commander of:  a) Element.  b) Flight.
 c) Squadron.  d) Group.  e) Wing
NAVY  
1. When was the Navy founded?
2. What is the number of active duty enlistees?
3. By whom is the Navy supported?  (List 1)
4. a) What do some states have? b) Staffed by 
 retirees and volunteers of what 3 branches?
5. What is:  a) Task?  b) Squadron?
 c) Task Group?  d) Battle Fleet?  e) Fleet?
MARINE CORPS
1. When was the Marine Corps founded?
2. What is the number of active duty enlistees?
3. By whom is Marine Corps supported? (List 1)
4. List the 7 GROUND MISSION groups.
5. List the commander of:  a) Fire Team.  b) Squad.  
 c) Rifle or Weapons Platoon.  d) Rifle Company.
 e) Battalion.  f) Regiment.  g) Division.
6. List the 3 AIR MISSION groups.
COAST GUARD
1. When was the Coast Guard founded?
2. What is the number of active duty enlistees?
3. By whom is the Coast Guard supported? (List 1)
4. In 2002, where was Coast Guard transferred?
QUICK CHECK:	
5. Under what U.S. department are the other 
 military branches?
6. a) What did the law in 1941 give states the right 	
to do?   b) Who does the Coast Guard Auxiliary 
hire?  c) To do what 2 things?	
7. What do the words — Semper Paratus — 	
mean?	
SPACE FORCE
1. What did Donald Trump do in June 2018?
2. What is the Pentagon?
3. What are the 4 initials of the Space Force?
4.  On what date was the Space Force created?
5. What is the number of active duty enlistees?
6. What is the mission of the Space Force?
7. For example, satellites in space may be used for 	
what by foreign countries?	
8. List the 3 states that currently have USSF bases.
9. Of the 6 job speciality areas, list 2 that seem 	
interesting to you.	
10. What is recruitment saying for the Space Force?
11. What is the motto of the Space Force?
12. List the address of the website to find more 
 information about the Space Force.