United States Armed ForcesBy: Taylor Lanpheare

Why does the U.S. have a military?The United States, like many countries , has a military to protect its borders and interests. Starting with the Revolutionary War the military has played an important role in the formation and history of the United States.

• The president is the Commander in chief over the entire U.S. military. Under the president is the Secretary of the Department of Defense who is in charge of all the branches of the military except for the Coast Guard.

Who is in charge of the military

There are five main branches of the military including Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard.

Branches Of The Military

The Army is the main ground force and largest branch of the military. The Army's job is to control and fight on land using land troops, tanks, and artillery.

Army

The Air Force is the heart of the military that fights using aircraft including fighter planes and bombers. The Air Force was part of the army up until 1947 when it was made into it’s own branch. The air force is also responsible for military satellites in space.

Air Force

The Navy fights in the ocean and the seas throughout the world. The navy uses all sorts of battleships including destroyers, aircraft carriers, and submarines. The U.S. Navy is significantly larger than any other navy in the world and is armed with 10 of the world’s 20 aircraft carriers. (as of 2014)

Navy

The Marine Corps are the main landing force for the military. The Marines work closely with the navy and attacking and establishing “beachheads” during war. The Marines are often some of the first soldiers to enter combat.

Marine Corps

The Coast Guard is separate from the other branches as it is part of the Department of Homeland Security. The Coast Guard is the smallest of the military branches. It monitors the U.S. Coastline and enforces border laws as well as helps with ocean rescues. The Coast Guard can become part of the Navy during times of war.

Coast Guard

Works Citedhttp://www.ducksters.com/history/us_government/united_states_armed_forces.php

http://www.bing.com/search?q=us+armed+forces&qs=n&form=QBLH&pq=us+armed+forces&sc=8-14&sp=-1&sk=&cvid=93acbcb0cbfe4a9491e1ccba92da3dc0&adlt=strict

www.militaryimages.net