United States Armed Forces

The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. United States federal law establishes six armed forces: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard, each assigned specific roles and operational domains. With the exception of the Coast Guard, which operates under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in peacetime, the services are organized under the Department of Defense (DoD).

Established during the American Revolutionary War, the Army and the Navy, and later the other services, have played a decisive role in the country's history. They contributed to early national consolidation through conflicts such as the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, shaped the country's territorial evolution, and were involved in global conflicts including World War I, World War II, the Cold War, and the war on terror. The National Security Act of 1947 reorganized the military establishment by creating the DoD, the Air Force, and the National Security Council; in 1949, an amendment to the act merged the cabinet-level departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force into the DoD. formalizing a unified defense structure under civilian control. The Space Force was established in 2019 as the newest branch.

The president of the U.S. serves as commander-in-chief and exercises authority over the armed forces through the DoD and, for the Coast Guard in peacetime, DHS. Since 1973, the United States has maintained an all-volunteer force, although the Selective Service System remains authorized to conscript most male citizens and residents aged 18 and 25 to register. All six services are also among the eight uniformed services of the United States. The armed forces consist of active-duty personnel, Reserve components, and the National Guard.

The U.S. Armed Forces are widely considered the world's most powerful and most advanced military. The military expenditure of the U.S. was US $957 billion in 2025, the highest in the world, accounting for 33% of the world's defense expenditures.' The personnel size of the six armed forces together ranks them among the world's largest state armed forces. The U.S. Armed Forces has significant capabilities in both defense and power projection due to its large budget, resulting in advanced and powerful technologies which enable widespread deployment of the force globally, including around 800 military bases around the world.

History

The history of the U.S. Armed Forces dates back to 14 June 1775, with the creation of the Continental Army, even before the Declaration of Independence marked the establishment of the United States. The Continental Navy, established on 13 October 1775, and Continental Marines, established on 10 November 1775, were created in close succession by the Second Continental Congress in order to defend the new nation against the British Empire in the American Revolutionary War.

These forces demobilized in 1784 after the Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War. The Congress of the Confederation created the current United States Army on 3 June 1784. All three services trace their origins to their respective Continental predecessors.

The 1787 adoption of the Constitution gave Congress the power to "raise and support armies," to "provide and maintain a navy", and to "make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces", as well as the power to declare war. The president of the United States is the United States Armed Forces' commander-in-chief.

The United States Coast Guard traces its origin to the formation of the Revenue Cutter Service on 4 August 1790, which merged with the United States Life-Saving Service on 28 January 1915 to establish the Coast Guard.

The United States Air Force was established as an independent service on 18 September 1947; it traces its origin to the formation of the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps, which was formed 1 August 1907 and was part of the Army Air Forces before being recognized as an independent service in the National Security Act of 1947.

The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps was formerly considered to be a branch of the United States Armed Forces from 29 July 1945 until 3 July 1952, and is now one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Should it be called into active duty again, it would constitute a seventh branch of the Armed Forces.

The United States Space Force was established as an independent service on 20 December 2019. It is the sixth branch of the U.S. military and the first new branch in 72 years. The origin of the Space Force can be traced back to the Air Force Space Command, which was formed 1 September 1982 and was a major command of the United States Air Force.

The U.S. Congressional Research Office annually publishes a List of Notable Deployments of U.S. Military Forces Overseas since 1798.

Structure

Presidential command over the U.S. Armed Forces is established in Article II in the Constitution whereby the president is named as the "Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States."

The United States Armed Forces are split between two cabinet departments, with the Department of Defense serving as the primary cabinet department for military affairs and the Department of Homeland Security responsible for administering the United States Coast Guard.

The military chain of command flows from the President of the United States to the secretary of defense (for services under the Defense Department) or secretary of homeland security (for services under the Department of Homeland Security), ensuring civilian control of the military.

Within the Department of Defense, the military departments (Department of the Army, Department of the Navy, and Department of the Air Force) are civilian led entities that oversee the coequal military service branches organized within each department. The military departments and services are responsible for organizing, training, and equipping forces, with the actual chain of command flowing through the unified combatant commands.

Joint Chiefs of Staff

thumb|upright=1.35|The Joint Chiefs of Staff in January 2026

The Joint Chiefs of Staff, although outside the operational chain of command, is the senior-most military body of the Department of Defense. It is led by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who is the military head of the armed forces and principal advisor to the president and secretary of defense on military matters. Their deputy is the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Other members include the chief of staff of the Army, commandant of the Marine Corps, chief of naval operations, chief of staff of the Air Force, chief of space operations, and the chief of the National Guard Bureau.

The commandant of the Coast Guard is not an official member of the Joint Chiefs, but sometimes attends meetings as one of the military service chiefs.

The senior enlisted advisor to the chairman is the most senior non-commissioned officer (NCO) in the United States Armed Forces and is a unique enlisted rank which only one individual may hold it. Is the primary enlisted advisor to the chairman, and serves at the pleasure of the secretary of defense.

The president of the United States, the secretary of defense, the secretary of homeland security and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are members of the United States National Security Council, which advises the president on national security, military, and foreign policy matters.

The national security advisor, the homeland security advisor, and the deputy national security advisor may also be members of the United States Armed Forces.

The National Security Council Deputies Committee also includes the deputy secretary of defense, deputy secretary of homeland security, and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Military leadership, including the secretary of defense, the secretary of Homeland Security, and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also sit on the National Space Council.

Unified combatant commands

Unified combatant commands are joint military commands consisting of forces from multiple military departments, with their chain of command flowing from the president, to the secretary of defense, to the commanders of the combatant commands.

Each service organizes, trains, and equips forces that are then presented to the unified combatant commands through service component commands. Special Operations Command and Cyber Command also present theater special operations commands or joint force headquarters – cyber to other combatant commanders.

Army components are typically dual-hatted as the joint force land component, Navy components are typically dual-hatted as the joint force maritime component, and Air Force components are typically dual-hatted as the joint force air component, with the theater special operations command dual-hatted as the joint force special operations component, and Space Force component typically dual-hatted as the joint force space component.

{|class="wikitable"

!colspan=2|Name

!Mission

!Headquarters

!Subunified commands

|75px

|U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM)

|Conducts U.S. military operations in Africa.

|Kelley Barracks, Germany

|75px

|U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM)

|Conducts U.S. military operations in the Middle East and Central Asia.

|MacDill Air Force Base, Florida

|75px

|U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM)

|Conduct U.S. military cyber operations.

|Fort Meade, Maryland

|35px Cyber National Mission Force

|75px

|U.S. European Command (USEUCOM)

|Conducts U.S. military operations in Europe.

|Patch Barracks, Germany

|75px

|U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM)

|Conducts U.S. military operations in the Indo-Pacific.

|Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii

|75px

|U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM)

|Conducts U.S. military operations in North America and homeland defense operations.

|Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado

|35x35px Alaskan Command

|75px

|U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM)

|Conducts U.S. military operations in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

|Doral, Florida

|75px

|U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM)

|Conducts U.S. military operations in outer space.

|Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado

|75px

|U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)

|Develops and employs special operations forces.

|MacDill Air Force Base, Florida

|75px

|U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM)

|Conduct strategic deterrence, nuclear operations, nuclear command, control, and communications, joint electromagnetic spectrum operations, and global strike.

|Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska

|75px

|U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM)

|Conduct globally integrated mobility operations.

|Scott Air Force Base, Illinois

Combat support agencies

Combat support agencies are Department of Defense agencies with combat support missions that service operating forces planning or conducting military operations. This includes support during conflict or in the conduct of other military activities related to countering threats to U.S. national security. This mission is focused on providing support to echelons at the CCMD level and below and may not encompass the full scope of the CSA's mission.

{|class="wikitable"

!colspan=2|Name

!Mission

!Headquarters

|75px

|Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA)

|Provide contract administration services for the Department of Defense.

|Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia

|75px

|Defense Health Agency (DHA)

|Provide and augment medical capabilities for combatant commands.

|Falls Church, Virginia

|75px

|Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA)

|Provide, operate and assure command, control, information-sharing capabilities.

|Fort Meade, Maryland

|75px

|Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)

|Provide military intelligence to warfighters, defense policymakers and force planners in the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community, in support of U.S. military planning and operations and weapon systems acquisition.

|Defense Intelligence Agency Headquarters, Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling, Washington D.C.

|75px

|Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)

|Manages the end-to-end global defense supply chain.

|Fort Belvoir, Virginia

|75px

|Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)

|Identify, develop, and field solutions to counter weapons of mass destruction and emerging threats.

|Fort Belvoir, Virginia

|75px

|National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)

|Delivers geospatial intelligence to policymakers, military service members, intelligence professionals and first responders.

|Fort Belvoir, Virginia

|75px 75px

|National Security Agency / Central Security Service (NSA/CSS)

|Provides timely and accurate cryptologic support, knowledge, and assistance to the military cryptologic community. Provide actionable signals intelligence and cybersecurity support to the Armed Forces.

|Fort Meade, Maryland

Service branches

The United States Armed Forces is composed of six coequal military service branches. Five of the branches, the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, United States Air Force, and United States Space Force, are part of the Department of Defense.

The United States Coast Guard is normally under the Department of Homeland Security, but may be transferred to the Department of Defense's Department of the Navy (which is the civilian entity that oversees the coequal U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy) at the direction of the President or Congress.

With the exception of the Coast Guard, the military services only organize, train, and equip forces. The unified combatant commands are responsible for operational control of non-service retained forces.

Each of the different military services is assigned a role and domain. The U.S. Army conducts land operations, while the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps conduct maritime operations, with the Marine Corps specializing in amphibious and maritime littoral operations in support of the Navy. The U.S. Air Force conducts air operations, while the U.S. Space Force conducts space operations.

The U.S. Coast Guard is unique in that it is a military branch specializing in maritime operations and also a law enforcement agency.

The U.S. Army is organized under the Department of the Army, which is a military department under the leadership of the secretary of the Army and under secretary of the Army.

The U.S. Army itself is led by the chief of staff of the Army and vice chief of staff of the Army, both generals who are advised by the sergeant major of the Army.

The Army's primary responsibility is to conduct prompt and sustained land combat as part of the joint force. Army landpower focuses on destroying an enemy's armed forces, occupying its territory, and breaking the will of an adversary.

The five core competencies of the Army are:

Prompt and sustained land combat
Combined arms operations:
Combined arms maneuver and wide area security
Armored and mechanized operations
Airborne and air assault operations
Special operations
Set and sustain the theater for the joint force
Integrate national, multinational, and joint power on land

Conduct air and missile defense to support joint campaigns and assist in achieving air superiority. This is conducted by the Army's Air Defense Artillery Branch, specifically by the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, and Army Space and Missile Defense Command.

Infantry is a core part of the Army's Brigade Combat Teams. The most numerous variant, the Infantry Brigade Combat Team, comprises light infantry battalions who fight on foot.

Infantry Brigade Combat Teams of the 82nd Airborne Division are air assault capable, with infantry soldiers being transported by U.S. Army Aviation UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters.

Infantry Brigade Combat Teams of the 11th Airborne Division, 82nd Airborne Division, and 173rd Airborne Brigade are capable of airborne operations, in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force's transport aircraft.

Finally, Infantry Brigade Combat Teams assigned to the 10th Mountain Division specialize in mountain warfare. Standard Infantry Brigade Combat Teams are assigned to the 25th Infantry Division, which offers additional training in jungle warfare.

Armored Brigade Combat Teams comprise mechanized infantry battalions mounted in the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle.Divisions with Armored Brigade Combat Teams include the 1st Infantry Division, 3rd Infantry Division, 4th Infantry Division, 1st Armored Division, and 1st Cavalry Division.

Stryker Brigade Combat Teams are centered around Stryker infantry battalions operating out of the Stryker.Divisions with Stryker Brigade Combat Teams include the 2nd Infantry Division, 4th Infantry Division, 11th Airborne Division, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, and 3rd Cavalry Regiment. As a special operations force, Army Rangers are generally better equipped than standard infantry, utilizing the FN SCAR rifle.

Army Special Forces

thumb|upright|Soldiers from the [[5th Special Forces Group conduct sensitive site exploitation training]]

Army Special Forces, commonly known as Green Berets after their iconic headgear, are among the most elite soldiers in the Army. Special Forces conduct:

counterinsurgency distinguishing between civilians and enemy combatants while assisting with the stabilization, defense, and training of developing countries facing insurgent threats.
direct action seizing, capturing, recovering, or destroying enemy material; or utilizing quick strikes to recover personnel.
foreign internal defense training and equipping foreign allied military forces to defend against insurgency, subversion, terrorism, and other security threats.
special reconnaissance executing surveillance in hostile, denied, or diplomatically or politically sensitive environments to collect or verify information of strategic significance.
unconventional warfare enabling a resistance movement or insurgency to coerce, disrupt, or overthrow a government or occupying power by operating through or with an underground force in a denied area.

Army Special Forces are trained in military free-fall parachuting and combat diver skillsets.

Armor and Cavalry

thumb|[[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|1st Cavalry Division M1 Abrams tanks during a training exercise in Germany]]

The Armor Branch traces its history back to the United States Cavalry and are responsible for tank and cavalry reconnaissance operations.

The U.S. Army fields the M1 Abrams main battle tank in Armored Battalions as part of Armored Brigade Combat Teams across the 1st Armored Division, 1st Cavalry Division, 1st Infantry Division, 3rd Infantry Division, and the 4th Infantry Division.Each Armored Brigade Combat Team also possesses a cavalry squadron equipped with M2 Bradleys for scouting and security.

Stryker Brigade Combat Teams from the 2nd Infantry Division, 4th Infantry Division, 11th Airborne Division, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, and 3rd Cavalry Regiment have a cavalry squadron equipped with Strykers.

Infantry Brigade Combat Teams from the 10th Mountain Division, 11th Airborne Division, 25th Infantry Division, 82nd Airborne Division, 101st Airborne Division, and 173rd Airborne Brigade have a cavalry squadron equipped with the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.

Field Artillery

thumb|[[M142 HIMARS from the 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment]]

The Field Artillery's mission is to destroy, suppress or neutralize the enemy by cannon, rocket or missile fire.

Rocket systems include the M142 HIMARS and M270 multiple launch rocket system, which are corps-level assets found in field artillery brigades.

Towed artillery includes the M119 howitzer in infantry brigade combat teams and the M777 howitzer found in both infantry and Stryker brigade combat teams.

The M109 self-propelled howitzer is utilized in armored brigade combat teams.

During the Cold War, Army field artillery was responsible for the service's ballistic missile programs, including the PGM-11 Redstone, which was the first large ballistic missile in the U.S. arsenal, the MGM-31 Pershing, and the Pershing II.

In 2023, the Army is intending to field the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon and has reestablished larger artillery formations like the 56th Artillery Command.

Air Defense Artillery

thumb|An [[MIM-104 Patriot missile battery in Alaska operated by the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade]]

The Air Defense Artillery is responsible for defending geopolitical assets and providing maneuver forces with the freedom to move on the battlefield by deterring the enemy and destroying aerial threats, missile attacks, and surveillance platforms.

Weapons employed by Air Defense Artillery include the FIM-92 Stinger man-portable air-defense system, AN/TWQ-1 Avenger for short range air defense, and the counter rocket, artillery, and mortar 20mm gun system.

The Iron Dome provides air defense against rockets, artillery, mortars, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. The MIM-104 Patriot is capable of defeating a wide range of threats including aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, ballistic and cruise missiles, and Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Air Defense Artillery has an extremely close relationship with the Air Force through its Air and Missile Defense Commands and the Space Force through Army Space and Missile Defense Command, given their shared missile defense and space roles.

In 1962, Air Defense Artillery achieved the first intercept of a ballistic missile with a nuclear-tipped Nike Zeus and operated the Nike Zeus as an anti-satellite weapon after completing a successful intercept in 1963.

Army Aviation

thumb|Formation of [[UH-60 Blackhawks with the 1st Cavalry Division]]

Army Aviation, distinct from the U.S. Air Force and its predecessors, began as part of the field artillery in 1942. Small spotter planes were used to spot for artillery and naval bombardment, as well as to perform observation.

These few aircraft formed the core of Army Aviation once the U.S. Air Force gained independence. In 1983, the Army created the Aviation Branch, for the first time since the Air Force's independence consolidating aviation under a single organization.

The mission of Army Aviation is to find, fix and destroy any enemy through fire and maneuver and to provide combat support and combat service support in coordinated operations as an integral member of the combined arms team.

Major aircraft include the AH-64 Apache, which serves as the Army's attack helicopter, the UH-60 Black Hawk, and the CH-47 Chinook for troop and cargo transport. Army Aviation also flies the MQ-1C Gray Eagle drone.

A specialized unit within Army Aviation, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) serves as a special operations unit and operates modified variants of the MH-60 Black Hawk, MH-47 Chinook, and the MH-6 Little Bird.

Army commands

The U.S. Army is organized into four major Army Commands, nine Army Service Component Commands which serve as the Army component and joint force land component commanders for the unified combatant commands, and thirteen direct reporting units.

{|class="wikitable"

!colspan=2|Name

!Mission

!Headquarters

|75px

|Headquarters Department of the Army (HQDA)

| Army service headquarters led by the chief of staff of the Army.

|The Pentagon, Virginia

!colspan=5| Army Commands and reserve components

|75px

|U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM)

|Provides Army land forces to unified combatant commands.

|Fort Bragg, North Carolina

|75px

|U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC)

| Provides technology, acquisition support, and logistics for Army land forces.

|Redstone Arsenal, Alabama

|75px

|U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC)

|Recruits, trains, and educates Army soldiers and develops Army doctrine.

|Fort Eustis, Virginia

|75px

|U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC)

|Leads Army modernization efforts, including developing future force requirements, designing future force organizations, and delivering materiel capabilities.

|Austin, Texas

|75px

|U.S. Army Reserve (USAR)

|Oversees and maintains Army reserve forces.

|Fort Bragg, North Carolina

|75px

|Army National Guard (ARNG)

|Army component of the National Guard.

|The Pentagon, Virginia

U.S. Marine Corps

thumb|[[24th Marine Expeditionary Unit Marines during a simulated amphibious assault operation]]

The United States Marine Corps (USMC) serves as the U.S. Armed Forces' naval land force, responsible for executing amphibious warfare and operating in the maritime littorals in support of the U.S. Navy. Originally established in 1775 as the Continental Marines, the Marine Corps consists of the Regular Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Reserve.

The Marine Corps maintains a very close relationship with the U.S. Navy, its sister service in the Department of the Navy. Although the Marine Corps has previously operated as an independent land force alongside the Army, its primary purpose is to serve as part of a unified naval service alongside the Navy in the maritime domain.

The U.S. Marine Corps is organized under the Department of the Navy, which is a military department under the leadership of the secretary of the Navy and the under secretary of the Navy.

The U.S. Marine Corps itself is led by the commandant of the Marine Corps and the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, both generals who are advised by the sergeant major of the Marine Corps.

A Marine ground combat element (GCE) is centered around Marine infantry, typically armed with a M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle.

Unlike the Army, the Marine Corps does not train its own combat medics, relying on the Navy to provide hospital corpsmen.

These infantry units are supported by Marine Corps combat engineers, who conduct engineer reconnaissance, obstacle system emplacement, and breaching operations; and Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance teams.

While the Marine Corps no longer operates its own tanks, opting to request support from the Army if needed, it maintains Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalions which operate the LAV-25 amphibious armored reconnaissance vehicle.

Assault Amphibian Battalions operate the Assault Amphibious Vehicle and Amphibious Combat Vehicle, which enable the ground combat element to conduct amphibious landing operations.

Marine Corps artillery operates the M777 howitzer and the M142 HIMARS, both supporting the ground combat element and the Navy at sea by striking enemy ships.

thumb|[[MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft from VMX-22 taking off from the ]]

The Marine aviation combat element (ACE) is the operational arm of Marine Corps Aviation, working to support the ground combat element. The F-35B Lightning II and AV-8B Harrier II are flown off Navy amphibious assault ships, while the F-35C Lightning II and F/A-18 Hornet are flown off Navy carriers by Marine Corps pilots.

The Marine Corps also operates the KC-130J to serve as a tanker and tactical airlift platform.

The UH-1Y Venom helicopter provides the Marine Corps with light transport and attack, while the AH-1Z Viper is a dedicated attack helicopter.

Medium-lift squadrons fly the MV-22 Osprey, while heavy-lift squadrons use the CH-53K King Stallion.

The Marine Corps has also begun flying unmanned aerial vehicles, such as the MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-8 Fire Scout. Notably, the aviation combat element also includes Low-Altitude Air Defense Battalions, which employ the FIM-92 Stinger surface-to-air missile.

The smallest MAGTF is the Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), which is typically forward deployed on a Navy ship. Commanded by a colonel, a Marine Expeditionary Unit consist of 2,200 marines split across a battalion landing team (ground combat element), a composite helicopter squadron (aviation combat element), and a combat logistics element (logistics element). Marine Expeditionary Units are supplied for 15 days.

The mid-sized MAGTF is the Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), which is organized for specific missions. Commanded by a brigadier general, Marine Expeditionary Brigades consist of 4,000 to 16,000 marines across a Regimental-sized ground combat element, a Marine Aircraft Group, and a Combat Logistics Regiment. Marine Expeditionary Brigades are supplied for 30 days and offer increased firepower and airpower over the Marine Expeditionary Unit.

thumb|[[Marine Raiders|Marine raiders with the 1st Marine Raider Battalion conducting a visit, board, search, and seizure operation]]

While not a MAGTF, the Marine Corps has begun to reorganize some of its regiments into Marine Littoral Regiments (MRL), which are similar in size to a Marine Expeditionary Unit. A Marine Littoral Regiment is a self-deployable force, designed to be naval in nature and operate in the littoral region. A Marine Littoral Regiment consists of a littoral combat team, a littoral anti-air battalion, and a combat logistics battalion. Notably, the Marine Littoral Regiment has no aviation combat element, unlike a Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Another Marine Corps element that does not function as part of the MAGTF is the Marine Raider Regiment, functioning under United States Marine Forces Special Operations Command. Marine Raiders specialize in direct action, unconventional warfare, maritime interdiction, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, counterterrorism, and counterinsurgency missions.

Marine Corps commands

Under Headquarters Marine Corps, the Marine Corps is organized into the Fleet Marine Force, multiple commands, and Marine Corps service components to the unified combatant commands.

{|class="wikitable"

!colspan=2|Name

!Mission

!Headquarters

|75px

|Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC)

| Marine Corps service headquarters led by the commandant of the Marine Corps.

|The Pentagon, Virginia

!colspan=5| Fleet Marine Force

|75px

|Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic (FMFLANT) / U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command (MARFORCOM)

|Provides Marine Corps forces in support of the U.S. Navy's United States Fleet Forces Command. Also serves as United States Marine Corps Forces Command, commanding Marine Corps retained service forces and providing forces for joint, naval, and service requirements.

|Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Virginia

|75px

|Fleet Marine Force, Pacific (FMFPAC)

|Provides Marine Corps forces in support of the U.S. Navy's United States Pacific Fleet.

|Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii

|75px

|Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM)

|Acquisition command for all Marine Corps ground and information technology programs.

|Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia

|75px

|U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve (MARFORRES)

|Oversees and maintains the U.S. Marine Corps reserve forces.

|Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans, Louisiana

U.S. Navy

thumb| and conducting dual carrier strike group operations as part of the [[United States Seventh Fleet]]

The United States Navy (USN) is the United States Armed Forces' maritime force. Originally established in 1775 as the Continental Navy, the U.S. Navy consists of the Regular Navy and the Navy Reserve. The Navy is the United States' principal maritime service, responsible for maritime warfare operations.

The U.S. Navy is organized under the Department of the Navy, which is a military department under the leadership of the secretary of the Navy and the under secretary of the Navy.

The U.S. Navy itself is led by the chief of naval operations and the vice chief of naval operations, both admirals who are advised by the master chief petty officer of the Navy.

Sea control
Power projection
Deterrence
Maritime security
Sealift

thumb|The , , , and launching a coordinated missile volley

The nine specified tasks of the Navy are:

Conduct offensive and defensive operations associated with the maritime domain including achieving and maintaining sea control, to include subsurface, surface, land, air, space, and cyberspace.

The Naval Surface Forces operates eleven nuclear-powered aircraft carriers (CVN), split between the Nimitz-class and the newer Gerald R. Ford-class. Aircraft carriers are the centerpiece of the U.S. Navy's combat power, forming the nucleus of its eleven carrier strike groups (CSG). Each aircraft carrier has an embarked carrier air wing from the Naval Air Forces.

The Naval Surface Forces also operate 116 surface combatants. These include the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers, Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers (DDG) and Zumwalt-class stealth guided-missile destroyers.

Cruisers and destroyers often operate as part of larger formations, where they serve as escorts for anti-aircraft and anti-submarine operations. However, they also are able to conduct sea control and striker operations ashore with their tomahawk cruise missiles.

The Navy also operates a complement of smaller Freedom-class and Independence-class littoral combat ships (LCS) that can be modularly reconfigured for specific mission sets.

Having lacked a frigate since the Oliver Hazard Perry-class was decommissioned, the Navy is in the process of acquiring the new Constellation-class guided-missile frigates (FFG).

Finally, the Naval Surface Forces operate 31 amphibious warfare ships to support the Fleet Marine Force and its embarked Marine Air-Ground Task Forces as part of an amphibious ready group or expeditionary strike group. This includes the America-class landing helicopter assault (LHA) ships which can carry U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II fighters and helicopters; and Wasp-class landing helicopter dock (LHD) ships, which can carry both F-35B fighters, helicopters, and landing craft. These are in addition to the San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks (LPD), and the Whidbey Island-class and Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ships.

Naval Submarine Forces

thumb|The attack submarine underway in the Atlantic Ocean

The Naval Submarine Forces (NAVSUBFOR) is often referred to as the "silent service", consisting of 68 commissioned submarines.

Los Angeles-class, Seawolf-class, and Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines are capable of performing sea control missions by destroying enemy submarines and surface ships, conducting surveillance and reconnaissance, performing irregular warfare, covert troop insertion, mine and anti-mine operations, and land attack missions with tomahawk cruise missiles.

Ohio-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) have the sole mission of being launch platforms for the nuclear submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). Each carries 20 UGM-133 Trident II SLBMs.

The Navy is currently in the process of procuring the Columbia-class SSBNs to replace the Ohio-class. Some Ohio-class submarines have been converted to cruise-missile submarines (SSGN), capable of carrying 154 tomahawk cruise missiles and deploying 66 special operations forces personnel, such as Navy SEALs.

Naval Air Forces

thumb|An [[F/A-18F Super Hornet from VX-23 flies over the , the world's largest aircraft carrier, and the largest warship ever constructed]]

The Naval Air Forces (NAVAIRFOR) is the Navy's naval aviation arm, centered around the carrier air wing. The core of the carrier air wing are the Naval Air Forces strike fighter squadrons (VFA), which fly the F-35C Lightning II stealth fighter and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

A variant of the F/A-18, the EA-18G Growler is an electronic-warfare aircraft flown by electronic attack squadrons (VAQ) off of carriers or land bases.

The E-2 Hawkeye provides carriers with airborne early warning and command-and-control, while the C-2A Greyhound keeps carriers supplied.

The CMV-22B Osprey is currently in the process of replacing the C-2 Greyhound for carrier resupply.

The Naval Air Forces also operate the MH-60 Seahawk for anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, and search and rescue operations.

The MH-53E is primarily used for anti-mine warfare but can also be used for assault support.

|Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Virginia

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|U.S. Pacific Fleet (PACFLT)

|Navy service component and joint force maritime component command to United States Indo-Pacific Command.

|Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

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|U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT)

|Navy service component and joint force maritime component command to United States Central Command.

|Naval Support Activity Bahrain

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|U.S. Fleet Cyber Command (FCC) / U.S. Navy Space Command (NAVSPACE)

|Navy service component to United States Cyber Command and United States Space Command.

|Fort Meade, Maryland

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|U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa (NAVEUR–NAVAF)

|Navy service component and joint force maritime component command to United States European Command and United States Africa Command.

|Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy

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|U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO)

|Navy service component and joint force maritime component command to United States Southern Command.

|Naval Station Mayport, Florida

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|U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command (USNSWC)

|Navy service component to United States Special Operations Command.

|Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California

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|Military Sealift Command (MSC)

|Navy service component and joint force maritime component command to United States Transportation Command.

|Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia

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|U.S. Navy Reserve (USNR)

|Oversees and maintains Navy reserve forces.

|Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Virginia

U.S. Air Force

thumb|A [[B-2A Spirit stealth bomber from the 509th Bomb Wing escorted by two F-22A Raptor stealth fighters from the 3rd Wing]]

The United States Air Force (USAF) is the United States Armed Forces' air force originally established in 1947 when it gained independence from the U.S. Army, it traces its history back through the United States Army Air Forces, United States Army Air Corps, United States Army Air Service, the Division of Military Aeronautics, Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps, to the birth of Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps on 1 August 1907.

The U.S. Air Force serves as the principal air service, responsible for aerial warfare operations. The U.S. Air Force is composed of the Regular Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard.

The U.S. Air Force is organized under the Department of the Air Force, which is a military department under the leadership of the secretary of the Air Force and under secretary of the Air Force.

The U.S. Air Force itself is led by the chief of staff of the Air Force and vice chief of staff of the Air Force, both generals who are advised by the chief master sergeant of the Air Force.

The five core missions of the Air Force are:

Air superiority
Global integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance
Rapid global mobility
Global strike
Command and control

thumb|Air Mobility Command [[C-17 Globemasters performing low-level flight training]]

The eight specified functions of the Air Force are:

Conduct nuclear operations in support of strategic deterrence, to include providing and maintaining nuclear surety and capabilities.
Conduct offensive and defensive operations, to include appropriate air and missile defense, to gain and maintain air superiority and air supremacy as required, to enable the conduct of operations by U.S. and allied land, sea, air, space, and special operations forces.
Conduct global precision attack, to include strategic attack, interdiction, close air support, and prompt global strike.
Provide timely, globally integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability and capacity from forward deployed locations and globally distributed centers to support world-wide operations.
Provide rapid global mobility to employ and sustain organic air and space forces and other military service and U. S. Special Operations Command forces, as directed, to include airlift forces for airborne operations, air logistical support, tanker forces for in-flight refueling, and assets for aeromedical evacuation.
Provide agile combat support to enhance the air and space campaign and the deployment, employment, sustainment, and redeployment of air and space forces and other forces operating within the air and space domains, to include joint air and space bases, and for the Armed Forces other than which is organic to the individual military services and U.S. Special Operations Command in coordination with the other military services, combatant commands, and U.S. Government departments and agencies.
Conduct global personnel recovery operations including theater-wide combat and civil search and rescue in coordination with the other military services, combatant commands, and DoD components.
Conduct globally integrated command and control for air and space operations.

Combat Air Force

thumb|Two [[F-22A Raptors from the 90th Fighter Squadron]]

The Combat Air Force (CAF) comprises the majority of the Air Force's combat power, consisting of its fighter, bomber, intercontinental ballistic missile, and special operations forces.

The Air Force's fighter forces are led by Air Combat Command's Fifteenth Air Force, with other fighter units under Pacific Air Forces and United States Air Forces in Europe. Air Force fighters are predominantly used to achieve air superiority and strike enemy ground and naval forces.

The Air Force operates an expanding force of fifth-generation fighters. The F-22A Raptor stealth fighter is designed to replace the F-15C in air superiority operations carrying two AIM-9 Sidewinder and six AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles. It also has a significant air-to-ground mission, carrying two GBU-32 Joint Direct Attack Munition bombs, in addition to two AIM-9 and two AIM-120 missiles. Ultimately, the F-22 is intended to be replaced by the sixth-generation fighter, Next Generation Air Dominance program. The F-22 is complemented by the more numerous F-35A Lightning II multi-role stealth fighters, which are in the process of replacing the F-16C fighters and A-10 attack aircraft in air superiority and ground attack roles, to include the nuclear strike mission.

The Air Force still operates an extremely sizable force of fourth-generation fighters. The F-15C Eagle is a dedicated air superiority fighter, while the F-15E Strike Eagle has been modified to be a dual-role strike fighter, carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons. The F-15C Eagle and F-15E Strike Eagle are both being replaced by the F-15EX Eagle II, which is significantly more advanced.

The F-16C Fighting Falcon is a multirole fighter that has served as the primary Air Force fighter for decades, including as a dual-capable tactical nuclear strike fighter.

The A-10C Thunderbolt II attack aircraft has been the first Air Force fighter specifically designed for close air support missions, operating against enemy ground forces and light naval ships with its GAU-8 Avenger gatling cannon and array of air-to-ground munitions.

thumb|A [[B-52 Stratofortress of the 2nd Bomb Wing and a B-2A Spirit of the 509th Bomb Wing flying in formation]]

The Air Force's bomber forces are organized under Air Force Global Strike Command's Eighth Air Force, executing long-range strike operations. The B-2A Spirit stealth bomber is capable of conducting both conventional and nuclear strike operations flying through air defenses.

The B-1B Lancer, in contrast, is a supersonic bomber that carries only conventional munitions and serves as the backbone of the bomber force.

The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that the Air Force has flown since the 1950s and operates a variety of conventional and nuclear munitions, including the AGM-86 air-launched cruise missile.

The Air Force's intercontinental ballistic missile forces are organized under Air Force Global Strike Command's Twentieth Air Force, serving as the land component of the nuclear triad.

The LGM-30G Minuteman III serves as the only ballistic missile operated by the Air Force, with 400 stationed in hardened silos. The LGM-30G will be replaced by the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile.

thumb|A formation of [[CV-22 Ospreys from the 353rd Special Operations Group]]

The Air Force's special operations forces are organized under Air Force Special Operations Command, consisting of both special operations aviation and Air Force special tactics airmen on the ground. The AC-130J Ghostrider gunships have the primary mission of close air support and air interdiction, using cannons and precision guided munitions.

The MC-130J Commando II, also a variant of the C-130 Hercules, fly exfiltration and resupply operations for special operations forces, alongside conducting air-to-air refueling for helicopters.

The CV-22 Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft used for the infiltration and exfiltration of special operations forces.

While not under Air Force Special Operations Command, rescue operations are supported by the HC-130J Combat King II and HH-60W Jolly Green II combat rescue aircraft.

The MQ-9 Reaper also serves as a remotely piloted intelligence and strike aircraft, serving under Air Force Special Operations Command and Air Combat Command. thumb|Air Force [[Pararescue with a HH-60 helicopter in the background]]

Air Force Special Tactics are the ground special warfare force of the U.S. Air Force, integrating air-ground operations. Special Tactics conduct four core missions.

Global access teams assess and open airfields, ranging from international airports to dirt strips, in permissive or hostile locations to facilitate the landing and operation of air forces. Precision strike teams are trained to direct aircraft and other forces to conduct kinetic and non-kinetic strikes, as well as humanitarian aid drops.Special Tactics teams also conduct personnel recovery missions, possessing significant medical and rescue experience.Finally, Special Operations Surgical Teams conduct surgery and medical operations in battlefield operations in support of special operations.

The Air Force also operates a wide array of reconnaissance aircraft under Air Combat Command's Sixteenth Air Force, including the RQ-4 Global Hawk drone, U-2 Dragon Lady, and RC-135 Rivet Joint.

Air Force operations are typically supported by command and control aircraft, such as the E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system. The E-3 Sentry is in the process of being replaced by the E-7A Wedgetail.

Mobility Air Force

The Mobility Air Force (MAF) is organized under Air Mobility Command and comprises the Air Force's airlift, air refueling, and aeromedical evacuation forces.

thumb|A [[KC-46A Pegasus refueling a C-17A Globemaster III]]

The airlift forces operate three different major aircraft. The C-5M Super Galaxy is the largest aircraft in the Air Force, serving as a strategic transport aircraft.

The C-17A Globemaster III is the airlift force's most flexible aircraft, conducting both strategic and tactical airlift operations. It is also capable of conducting airborne operations for the Army and aerial resupply through airdropping cargo.

Finally, the C-130J Super Hercules is a tactical airlifter, conducting both cargo airlift and supporting Army airborne operations.

Other major airlift platforms include the VC-25, which serves as the personal plane of the president of the United States, better known as Air Force One.

The Air Force also operates three major aerial refueling tankers. The KC-46A Pegasus is its most modern tanker, replacing the aging KC-10A Extenders. The remaining tanker is the KC-135 Stratotanker, which has flown since the 1950s. Tankers are also capable of conducting limited airlift operations.

Air Force commands

The U.S. Air Force is organized into nine major commands, which conduct the majority of the service's organize, train, and equip functions. It commands forces attached to the combatant commands as joint force air component commands.

{|class="wikitable"

!colspan=2|Name

!Mission

!Headquarters

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|Headquarters Air Force (HAF)

|Air Force service headquarters led by the chief of staff of the Air Force.

|The Pentagon, Virginia

!colspan=4| Major Commands and Air National Guard

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|Air Combat Command (ACC)

|Primary provider of combat air forces to the unified combatant commands. Air Combat Command operates fighter, reconnaissance, battle-management, and electronic-combat aircraft.

|Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia

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|Air Education and Training Command (AETC)

|Recruits, trains, and educates airmen and develops Air Force doctrine.

|Joint Base San Antonio, Texas

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|Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC)

|Operates the Air Force strategic bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile forces. Air Force component and joint force air component command for United States Strategic Command.

|Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana

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|Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC)

|Manages installation and mission support, discovery and development, test and evaluation, and life cycle management services and sustainment for every major Air Force weapon system.

|Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

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|Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC)

|Manages Air Force reserve forces.

|Robins Air Force Base, Georgia

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|Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)

|Organizes, trains, and equips air commandos. Air Force component and joint force air component command for United States Special Operations Command.

|Hurlburt Field, Florida

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|Air Mobility Command (AMC)

|Primary provider of air mobility forces to the unified combatant commands. Air Force component and joint force air component command for United States Transportation Command.

|Scott Air Force Base, Illinois

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|Pacific Air Forces (PACAF)

|Air Force component and joint force air component command for United States Indo-Pacific Command.

|Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii

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|United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE–AFAFRICA)

|Air Force component and joint force air component command for United States European Command and United States Africa Command.

|Ramstein Air Base, Germany

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|Air National Guard (ANG)

|Air Force component of the National Guard.

|The Pentagon, Virginia

U.S. Space Force

thumb|[[Boeing X-37|Boeing X-37B spaceplane after deorbiting and landing]]

The United States Space Force (USSF) is the United States Armed Forces' space force and is the newest military branch. Originally established in 2019, it traces its history through Air Force Space Command and the Western Development Division to 1954.

The United States Space Force is the principal space service, responsible for space warfare operations. The U.S. Space Force is composed of the Regular Space Force, not yet having organized a reserve component outside of the Air Force.

The U.S. Space Force is organized under the Department of the Air Force, which is a military department under the leadership of the secretary of the Air Force and under secretary of the Air Force.

The U.S. Space Force itself is led by the chief of space operations and vice chief of space operations, both generals who are advised by the chief master sergeant of the Space Force.

thumb|[[Delta IV Heavy launch for the NROL-44 mission]]

The five core competencies of the Space Force are:

Space security
Combat power projection
Space mobility and logistics
Information mobility
Space domain awareness

The five specified functions of the Space Force are:

Provide freedom of operation for the United States in, from, and to space.

Combat power projection operations ensure freedom of action in space for the U.S. and its allies and denies an adversary freedom of action in space.

These are divided into offensive and defensive space operations.

Defensive operations preserve and protect U.S. and allied space capabilities, which are further sub-divided into active and passive actions.

Offensive operations target a U.S. adversary's space and counterspace capabilities, achieving space superiority.

Cyber operations and Satellite Control Network

thumb|[[Satellite Control Network antenna at Kaena Point Space Force Station]]

Although the U.S. Space Force is not a cyber force, it does conduct extensive cyber operations under Space Delta 6.

The primary focus of Space Force cyber operations is defending U.S. Space Force networks and ensuring the operations of its spacecraft, which are controlled remotely from ground stations. All space operations units have cyber squadrons assigned to defend them and incorporate offensive cyber operations.

Additionally, Space Delta 6 is responsible for managing the Satellite Control Network, a global network of antennas used to communicate with the service's spacecraft.

The 22nd Space Operations Squadron is responsible for overall operations, with the 21st Space Operations Squadron and 23rd Space Operations Squadron managing the ground station sites at Vandenberg Space Force Base, New Boston Space Force Station, Kaena Point Space Force Station, Diego Garcia, Guam, Greenland, and the United Kingdom.

Space domain awareness encompasses the identification, characterization, and understanding of any factor associated with the space domain that could affect space operations.

The 18th Space Defense Squadron, collocated with the Combined Space Operations Center, executes command and control of the Space Surveillance Network and manages the Space Catalog of all objects in Earth orbit.

The 19th Space Defense Squadron focuses on objects further in cislunar space, beyond geosynchronous orbit, with a specific focus on supporting NASA's Artemis program and other human spaceflight operations.

Missile warning

thumb|Deployment of a [[Defense Support Program missile warning spacecraft from the Space Shuttle Atlantis on the STS-44 mission]]

The Space Force's Space Delta 4 uses orbital spacecraft and ground-based radars to conduct theater and strategic missile warnings for the United States and its international partners.

This includes the network of Upgraded Early Warning Radars at Beale Air Force Base, Clear Space Force Station, Cape Cod Space Force Station, Pituffik Space Base, and RAF Fylingdales, alongside the AN/FPQ-16 PARCS radar at Cavalier Space Force Station.

Currently, the Space Force is working with the Missile Defense Agency to acquire the Long Range Discrimination Radar at Clear Space Force Station in Alaska.These ground-based radars also contribute to the Space Surveillance Network.

Space-based missile warning systems include the Defense Support Program and Space-Based Infrared System (SIBRS) spacecraft, which use infrared sensors to conduct missile defense and missile warning. SIBRS also has a battle space awareness and technical intelligence mission.

The Defense Support Program spacecraft are also capable of detecting nuclear detonations, in addition to space and missile launches.

Global Positioning System and military satellite communications

thumb|Members of the [[4th Space Operations Squadron Mobile Operations Flight conducting armed convoy operations]]

The Space Force's Space Delta 8 is the operator of the Global Positioning System and the military's array of communications spacecraft.

The Global Positioning System is operated by the 2nd Space Operations Squadron, providing positioning, navigation, and timing information for civilian and military users across the entire world.

The Space Force's GPS system has become an integral element of the global information infrastructure, being used in virtually all sectors of the economy, including agriculture, aviation, marine transportation, surveying and mapping, and transit navigation. Its timing signal is used to synchronize global communication systems, electrical power grids, and financial networks.

The Global Positioning System also has a secondary mission of carrying nuclear detonation detection sensors.

Military satellite communication systems include the Fleet Satellite Communications System, UHF Follow-On satellite, and Mobile User Objective System, operated by the 10th Space Operations Squadron and inherited from the U.S. Navy.

The payloads on the Wideband Global SATCOM and Defense Satellite Communications System are operated by the 53rd Space Operations Squadron, a role inherited from the U.S. Army.

Finally, spacecraft operations for the Wideband Global SATCOM and Defense Satellite Communications System are conducted by the 4th Space Operations Squadron, in addition to the Milstar and Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellites, which both additionally support command and control of strategic nuclear forces.

Space launch

thumb|Launch of the [[Falcon Heavy on the STP-2 mission]]

The Space Force's space launch enterprise is organized under Space Systems Command, with Space Launch Delta 30 managing the Western Range from Vandenberg Space Force Base and Space Launch Delta 45 managing the Eastern Range from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The Space Force does not just manage military space launches, but also supports NASA and commercial space launches.

An experimental Air Force Research Laboratory vanguard program that the Space Force leads, Rocket Cargo, is exploring using rockets to supplement naval and air transport to rapidly deliver supplies to forces across the Earth. The SpaceX Starship rocket is one such system currently being explored.

Space Force commands

The Space Force is organized into three field commands and multiple component field commands, which serve as joint force space component commands for the unified combatant commands.

{|class="wikitable"

!colspan=2|Name

!Mission

!Headquarters

|75px

|Headquarters Space Force (HSF)

| Space Force service headquarters led by the chief of space operations.

|The Pentagon, Virginia

!colspan=4| Field commands

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|Space Operations Command (SpOC)

|The Space Force's operations field command, conducting space operations, cyberspace operations, and intelligence operations. Space Force component to United States Space Command.

|Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado

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|Space Systems Command (SSC)

|Conducts research, development, acquisitions, and sustainment of Space Force systems and conducts space launch operations.

|Los Angeles Air Force Base, California

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|Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM)

|Conducts Space Force training, education, doctrine development, and testing.

|Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado

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|Space Force Element, National Reconnaissance Office (SFELM NRO)

|Space Force component for the National Reconnaissance Office.

|Chantilly, Virginia

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|U.S. Space Forces Indo-Pacific (USSPACEFOR-INDOPAC)

|Space Force component and joint force space component command for United States Indo-Pacific Command.

|Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii

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|U.S. Space Forces Central (USSPACEFOR-CENT)

|Space Force component and joint force space component command for United States Central Command.

|MacDill Air Force Base, Florida

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|U.S. Space Forces Korea (USSPACEFOR-KOR)

|Space Force component and joint force space component command for United States Forces Korea.

|Osan Air Base, South Korea

U.S. Coast Guard

right|thumb| sailing alongside the

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the United States Armed Forces' maritime security, maritime search and rescue, and maritime law enforcement force. It was first established in 1790 as the United States Revenue-Marine and consists of the Regular Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Reserve.

Although it has always been one of the six military branches, the Coast Guard is organized under the Department of Homeland Security under the leadership of the secretary of Homeland Security and the deputy secretary of Homeland Security.

During times of war, the U.S. Coast Guard can be transferred to the Department of the Navy

The Coast Guard itself is led by the commandant of the Coast Guard and vice commandant of the Coast Guard, both admirals advised by the master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard.

thumb|A Coast Guard [[Maritime Safety and Security Team|Maritime Security Response team executing a boarding action from an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter]]

The Coast Guard has six major operational mission programs, through which it executes its 11 statutory missions:

Maritime law enforcement
Maritime response
Maritime prevention
Maritime transport system management
Maritime security operations
Defense operations

Maritime law enforcement operations focus on protecting the United States maritime borders and assuring its maritime sovereignty.

The Coast Guard conducts operations to suppress violations of U.S. law at sea, including counter-illegal migration and transnational organized crime operations. Codified missions executed under the maritime law enforcement program include drug interdiction, migrant interdiction, living marine resources, and other law enforcement.

{|class="wikitable"

!colspan=2|Name

!Mission

!Headquarters

|75px

|Coast Guard Headquarters (USCG HQ)

| Coast Guard service headquarters led by the commandant of the Coast Guard.

|Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building, Washington D.C.

!colspan=4| Operating forces

|75px

|Coast Guard Atlantic Area (LANTAREA)

|Conducts Coast Guard operations east of the Rocky Mountains, to include the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

|Coast Guard Station Portsmouth, Virginia

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|Coast Guard Pacific Area (PACAREA)

|Conducts Coast Guard operations west of the Rocky Mountains, to include the Indo-Pacific region.

|Coast Guard Base Alameda, California

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|Coast Guard Cyber Command (CGCYBER)

|Conducts Coast Guard cyber operations and collaborates with United States Cyber Command.

|Washington D.C.

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|U.S. Coast Guard Reserve (USCGR)

|Oversees and maintains Coast Guard reserve forces.

|Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building, Washington D.C.

Modernization and budget

Budget

The United States manages the world's largest military budget, followed by the People's Republic of China, India, United Kingdom, and Russia.

The James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 established the topline defense budget as $857.9 billion, with the Department of Defense receiving $816.7 billion and the Department of Energy's national security programs receiving $30.3 billion, an 8% increase from Fiscal Year 2022.

The Department of the Air Force budget, unlike the Department of the Army or Department of the Navy has a sizable portion of "pass-through." This is money not controlled or used by the Air Force, but is instead passed to other Department of Defense agencies and can be up to 17% of the department's budget. This pass-through allocation gives the impression that the Air Force is the highest funded military department. It is actually the least funded.