Let’s face it, many of us don’t watch the news. Why burden our minds with more stress? After all, there are 1000’s of channels on our smart TV’s to watch, the last thing we wanna see is the turmoil in Israel and more political conflicts.
We work our jobs, attend our kids’ activities, plan meals, take vacations and pay bills. We live in our own world, not to be bothered by the rest.
But while talking about war and threats to society may be a tough topic for most, troops are out there in tough conditions every day, sacrificing their lives. They’re training for assignments we don’t even know about, coordinating crucial air operations, healing complex wounds, guarding our borders so we can sleep at night, and hiding amongst enemies to complete a mission.
Aside from the turmoil that war has created throughout the years, it’s fascinating to think about the different service branches and the importance of each of one of them in protecting our country. As we approach the 250th anniversaries of the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps, I felt there was no better time to showcase our Military!
Let’s start off with the largest service that’s been around the longest– the U.S. Army. The Army is proud to call themselves the best, most disciplined land force in the world.¹ It is made up of United States Army Reserve and Army National Guard. The Army Command Structure separates into several individual sections which are stationed all over the world. Every component of the Army supports each other–whether it’s deploying soldiers to battlegrounds overseas, securing our borders, training soldiers, or providing medical care. Each person that’s part of the Army plays a crucial part in assuring the safety of our country and our world.²
Next we have The United States Marine Corps. It bears similarities to the Army, but has its own unique organizational structure, such as the ”rule of three.” The Marine Corps include units on the ground, in the air and they support logistics forces. MEF forces are capable of projecting power on land or at sea and can support themselves in combat for up to 60 days.
Their structure is something to highlight, as no other service branch is quite the same. The division is comprised of 4 groups:
Within these structures lie soldiers who are heavily trained and ready to fight at any time.
And did you know that the Marine Corps has Aircraft Units? Squadrons are made up of 24 aircraft. They’re equivalent to a battalion and include fixed-wing aircraft, tiltrotor (combination of an airplane and helicopter) aircraft and helicopters.
Aircraft groups and wings make up the remainder of Air control within the Marine Corps. They deliver aid to disaster areas, support operations in Iraq, Syria & Afghanistan to name a few. They also provide ceremonial support, administrative duties, as well as air command and air defense.³
That leads us to the United States Air Force. This crucial service branch includes Air Force Active Duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve. The Airforce is capable of delivering forces to anywhere in the world within hours if necessary.
It’s fascinating to look at the array of Aircraft that makes up the U.S. Airforce. From the “spooky” gunship AC-130U to the AGM-65 Maverick, these planes have the most powerful capabilities you could ever imagine. Not to mention the missiles our Air Force can deploy using heat-seeking and infrared structures to guide in accuracy. Among other service men and women, those in the Air Force are highly-trained in providing extremely prestigious accuracy mid-air.⁴
Next we have the Navy. Protecting our seas all over the world, these sailors not only keep our enemies at bay, but they also help
The Navy utilizes a combination of ships, submarines and aircraft, always on-watch, protecting our nation and world.
Like all the other service branches, the Navy offers job opportunities and money to further your education. Some are even high priority roles, like Navy diver, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician or Navy Seal. The list is extensive for other job opportunities in the Navy, including Navy Nurse, Engineman or Cyber Warfare Technician to name a few.⁵
Up next is the U.S. Coast Guard, part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Most of you may know the Coast Guard for their life-saving operations at sea, but did you know they also play a huge part in stopping illegal drug smuggling into our country? The Coast Guard plays a vital role in protecting our borders, waterways, ports, seas and even deploy aircraft to aid in these missions.⁶
Our Space Force is another vital defense organization and is part of our Military. Did you know that they provide the GPS functions that enable the internet and online banking? We sometimes take for granted that when we log onto our bank account, our money is safe and secure. We can thank our astronauts in our U.S. Space Force for this. The Space Force is also responsible for many warfighting capabilities in space we can’t even imagine, like the Golden Dome to protect us against aerial attacks.⁷
And last–but certainly not least–we have the National Guard. As part of the Army and Air Force, they provide forces to fight and win the nation’s wars and protect the homeland. The guard engages with 106 partner nations to protect not only our nation, but our world. And like other forces, knowing they can trust their partners is key in the National Defense Strategy.⁸
It would be impossible to describe in one article everything our Military has done and is currently doing to protect us. Our Government has done an incredible job of defining each service branch to its fullest, posting Military-related news and current events, and offering recruiting options for those who wish to serve. There are many benefits to serving our country, including college scholarships, job opportunities, early retirement and pension plans. More efforts are being made to support military families during and after service as well.
But as citizens, we must do our part to help and protect them when they come home. Veterans may bear wounds that no one can see. And while protecting and serving our country comes with great honor, it also may affect some for the rest of their lives.
I urge you to do some research. Educate yourself on current events, especially worldwide Military efforts to protect our great nation. You don’t have to spend a ton of time on this. Maybe just a little each day, whether it’s reading or watching credible sources online or in the news. You’ll be surprised at what these service men and women are capable of.
There are a lot of great things happening out there, both frightening and astonishing. Our Military uses the latest science and technology to assure we can use our phones, TV’s and appliances without interruptions. They help us be able to take our kids to the beach and play in the sand and water, knowing they’re safe. Every little thing we enjoy is thanks to them, as they’re out there protecting us. I, for one, am very thankful for them.
Each one of us who volunteer for this cause is proud to have fought for our country in our own branches. Rest easy knowing that when you donate to this cause, you’re returning the favor to our Veterans. Your donations go to helping Vets who really need it–whether it’s…
Please consider donating here today. Thank you so much for your support. It means the world to us and our Vets. After all, this is what we live for. And you make it possible.
² https://www.army.mil/organization/
³ https://www.defense.gov/Multimedia/Experience/Military-Units/Marine-Corps/#intro
⁴ https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/
⁵ https://www.navy.com/navy-life/who-we-are