Military of the United States facts for kids

The United States Armed Forces is the official name for the military of the United States. It includes several important branches:

• United States Army
• United States Navy
• United States Marine Corps
• United States Air Force
• United States Coast Guard
• United States Space Force

A United States Joint Service Color Guard on parade at Fort Myer.

The President of the United States is the top leader, or Commander-in-Chief, of the Armed Forces. Most branches, except the Coast Guard, are part of the Department of Defense. This department is managed by the Secretary of Defense. The Coast Guard is part of the Department of Homeland Security. Interestingly, the Marine Corps is actually part of the Navy!

About 1.4 million people serve actively in the military right now. Another 1,259,000 people are in the reserves, which means they can be called upon if needed. This includes 456,000 people in the Army and Air National Guard. The U.S. military does not currently require people to join (this is called conscription or a draft). Both women and men can serve in almost all military jobs, including many combat roles. Even some jobs that are not officially "combat" can see fighting regularly during wartime.

Understanding Military Ranks

In the United States Armed Forces, ranks are divided into three main groups: officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel. Each group has different responsibilities and ways of joining.

Officers are the leaders of the military. They receive their authority from the President of the United States, and their rank is approved by the Senate.

Warrant officers are specialists. They are experts in specific military technologies and skills. They get their authority from the secretaries of the military departments.

Enlisted personnel make up most of the armed forces. They serve as specialists and leaders at the ground level. As they gain experience, they can become senior non-commissioned officers or senior petty officers.

Military ranks across different services can be compared using their pay grade or NATO rank code.

Officers: Military Leaders

NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer
Uniformed services pay grade	Special grade		O-10		O-9		O-8		O-7		O-6		O-5		O-4		O-3		O-2			O-1			Officer candidate/Cadet
United States Army																									Various
	General of the Army		General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		First lieutenant			Second lieutenant			Cadet / Officer candidate
United States Marine Corps																									(Various insignia)
			General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		First lieutenant			Second lieutenant			Midshipman / officer candidate
United States Navy																									(Various insignia)
	Fleet admiral		Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Rear admiral (lower half)		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)			Ensign			Midshipman / officer candidate
United States Air Force																									(Various insignia)
	General of the Air Force		General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		First lieutenant			Second lieutenant			Cadet / Officer trainee
United States Space Force																									(Various insignia)
			General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		First lieutenant			Second lieutenant			Cadet / Officer trainee
United States Coast Guard																									Various
			Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Rear admiral (lower half)		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)			Ensign			Cadet / officer candidate
NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer
Uniformed services pay grade	Special grade		O-10		O-9		O-8		O-7		O-6		O-5		O-4		O-3		O-2			O-1			Officer candidate/Cadet

Officers make up about 18% of the armed forces. They hold important leadership and command roles. Officers are grouped into three categories:

• Junior Officers (O-1 to O-3): These are called Company grade officers in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. In the Navy and Coast Guard, they are simply called junior officers.
• Mid-Grade Officers (O-4 to O-6): These are known as Field grade officers in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. In the Navy and Coast Guard, they are mid-grade officers.
• Senior Officers (O-7 to O-10): These are General officers in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. In the Navy and Coast Guard, they are called flag officers.

Most officers start as second lieutenants or ensigns after getting a bachelor's degree and several years of training. Some can be directly commissioned from civilian life if they have special skills, like being a doctor, lawyer, or cyber expert.

Officers are trained through special schools like the United States service academies, Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs, and Officer Candidate and Officer Training Schools. During a time of war, officers can be promoted to very high ranks, like five-star ranks. Examples include General of the Army and Fleet Admiral.

Warrant Officers: Expert Specialists

NATO rank	WO-5		WO-4		WO-3		WO-2		WO-1
Uniformed services pay grade	W-5		W-4		W-3		W-2		W-1
United States Army
	Chief warrant officer 5		Chief warrant officer 4		Chief warrant officer 3		Chief warrant officer 2		Warrant officer 1
United States Marine Corps
	Chief warrant officer 5		Chief warrant officer 4		Chief warrant officer 3		Chief warrant officer 2		Warrant Officer 1
United States Navy
	Chief warrant officer 5		Chief warrant officer 4		Chief warrant officer 3		Chief warrant officer 2		Warrant officer 1
United States Air Force
	Chief warrant officer 5		Chief warrant officer 4		Chief warrant officer 3		Chief warrant officer 2		Warrant officer 1
U.S. Coast Guard
			Chief warrant officer 4		Chief warrant officer 3		Chief warrant officer 2
NATO rank	WO-5		WO-4		WO-3		WO-2		WO-1
Uniformed services pay grade	W-5		W-4		W-3		W-2		W-1

Warrant officers are highly skilled specialists. They make up only about 8% of the officer group. They are experts in specific military technologies or abilities. The lowest-ranking warrant officers serve under a "warrant," but they receive commissions from the President when they are promoted to chief warrant officer 2. They have authority like commissioned officers but remain focused on their specialized area. The Air Force and Space Force do not have warrant officers.

Most warrant officers were previously non-commissioned officers. However, in Army Aviation, any enlisted person can apply to become a warrant officer. Army Warrant officers attend the Army Warrant Officer Candidate School.

Enlisted Personnel: The Backbone of the Military

NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Uniformed services pay grade	E-9						E-8		E-7		E-6						E-5						E-4				E-3		E-2						E-1
United States Army																																			No insignia
	Command sergeant major			Sergeant major			First sergeant	Master sergeant	Sergeant first class		Staff sergeant						Sergeant						Specialist		Corporal		Private first class		Private						Private
United States Marine Corps																																			No insignia
	Sergeant major			Master gunnery sergeant			First sergeant	Master sergeant	Gunnery sergeant		Staff sergeant						Sergeant						Corporal				Lance corporal		Private first class						Private
United States Navy																																			No insignia
	Command master chief petty officer			Master chief petty officer			Command senior chief petty officer	Senior chief petty officer	Chief petty officer		Petty officer first class						Petty officer second class						Petty officer third class				Seaman		Seaman apprentice						Seaman recruit
United States Air Force																																			No insignia
	Command chief master sergeant	First sergeant		Chief master sergeant			First sergeant	Senior master sergeant	First sergeant	Master sergeant	Technical sergeant						Staff sergeant						Senior airman				Airman first class		Airman						Airman basic
United States Space Force
	Chief master sergeant						Senior master sergeant		Master sergeant		Technical sergeant						Sergeant						Specialist 4				Specialist 3		Specialist 2						Specialist 1
U.S. Coast Guard
	Command master chief petty officer			Master chief petty officer			Senior chief petty officer		Chief petty officer		Petty officer first class						Petty officer second class						Petty officer third class				Seaman		Seaman apprentice						Seaman recruit
NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Uniformed services pay grade	E-9						E-8		E-7		E-6						E-5						E-4				E-3		E-2						E-1

Air Force basic trainees during a base defense exercise at Air Force Basic Military Training.

Enlisted personnel make up 82% of the armed forces. They serve as specialists and leaders at the tactical level. Enlisted personnel are divided into three categories:

• Junior Enlisted Personnel (E-1 to E-3/4): These are usually new recruits in training or at their first assignment. This includes E-1 to E-3 in the Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard, and E-1 to E-4 in the Army, Air Force, and Space Force. In the Army, specialists (E-4) are junior enlisted, while corporals (E-4) are non-commissioned officers.
• Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) (E-4/5 to E-6): These are leaders responsible for tactical operations. They are called non-commissioned officers in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. In the Navy and Coast Guard, they are called petty officers. In the Air Force and Space Force, E-5 is the first NCO rank.
• Senior NCOs (E-7 to E-9): These are experienced leaders who advise officers. They are called senior non-commissioned officers in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. In the Navy and Coast Guard, they are called chief petty officers.

The rank of senior enlisted advisor is the highest enlisted rank in each service. This person serves as the main advisor to their service's secretary and chief on all matters related to enlisted personnel.

Before joining, all enlisted personnel must complete their service's basic training. After Army Basic Combat Training, recruits go to advanced individual training for their specific job, called a military occupational specialty. Marine Corps recruits complete Recruit Training. Infantry Marines then attend the School of Infantry. Other Marines complete Marine Combat Training before going to technical schools for their Military Occupational Specialty.

In the Navy, after Recruit Training, sailors go to "A" schools for training in their rating. Air Force and Space Force recruits complete combined Basic Military Training before technical training for their Air Force Specialty Codes. Coast Guard recruits complete Recruit Training and then go to "A" schools for their rating.

Images for kids

• 

  The Joint Chiefs of Staff in December 2020.

• 

  Organization of the military services and military departments within the Department of Defense.

• 

  U.S. Army Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division return fire during a firefight with Taliban forces in Barawala Kalay Valley in Kunar province, Afghanistan on 31 March 2011.

• 

  U.S. Army M1A2 Abrams tanks from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment maneuver in the streets as they conduct a combat patrol in the city of Tall Afar, Iraq, on Feb. 3, 2005.

• 

  U.S. Marines with India Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit run on the beach during an amphibious assault demonstration.

• 

  A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft attached to VMX-22 prepares to land on the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) in the Pacific Ocean.

• 

  USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) and Carrier Strike Group 3 underway with Republic of Korea Navy ships.

• 

  F-22A Raptors in flight.

• 

  U.S. Air Force B-2A Spirit stealth bombers flying with Royal Air Force F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters.

• 

  The Sodium Guidestar at the Directed Energy Directorate's Starfire Optical Range for real-time, high-fidelity tracking and imaging of satellites.

• 

  Boeing X-37B spaceplane after deorbiting and landing.

• 

  USCGC Hamilton and TCG Turgutries in the Black Sea, April 30, 2021.

• 

  Coast Guard Reserve Port Security boat on patrol.

• 

  Unified combatant commands areas of responsibility.

• 

  Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester, awarded the Silver Star for direct combat.

• 

  ADM Linda L. Fagan June 2021.

See also

In Spanish: Fuerzas Armadas de los Estados Unidos para niños