United States Armed Forces
Updated: 5/20/2026, 7:35:45 PM Wikipedia source
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 . 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 . Armed Forces are widely considered the world's most powerful and most advanced military. The military expenditure of the U . 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 . 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.
Infobox
Founded
14 June 1775 (1775-06-14)
Service branches
U . Army U . Marine Corps U . Navy U . Air Force U . Space Force U . Coast Guard
Headquarters
The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia
Website
war dhs
Commander-in-Chief
President Donald Trump
Secretary of Defense
Pete Hegseth
Secretary of Homeland Security
Markwayne Mullin
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Gen Dan Caine, USAF
Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Gen Christopher J. Mahoney, USMC
Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman
SEAC David Isom, USN
Military age
17 with parental consent, 18 for voluntary service.
Conscription
Inactive since 1973 (males must register at age 18)
Active personnel
1,340,655 (ranked 3rd)
Reserve personnel
799,500
Budget
US$901 billion (2026)
Percent of GDP
3 % (2025)
Domestic suppliers
List
Foreign suppliers
United Kingdom Germany Netherlands France Israel Italy Sweden Australia India Japan Jordan Spain Norway Switzerland Singapore South Africa Czech Republic Canada South Korea Brazil Bulgaria
Annual imports
US$652 million (2014–2022)
Annual exports
US$28 billion (2014–2022)
History
Military history of the United States Warfare directory of the United States Conflicts involving the United States Battles involving the United States
Ranks
Commissioned officer Army officer Marine Corps officer Navy officer Air Force officer Space Force officer Coast Guard officer Warrant officer Army warrant officer Marine Corps warrant officer Navy warrant officer Air Force warrant officer Coast Guard warrant officer Enlisted Army enlisted Marine Corps enlisted Navy enlisted Air Force enlisted Space Force enlisted Coast Guard enlisted
Tables
· Structure › Unified combatant commands
| Name | Mission | Headquarters | Subunified commands | |
| | U . Africa Command (USAFRICOM) | Conducts U . military operations in Africa. | Kelley Barracks, Germany | |
| | U . Central Command (USCENTCOM) | Conducts U . military operations in the Middle East and Central Asia. | MacDill Air Force Base, Florida | |
| | U . Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) | Conduct U . military cyber operations. | Fort Meade, Maryland | Cyber National Mission Force |
| | U . European Command (USEUCOM) | Conducts U . military operations in Europe. | Patch Barracks, Germany | |
| | U . Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) | Conducts U . military operations in the Indo-Pacific. | Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii | U . Forces Japan U . Forces Korea |
| | U . Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) | Conducts U . military operations in North America and homeland defense operations. | Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado | Alaskan Command |
| | U . Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) | Conducts U . military operations in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. | Doral, Florida | |
| | U . Space Command (USSPACECOM) | Conducts U . military operations in outer space. | Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado | |
| | U . Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) | Develops and employs special operations forces. | MacDill Air Force Base, Florida | Joint Special Operations Command Special Operations Command Africa Special Operations Command Central Special Operations Command Europe Special Operations Command Korea Special Operations Command North Special Operations Command Pacific Special Operations Command South |
| | U . 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 | |
| | U . Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) | Conduct globally integrated mobility operations. | Scott Air Force Base, Illinois | |
· Structure › Combat support agencies
| Name | Mission | Headquarters | |
| | Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) | Provide contract administration services for the Department of Defense. | Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia |
| | Defense Health Agency (DHA) | Provide and augment medical capabilities for combatant commands. | Falls Church, Virginia |
| | Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) | Provide, operate and assure command, control, information-sharing capabilities. | Fort Meade, Maryland |
| | 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 . military planning and operations and weapon systems acquisition. | Defense Intelligence Agency Headquarters, Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling, Washington D . |
| | Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) | Manages the end-to-end global defense supply chain. | Fort Belvoir, Virginia |
| | Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) | Identify, develop, and field solutions to counter weapons of mass destruction and emerging threats. | Fort Belvoir, Virginia |
| | National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) | Delivers geospatial intelligence to policymakers, military service members, intelligence professionals and first responders. | Fort Belvoir, Virginia |
| | 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 › U . Army › Army commands
Army Commands and reserve components
Army Commands and reserve components
Name
Army Commands and reserve components
| Name | Mission | Headquarters | ||
| | Headquarters Department of the Army (HQDA) | Army service headquarters led by the chief of staff of the Army. | The Pentagon, Virginia | |
| Army Commands and reserve components | ||||
| | U . Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) | Provides Army land forces to unified combatant commands. | Fort Bragg, North Carolina | |
| | U . Army Materiel Command (AMC) | Provides technology, acquisition support, and logistics for Army land forces. | Redstone Arsenal, Alabama | |
| | U . Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) | Recruits, trains, and educates Army soldiers and develops Army doctrine. | Fort Eustis, Virginia | |
| | U . Army Futures Command (AFC) | Leads Army modernization efforts, including developing future force requirements, designing future force organizations, and delivering materiel capabilities. | Austin, Texas | |
| | U . Army Reserve (USAR) | Oversees and maintains Army reserve forces. | Fort Bragg, North Carolina | |
| | Army National Guard (ARNG) | Army component of the National Guard. | The Pentagon, Virginia | |
· Service branches › U . Marine Corps › Marine Corps commands
Fleet Marine Force
Fleet Marine Force
Name
Fleet Marine Force
| Name | Mission | Headquarters | ||
| | Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) | Marine Corps service headquarters led by the commandant of the Marine Corps. | The Pentagon, Virginia | |
| Fleet Marine Force | ||||
| | Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic (FMFLANT) / U . Marine Corps Forces Command (MARFORCOM) | Provides Marine Corps forces in support of the U . 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 | |
| | Fleet Marine Force, Pacific (FMFPAC) | Provides Marine Corps forces in support of the U . Navy's United States Pacific Fleet. | Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii | |
| | Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) | Acquisition command for all Marine Corps ground and information technology programs. | Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia | |
| | U . Marine Corps Forces Reserve (MARFORRES) | Oversees and maintains the U . Marine Corps reserve forces. | Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans, Louisiana | |
· Service branches › U . Navy › Navy commands
Navy operating forces
Navy operating forces
Name
Navy operating forces
| Name | Mission | Headquarters | ||
| | Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) | Navy service headquarters led by the chief of naval operations. | The Pentagon, Virginia | |
| Navy operating forces | ||||
| | U . Fleet Forces Command (USFF) / U . Naval Forces Northern Command (NAVFORNORTH) | Trains, certifies, and provides Navy forces for naval, joint, and combined operations. Navy service component and joint force maritime component command to United States Northern Command and United States Strategic Command. | Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Virginia | |
| | U . Pacific Fleet (PACFLT) | Navy service component and joint force maritime component command to United States Indo-Pacific Command. | Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii | |
| | U . Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) | Navy service component and joint force maritime component command to United States Central Command. | Naval Support Activity Bahrain | |
| | U . Fleet Cyber Command (FCC) / U . Navy Space Command (NAVSPACE) | Navy service component to United States Cyber Command and United States Space Command. | Fort Meade, Maryland | |
| | U . 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 | |
| | U . Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO) | Navy service component and joint force maritime component command to United States Southern Command. | Naval Station Mayport, Florida | |
| | U . Naval Special Warfare Command (USNSWC) | Navy service component to United States Special Operations Command. | Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California | |
| | Military Sealift Command (MSC) | Navy service component and joint force maritime component command to United States Transportation Command. | Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia | |
| | U . Navy Reserve (USNR) | Oversees and maintains Navy reserve forces. | Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Virginia | |
References
- With the establishment of the Continental Army.
- Maximum age for first-time enlistment is 35 for the Army, 28 for the Marine Corps, 41 for the Navy, 42 for the Air Force
- The two uniformed services outside the six armed forces are the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps a
- WAAC members lacked military status and legal protections; they did not receive the same pay or entitlements as male cou
- The proportion of women in each service was limited to 2 percent, and additional limits were placed on commissioned rank
- Women recruits had to meet higher educational, mental, and physical standards than men. In addition, they had to pass a
- Goarmyhttps://www.goarmy.com/how-to-join/requirements.html
- Marineshttps://www.marines.com/become-a-marine/requirements/general.html
- Navyhttps://www.navy.com/joining/requirements
- Airforcehttps://www.airforce.com/how-to-join/join-the-air-force
- Spaceforcehttps://www.spaceforce.com/how-to-join/enlisted-guardians
- MyCGhttps://www.mycg.uscg.mil/News/Article/3208270/coast-guard-removes-barriers-to-boost-recruiting/
- "About Selective Service"https://www.sss.gov/about/
- dwphttps://dwp.dmdc.osd.mil/dwp/api/downloadZ?fileId=140629&groupName=milTop
- "Appropriations Committee Releases Fiscal Year 2022 Defense Funding Bill"https://web.archive.org/web/20231012054629/https://appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/appropriations-committee-releases-fiscal-year-2022-defense-funding-bill
- "Trump Signs $901B FY 2026 Defense Authorization Bill Into Law"https://www.govconwire.com/articles/trump-fy26-ndaa-acquisition-reforms
- "Defence Expenditure of NATO Countries (2014-2025)"https://www.nato.int/content/dam/nato/webready/documents/finance/def-exp-2025-en.pdf#page=9
- Stockholm International Peace Research Institutehttps://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/values.php
- As stated on the official U . Navy website Archived 29 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine, "armed forces" is capitalized whttp://www.navy.mil/submit/view_styleguide.asp?sort=A
- U . Department of Defensehttps://web.archive.org/web/20260204084809/https://www.war.gov/About/Our-Forces/