United States Army
History
The United States Army is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution. As the oldest and most senior branch of the U.S. military in order of precedence, the modern U.S. Army has its roots in the Continental Army, which was formed 14 June 1775 to fight the American Revolutionary War before the establishment of the United States.
Structure
The Army is a large and complex organization, made up of both active and reserve components. The regular Army is the most senior of the Army's components and has the most full-time soldiers. The Army Reserve and the Army National Guard are the reserve components of the Army. The Army is led by a civilian Secretary of the Army, who reports to the Secretary of Defense, and serves as civilian oversight for the Chief of Staff of the United States Army (CSA).
Training and Education
Training in the Army is divided into two categories: Basic Combat Training (BCT), and Advanced Individual Training (AIT). BCT is a ten-week program that teaches basic tactical and survival skills, as well as how to be a soldier. AIT is where the new soldier goes on to learn his or her specific military job (MOS) which can range from learning how to be a foot soldier (Infantry) to learning a highly technical skill like Nuclear Operations.
In addition to these initial training programs, the Army places a high value on ongoing education for its soldiers. This is facilitated through institutions such as the United States Military Academy and the United States Army War College.
Operations
The United States Army conducts a wide range of operations, from peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts to direct combat. These operations can be divided into major campaigns, usually designated by the geographic area in which they took place. Some of the most notable operations the Army has participated in include World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, and the Global War on Terrorism.
Equipment
The United States Army employs a wide array of weapons, vehicles, and equipment. This includes individual weapons like the M4 Carbine and the M16 Rifle, crew-served weapons like the M240 machine gun and the M2 Browning heavy machine gun, and vehicles ranging from the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) to the M1 Abrams tank. The Army also utilizes a variety of aircraft, from helicopters like the UH-60 Black Hawk to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) like the MQ-1C Gray Eagle.