Who Is The Oldest Of All Military Branches
The United States Army is the oldest service branch of the military. It was formed in 1775 by the Second Continental Congress with the task of protecting freedom of the thirteen colonies. Up until 1947 the Army remained under the control of the War Department, after which it came under control of the Department of Defense.
What are the oldest military branches in order?
1) United States Army. 2) United States Navy. 3) United States Marine Corps. 4) United States Coast Guard. 5) United States Air Force.
What Are The Different Branches Of The Military
Traditionally, there are five branches of military, and each has a specific function:
U.S. Army
The Army is the main ground force for the United States and the Army has two distinct and equally important parts the active duty component and the Army reserve forces . In the civilian world, the Army and the Army National Guard produces skillsets such as leadership, administration, human resources, specialized maintenance, and technical skills.
U.S. Navy
Navy and Navy Reserve forces are tasked with deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas. In the civilian world, youll find many Navy veterans have maintenance, technical, logistics, and leadership skills.
U.S. Air Force
The mission of the Air Force is to fly, fight, and win in air, space, and cyberspace. In the civilian world, Air Force veterans bring very technical, highly specialized skillsets. The Air National Guard is also a part of the United States Air Force as a separate reserve component.
U.S. Marine Corps
As the premier United States force in readiness, the Marine corps specialize in land, sea, and air operations and are usually the first in and last out. In the civilian world, the Marine corps bring leadership skills, work ethic, esprit de corps, and some technical skills.
U.S. Coast Guard
United States Air Force
Year Established: August 1, 1907 September 18, 1947 Role: Air, space, and cyberspace warfare Current Secretary: Heather Wilson
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
The United States Air Force is the youngest branch of the U.S. military for obvious reasons the first successful airplane was not built until late 1903 by the Wright Brothers. The Air Force began as the Aeronautical Division of the U.S. Signal Corps on .
Initially, the Aeronautical Division only had kite balloons, but purchased its first airplane from the Wright Brothers in September 1908.
After this, the Aeronautical Division acquired more aircraft and personnel and got to really test its forces for the first time during World War I.
In 1926, the Aeronautical Division changed its name to the U.S. Army Air Corps. After the U.S. entered World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt authorized the Air Corps to increase its force to 20,000 planes. The Air Corps proved its prowess during World War II and in 1941 the service changed its name again to the Army Air Forces.
Finally, in 1947, the Air Force established itself as an independent branch of the military.
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Air Force: Esther Mcgowin Blake
Esther McGowin Blake was the first woman to serve in the U.S. Air Force.
Her motivation to join the military was deeply personal. In 1944, the B-17 her son was piloting was shot down over Europe. Her younger son was also serving and Blake was widowed. Blake first joined the Army Air Force in 1944 and was the first woman to enlist for regular Air Force duty when service within the newly founded branch was authorized for women on July 8, 1948.
With the announcement of “free a man to fight,” Blake rushed to the recruiting center and enlisted on the first hour of the first day the Air Force announced that women would be allowed to serve. The end of the war saw the reunion of Blake and her two sons.
Blake’s service in the Air Force continued until 1954, at which time her commitment to her country continued in the form of service at the Veterans Regional Headquarters in Montgomery, Alabama, until her death at the age of 82.
The Coast Guard Through History

4 August 1790 President George Washington signs the Tariff Act that authorizes the construction of ten vessels, referred to as “cutters,” to enforce federal tariff and trade laws and to prevent smuggling. The Revenue Cutter Service expanded in size and responsibilities as the nation grew.
1915 The Revenue Cutter Service merges with the U.S. Life-Saving Service, and is officially renamed the Coast Guard, making it the only maritime service dedicated to saving life at sea and enforcing the nation’s maritime laws.
1939 President Franklin Roosevelt orders the transfer of the Lighthouse Service to the Coast Guard, putting it in charge of maritime navigation.
1946 – Congress permanently transfers the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation to the Coast Guard, putting merchant marine licensing and merchant vessel safety in its control.
1967 The Coast Guard is transferred to Department of Transportation.
2003 The Coast Guard is again transferred, this time to the Department of Homeland Security, where it currently serves.
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Wait What About The National Guard
Florida Air National Guard, 125th Medical Group Detachment 1, set up patient treatment tents, practiced triage, and ran search and rescue operations at Camp Blanding, Florida.|Photo credit DVIDS/Senior Airman Cole Benjamin
Though the National Guard isnt technically a military branch, it is an important component of the service. It is a combination of the Army National Guard and the Air Force National Guard, which both serve as reserve components of their respective branches.
Each state, most U.S. territories and the District of Columbia has its own National Guard, which can be activated by both governors and the president. When they are called upon, these part-time service members are ready to respond to reconstruction efforts, natural disasters and some overseas combat missions. In 2020 alone, tens of thousands of National Guard members were activated to help fight the coronavirus and respond to other natural disasters.
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How To Pick A Military Branch
There are many more differences between military branches than we were able to touch on here, but now that you have an idea about the different branches of the military and what they do, you can start to learn more. For more information about each service branch, visit their individual websites, listed below.
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Which Army Is Best In World
- United States. #1 in Power Rankings. No Change in Rank from 2020.
- China. #2 in Power Rankings. #3 out of 73 in 2020.
- Russia. #3 in Power Rankings. #2 out of 73 in 2020.
- Germany. #4 in Power Rankings.
- United Kingdom. #5 in Power Rankings.
- Japan. #6 in Power Rankings.
- France. #7 in Power Rankings.
- South Korea. #8 in Power Rankings.
Which Military Branch Is The Hardest
Do not expect to get into this military branch without a high school diploma. In addition, it is most difficult to get a satisfactory score in the Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery. Thus, in this regard, the Air Force is the hardest military branch out of all five primary branches to get into.
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What Branch Of The Us Military Is The Strongest
The training is tough, it teaches you to be committed, not only to your brothers and duty, but also to yourself. The Training is a lot tougher than people think. You have to Earn the right to be called a marine and were the eagle anchor and globe symbol of the Marines. The U.S ARMY is the strongest branch.
United States Armed Forces
United States Armed Forces | |
---|---|
Emblems of the U.S. Armed Forces’ service branches | |
Founded | 14 June 1775 247 years ago |
Service branches | |
17 with parental consent, 18 for voluntary service. | |
Conscription | |
17 million, age 1825 | |
Reaching military |
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, , Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and forms military policy with the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security , both federal executive departments, acting as the principal organs by which military policy is carried out. All six armed services are among the eight uniformed services of the United States.
The U.S. Armed Forces are one of the largest military forces in terms of personnel. They draw their personnel from a large pool of professional volunteers. Although military conscription has been used in the past, it has not been used in the U.S. since 1973. The Selective Service System retains the power to conscript males, and requires that all male citizens and residents residing in the U.S. between the ages of 1825 register with the service.
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Us Navy: The Sacred Twenty
A group photograph of the first twenty Navy Nurses, appointed in 1908.U.S. Navy photo.
The first women to serve in the Navy belonged to the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps, which was established on May 13, 1908. The first 20 nurses earned the nickname the sacred twenty, and were assigned to duty at a naval hospital in Washington, D.C.
There, Esther Hasson, the superintendent, Lenah Higbee the chief nurse, and 18 other women rented a room the Navy wouldnt cover living expenses and worked side by side tending to the wounded.
The Us Army Enlistment Requirements

To enlist in the Army, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a U.S citizen or an alien of residence
- Be between 17 years old and 34 years old
- Be a high school diploma holder
- Be without +2 dependents
You must also pass two exams:
- One: The ASVAB, which is short for Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. The minimum score requirement is
- Two: The Medical MEPS, which is an abbreviation for Military Entrance Processing Station.
Once you become an Army recruit, you must finish 10 weeks of basic training, then advanced individual training to join the Army officially.
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Your #1 Source Of Us Military Resources
The military offers many opportunities for those who want to serve their country. Here at USMilitary.com, we are your one-stop shop for all things related to the United States Military. We have information on all of the different branches, resources for joining the military, and more.
If you are interested in joining the military, we can help determine which branch is right for you. We also have information on the benefits and perks of military service to help with your decision.
No matter your connection with the military, we are here to help. Browse our site for all of the resources that we offer.
Who Is In Charge Of The 6 Military Branches
The president of the United States is the commander in chief, who is responsible for all final decisions. The secretary of the Department of Defense has control over the military and each branch — except the Coast Guard, which is under the Department of Homeland Security. With more than 2 million civilian and military employees, the DoD is the world’s largest “company.”
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Facts About The Oldest Branch Of The Us Military
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Admiral Linda Fagans Historic Nomination Is Sure To Inspire Next Generation Of
Military branches, was originally established as the revenue cutter service in 1790. The armor branch serves two primary functions in support of unified land operations: The united states air force, which was originally part of the united states army, became a separate branch of the military on september 18, 1947 as a result of the national security act of 1947.
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History Of The United States Military Branches
People tend to think of the United States as not starting until 1776 at the very earliest, but the military was one step ahead. As a way to protect the colonies interests against the British right before the War for Independence, rebel leaders started the U.S. Continental Army in June 1775. The Continental Navy began in October 1775, followed shortly thereafter by the Continental Marines in November. The Coast Guard came along in 1790, after the United States had officially become its own nation. The need for these services rose because of Britains world-class, large Navy. Given that most of the early colonies relied on coastal seaports for survival, much less trade, the ability to defend against the British was paramount.
The latest branches of the U.S. Armed Service relate specifically to the air. The Air Force actually began in 1907, shortly after the invention of aircraft. It became its own division in 1947, separate from the Army. The last is the U.S. Space Force, an air-based service focused on the protection of U.S. interests from above. It was created in 2019.
What Is An Officer
The U.S. armed forces consist of officers and enlisted service members. The enlisted make up the vast majority of the military , while officers comprise a much smaller, but necessary, portion.
Officers are always higher ranking and often more educated than enlisted service members. They must have a bachelors degree, and more education becomes necessary as more promotions are achieved. As a result, officers take on a heavier workload and more responsibility. They plan missions and assign soldiers to complete necessary tasks. You can think of an officer as being similar to upper level management in the civilian world. As would be expected, officers tend to be older than enlisted soldiers . Additionally, jobs that require higher degrees or a large amount of specialized training in the civilian world are staffed only by officers in the military who have had the appropriate education.
There are many paths one could take to become an officer: completing an ROTC program, attending a service academy, senior military college, or , attending a Coast Guard-specific commissioning program, or commissioning with a previously earned degree.
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What Are The Downsides To Joining The Military
It is important to remember that the military is a way of life. Before joining the military, you need to be sure that you are able to handle the military lifestyle and all of the moving, work, stress, and danger that comes with the job you cannot be solely interested in the educational or monetary benefits, as that is a recipe for failure. The following lists, made in consultation with current members of the armed forces, may help you get a better idea of what youre signing up for and what you can expect.
Page last updated: 04/2019
Oldest Branches Of The Us Military

The United States Armed Forces consists of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force. The history of the U.S. military goes hand in hand with the history of the country and dates back to the American Revolution.
The Continental Congress established the Continental Army to defend the colonies from the British military and break away from British rule. Immediately after, the Continental Navy and Marine Corps were created to fight the British at sea and on land outside of the colonies.
After the Revolution all three continental forces were disbanded, but Congress decided to establish a permanent military. The Army, Navy, and Marine Corps were followed by the Coast Guard, which started as a service for the Treasury Department. Once the first airplane was invented, the Army established an Aeronautical Division, which eventually became the Air Force.
All five branches are still going strong and today, the U.S. has one of the strongest militaries in the world.
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