The Armed Forces of the United States (United States Armed Forces, U.S. Armed Forces) in the generally accepted sense is a state military organization that represents a set of types of armed forces and is designed to protect the freedom, state independence and territorial integrity of the United States of America, as well as to protect the interests of the country beyond its borders. Regular armed forces were created in the United States in 1775 by the decision of the Second Continental Congress to wage the War of Independence against Great Britain.
The National Security Act of 1947, adopted after World War II, formed the modern military structure of the United States. The law established a National Military Department headed by the Secretary of Defense, created the United States Air Force and the National Security Council. Amendments to the law of 1949 renamed the National Military Department the Ministry of Defense.
The modern US Armed Forces consist of six independent types of armed forces: the Ground Forces (Army), the Marine Corps, the Navy, the Air Force, the Space Force and the Coast Guard. The armed forces include units and formations, including reserve units and the National Guard (for the army and Air Force).
Organization of the Supreme Military Administration
Legislatively, the Supreme Commander of the US Armed Forces is the President of the country. He exercises general leadership of the military organization of the state through the National Security Council and the Ministry of Defense, and operational management through the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the headquarters of operational and special commands. At the same time, the functions between the Civilian Minister of Defense and the Committee are clearly delineated.
The United States Department of Defense (DoD) is an executive department in the United States Government. It consists of committees, agencies, services and departments. The Ministries of the Army (Land Forces), Navy, and Air Force function as independent structures in the US Defense Department. In addition, the Ministry of Defense has the US Naval Observatory, external agencies of the Ministry, as well as the Department of Operational Testing and Evaluation of Weapons Systems.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd AUSTIN
The US Secretary of Defense serves as a liaison between the President and Congress. First of all, he is responsible for the processes of financial support for the adopted weapons programs. The position of the US Secretary of Defense has been occupied by Lloyd Austin since January 22, 2021.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is the executive body of the President for the operational management of the US Armed Forces in peacetime and wartime, and in relation to the headquarters of the armed forces and the headquarters of operational and special commands — a higher authority. The Chairman, appointed by the Head of State for a period of two years, heads the OKNSH. Permanent members of the OKNSH are the Chiefs of Staff of the armed forces and the Commandant of the Marine Corps. The position of the chairman of the OKNSH since October 1, 2019 is occupied by General Mark Milley (Mark Milley).
Chairman of the OKNSH General Mark MILLI
Currently, the OKNSH is entrusted with the functions of operational and strategic planning, reports to the Commander-in-Chief and the Minister of Defense, organization of combat training and training of personnel of military personnel of all branches of the armed forces, ensuring the combat readiness of groups of the US Armed Forces in the world theaters of military operations (Theater of Operations). In its activities, the Committee issues orders and directives of an operational and administrative nature on behalf of the President or the Minister of Defense.
Joint Combat Commands
Joint Combat Commands (JCS) are operational–strategic level groupings that include formations of several types of Armed Forces under a single leadership. They are designed to perform tasks in a specific region or specific tasks throughout the Earth. In accordance with the Law on National Security, they are created by the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief for the purpose of effective strategic management of the Armed Forces. Each OK is headed by a combatant commander who is a four-star general or admiral.Commanders are entrusted with certain types of non-transferable powers of operational command of designated forces, regardless of the type of service. The OK commanders report directly to the Minister of Defense, and through him to the President.
Geographical areas of responsibility of the OK of the US Armed Forces
There are 11 commands in the US Armed Forces, which, in turn, can be geographical or functional.
Geographical OK of the US Armed Forces:
OK of the US Armed Forces in the European zone
The Joint Command of the US Armed Forces in the European Zone (U.S. European Command, USEUCOM), formed in 1952. Area of responsibility — countries Europe, Turkey, countries of the former USSR with the exception of Central Asia, adjacent waters of the Atlantic and Arctic Ocean. Headquarters — Stuttgart, Germany.
OK of the US Armed Forces in the Indo-Pacific zone
The Joint Command of the US Armed Forces inIndo-Pacific Zone (U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, USINDOPACOM), formed in 1947. As the Pacific Command. Renamed in 2018, the area of responsibility is Japan, India and other states of East and South Asia, Australia, Oceania, Antarctica, the Pacific Ocean (with the exception of territories adjacent to North and South America), the eastern part of the Indian Ocean. Headquarters — Honolulu, Hawaii.
OK of the US Armed Forces in the North American zone
The Joint Command of the US Armed Forces in the North American Zone (U.S. Northern Command, USNORTHCOM), was formed in 2002, the area of responsibility is the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, Belize, Cuba, the adjacent waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Ocean. Alaska is a joint area of responsibility with the OK of the US Armed Forces in the Pacific Ocean zone, and Greenland is with the OK of the US Armed Forces in the European zone. Headquarters — Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
OK of the US Armed Forces in the zone of Central and South America
The Joint Command of the US Armed Forces in the zone of Central and South America (U.S. Southern Command, USSOUTHCOM)) formed in 1947 . as the OK of the US Armed Forces in the Caribbean zone (Caribbean Command), in 1963 the existing name was assigned. Area of responsibility — countries of Central and South America that are not included in the area of responsibility of the US Armed Forces in the North American zone, adjacent waters Atlantic, Pacific Ocean. Headquarters — Miami, Florida.
Joint Central Command of the US Armed Forces
The United Central Command of the United States Armed Forces (U.S. Central Command, USCENTCOM) was formed in 1983. The area of responsibility is the Middle East, the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Central Asia, and the adjacent Indian Ocean. Headquarters — MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Florida.
African Command US Armed Forces
African CommandThe U.S. Armed Forces (U.S. Africa Command, USAFRICOM) was formed in 2007. Area of responsibility — countries Africa, with the exception of Egypt, adjacent water areas Atlantic and Indian Ocean. Headquarters — Stuttgart, Germany.
Space Command of the US Armed Forces
United States Space Command, USSPACECOM, or SPACECOM It was originally formed in September 1985 to provide joint command of all armed forces in outer space and coordinate actions with other commands of the belligerents. Disbanded in 2002, and its duties and forces were merged into Joint Strategic Command of the US Armed Forces. Restored on August 29, 2019 with an emphasis on space as an area of warfare. The headquarters of the Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado.
Functional commands of the US Armed Forces:
Joint Strategic Command of the US Armed Forces
The United Strategic Command of the US Armed Forces (U.S. Strategic Command, USSTRATCOM) was formed in 1992. It unites strategic nuclear forces, missile defense forces and space forces. Headquarters — Affet Air Base, Omaha, Nebraska.
OK WITH THE US Armed Forces
The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) was formed in 1987. Unites special operations forces of various types of the armed forces. Headquarters — MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Florida.
OK strategic airlift of the US Armed Forces
The Joint Strategic Airlift Command of the US Armed Forces (U.S. Transportaion Command, USTRANSCOM) was formed in 1987. Unites forces providing strategic transportation of troops and cargo (military transport aircraft, transport vessels and infrastructure necessary for transportation). Headquarters — Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.
Cyber Command of the US Armed Forces
The U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) was formed in 2009. On August 18, 2017, the command became independent. Headquarters - Fort Meade, Maryland.
Personnel of the US Armed Forces
In terms of the total number of personnel, the US Armed Forces are the third in the world after the People's Liberation Army of China and the Indian Armed Forces. As of February 2019, they numbered slightly more than 1.3 million people in the regular armed forces and about 800 thousand more military personnel in reserve. These indicators continue to persist.
The US Armed Forces are recruited on a voluntary basis. At the same time, conscription for military service under the selective service system can be introduced at the request of the President and with the approval of Congress. At the same time, all men aged 18 to 25 years living in the country are required to register with the Selection Service.To determine seniority and the right to promotion, US military personnel are assigned the military ranks of privates, warrant officers or officers. Those who have served are considered veterans of the Armed Forces. The names of ranks in different services (types of armed Forces) may differ, but they coincide according to the corresponding level of remuneration. Officers with the same rank or monetary level differ by the date of rank assignment to determine seniority, while officers holding certain important positions established by law surpass all other officers on active duty of the same rank and monetary level, regardless of the date of their rank assignment.