Comprised of Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard; the United States
is home to one of the most powerful and largest military forces in the world.
With a staggering budget of $693 billion dollars, the United States is the world’s leader
in Aircraft and aircraft carriers while boasting of an alarming +7K nuclear warheads.
Personnel The U.S. Armed Forces is the world's third-largest
military by active personnel, after the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the Indian armed
forces, and has troops deployed around the globe.
Total active duty strength is about 1,374,699 service members.
Civilian Department of Defense Employees numbered at 744,005 in December 2018.
The Department of Defense is the largest employer in the world.
It is an all-volunteer military, but conscription through the Selective Service System can be
enacted at the president's request and Congress' approval.
All males ages 18 through 25 who are living in the United States are required to register
with the Selective Service for a potential future draft.
Equipment The equipment of the United States Armed Forces
includes, but is not limited to, weapons, ammunition, vehicles, and attire.
AIR POWER Total Aircraft Strength value includes both
fixed- and rotary-wing systems from all branches of service.
Attack values cover both multi-role and purpose-built light-attack types.
Transports value includes only fixed-wing tactical/strategic aircraft.
Total Aircraft Strength: 13,398 Fighters: 2,362
Attack: 2,831 Transports: 1,153
Trainers: 2,853 Total Helicopter Strength: 5,760
Attack Helicopters: 971
LAND STRENGTH
Combat Tank value includes Main Battle Tanks, light tanks, and tank destroyers.
Armored Fighting Vehicles value includes APCs, IFVs, MRAPs, and Armored Cars.
Rocket Projectors only include self-propelled forms.
Combat Tanks: 6,287 Armored Fighting Vehicles: 39,223
Self-Propelled Artillery: 992 Towed Artillery: 864
Rocket Projectors: 1,056
NAVAL STRENGTH
Aircraft Carrier value includes traditional carriers as well as Helicopter Carriers.
Submarine value includes diesel-electric and nuclear-powered types, no distinction being
made between conventional- and nuclear-attack forms.
Total Naval Assets value includes all possible/available vessels including auxiliaries.
Total Naval Assets: 415 Aircraft Carriers: 24
Frigates: 22 Destroyers: 68
Corvettes: 15 Submarines: 68
Patrol Vessels: 13 Mine Warfare: 11
Major Military Operations Since World War II
The military history of the United States spans a period of over two centuries.
During those years, the United States evolved from a new nation fighting Great Britain for
independence, through the monumental American Civil War and, after collaborating in triumph
during World War II, to the world's sole remaining superpower from the late 20th century to present.
World War II was the last war fought in which the President asked Congress for a declaration
of war.
Since then, United States armed forces have been in combat several times, such as in the
Korean War, Vietnam War, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and later Iraq War.
Some interesting facts you may not know about the US Armed Forces
- Depleted uranium ammunition can pierce armored vehicles.
The energy released upon impact creates heat that causes the bullets to ignite.
So, when a round makes it inside an armored vehicle, it can also ignite any ammunition
that’s inside the vehicle, along with fuel, which kills the crew and can even cause the
vehicle to explode.
- The U.S. Military is one of the largest providers of international aid and disaster
relief.
Ships called Marine Expeditionary Units patrol the oceans watching for signs of danger and
can reach the shoreline of nearly any location on Earth within 48 hours.
- The US Department of Defense controls over 30 million acres of land worldwide, which
combined would make up an area slightly larger than the state of Pennsylvania.