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United States Army

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The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. As of fiscal year 2002 (FY02), it consisted of 480,000 soldiers on active duty and 555,000 in reserve (350,000 in the Army National Guard (ARNG) and 205,000 in the Army Reserve (USAR). The Army was formed on June 14, 1775, before the establishment of the United States, to meet the demands of the American Revolutionary War.

Components of the U.S. Army

Prior to 1918, the Army was a single entity known as the "United States Army". During the First World War, the "National Army" was founded to fight the conflict. In the 1920s and 1930s, the "career" soldiers were known as the "Regular Army" with the "Enlisted Reserve Corps" and "Officer Reserve Corps" augmented to fill vacancies when needed.

In 1941, the "Army of the United States" was founded to fight the Second World War. The Regular Army, Army of the United States, and Officer/Enlisted Reserve Corps (ORC and ERC) existed simultaneously giving rise to the first concept of Army components. After World War II, the ORC and ERC were combined into the United States Army Reserve. The Army of the United States continued throughout the Korean War and Vietnam War and was discontinued upon the abolishment of the draft.

In the modern age, the Army is divided into the Regular Army and the Army Reserve. The United States National Guard is an armed force under the command of state governments. Prior to the 21st century, members of the National Guard were considered state employees only unless federalized by the Army in which case National Guard members became members of the Army Reserve. In the modern age, all National Guard members hold dual status: as Guardsmen under the authority of the State Adjutant General, and as Army Reservists under the authority of the Army Human Resources Command.

Various State Defense Forces also exist, sometimes known as State Militias, which are sponsered by individual state governments and serve as an auxiliary to the National Guard. Except in times of extreme national emergency, such as a mainland invasion of the United States, State Militias are operated independently from the U.S. Army and are seen as state government agencies rather than a component of the military.

By design, the use of the Army Reserve and National Guard has increased since the Vietnam War. Reserve and Guard units took part in the Gulf War, peacekeeping in Kosovo, and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. With recent manpower shortages in the military, some U.S. citizens have been concerned regarding a reinstution of the draft (conscription) force. Federal and state lawmakers, however, have asserted that no such action is being planned.

Although the present day Army exists as an all volunteer force, augmented by Reserve and National Guard forces, measures exist for emergency expansion in the event of a catestrophic occurrence, such as a large scale attack against the US or the outbreak of a major global war. The current "call-up" order of the United States Army is as follows:

  1. Regular Army volunteer force
  2. Army Reserve total mobilization
  3. Full scale activiation of all National Guard forces
  4. Recall of all retired personnel fit for military duty
  5. Reestablishment of the draft and creation of a conscript force within the Regular Army
  6. Recall of previously discharged officers and enlisted who were separated under honorable conditions
  7. Activation of the State Defense Forces/State Militias
  8. Full scale mobilization of the unorganized U.S. militia

The final stage of Army mobilization, known as "activiation of the unorganized militia" would effectively place all able bodied males in the service of the U.S. Army. The last time an approximation of this occurred was during the American Civil War when the Confederate States of America activated the "Home Guard" in 1865, drafting all males, regardless of age or health, into the Confederate Army. A similar event, albeit in a foriegn country, occurred during World War II when Nazi Germany activiated the Volkssturm in April and May of 1945.

Structure of the U.S. Army

Officially, a member of the U.S. Army is called a Soldier (always capitalized). The U.S. Army is divided into the following components, from largest to smallest:

U.S. Generals, World War II, Europe:
back row (left to right): Stearley, Vandenberg, Smith, Weyland, Nugent;
front row: Simpson, Patton, Spaatz, Eisenhower, Bradley, Hodges, Gerow.
  1. Field Army: Usually commanded by a General (GEN; note that abbreviations of military rank are given in all capital letters without a period or other punctuation).
  2. Corps: Consists of two or more divisions and organic support brigades. The commander is most often a Lieutenant General (LTG).
  3. Division: Usually commanded by a Major General (MG).
  4. Brigade (or group): Composed of typically three or more battalions, and commanded by a Colonel (COL) or Brigadier General. (See Regiment for combat arms units.)
  5. Battalion (or squadron): Most units are organized into battalions. Cavalry units are formed into squadrons. A battalion-sized unit is commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel (LTC), supported by a Command Sergeant Major/E-9 (CSM). This unit consists of a Battalion Commander (CO, LTC), a Battalion Executive Officer (XO,MAJ), a Command Sergeant Major (CSM) and headquarters, 3-5 Company Commanders (CPT), 3-5 Company Executive Officers (1LT), 3-5 First Sergeants (1SG) and headquarters, 6 or more Platoon Leaders (2LT/1LT), 6 or more Platoon sergeants (SFC),and 12 or more Squad Leaders (any NCO).
  6. Company (or battery/troop): Artillery units are formed into batteries. Cavalry units are formed into troops. A company-sized unit is usually led by a Company Commander usually the rank of Captain/O-3 (CPT) supported by a First Sergeant/E-8 (1SG). This unit consists of a Company Commander (CO, CPT), a Company Executive Officer (XO,1LT), A First Sergeant(1SG) and a headquarters, Two or more Platoon Leaders (2LT/1LT), two or more Platoon Sergeants (SFC), and four or more Squad Leaders (any NCO).
  7. Platoon: Usually led by a lieutenant supported by a Sergeant First Class/E-7 (SFC). This unit consists of a Platoon Leader (2LT/1LT), a Platoon Sergeant (SFC), and two or more Squad Leaders (any NCO).
  8. Section: Usually directed by Staff Sergeants/E-6 (SSG) who supply guidance for junior NCO Squad leaders. Often used in conjunction with platoons at the company level.
  9. Squad: Squad leaders are often Staff Sergeants/E-6 (SSG), Sergeants/E-5 (SGT), or Corporals/E-4 (CPL). This unit consists of eight to ten Soldiers.
  10. Fire team: Usually consists of four Soldiers: a fire team leader, a grenadier, and two riflemen. Fire team leaders are often Corporal/E-4 (CPL).

The Army is organized by function. Combat Arms include Infantry, Armor, Field Artillery, Air defense artillery, Army Corps of Engineers, Army Aviation, and Special Forces. Combat Support Arms include Signal Corps, Intelligence Corps, Chemical Corps, and Military Police Corps. Combat Service Support troops include the Judge Advocate General's Corps, Adjutant General's Corps, Finance Corps, Transportation Corps, Quartermaster Corps, Ordnance Corps, Medical Corps, Medical Service Corps, and Nurse Corps.



Rank Structure

See also U.S. Army officer rank insignia.

Comparison of ranking structure available at Ranks and Insignia of NATO.

The Officer Corps provides leadership and managerial functions, and is composed of

There are several sources of commissioned officers:

Officers receive a commission assigning them to the Officer Corps from the President. All newly commissioned officers receive a commission as a reserve officer. Upon attaining the rank of Major, they can be appointed into the Regular Army by the President with the advice and consent of the United States Senate [1] (http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/10/531.html). Commissioned officers are assigned to a branch of service until they reach the rank of Brigadier General, where it is assumed that they are competent to command soldiers of all branches.

Once commissioned, an officer attends several levels of professional education, starting with branch qualification in their respective branch and concluding in Command and General Staff College at Fort_Leavenworth, Kansas. Professional education is required for promotion at certain grades.

The Warrant Officer is a single track specialty officer. Initially appointed an officer by the Secretary of the Army via a warrant, he/she is commissioned by the President upon promotion to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer Two (CW2). The warrant officer is managed as a company grade officer, but receives limited field grade privilege upon promotion to Chief Warrant Officer Four (CW4).

The primary source for Warrant Officers is the U.S. Army Warrant Officer Candidate School at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

The Non-Commissioned Officer Corps (or NCO Corps) is the first line of leadership for the enlisted members of the Army, and includes the ranks of

U.S. Army recruitment poster

Training for NCOs takes place at any of the various NCO training centers around the world.

Until relatively recent history, most countries depended upon their officer corps to micromanage strategy, tactics and virtually every other aspect of military operations. Current military theory in the U.S. and UK has begun to emphasize the "strategic corporal," recognizing that combat decision-making by NCOs is potentially of vast importance.

The lowest enlisted ranks are:

Training for enlisted soldiers usually consists of Basic Training, and Advanced Individual Training in their primary Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) at any of the numerous MOS training facilities around the world.

All members of the Army must take an oath upon being sworn in as members, swearing (or affirming) to "protect the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, both foreign and domestic." This emphasis on the defense of the United States Constitution illustrates the concern of the framers that the military be subordinate to legitimate civilian authority.

The civilian executive is the Secretary of the Army who heads the United States Department of the Army, formerly called the Secretary of War who headed the United States Department of War or the War Office for short, at the founding of the Republic.

Leadership

The professional head of the United States Army is the Army Chief of Staff. This position is filled by a four star general who sits on the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. As with the other members of that committee, the Army Chief of Staff is not in the direct chain of command. His function is administrative and policy making. The current Army Chief of Staff is General Peter J. Schoomaker.

The most senior Army generals who are directly in the chain of command are those who head up the regional joint commands, known as the Combatent Commanders (COCOM's), around the world. An example is General John Abizaid, the commander of U.S. Central Command. Three star positions in the Army include some deputy commanders of the regional commands, heads of the army sections of those commands, and the general officers commanding of corps.

Major Commands of the United States Army

Formations of the United States Army

First Army "First In Deed" (Reserve)

78th "Lightning" Division, Edison, NJ (Training Support)
1st Brigade (Training Support)
2nd Brigade (Training Support)
3rd Brigade (Training Support)
4th Brigade (Training Support)
5th Brigade "We Dare" (Training Support)
85th "Custer" Division (Training Support)
1st Brigade (Training Support)
2nd Brigade (Training Support)
3rd Brigade (Training Support)
4th Brigade (Training Support)
87th Division "Golden Acorn", Birmingham, AL (Training Support)
1st Brigade (Training Support)
2nd Brigade (Training Support)
3rd Brigade (Training Support)
4th Brigade (Training Support)
5th Brigade (Training Support)
Army Units
4th Cavalry Brigade (Training Support)
157th Infantry Brigade (Training Support)
188th Infantry Brigade (Training Support)
205th Infantry Brigade (Separate) (Light)

Third Army: Army Central Command (ARCENT)

C/JTF-Kuwait
ARCENT Kuwait
ARCENT Saudi
ARCENT Qatar
Army Prepositioned Stock (APS-3)
Army Prepositioned Stock (APS-5)

Fifth Army (Reserve)

7th Infantry Division "Bayonets", Fort Carson, CO (Light)
39th Infantry Brigade (Light) (Separate)
41st Infantry Brigade (Light) (Separate)
45th Infantry Brigade (Light) (Separate)
75th Division, Houston, TX (Training Support)
1st Brigade (Training Support)
2nd Brigade (Training Support)
3rd Brigade (Training Support)
4th Brigade (Training Support)
91st Division, Houston, TX (Training Support)
1st Brigade (Training Support)
2nd Brigade (Training Support)
3rd Brigade (Training Support)
4th Brigade (Training Support)
Army Units
5th Armored Brigade (Training Support)
120th Infantry Brigade (Training Support)
166th Aviation Brigade (Training Support)
191st Infantry Brigade (Training Support)

Seventh Army: United States Army Europe

V Corps, Heidelberg, Germany
1st Infantry Division ("The Big Red One")
1st Armored Divsion — Wiesbaden, Germany

Eighth Army: Korea

2nd Infantry Division ("Indian Head" Division)
25th Infantry Division (Light) ("Tropic Lightning")
I Corps, Fort Lewis, Washington ("America's Corps")
3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Light)
1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Light)
III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas
1st Cavalry Division
4th Infantry Division (Mechanized)
--III Corps U.S. Army National Guard
7th Infantry Division (Light) ("Bayonet" Division)
XVIII Airborne Corps
3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) ("Rock of the Marne")
1st Brigade "Raiders"
2nd Brigade "Spartan"
3rd Brigade ("Sledgehammer").
10th Mountain Division (Light)
1st Brigade
2nd Brigade
3rd Brigade
27th Brigade (Orions) — New York National Guard
82nd Airborne Division
82nd Aviation Brigade
325th Airborne Infantry Regiment
2nd Battalion 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment
3rd Battalion 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment
504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
3rd Battalion 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
2nd Battalion 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
3rd Battalion 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) (Screaming Eagles) — Fort Campbell, Kentucky
101st Aviation Brigade
159th Aviation Brigade
327th Parchute Infantry Regiment ("Bastogne")
1st Battalion 327th PIR
2nd Battalion 327th PIR
3rd Battalion 327th PIR
502nd Parachute infantry Regiment ("Strike")
1st Battalion 502nd PIR
2nd Battalion 502nd PIR
3rd Battalion 502nd PIR
187th Parachute Infantry Regiment ("Rakkasans")
1st Battalion 187th PIR
2nd Battalion 187th PIR
3rd Battalion 187th PIR
XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery
18th Field Artillery Brigade
2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment
16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne)
18th Aviation Brigade (Airborne)
20th Engineer Brigade (Combat)(Airborne)
35th Signal Brigade (Airborne)
108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade
229th Aviation Regiment (Attack)
1-229th Attack Helicopter Battalion
3-229th Attack Helicopter Regiment
525th Military Intelligence Brigade (Airborne)

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Eighth Army: Korea.
. Seventh Army: United States Army Europe. Their daughter, Jaz Elle, was born on October 3, 2003. Fifth Army (Reserve). Their son, Jaden Gil, was born 6 weeks prematurely on October 26. Third Army: Army Central Command (ARCENT). With only their mothers as witnesses, they were married at his home on October 22, 2001.

First Army "First In Deed" (Reserve). By the time the divorce was final, Agassi was dating Steffi Graf. Three star positions in the Army include some deputy commanders of the regional commands, heads of the army sections of those commands, and the general officers commanding of corps. Agassi filed for divorce, which was granted on April 9, 1999. Central Command. The case was dismissed, but the headlines were indicative of the union. An example is General John Abizaid, the commander of U.S. That February, they had filed suit against The National Enquirer claiming it printed "false and fabricated" statements: Brooke was undergoing counseling, binge-eating and taking pills; Agassi "lashed into" Brooke and he and Brooke's mother "tangled like wildcats" when she demanded a prenup.

The most senior Army generals who are directly in the chain of command are those who head up the regional joint commands, known as the Combatent Commanders (COCOM's), around the world. After a four-year courtship, Agassi married Brooke Shields in a lavish ceremony on April 19, 1997. Schoomaker.
. The current Army Chief of Staff is General Peter J.
. His function is administrative and policy making.
.

As with the other members of that committee, the Army Chief of Staff is not in the direct chain of command. As of 2005, Agassi is the oldest active singles player on the ATP Tour. This position is filled by a four star general who sits on the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. In addition to this, Agassi also earns over $25 Million a year through endorsements, the most by a tennis player and fourth in all sports (1st place is Tiger Woods at $70 Million/year). The professional head of the United States Army is the Army Chief of Staff. Agassi has earned over $25 Million throughout his career, second only to Pete Sampras. The civilian executive is the Secretary of the Army who heads the United States Department of the Army, formerly called the Secretary of War who headed the United States Department of War or the War Office for short, at the founding of the Republic.
. In 1992, Andre was awarded the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Overseas Personality Award.

All members of the Army must take an oath upon being sworn in as members, swearing (or affirming) to "protect the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, both foreign and domestic." This emphasis on the defense of the United States Constitution illustrates the concern of the framers that the military be subordinate to legitimate civilian authority. Agassi has represented the USA in Davis Cup play many times, compiling a lifetime record of 30-6 in 22 tries. Training for enlisted soldiers usually consists of Basic Training, and Advanced Individual Training in their primary Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) at any of the numerous MOS training facilities around the world. He won the tennis singles event at Atlanta in 1996. The lowest enlisted ranks are:. He also became the first male tennis player to win all four Grand Slams and an Olympic gold medal. and UK has begun to emphasize the "strategic corporal," recognizing that combat decision-making by NCOs is potentially of vast importance. (The previous players had won the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open on grass courts and Roland Garros on clay.) Agassi won the Australian Open on Rebound Ace, Roland Garros on clay, Wimbledon on grass, and the US Open on hard court.

Current military theory in the U.S. Even more impressive, he is the first male tennis player to win Grand Slams on four different surfaces. Until relatively recent history, most countries depended upon their officer corps to micromanage strategy, tactics and virtually every other aspect of military operations. Agassi is one of only five male players to have won all the Grand Slam tournaments in a career, along with Don Budge, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver and Fred Perry. Training for NCOs takes place at any of the various NCO training centers around the world. He was the target of one of the fastest serves recorded, a 149-mph (240 km/h) blast from Andy Roddick—and returned it into play. The Non-Commissioned Officer Corps (or NCO Corps) is the first line of leadership for the enlisted members of the Army, and includes the ranks of. Most agree that Agassi is the best serve returner in the history of professional tennis.

Army Warrant Officer Candidate School at Fort Rucker, Alabama. His serve is slightly above-average at best among the top players on the men's tour (due to his lack of speed but good placement), but his return-of-serve is his claim to fame. The primary source for Warrant Officers is the U.S. However, he often makes contact with the ball inside the baseline, unlike most baseliners, who make 4-8 feet behind the baseline their home. The warrant officer is managed as a company grade officer, but receives limited field grade privilege upon promotion to Chief Warrant Officer Four (CW4). Agassi keeps in exceptional shape and can outlast most players over the course of a long match, even the best counterpunchers. He typically employs a baseline style of play, rarely serving-and-volleying. Initially appointed an officer by the Secretary of the Army via a warrant, he/she is commissioned by the President upon promotion to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer Two (CW2). After winning a match, he bows and blows a two-handed kiss to the spectators on each side of the court, a gesture most take as a rather humble acknowledgment of their support for him and for tennis.

The Warrant Officer is a single track specialty officer. Perhaps most remarkably, he has emerged as a gracious and thoughtful athlete, something of an elder statesman. Professional education is required for promotion at certain grades. Agassi rededicated himself to tennis: he shaved his balding head, began a rigorous conditioning program, and worked his way back to the ATP by playing Challenger Tournaments, a circuit for pros ranked 50th and lower. Once commissioned, an officer attends several levels of professional education, starting with branch qualification in their respective branch and concluding in Command and General Staff College at Fort_Leavenworth, Kansas. "Image is everything" was the ads's tag line, and it became Agassi's as well, but by November 1997, his ranking had plunged to 141. Commissioned officers are assigned to a branch of service until they reach the rank of Brigadier General, where it is assumed that they are competent to command soldiers of all branches. He boasted of a cheeseburger-heavy diet and endorsed the Canon Rebel camera.

Upon attaining the rank of Major, they can be appointed into the Regular Army by the President with the advice and consent of the United States Senate [1] (http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/10/531.html). He grew his hair to rock-star length, sported an earring, and wore colorful shirts that pushed tennis' still-strict sartorial boundaries. All newly commissioned officers receive a commission as a reserve officer. As a youngster, Agassi embraced a rebel image. Officers receive a commission assigning them to the Officer Corps from the President. Few athletes have so completely overhauled their public persona. There are several sources of commissioned officers:. He surpassed $2 million in career prize money in December 1988 after just 43 tournaments -- the quickest player in history to do so.

The Officer Corps provides leadership and managerial functions, and is composed of. When he was 14, Andre was shipped off to teaching guru Nick Bollettieri's Tennis Academy in Florida, and turned pro when he was 16. Comparison of ranking structure available at Ranks and Insignia of NATO. Andre's sister, Rita, finally rebelled and moved in with, and later married, Pancho Gonzalez (their son, Skylar, played on Bishop-Gorman High School's tennis team). Army officer rank insignia.. Mike had Andre practice with Ilie Nastase and Jimmy Connors. See also U.S. Growing up, Andre and his siblings had to hit 3,000 balls every day, seven days a week.



. He hung tennis balls over Andre's crib, and gave him a full-sized racket at age 2. Combat Service Support troops include the Judge Advocate General's Corps, Adjutant General's Corps, Finance Corps, Transportation Corps, Quartermaster Corps, Ordnance Corps, Medical Corps, Medical Service Corps, and Nurse Corps. Mike Agassi was a tennis fanatic, to put it nicely, determined to turn at least one of his four children into a world-class player. Combat Support Arms include Signal Corps, Intelligence Corps, Chemical Corps, and Military Police Corps. His father, Emmanuel "Mike" Agassi, was a boxer for Iran in the 1948 and 1952 Olympics before emigrating to the U.S. Combat Arms include Infantry, Armor, Field Artillery, Air defense artillery, Army Corps of Engineers, Army Aviation, and Special Forces. Agassi, an ethnic Armenian & Assyrian, was born and raised in Las Vegas, and lives there when not on tour.

The Army is organized by function. He is a former World No. 1 in the ATP rankings. Army is divided into the following components, from largest to smallest:. As of 2005, he has won over $29 million in prize money. The U.S. He has fifty nine career singles titles including eight Grand Slam titles. Army is called a Soldier (always capitalized). Andre Kirk Agassi (born April 29, 1970, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA) is an American professional tennis player (1986-).

Officially, a member of the U.S. Australian Open 2005 4th Round: defeated Joachim Johansson 6-7, 7-6, 7-6, 6-4 despite being aced 51 times, a world record. A similar event, albeit in a foriegn country, occurred during World War II when Nazi Germany activiated the Volkssturm in April and May of 1945. Open 2002 Final: lost to Pete Sampras, 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, in what turned out to be Sampras' last competitive match. The last time an approximation of this occurred was during the American Civil War when the Confederate States of America activated the "Home Guard" in 1865, drafting all males, regardless of age or health, into the Confederate Army. U.S. Army. Open 2001 Quarter-final: lost to Pete Sampras, 6-7, 7-6, 7-6, 7-6, despite not losing a service game.

The final stage of Army mobilization, known as "activiation of the unorganized militia" would effectively place all able bodied males in the service of the U.S. U.S. The current "call-up" order of the United States Army is as follows:. Australian Open 2000 Semi-final: defeated Pete Sampras, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-1, en route to his second Australian Open championship. Although the present day Army exists as an all volunteer force, augmented by Reserve and National Guard forces, measures exist for emergency expansion in the event of a catestrophic occurrence, such as a large scale attack against the US or the outbreak of a major global war. Open final 1999: defeated Todd Martin 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2, in another come-from-behind thriller. Federal and state lawmakers, however, have asserted that no such action is being planned. U.S.

citizens have been concerned regarding a reinstution of the draft (conscription) force. French Open final 1999: defeated Andrei Medvedev 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, in a spectacular come-from-behind victory to complete his career Grand Slam. With recent manpower shortages in the military, some U.S. Wimbledon semi-final 1998: lost to Patrick Rafter, 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, in a tense five-set match. Reserve and Guard units took part in the Gulf War, peacekeeping in Kosovo, and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Wimbledon final 1992: defeated Goran Ivanisevic, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 for his first Grand Slam win and only Wimbledon championship. By design, the use of the Army Reserve and National Guard has increased since the Vietnam War. French Open final 1990: lost to Andrés Gómez, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, in his first Grand Slam final.

Army and are seen as state government agencies rather than a component of the military. Except in times of extreme national emergency, such as a mainland invasion of the United States, State Militias are operated independently from the U.S. Various State Defense Forces also exist, sometimes known as State Militias, which are sponsered by individual state governments and serve as an auxiliary to the National Guard. In the modern age, all National Guard members hold dual status: as Guardsmen under the authority of the State Adjutant General, and as Army Reservists under the authority of the Army Human Resources Command.

Prior to the 21st century, members of the National Guard were considered state employees only unless federalized by the Army in which case National Guard members became members of the Army Reserve. The United States National Guard is an armed force under the command of state governments. In the modern age, the Army is divided into the Regular Army and the Army Reserve. After World War II, the ORC and ERC were combined into the United States Army Reserve. The Army of the United States continued throughout the Korean War and Vietnam War and was discontinued upon the abolishment of the draft.

The Regular Army, Army of the United States, and Officer/Enlisted Reserve Corps (ORC and ERC) existed simultaneously giving rise to the first concept of Army components. In 1941, the "Army of the United States" was founded to fight the Second World War. During the First World War, the "National Army" was founded to fight the conflict. In the 1920s and 1930s, the "career" soldiers were known as the "Regular Army" with the "Enlisted Reserve Corps" and "Officer Reserve Corps" augmented to fill vacancies when needed. Prior to 1918, the Army was a single entity known as the "United States Army".

The Army was formed on June 14, 1775, before the establishment of the United States, to meet the demands of the American Revolutionary War. As of fiscal year 2002 (FY02), it consisted of 480,000 soldiers on active duty and 555,000 in reserve (350,000 in the Army National Guard (ARNG) and 205,000 in the Army Reserve (USAR). The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. Military badges of the United States.

Awards and decorations of the United States military. A Specialist ranks below a corporal in terms of chain of command. and Specialist (SPC; pay grade E-4) (which is the same Enlisted Grade as Corporal, but which requires technical leadership skills, as opposed to the combat leadership skills required of corporal -a dark green patch with an eagle centered). Private First Class (PFC; pay grade E-3) (one stripe up and a curved stripe (a rocker below)),.

Private Enlisted Grade 2 (PV2; pay grade E-2) (one chevron pointing up),. Private (PV1; pay grade E-1) (no rank insignia),. and Sergeant Major of the Army (of whom there is only one, and who advises the Chief of Staff of the Army on matters relating to enlisted personnel - three stripes up and three down with a centered eagle accompanied with two stars). Command Sergeant Major (CSM; pay grade E-9) (three stripes up and three down with a wreathed star in the center).

Sergeant Major (SGM; pay grade E-9) (three stripes up and three down with a star in the center),. First Sergeant (1SG; pay grade E-8) (which holds the same enlisted pay grade as Master Sergeant, but which carries extra administrative duties - three stripes up and three down with a lozenge in the center),. Master Sergeant (MSG; pay grade E-8) (three stripes up and three down),. Sergeant First Class (SFC; pay grade E-7)(three stripes up and two down),.

Staff Sergeant (SSG; pay grade E-6)(three stripes up and one down),. Sergeant (SGT; pay grade E-5)(three stripes up),. Corporal (CPL; pay grade E-4) (two stripes up),. Enlisted soldiers may also be battlefield commissioned for valor and leadership during actual combat, Audie Murphy received his commission in this manner.

Lawyers, doctors, nurses, veterinarians, and chaplains may be directly commissioned into their respective corps. College graduates who underwent Army Reserve Officer Training Corps courses at a four-year university. Enlisted soldiers or College graduates who successfully pass Officer Candidate School (OCS). Graduates of other military academies of the United States may elect to be commissioned in the Army.

The United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Pershing. Held only by George Washington and John J. General of the Armies - No established insignia.

After World War II a rank comprised of five stars in a pentagon. General of the Army - In the 19th century, a title held by the Commander of the Army. General (GEN; pay grade O-10) - four stars. Lieutenant General (LTG; pay grade O-9) - three stars,.

Major General (MG; pay grade O-8) - two stars,. Brigadier General (BG; pay grade O-7) - one star,. and General officers

    . Colonel (COL; pay grade O-6) - silver eagle,.

    Lieutenant Colonel (LTC; pay grade O-5) - silver oak leaf,. Major (MAJ; pay grade O-4) - gold oak leaf,. Field Grade officers

      . Captain (CPT; pay grade O-3) - two silver bars,.

      First Lieutenant (1LT; pay grade O-2) - silver bar,. Second Lieutenant (2LT; pay grade O-1) - gold bar,. Company Grade officers

        . Fire team leaders are often Corporal/E-4 (CPL).

        Fire team: Usually consists of four Soldiers: a fire team leader, a grenadier, and two riflemen. This unit consists of eight to ten Soldiers. Squad: Squad leaders are often Staff Sergeants/E-6 (SSG), Sergeants/E-5 (SGT), or Corporals/E-4 (CPL). Often used in conjunction with platoons at the company level.

        Section: Usually directed by Staff Sergeants/E-6 (SSG) who supply guidance for junior NCO Squad leaders. This unit consists of a Platoon Leader (2LT/1LT), a Platoon Sergeant (SFC), and two or more Squad Leaders (any NCO). Platoon: Usually led by a lieutenant supported by a Sergeant First Class/E-7 (SFC). This unit consists of a Company Commander (CO, CPT), a Company Executive Officer (XO,1LT), A First Sergeant(1SG) and a headquarters, Two or more Platoon Leaders (2LT/1LT), two or more Platoon Sergeants (SFC), and four or more Squad Leaders (any NCO).

        A company-sized unit is usually led by a Company Commander usually the rank of Captain/O-3 (CPT) supported by a First Sergeant/E-8 (1SG). Cavalry units are formed into troops. Company (or battery/troop): Artillery units are formed into batteries. This unit consists of a Battalion Commander (CO, LTC), a Battalion Executive Officer (XO,MAJ), a Command Sergeant Major (CSM) and headquarters, 3-5 Company Commanders (CPT), 3-5 Company Executive Officers (1LT), 3-5 First Sergeants (1SG) and headquarters, 6 or more Platoon Leaders (2LT/1LT), 6 or more Platoon sergeants (SFC),and 12 or more Squad Leaders (any NCO).

        A battalion-sized unit is commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel (LTC), supported by a Command Sergeant Major/E-9 (CSM). Cavalry units are formed into squadrons. Battalion (or squadron): Most units are organized into battalions. (See Regiment for combat arms units.).

        Brigade (or group): Composed of typically three or more battalions, and commanded by a Colonel (COL) or Brigadier General. Division: Usually commanded by a Major General (MG). The commander is most often a Lieutenant General (LTG). Corps: Consists of two or more divisions and organic support brigades.

        Field Army: Usually commanded by a General (GEN; note that abbreviations of military rank are given in all capital letters without a period or other punctuation). militia. Full scale mobilization of the unorganized U.S. Activation of the State Defense Forces/State Militias.

        Recall of previously discharged officers and enlisted who were separated under honorable conditions. Reestablishment of the draft and creation of a conscript force within the Regular Army. Recall of all retired personnel fit for military duty. Full scale activiation of all National Guard forces.

        Army Reserve total mobilization. Regular Army volunteer force.