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Mission & Mandate
Core Purpose
The United States Army serves as the primary land-based branch of the United States Department of Defense. Its fundamental purpose, as defined by Section 7062 of Title 10, U.S. Code, is to preserve the peace and security of the United States, support national policies, implement national objectives, and overcome any nations responsible for aggressive acts that imperil national security.[23][24]
Constitutional Authority
The U.S. Constitution designates the Army as the "Army of the United States," operating under the authority, direction, and control of the United States Secretary of Defense.[15][16] It is the most senior branch among the U.S. Armed Forces in order of precedence.[17]
Core Competencies
The Army's operational capabilities are defined by five core competencies: prompt and sustained land combat, combined arms operations (including maneuver and wide-area security), special operations, theater support for the joint force, and the integration of national, multinational, and joint power on land.[25]
Historical Trajectory
Origins: Continental Army
The U.S. Army traces its lineage to the Continental Army, established on June 14, 1775, by the Second Continental Congress to fight for independence against Great Britain.[26][12] George Washington served as its first commander.[12][27][28][29]
19th Century Conflicts
The 19th century saw the Army engaged in critical conflicts shaping the nation's expansion and identity.
Global Engagements
The 20th and 21st centuries saw the Army involved in global conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
Organizational Framework
Departmental Structure
The U.S. Army is part of the Department of the Army, which falls under the Department of Defense. It is headed by the civilian Secretary of the Army and the military Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA), who is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.[15][16]
Components
The Army comprises three main components:
- Regular Army (USA): The active duty force.
- Army National Guard (ARNG): State-based militia with federal reserve status.
- U.S. Army Reserve (USAR): A federal reserve component.
These components collectively form the "Total Force," emphasizing integrated operations.[49]
Command Structure
The Army is organized into major commands and service component commands responsible for specific geographic regions or functional areas. These include Army Forces Command (FORSCOM), Army Futures Command (AFC), Army Materiel Command (AMC), and Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), among others.[84]
Branches and Functional Areas
The U.S. Army's organizational structure includes a comprehensive array of branches and functional areas, each contributing unique expertise.
Combat Arms
These branches are directly involved in battlefield operations.
- Armor (AR)
- Infantry (IN)
- Field Artillery (FA)
- Air Defense Artillery (AD)
Support Arms
These branches provide essential logistical, administrative, and technical support.
- Adjutant General's Corps (AG)
- Chaplain Corps (CH)
- Finance Corps (FI)
- Judge Advocate General's Corps (JA)
- Military Police Corps (MP)
- Quartermaster Corps (QM)
- Signal Corps (SC)
- Transportation Corps (TC)
- Ordnance Corps (OD)
- Chemical Corps (CM)
Specialized & Functional Areas
These areas encompass intelligence, medical, cyber, and other specialized roles.
- Aviation (AV)
- Civil Affairs Corps (CA)
- Cyber Corps (CY)
- Medical Corps (MC), Dental Corps (DC), Nurse Corps (AN), Medical Specialist Corps (SP), Veterinary Corps (VC)
- Military Intelligence Corps (MI)
- Psychological Operations (PO)
- Special Forces (SF)
- Functional Areas (FA) for specialized officer roles (e.g., FA 30, FA 40, FA 46, FA 49, FA 50, FA 57, FA 70, FA 71, FA 73)
Key Commands
Army Commands (ACOM)
These are major commands directly reporting to the Department of the Army:
- Army Forces Command (FORSCOM)
- Army Futures Command (AFC)
- Army Materiel Command (AMC)
- Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC)
Army Service Component Commands (ASCC)
These commands align with geographic combatant commands:
- U.S. Army Central (ARCENT) / Third Army
- U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) / Seventh Army
- U.S. Army North (ARNORTH) / Fifth Army
- U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC)
- U.S. Army South (ARSOUTH) / Sixth Army
- Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC)
- U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER)
- U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC/ARSTRAT)
- U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC)
- Eighth Army (EUSA)
Direct Reporting Units
Units that report directly to the Department of the Army:
- Arlington National Cemetery
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
- U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center (USAASC)
- U.S. Army Civilian Human Resources Agency (CHRA)
- U.S. Army Corrections Command (ACC)
- U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID)
Notable Engagements
Founding Conflicts
The Army's formative years were marked by critical engagements for national sovereignty.
- American Revolutionary War
- War of 1812
- Mexican-American War
Defining Wars
Major conflicts that shaped the Army's role and capabilities.
- American Civil War
- World War I
- World War II
- Korean War
- Vietnam War
Modern Operations
Post-Cold War and contemporary operations demonstrating global reach and adaptability.
- Persian Gulf War
- Operations in the Balkans (Kosovo)
- War in Afghanistan
- Iraq War
- Global War on Terrorism
Teacher's Corner
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References
References
- First sergeant is considered a temporary and lateral rank and is senior to master sergeant. A first sergeant can revert to master sergeant upon leaving assignment.
- SP4 is sometimes encountered as an abbreviation for specialist instead of SPC. This is a holdover from when there were additional specialist ranks at pay grades E-5 to E-7.
- PVT is also used as an abbreviation for both private ranks when pay grade need not be distinguished.[172]
- 5 U.S.C. § 2101
- DA Pamphlet 10â1 Organization of the United States Army; Figure 1.2 Military Operations.
- Cont'l Cong., Formation of the Continental Army, in 2 Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774â1789 89â90 (Library of Cong. eds., 1905).
- Gregory J.W.Urwin, The United States Cavalry: An Illustrated History, 1776â1944, University of Oklahoma Press 2003 (1983), pp. 36â39
- Cragg, Dan, ed., The Guide to Military Installations, Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, 1983, p. 272.
- Woodruff, Mark. Unheralded Victory: The Defeat of the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army 1961â1973 (Arlington, VA: Vandamere Press, 1999).
- Wilson, John B. (1997). Maneuver and Firepower: The Evolution of Divisions and Separate Brigades. Washington, DC: Center of Military History, Chapter XII, for references see Note 48.
- An Army at War: Change in the Midst of Conflict, p. 515, via Google Books
- DA Pam 10â1 Organization of the United States Army, Figure 1-1. '"Army Organizations Execute Specific Functions and Assigned Missions"
- Department of Defense, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Military compensation background papers, Seventh edition, page 229. Department of Defense, 2005.
- 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania National Guard official website, last accessed 4 December 2020
- From the Future Soldiers Web Site.
- M4. U.S. Army Fact Files
- M249, U.S. Army Fact Files
- M240, U.S. Army Fact Files
- MK 19, U.S. Army Fact Files
- M224, U.S. Army Fact Files
- M252, U.S. Army Fact Files
- M120, U.S. Army Fact Files
- M119, U.S. Army Fact Files
- HMMWV, U.S. Army Fact Files
- Bradley, United States Army Fact Files
- Stryker, U.S. Army Fact Files
- M113, U.S. Army Fact Files
- Paladin, Army.mil
- MLRS, U.S. Army Fact Files
- Apache, U.S. Army Fact Files
- Blackhawk, U.S. Army Fact Files
- Chinook, U.S. Army Fact Files
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Important Notice
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