United States Military

The Military of the United States are part of the Department of Defense, except the US Coast Guard which is under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security - the Predident of the United States serves as Commander in Chief for the forces in their entirety. Around 1.5 million people are on active duty within the US military, with a similar number in the reserves. There is no conscription, and women are allowed to serve in most non-combat specialities.

The component branches of the US Military are:


 * United States Army
 * United States Marine Corps
 * United States Navy
 * United States Air Force
 * United States Coast Guard
 * United States National Guard

Much of the US military capability is involved in logistics and transportation, which enable rapid deployment of forces as required. The USAF maintains a large fleet of C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster, and C-130 Hercules transportation aircraft with an equally large fleet of aerial refueling tankers. The USMC maintains Marine Expeditionary Units at sea with the Navy's Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. The Navy's 11 active Aircraft Carriers, combined with a military doctrine of power projection, enables a flexible response to potential threats.