The Military ...

The United States Department of War was the military department of the United States government's executive branch from 1789 until 1949, when it became part of the United States Department of Defense. It was headed by the United States Secretary of War. It was also known as the War Office.

In 1949 the War Office was renamed the United States Department of the Army and became a component of the Department of Defense. The United States Secretary of the Army is in charge of the administrative offices necessary for the Army's operations. The highest-ranking Army officer is the Army Chief of Staff who is assisted by the Vice-chief. The only difference today is that the Army Air Force was separated and formed into the US Air Force under the newly formed Department of the Air Force.

Armored troops going forward in the Argonne, France, September 26, 1918

Army

The United States Army was founded on 14 June 1775, by an act of the Continental Congress in response to the increased British military activity in the 13 Colonies. George Washington became our first Commander in Chief of the US Army. Today's Army is responsive and dominant at every point on the spectrum of conflicts. They provide to the Nation an array of deployable, agile, versatile, lethal, survivable, and sustainable formations, which are affordable and capable of resolving conflicts decisively. The Army's deployment is the surest sign of America's commitment to accomplishing any mission that occurs on land. Assigned to Major Commands throughout the world, these forces are organized under tactical units called corps, divisions, brigades, regiments, and smaller supporting units. The Army Vision: Soldiers on Point for the Nation ... Persuasive in Peace, Invincible in War.

Louisville was the first to fire Tomahawk cruise missiles in combat during the Gulf War in 1991. The submarine was one of four Pacific Fleet attack submarines to participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Navy

The United States Navy was founded on 13 October 1775, and the Department of the Navy was established on 30 April 1798. For centuries, sea power has played a vital role in determining and supporting national strategies. We have progressed from sail to steam, to nuclear power; from guns to missiles; from biplanes to supersonic aircraft, to the space age. Still, sea power remains a fundamental factor in the world strategy. Because of its great dependence on overseas sources for raw materials and because of its overseas allies, the US must maintain naval forces capable of controlling the sea lines of communication and projecting its sea power across the oceans. The Navy has three principle components: the Navy Department, the operating forces, including the Marine Corps, the reserve components, the shore establishment, and in time of war, the US Coast Guard. The peacetime mission of the US Navy is to be prepared to conduct prompt and sustained combat operations at sea in support of our national interest; in effect, to ensure continued maritime superiority for the United States.

Leathernecks inch forward under fire on the central Korean front [Note scarf worn around the neck of this Marine and billed cap under his helmet]

Marine Corps

On 10 November 1775, the Continental Congress passed a resolution directing, "Two battalions of Marines be raised" for service as landing forces with the fleet. This resolution established the Continental Marines and marked the birth date of the United States Marine Corps. Serving on land and at sea, these first Marines distinguished themselves in a number of important operations, including their first amphibious raid into the Bahamas in March, 1776, under the command of Captain Samuel Nicholas. Nicholas, the first commissioned officer in the Continental Marines, is also considered to be the first Marine Commandant. For organizational purposes, the Corps in divided into three broad categories: Headquarters USMC, the operational forces, and the supporting establishment. Seventy percent of al active duty Marines are assigned to the operational forces. The way in which the Marine Corps fights its wars is based on two operational concepts: maneuver and combined arms. The term "Marine" represents a national institution whose reputation and standing is in the hands of every Marine. As long as our nation exercises command of the seas, Marines will form the cutting edge.

Air Force crew from the 211th Helicopter Squadron fly on a combat assault mission July 18, 1970.

Air Force

Although the youngest of the armed services, the Air Force has a rich tradition stretching back to 1 August 1907 when the Chief Signal Officer of the U.S. Army established the Aeronautical Division, consisting of one officer. A proposal for a Department of Armed Forces was presented to the U.S. Senate in October 1945. The National Security Act of 1947 established the Department of Defense, with three sub-departments for army, navy, and air force. On September 18, 1947, Stuart Symington was sworn in as the first secretary of the air force. Carl A. Spaatz became the first chief of staff. World War II had tested theories and developed new technologies. Now these had to be organized and developed. The potential uses of conventional and nuclear bombing had to be explored. Technologies such as jets, supersonic flight, giant bombers, mid-air refueling, rockets, missiles, the flying wing, and nuclear bombs had to be developed, tested, and understood. And the Soviet Union loomed as a powerful enemy. When they blockaded Berlin in 1948, the air force flew its first major action, the Berlin Airlift. The air force was ready and its first mission was a success.

USCG-1 escorted the first waves of landing craft into the Omaha assault area on D-Day morning. Its crew pulled 28 survivors from a sunken landing craft out of the English Channel right off the beaches before 0700, 6 June 1944.

Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard has its roots in the Revenue Cutter Service, started 4 August, 1790. However, it did not gain its current name until it combined with the Lifesaving Service in 1915. The Coast Guard is the primary federal agency with maritime authority for the United States. The service's multi-mission approach permits a relatively small organization to respond to public needs in a wide variety of maritime activities and to shift emphasis on sort notice when the need arises. The Coast Guard's four main mission areas are: Maritime Law Enforcement, Maritime Safety, Marine Environmental Protection, and National Security. In support of these four main missions, Coast Guard personnel perform the following jobs on a routine daily basis: aids to navigation, boating safety, defense operations, environmental response, maritime licensing, port safety and security, search and rescue, and waterway management. The Coast Guard was under the Department of Transportation and now Homeland Security and has participated in all major national conflicts.

And Wars

1. Principles of War
   1. Objective
      Direct military operations toward a defined and attainable objective that contributes to strategic, operational, or tactical aims.
   2. Offensive
      Dictates that we act rather than react and dictate the time, place, purpose, scope, intensity, and pace of operations. The initiative must be seized, retained, and fully exploited.
   3. Mass
      Concentrate combat power at the decisive time and place.
   4. Economy of Force
      Create usable mass by using minimum combat power on secondary objectives. Make the fullest use of all forces available.
   5. Maneuver
      Place the enemy in a position of disadvantage through the flexible application of combat power.
   6. Unity of Command
      Ensures unity of effort for every objective under one responsible commander.
   7. Security
      Protects friendly forces and their operations from enemy actions that could provide the enemy with unexpected advantage.
   8. Surprise
      Strike the enemy at a time or place or in a manner for which he is unprepared.
   9. Simplicity
      Avoid unnecessary complexity in preparing, planning, and conducting military operations.

2. Levels of Warfare
   1. Strategic
      The level of war at which a nation or group of nations determines national or alliance security objectives and develops and uses national resources to accomplish those objectives.
   2. Operational
      The level of war at which campaigns and major operations are planned, conducted, and sustained to accomplish strategic objectives within theaters or areas of operations.
   3. Tactical
      The level at which battles and engagements are planned and executed to accomplish military objectives assigned to tactical units or task forces.

From The Revolution To Nuclear Subs

Before you get outa here. . .

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