Children feel more comfortable and have an appreciation for their family members who serve in the military if they know some facts about serving. Here are some facts that most children find interesting, and they can spark conversations about their loved ones and exactly what they do.
The United States Military makes up one of the largest and most powerful armies in the world. There are currently (2024) over 1.3 million active military personnel in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Why does the U.S. have a military?
The United States, like many countries, has a military to protect its borders and interests. The military is made up of a group or groups of people that are given power to defend something, mostly a country. They are armed, so they are called the Armed Forces. The military protects its country by defending from the armed forces of enemies, if there is a war. The military can also be ordered by the government of the country to attack another country. The word “military” comes from Latin word “miles” which means warrior. Some big countries even have small units which perform special actions which are very difficult. They are called special forces.
Who is in charge of the military?
The president is the Commander in Chief over the entire U.S. military. Under the president is the Secretary of the Department of Defense who is in charge of all the branches of the military except for the Coast Guard.
What are some military jobs?
There are many jobs to do in the military, some jobs are for fighting and some are for other work to support the military. Some things people do in the military are use weapons, drive vehicles, and repair weapons. Other people in the military learn how to fly aircraft, pilot ships, or repair engines. People in the military usually wear clothes called a uniform. In some places, especially where there may be combat, a uniform often comes in a camouflage pattern which is designed to make the person hard to see in the forest or desert.
The Different Branches of the Military
There are five main branches of the military including the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard.
The Army is the main ground force and largest branch of the military. The Army’s job is to control and fight on land using land troops, tanks, and artillery. The Army is the oldest branch of the military, it was first established in 1775 during the Revolutionary War.
The Air Force is the part of the military that fights using aircraft including fighter planes and bombers. The Air Force was part of the Army up until 1947 when it was made into its own branch. The Air Force is also responsible for military satellites in space.
The Navy fights in the oceans and the seas throughout the world. The Navy uses all sorts of battleships including destroyers, aircraft carriers, and submarines. The U.S. Navy is significantly larger than any other navy in the world and is armed with 11 of the world’s 20 aircraft carriers (as of 2025).
The Marines are responsible for delivering task forces on land, at sea, and in the air. The Marines work closely with the Army, Navy, and Air Force. As America’s expeditionary force in readiness, the U.S. Marines are forward deployed in an effort to win battles swiftly and aggressively in times of crisis.
The Coast Guard is separate from the other branches as it is part of the Department of Homeland Security. The Coast Guard is the smallest of the military branches. It monitors the U.S. Coastline and enforces border laws as well as helps with ocean rescues. The Coast Guard can become part of the Navy during times of war.
Reserves
Each of the branches above have active personnel and reserve personnel. Active personnel work full time for the military. Reserves, however, have non-military jobs, but train on weekends throughout the year for one of the military branches. During times of war, the reserves can be called upon to join the military full time.
Interesting Facts about the US Military
- The U.S. Department of Defense is the largest employer in the world with 2.91 million employees (2022).
- There are several United States service academies that help train officers for the military including the Military Academy in West Point, New York, the Air Force Academy in Colorado, and the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.