What is the only branch of the military specifically authorized to maintain a standing force under the constitution?

Only one problem with that, you didn't exist for two years...by lack of action of Congress.

16. To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

So what is the answer??

Why NAVY of course! GO NAVY! BEAT ARMY!

There is a big difference between the Army National Guard and the....... State Guard...The Army National Guard can be both Federal and State
the State Guard is only State

MSG (Join to see) , I am not sure where you are getting that I am incorrect when in your post it says that the classes of the militia are - (1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard.

I did not say that you were incorrect. I said that you and SPC Beadle were incompletely correct. Each of you gave half of the whole answer.

Oops. read it too fast. kids yelling in background.

I always find it interesting how confusing statements are in national guard, the army, the reserves, active reserves, etc are split up divided and who they actually are accounted for and described in USCode and even the constitution. In todays world all of them are defenders of the Constitution of the United States, and in enlistment oaths are willing to defend it with their lives. It just gets way to confusing all the inner dialogue of the laws and descriptions and loyalties and control mechanisms of each and associated benefits and entitlements which are divided out in lacking tier of resources such as for example lacking medical care to reserves who are expected 24 7 to be on call and ready for deployment 24 7 and even Inactive duty Training (that is not really inactive at all) doing live simulated combat training over a weekend...with almost a complete lack of health care access...and some would say in reality when I was serving an invisible health care that was appropriate safeguard for the actual reality of Hi Level Simulated Combat Training

It's a wonderful world....being a part of something that Constitutionally HAS to be. Everybody else is just....part time. Life is good........

Yup. You and the Postal Service... ;)

dayum....didn't hear that bus backing up on me.....next time I'll fix the backup alarm!

Navy

SSgt Thomas A Tullis Jr You're right that it explicitly sanctions a Navy, but SSG Maurice P. is also right that it also explicitly sanctions state militias (gathering into an army for specific periods-not more than two years).

no