Posted on Jul 6, 2015
Why does the U.S.A need 4 Branches of the Armed Services? (ARMY, Air Force, Navy, Marines)
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Joint Service
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History, tradition, and pride do mean a lot to all vets both past and current but I often wonder my self if a unified military service would be less cumbersome and more efficient. Each branch is unique and do an awesome job of defending and protecting us but there is a lot of duplication. Tough question! Go Navy.
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It doesn't really, or you could argue it's natural for an organization to have specialties.
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I believe each branch brings a specialized ability to the table which then provides strategies for enhanved operations
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Of course it comes down to money. No branch would want to give up its piece of the pie. I agree with you. As a support entity I believe our name tapes could say DoD and not a specific branch. A lot of support type schools are joint. It would save a lot of money. I think politics and since that is the way it has always been done will win this discussion everytime.
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Probably doesn't but the political turmoil that would ensue if you tried to combine would make ISIS jealous. LOL
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Sir,
With all due respect, I'm surprised that you're an O-3 and fail to recognize there are FIVE
branches of the U.S. Armed Services: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
Each branch has its own mission statement and resources allocated to fulfill its mission.
Historically, it was first the Army, then the Navy, from which the Marine Corps was later born. It wasn't until 1947 (September 18, 1947) that President Truman signed the National Security Act that created the U.S. Air Force from what had been known as the Army Air Corps.
Each branch performs a critical mission that may duplicate some of the missions of the other branches, but those overlaps are more beneficial than harmful. The Army consists primarily of ground troops, but as you are well-aware, also has aviation units. The Navy is primarily a naval, as in sea-bearing force, but it also has aviation units. The Marine Corps also has ground troops, but, again, also has aviation units. The Coast Guard is primarily a naval force, but, it, too, has aviation units.
Maybe everyone secretly wanted to be Air Force?
With all due respect, I'm surprised that you're an O-3 and fail to recognize there are FIVE
branches of the U.S. Armed Services: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
Each branch has its own mission statement and resources allocated to fulfill its mission.
Historically, it was first the Army, then the Navy, from which the Marine Corps was later born. It wasn't until 1947 (September 18, 1947) that President Truman signed the National Security Act that created the U.S. Air Force from what had been known as the Army Air Corps.
Each branch performs a critical mission that may duplicate some of the missions of the other branches, but those overlaps are more beneficial than harmful. The Army consists primarily of ground troops, but as you are well-aware, also has aviation units. The Navy is primarily a naval, as in sea-bearing force, but it also has aviation units. The Marine Corps also has ground troops, but, again, also has aviation units. The Coast Guard is primarily a naval force, but, it, too, has aviation units.
Maybe everyone secretly wanted to be Air Force?
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SrA Christine Martinez
Dear Cpt. Tidaback,
I don't see where what I said was untrue or inaccurate, but my reference to your rank stands. Perhaps 'most people' think that there are four branches of the military, but there is, and has been throughout as much of military history as I know it, always been five. The military history that I refer to dates back to the 1980s when I educated myself about the histories and roles of each military branch, and compared my biological father's service in the Marine Corps during Vietnam, to the service of my mother's, stepfather's, and aunt's in the United States Air Force, and the three years' of Air Force Junior Reserved Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) I completed from 1984 to 1986.
Just out of curiosity, I did a post-comment internet search about 'How many branches are in the U.S. military?' and 'lo-and-behold, found this article on Military.com:
"In simple terms, the U.S. Armed Forces are made up of the five armed service branches: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy."
[Source: http://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/us-military-overview.html]
Looking back at what I said in my original comment... "With all due respect, I'm surprised that you're an O-3 and fail to recognize there are FIVE branches of the U.S. Armed Services: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard."
Gee, I think my answer is exactly what the writer of the article stated, so apparently not much has changed since I separated from the USAF.
Regardless of what 'many people think', 'a lot of people think', or 'most people think' I would hope that you, as an O-3 would present factual information and formulate your question better; instead of "Why does the U.S.A need 4 Branches of the Armed Services? (ARMY, Air Force, Navy, Marines)"... "Why does the United States need the five branches of the Armed Forces? (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard)"
Thanks for not having any hard feelings for my mention of your rank when I made my factual statement in my original comment.
I don't see where what I said was untrue or inaccurate, but my reference to your rank stands. Perhaps 'most people' think that there are four branches of the military, but there is, and has been throughout as much of military history as I know it, always been five. The military history that I refer to dates back to the 1980s when I educated myself about the histories and roles of each military branch, and compared my biological father's service in the Marine Corps during Vietnam, to the service of my mother's, stepfather's, and aunt's in the United States Air Force, and the three years' of Air Force Junior Reserved Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) I completed from 1984 to 1986.
Just out of curiosity, I did a post-comment internet search about 'How many branches are in the U.S. military?' and 'lo-and-behold, found this article on Military.com:
"In simple terms, the U.S. Armed Forces are made up of the five armed service branches: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy."
[Source: http://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/us-military-overview.html]
Looking back at what I said in my original comment... "With all due respect, I'm surprised that you're an O-3 and fail to recognize there are FIVE branches of the U.S. Armed Services: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard."
Gee, I think my answer is exactly what the writer of the article stated, so apparently not much has changed since I separated from the USAF.
Regardless of what 'many people think', 'a lot of people think', or 'most people think' I would hope that you, as an O-3 would present factual information and formulate your question better; instead of "Why does the U.S.A need 4 Branches of the Armed Services? (ARMY, Air Force, Navy, Marines)"... "Why does the United States need the five branches of the Armed Forces? (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard)"
Thanks for not having any hard feelings for my mention of your rank when I made my factual statement in my original comment.
In simple terms, the U.S. Armed Forces are made up of the five armed service branches: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy.
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Capt Jeff S.
"With all due respect, I'm surprised that you're an O-3 and fail to recognize there are FIVE branches of the U.S. Armed Services: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard."
With all due respect SrA Christine Martinez? ??? If you were giving respect you would have phrased it as such: "With all due respect Sir, there are FIVE branches of the U.S. Armed Services: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard." And you might have added, "It's covered here on military.com" and left a link.
Note that I omitted this part of your response: "I'm surprised that you're an O-3 and fail to recognize..." If you were to switch places with CPT(P) (Join to see), how would you take someone saying that to you? Does it not convey a certain amount of arrogance and condescension on your part? And does it not poke the person you allege to be respecting in the eye?
While you were technically correct in identifying the five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, it isn't necessary to be insulting in your responses. Am glad everything got worked out and no hard feelings.
With all due respect SrA Christine Martinez? ??? If you were giving respect you would have phrased it as such: "With all due respect Sir, there are FIVE branches of the U.S. Armed Services: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard." And you might have added, "It's covered here on military.com" and left a link.
Note that I omitted this part of your response: "I'm surprised that you're an O-3 and fail to recognize..." If you were to switch places with CPT(P) (Join to see), how would you take someone saying that to you? Does it not convey a certain amount of arrogance and condescension on your part? And does it not poke the person you allege to be respecting in the eye?
While you were technically correct in identifying the five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, it isn't necessary to be insulting in your responses. Am glad everything got worked out and no hard feelings.
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Capt Jeff S.
And for future ref, don't call a Captain an O-3 unless you are discussing their pay.
If you want to get technical, O-3 is a paygrade, not a rank. The difference may not seem apparent, but it is more respectful. And it goes for all ranks and branches of service. For example: If you call an Army Sgt "Sergeant" you are acknowledging them as a leader. If you refer to them as an E-5 you are in effect saying, "You are paid as an E-5 but I don't see you as a Sergeant." On Rallypoint - where we have a mix of Active Duty, Veterans, and Retired - it's just a simple courtesy that maintains a respectful professional military decorum.
If you want to get technical, O-3 is a paygrade, not a rank. The difference may not seem apparent, but it is more respectful. And it goes for all ranks and branches of service. For example: If you call an Army Sgt "Sergeant" you are acknowledging them as a leader. If you refer to them as an E-5 you are in effect saying, "You are paid as an E-5 but I don't see you as a Sergeant." On Rallypoint - where we have a mix of Active Duty, Veterans, and Retired - it's just a simple courtesy that maintains a respectful professional military decorum.
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I have worked with Marine aircraft maintainers and there is NO way I would ever turn one loose on one of my aircraft, different missions call for different training. No offense against the jar heads, they simply weren't trained like us air force...we got along and we helped them when needed.
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MSgt Dwyane Watson
I would love to elaborate for you, put simply the marine maintainers to no fault of their own did not have the skills, tools or knowledge that their air force counterparts have. We were at Ahmed Al Jaber Ab in Kuwait when F-18s joined our F-15s from RAF Lakenheath. I had the tools and training to perform composite repairs, the marines had no clue or tools on how to do composite repairs. I asked them what they did if they had a composite repair and they said the civilians did the work. I asked them what were they going to do, they had no idea. So I offered air force training and tools to them if they needed it and they were glad to have it. Many of our tools they had never seen much less used before. No slight to the marine maintainers, but the truth is they don't have the same training or skills that airmen do, or tools.
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