Armed Forces Day

Armed Forces Day

Reported By K.Skitz May 18, 2021

On the final day of August 1949, the creation of Armed Forces Day was made. This was done to unify each branch for a single holiday instead of their previous individual ones. This day also began the unification under one agency, the Department of Defense.

The United States Army – The Army was established on June 14^th, 1775. Since then the US Army has fought in every major conflict stemming back from the Revolutionary War all the way to the War in Afghanistan. The Army is currently 480,900 active duty strong and roughly 525,000 National Guard and reserves.

The United States Navy – The Navy was created on October 13, 1775. Its primary mission; the preparation of naval forces necessary for the effective prosecution of war, the maintenance of naval aviation including land-based naval aviation and the development of aircraft, weapons, tactics, technique, organization and equipment of naval combat and service elements. The US Navy is roughly 347,000 active duty and 202,500 reserves.

The United States Air Force – The US Air Force is the youngest of the four main branches of military service, being assembled on September 18^th, 1947. The Air Force is roughly 330,000 active duty and 176,000 Air National Guard and reserves. The US Air Force was created due to the advancement of aircraft and the need to be separated from the US Army.

The United States Marine Corps – The US Marines was established on June 11, 1798 and is officially under the department of the Navy. The Marines has been touted to be mission ready anywhere in the world within 24 hours. Similar to the US Army, the Marines is primarily a land based force able to proceed in combat alongside other branches but can also work independently as it has its own air force as well. The Marines is the smallest of the four main branches of service with 181,000 active duty and 38,000 reserves.