The story of the United States military is the story of the country itself. Both have grown and changed over time. Learn about the unique histories, traditions, weapons, leaders, stats, and fun facts of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Space Force, and their roles within the military in this fun and fascinating guide!
From the few hundred soldiers in its ranks when it was first established, to the over one million service members today, the U.S. military has grown in power and size over its 250-year history. Its organization and branches have changed to adapt to new technologies and national needs. The Handy Armed Forces Answer Book: Your Guide to the Whats and Whys of the U.S. Military looks at each branch of the U.S. military. It answers more than 500 of the most intriguing questions, including …
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How is the U.S. military organized?
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How do the branches work together?
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When did the Army Air Corps become the U.S. Army Air Force?
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What is the selection process like for Special Forces?
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Who was the Continental Army’s first Commander in Chief?
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How does the military rank structure function?
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How does somebody become an Air Force officer?
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What was the “Brown Water Navy”?
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What is the motto of the Coast Guard?
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How many bases does the military have?
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What is the Marine Corps Hymn?
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Did any Coast Guard vessels serve in combat?
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What type of aircraft is Air Force One?
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Who said “Retreat? Hell! We just got here!”
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Who were the Buffalo Soldiers?
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What are the Blue Angels?
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What is the most challenging USAF plane to fly?
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What is the origin of the Coast Guard “racing stripe”?
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Does the Space Force have any operational bases?
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How did a mutiny help establish the United States Naval Academy?
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What is the longest-serving personal weapon used by the American soldier?
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What is the difference between a UAV and a drone?
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What attack submarines does the Navy deploy?
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Who defends the United States against cyberattacks and other digital threats?
The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force are uniquely American, each in their own way. Learn what makes each branch special in The Handy Armed Forces Answer Book ! With more than 140 photos and graphics, this fascinating to me is richly illustrated. Its helpful bibliography and extensive index add to its usefulness.
Table of Content
Photo Sources
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. U.S. Armed Forces Basics
2. Army … The Revolutionary War … West Point … The U.S. Civil War … World War I … World War II … The War in Korea … Vietnam … Desert Storm
3. Navy … The Revolutionary War … The Quasi-War … Barbary War … The Naval Academy … The Civil War … Turn of the Twentieth Century … World War I … World War II … Vietnam … Naval Aircraft … Submarines … The Future of the Navy
4. Marines … Marine Basics … Establishment of the Marine Corps …War of 1812 … The Mexican-American, Civil, and Spanish-American Wars … World War I … World War II … Korea … Vietnam … Lebanon … Grenada … Desert Shield and Desert Storm
5. Coast Guard … Origins of the Coast Guard … World War I … World War II and Korea … The Greatest Rescue of All Time … Vietnam … The Coast Guard in the Twenty-first Century
6. Air Force … Early History … U.S. Army Air Corps and World War II … The Air Force after World War II … The Cold War … The Age of Jet Planes … Korea … Vietnam … The Air Force after Vietnam … Air Force One … Drones and Other Modern Aircraft
6. Space Force … Early Space Defenses … Establishment of the Space Force … NORAD
7. Special Operations Forces … The Rangers … Marine Raiders … Marine Force Recon … Army Special Forces … Delta Force … Navy SEALS … Night Stalkers
8. The Future
Further Reading
Index
About the author
Richard Estep, author and researcher, has written twenty books, including Serial Killers: The Minds, Methods, and Mayhem of History’s Most Notorious Murderers. He has also written for the Journal of Emergency Medical Services. He makes his home in Colorado, a few miles north of Denver, where he serves as a paramedic and lives with his wife and a menagerie of adopted animals.