What Does the Army Do?
The US Army is the largest branch of America’s Armed Forces, consisting of over 1.3 million active duty soldiers and an additional 865,000 members in Reserve and National Guard components. Its strength fluctuates depending on world events as well as ongoing military operations. The Army is divided into divisions, corps, regional armies, army commands, field armies and special forces command and reserve components. Each division further subdivides itself into brigades which then split into battalions or regiments. Within the Army hierarchy, the chain of command works from highest to lowest: President – Secretary of Defense – Secretary of the Army – Chief of Staff – Commanders (general officers). Each soldier in the Army holds a distinct rank and place within its organizational structure. From private to general, soldiers can hold various ranks depending on their experience level. Enlisted employees are promoted based on meeting certain requirements, such as time in service and performance ratings, while officers are promoted through merit after passing courses and exams.