US Military Overview Maintaining a strong national defense
requires workers who can do such diverse tasks as run a
hospital, command a tank, program a computer system, operate a
nuclear reactor, or repair and maintain a helicopter. The
military provides training and work experience in these and many
other fields for more than 2.6 million people. More than 1.4
million people serve in the active Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and
Air Force, and more than 1.2 million serve in their Reserve
components and the Air and Army National Guard. The Coast Guard,
which is part of the Department of Homeland Security. The
military distinguishes between enlisted and officer careers.
Enlisted personnel, who make up about 84 percent of the Armed
Forces, carry out the fundamental operations of the military in
combat, administration, construction, engineering, health care,
human services, and other areas. Officers, who make up the
remaining 16 percent of the Armed Forces, are the leaders of the
military, supervising and managing acti