My Senior Paper: The United States Military My research paper on the United States Military

[Albus Dumbledore 0]

Since it is my senior year in high school, we are required to write something we call at my school, a senior paper. What we do is choose a topic, any topic at all that is appropriate for school and write a 12 page research paper on it. I chose to do mine on the military because i recently decided to join a branch, and i wanted to know what i was getting myself into. Here is what i have as my rough(final) draft, once i have a couple people review it and make sure it all looks good formatting wise etc... then it will be my final draft. If any of you guys are bored, and want to skim over it and just check the formatting (internal citations, my grammar, etc).

 

 

Abstract

Military, it?s one of the largest organizations in the world. There are 5 different branches in the United States Military, the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Cops, and Coast Guard. Ranks within the military are an essential component to establishing a clear chain of command and authority and it always has been since its introduction to the military. The way the rank system establishes a chain of command is by dividing people into four different groups, the Commissioned officers, warrant officers, non commissioned officers, and the enlisted personnel. The Pay grade system is another type of ranking system; it establishes ones monthly income depending on their time in the military and their rank. Just as there are groups for ranks, there are groups for the pay grade system as well, the Enlisted Personnel, Commissioned Officers, Warrant Officers, and Non Commissioned officers. Basic training is something a recruit must go through that tests ones mental and physical abilities.

 

The United States Military

Throughout time every nation, every civilization; every form of a community has relied upon the bravery and dedication of some type of armed service to defend them against threats foreign and domestic. From the army of ancient Egypt to the modern day militia, citizens depend upon these army?s to defend them in their time if need. There are five branches that deal with the different types of defense and these branches have ranking structures that establish a hierarchy, they have a pay grade system which establishes ones pay based on time in the military, and they all take great pride in their physical and mental strength building. I myself have devoted my future to joining the United States Army and serving the government in protecting that which I hold most dear. Since I am perusing a future in the military I find it extremely relevant to dedicate my research paper to learn more about the United States armed services to further educate myself in what I will be dedicating my life to.

 

?The United States Military Branches are divided into five armed services known collectively as the United States Armed Forces.? The five forenamed armed services are known today as the United States Army, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, and the United States Coast Guard (U.S. Military Branches 1). ?All the branches of the military are under civilian control, with the President of the United States as the Commander-in-Chief and fall under the Department of Defense.? There is one exception to the previous statement, the United States Coast Guard doesn?t fall under the Department of Defense, and instead it falls under the Secretary of Defense during wartime, during peacetime it is under the Department of Homeland Security (Powers 1).

 

The United States Army is the first line of defense in this country. Formed on June 14th, 1775 the Army has been, and still remains to be the main ground-force that protects the United States. The Army?s main idea is to guard the United States as well as its main interests by means of ground troops such as armor (tanks), nuclear weapons, artillery, and attack helicopters. ?The army is also the largest United States Military Service. There are approximately 76,000 officers and 401,000 enlisted members in the active duty army? (1) The Army can be divided into two separate but equal branches, the Army Reserves and the Army National Guard. The Army Reserves are owned and operated by the United States Federal government; and the Army National Guard is an individual branch that each state owns individually however, it can be taken over by the federal government in times of need (Barbier 27).

 

The United States Air Force is the most recent Armed Force to be established. ?The Air Force was created in 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947? (Powers 1) Prior to 1947, the Air Force was known as the United States Army Signal Corps. The U.S. Army Signal Corps was a small Aeronautical section of the Army that was in charge of everything that was related to military air machines and military ballooning (Air Force History Overview 1). The modern day Air Forces? objective is to defend the United States as well as its interests throughout the exploration of air and space. ?To accomplish this mission, the Air Force operates fighter aircraft, light and heavy bomber aircraft, transport aircraft, and helicopters (which are used mainly for rescue of downed aircrew, and special operations missions)? (U.S. Military 101 2) Not only is the air force responsible for the defense of the nation through the skies, they are also accountable for all of the military satellites (Jordan 38). ?There are about 69,000 commissioned officers on active duty in the air force, and about 288,000 enlisted members? (Powers 2)

 

The United States Navy was established in 1775 by the Continental Congress. ?The Navy?s primary mission is to maintain the freedom of the seas. The Navy makes it possible for the United States to use the seas where and when our nations interests require it? (3). The United States Navy is one of the supportive branches of the armed forces, just as the Air force assists ground assault, the Navy assists the Air Force in areas where a solid runway is impossible to build. ?Additionally, Navy Ships can attack land targets from miles away with very heavy guns and cruise missiles as well as launch stealth submarines which allow for stealth attacks on our enemies from right off of their shores? (Morris 235) ?The active duty Navy has about 54,000 officers, and 324,000 enlisted personnel.? Unlike the Army and Air Force, the navy has no type of National Guard; it only has the Naval Reserves. However, a few individual states have established a type of Naval Militia to protect their own regions of sea (United States Navy 3).

 

The United States Marine Corps was established on November 10th, 1775 by the Continental Congress. ?The Marines are often referred to as the ?Infantry of the Navy.? Marines specialize in amphibious operations. In other words, their primary specialty is to assault, capture, and control ?beach heads,? which then provide a route to attack the enemy from almost any direction.? The original purpose of the Marine Corps was to act as a type of landing force for the United States Navy, but later on the Continental congress decided that the Marine Corps would be better suited for amphibious operations (Powers 3).

 

The Marine Corps are often described as a lighter force while compared to other Armed Services, meaning that there are fewer enlisted personnel in the Marine Corps than there are in the army, air force, navy, or coast guard. With that being the case, this means that generally they can be deployed fast. The marine corps is strictly a combat oriented Armed Service, ?The marines use the navy for much of their logistical and administrative support. For example, there are no doctors, nurses, or enlisted medics in the Marine Corps. Doctors that accompany the Marines into combat are specially-trained Navy medics? (Keeter 14). ?There are approximately 18,000 officers and 153,000 enlisted personnel on active duty in the Marines.? Similar to the navy, the marines do not burden themselves with a National Guard but they are fully supported by the Marine Corps reserves in their time of need (Powers 3).

 

The United States Coast Guard was originally established on August 4th, 1790. The beginning of the coast guard was brought on by Congress assigning ten vessels to uphold tariff and trade laws as well as prevent smuggling. ?The service received its present name in 1915 under an act of Congress when the Revenue Cutter Service merged with the Life-Saving Service. The nation then had a single maritime service dedicated to saving life at sea and enforcing the nation?s maritime laws? (U.S. Coast Guard Historian?s Office 1). Along with the tasks mentioned earlier, the Coast Guard is also in charge of assistance with natural disasters such as fires, floods, and tornadoes.

The United States Coast Guard was once one of the oldest organizations that the federal government has ever put together, that was until in 1798 the Navy Department was established to serve as the nations only armed force afloat. During times of peace, the Coast Guard serves as apart of the Department of Homeland Security assisting them in enforcing the nation?s laws at sea, guarding out nations ports, and saving thousands of lives a year. During wartime, the command of the Coast Guard is handed over to the Commander in Chief, the President of the United States, under direction from the Navy Department (Noble 4). As of December 17th, 2008 the United States Coast Guard has over 44,000 men and women serving to protect our nation and save lives, there are also 8,700 men and women within the Coast Guard reserves waiting to be deployed at a moments notice (U.S. Coast Guard Historian?s Office 3).

 

?The size of an Armed Force does not permit any officers in charge of a very large group to know all in their command by their individual names, nor is it possible to know all of the duties of the various individuals of an organization in a command, but by means of an insignia of grade, anyone trained in military organizations and tactics may quickly have a respectable title by which he or she may address an individual and based on responsibilities commensurate with each grade, it also allows for them to issue orders intelligently.? The first commander and chief of the armed forces, General George Washington was selectively chosen by a group known as the Continental Congress to take supreme command of the forces that were raised in defense of the American freedom and way of life. Not too long after General Washington was given command of the armed forces of America, he issued a General Order which announced that officers within a command were to be distinguished a certain way so their authority over certain individuals would be well known. This system was a rather simplistic system compared to modern day rank structures, ?The commander-in-chief was identifiable by light blue ribband, worn across his breast, between his coat and waistcoat; the major and brigadier generals by a pink ribband worn in a like manner; and the Aides-de-Camp by a green ribband? (First U.S. Army History 23).

 

Not only did the officers have a means of distinguishing themselves from each other, but so did the Non Commissioned officers and the privates. It was known that the Non Commission officers would have a pink or red colored cockade on their hat and the captain?s buff or yellow. This system was put in place because there was no standard uniform ordered for members of the Armed Forces (21). These ranking systems were an excellent way of distinguishing order amongst the troops and were growing more complex by the year.

Following the implantation of the simplistic ranking structure a more complicated system was devised. It would consist of Major Generals being identified by two silver stars located on their epaulette and a Brigadier General would be identified by a single silver star located on their epaulette. ?In 1832, the Colonel?s eagle was initiated and in 1836, leaves were adopted for Lieutenant Colonels and Majors, while Captains received two silver bars and one bar was prescribed for First Lieutenant. Second Lieutenants were distinguished by a single gold bar starting in December of 1917? (Origin insignia of rank officers 1). Since the military leaders were goring, this change in rank structure was necessary to maintain order.

 

A few years after the simple system of color coordinating the different officer ranks by colors, a new system was devised that would allow for a much easier understanding of who was what rank, as well as opening more doors for new ranks to be added to the system. This newer system of recognition was separated into 4 individual categories. These four categories were known as the Commissioned Officers, the Warrant Officers, the Non-Commissioned Officers, and the enlisted personnel. These four separate but equal categories of the ranking structure would offer a clearer chain of command that would allow for everything to work properly (U.S. Military Ranks and Units). Just as the number of officers was growing, so was everything else, so these changes in the rank structure were wise.

 

?Officer Ranks in the United States Military consist of commissioned officers and warrant officers, the Commissioned officers are known to be the highest rank within the military.? The people who are lucky enough to achieve a rank as a commissioned officer are people who hold presidential commissions and their ranks are reviewed by the senate to ensure they are worthy to receive such an admiral rank. Even more in detail, the commissioned officers are broken down into 3 specific sections, the company grade officers, the field grade officers, and the general officers. ?The Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps officers are called company grade officers in the pay grades of O-1 to O-3, field grade officers in pay grades of O-4 to O-6 and general officers in pay grades O-7 and higher. The equivalent officer rankings in the navy are called junior grade, mid-grade, and flag.? There are 10 different Commissioned officer ranks in all of the branches of the military, from lowest rank to highest it reads (followed by it?s abbreviation), Second Lieutenant (2LT), First Lieutenant (1LT), Captain (CPT), Major (MAJ), Lieutenant Colonel (LTC), Colonel (COL), Brigadier General (BG), Major General (MG), Lieutenant General (LG), and General (GEN) (The United States Military Officer Rank Insignia 2).

 

?Warrant officers hold warrants from their service secretary and are specialists and experts in certain military technologies or capabilities.? The absolute lowest rank of the warrant officers would serve under the command of a warrant and they would receive commissions from the president as they were promoted a rank higher to chief warrant officer 2. People who are considered commissioned warrant officers are considered to be direct representatives of the commander-in-chief, the president of the United States of America. (4)

?Commissioned warrant officers derive their authority from the same source as commissioned officers but remain the specialists, in contrast to commissioned officers, who are generalists.? The Air Force is the only armed service that doesn?t have ranks of Warrant officers. There are 5 ranks contained within the sub-section of Warrant Officer in all of the branches of the military except the Air Force, those ranks are (followed by their abbreviations), Warrant Officer 1 (WO1), Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2), Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CW3), Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CW4), and Chief Warrant Officer (CW5) (8).

 

Non-Commissioned officers are also known as NCO?s; they are what are known as the ?backbone? of the Armed Forces. Out of the three other sub-sections of the ranking structure, there are more non-Commissioned officers than there are Commissioned officers, Warrant Officers, and enlisted personnel combined together. For this reason, they are known as the backbone of the armed forces because they are responsible for carrying out the military originations mission as well as training the new enlisted personnel. ?A non-commissioned officer is someone who has been given special authority by a commissioned officer to carry out a specific task or duty in the interest of the armed forces.? In the sub-category of Non-Commissioned officers, there are 8 different ranks that someone can achieve these ranks are (followed by their abbreviation), Sergeant (SGT), Staff Sergeant (SSG), Sergeant First Class (SFC), Master Sergeant (MSG), First Sergeant (1SG), Sergeant Major (SGM), Command Sergeant Major (CSM), and Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) (United States Military Enlisted Rank Insignia 1).

 

Last but not least, there are the enlisted personnel. The enlisted personnel category is a rather small group and it consists of 5 ranks, Private (PVT), Private E-2 (PV2), Private First Class (PFC), Specialist (SPC), and Corporal (CPL). ?Service members in the ranks Private though Private First Class are usually either in some kind of training status or on their initial assignment. The training includes the basic training phase where recruits are introduced to military culture and values and are taught the core skills required by their service component.? Once service members in the starting ranks receive their first set of orders and settle themselves in and prove their ability to follow orders and do their jobs, they can be promoted from Private First class to specialist or corporal or in rare occasions to a non-commissioned officer (2). Although a private can?t make a jump to NCO right away, their rank is guaranteed to go up over time, just like everyone else.

 

Within the United States Military, the service men and women are not only categorized and distinguished by their ranks, but they are also distinguished by their pay grade. The difference between someone?s rank and someone?s pay grade is that a rank is distinguishing your authority over someone else, or a group of individuals, where as a pay grade denotes the amount of money that you are being paid to do your job. The pay grade system wasn?t implemented into the United States Military until June 24th, 1909 when it became obvious that someone?s pay couldn?t be determined by their rank, Determining someone?s pay grade is now based off of their time and experience spent in the military, much like how someone?s rank can go up over time (2008 Military Pay Charts 1).

 

Obviously if someone is a Colonel, they will be making more money than someone who is a private first class. The colonel would be making more money because they achieved this high officer rank not only by a certain amount of time within the United States Military, but also because they showed an indistinguishable ability to lead and follow orders. Where as a private first class is someone who is fresh out of basic training with limited experience with military command and protocols. Even if you stay the same rank for an extended amount of time, your pay grade can still go up based off of your time spent in the military.

 

Just as there are different sub-sections of ranks within the Military, there are also sub-sections for dividing up the pay grades. There are the Officers, the warrant officers, the non commissioned officers, and of course the enlisted personnel. ?Just as they are categorized into specific groups for their rankings, so is their pay? (2008 Military Pay Chart 2). The pay grade rankings are sub categorized not by a specific name, but the letter that precedes a certain number that determines how high they are on the pay grade chart. For example, often times you will see people who are the rank of Private and are making the pay grade of E-1 which is $1347 on a monthly basis not including bonuses they get for living expenses and college tuition (Military Pay Tables 5).

 

The first section on the pay grade chart is for enlisted personnel and non commissioned officers. The title for these pay grades range from E-1 to E-9 and their pay is determined by the amount of time spent in the military. ?An E-3 that has been enlisted for less than 2 years is making $1,588, where as an E-3 that has been enlisted for over 6 years, is making $1,790. On the same note, an E-9 that has been enlisted for 8 years is making $4,254 and one who is enlisted for 26 years is making $5,075? (1). As we can see, as someone?s years of service goes up, so does their pay grade.

 

The second section on the pay grade chart is for the Officers. The title for these pay grades is very similar to those that are in the first section for the enlisted personnel and non commissioned officers, just one letter changes. The title for these pay grades is O-1 through O-10. ?An O-1 that has been enlisted for 3 years is making $2,659 where as an O-1 that has been enlisted for 8 years is making $3,215? (2). Since the officers are in leadership positions and have more responsibility, their pay grade is higher to start off.

 

The last and final section on the charts is reserved for the Warrant Officers. Just as the Officers pay grade title is similar to the non commissioned officers and enlisted personnel?s, so is the warrant officers. Only one letter changes in the transition from Officer to Warrant officer, the O changes to a W. The titles for this portion of the pay grade chart are W-1 through W-5. ?A W-1 that has been enlisted for 2 years is making $2,766 where as a W-1 that has been enlisted for 8 years is making $3,560? (2008 Military Pay Tables 1). As we can see from three different sections of the pay grade chart, as someone?s time in the military goes up, even remaining at the same rank so does their pay.

 

?The United States Military takes great pride in their physical fitness and training.? Every branch has a training period in which a new recruit must go through to officially be accepted into the designated branch. The name of this training period is called Basic Training or BCT. The name basic training is derived from the simple fact that while you are going through this training, you are being trained in the basics of the United States Military. ?During Basic Training cadets are put through rigorous activities to test their physical and mental abilities in situations that require teamwork? (Turning Recruits into Service Members 1).

 

The primary focus of basic training in all of the branches is to ensure that the recruits are capable of fulfilling physical and mental situations that someone might encounter while being in the military. ?While in basic training cadets with be faced with challenges that will test their strength, mental state of mind, and ability to work in a team, these challenges are the ultimate test that serve to prove whether or not the cadet will have the ability to survive in a military environment? (Surviving Military Basic Training 15). One of the physical and mental challenges that require teamwork is something called the tower. The tower is a 100 foot tall wooden structure with no stairs or ladders and the goal is to use your mental abilities, strength, and teamwork to get your whole team to the top of the tower. You use your mental abilities by figuring out how to get to the top without a ladder or stairs of any kind, you use your teamwork by working together to get to the top, and you use your strength by pushing and pulling teammates. The tower is just one example of the physical and mental challenges of basic training, along with having to make it past the tower there are several physical standards that a recruit must be able to do to pass. Each branch has their own individual standards in order to graduate but they are all generally the same.

 

The time spent at each branches basic training location is different. For example, there Coast Guard?s basic training is 8 weeks, the Air Force?s is 8 weeks, the Army?s is 11 weeks, the Marines Corp?s is 13 weeks, and the Navy?s is 9 weeks. Within the time spent at basic training, drill sergeants put the cadets through rigorous activities that are designed to help them achieve the ultimate goal, which is to be able to graduate basic training with the physical ability to complete a specific amount of exercises in a certain amount of time. For example, the United States Coast Guard?s graduation requirements is one of the most extensive ones, ?recruits are required to do the minimum standard which is 29 pushups in 60 seconds, 38 sit-ups in 60 seconds, run the mile in under 12 minutes and 51 seconds, sit and reach 16 inches, complete a swim circuit, tread water for 5 minutes, and jump off of a 5 foot platform and swim 100 meters? (U.S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve Basic Training 2).

 

As it was stated earlier, not all of the militaries basic training is as extensive as the Coast Guard?s, but they are similar. The United States Marine Corp?s basic training is considered to be one of the more difficult ones since cadets need to be so physically fit for hand to hand close combat. In the Marine Core, recruits are required to do 50 crunchies in a minute, 2 pull-ups, and run the mile and a half in under 13 minutes and 30 seconds (Marine Basic Training Requirements 4). The other branches standards are very similar to that, but they have their variations. The Army?s basic training?s standards are to do 2 miles in 15 minutes and 54 seconds, 53 sit-ups in 2 minutes, and 42 pushups in 2 minutes (Basic Training Study Material 10). ?In the United States Air Force, recruits are required to so a minimum of 45 pushups in less than 2 minutes, 50 sit ups in less than 2 minutes and be able to run the mile and a half in under 11 minutes and 57 seconds in order to graduate with minimum standards? (Air Force Military Basic Training 3).

 

The navy is weird, so their graduation standards are based off of a score system. ?The way this system works is by assigning a number value to the amount of pushups, sit-ups, and time you take to run a mile and a half. Once the number is assigned to your times and numbers, they are added up and averaged out for an overall score? (Garamone 2). For example, a male, 18 years old who did 58 sit-ups, 45 pushups, and the mile in 10:45 minutes, 60 point would awarded for the sit-ups, 55 points for the for the pushups, and 70 for the mile time. Added up that'd be 170 points, and divided by three to average it out would come out to be 63. The minimum point value to graduate is 60 points, so this cadet would graduate (4).

 

 

Works Cited

?2008 Military Pay Chart.? About.com. 15 Mar. 2009.

<http://www.about.com/;.

 

Air Force History Overview." Air Force Link. 18 Feb. 2009.

<http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/;.

 

?Air Force Military Basic Training.? U.S. Air Force Basic Training. 18 Jan. 2009

< http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/;.

 

?Basic Training Study Material,? ArmyBasic.org. 12 Feb. 2009

< http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/;.

 

"First U.S. Army History." Army. 18 Feb. 2009.

<http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/;.

 

?Marine Basic Training Requirements.? EHow.com. 18 Apr. 2009.

< http://www.ehow.com/list_6657663_marine-corps-shooting-qualifications.html;.

 

"Marine Corps History." Globalsecuirty. 18 Feb. 2009.

<http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/;.

 

"Military - Branches." iSeek. 18 Feb. 2009.

<https://www.careerwise.mnscu.edu/careers/index.html;.

 

?Military Pay tables.? Defense Finance and Accounting Service. 24 Mar. 2009.

< http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/;.

 

"Origin Insignia of Rank Officers." History of the U.S. Army Officer Rank. 18 Feb. 2009.

< http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/;.

 

?Surviving Military Basic Training.? About.com. 14 Apr. 2009.

< http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/;.

 

"The United States Military Officer Rank Insignia." Department of Defense. 18 Feb. 2009. <http://www.defense.gov/;.

?Turning Recruits into Service Members.? Today?s Military. 13 Feb. 2009.

 

< http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/;

?U.S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserves Basic Training.? U.S. Coast Guard. 14 Mar. 2009.

 

<http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/;.

"U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office." U.S. Coast Guard. 19 Feb. 2009. <http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/;.

 

"U.S. Military Branches." The U.S. Military. 18 Feb. 2009.

<http://lsa1.com/site.aspx?aspxerrorpath=/>.

 

"U.S. Military Ranks and Units." U.S. Military Ranks. 18 Feb. 2009. <http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/;.

 

"United States Military Enlisted Rank Insignia." Department of Defense. 18 Feb. 2009. <http://www.defense.gov/;.

 

?United States Navy.? About.com:U.S. Military. 18 Mar. 2009.

<http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/;.

 

Barbier, M K. The U.S. Army. Wisconsin: World Almanac Library, 2005.

 

Garamone, Jim. ?Tougher from the Start: Sailors? Navy Basic Training. 19 Apr. 2009.

< http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/;.

 

Jordan, David. The U.S. Air Force. Wisconsin: World Almanac Library, 2005.

 

Keeter, Hunter. The U.S. Marine Corps. Wisconsin: World Almanac Library, 2005.

 

Noble, Dennis L. The U.S. Coast Guard. Wisconsin: World Almanac Library, 2005.

 

Powers, Rod. "U.S. Military 101." About.com: US Military. 18 Feb. 2009. <http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/;.

[Watermonkey 0]

You obviously didn't join the Navy. Too bad. For the purposes of this paper, it's incomplete without showing all the detail for the Navy ranks you showed for the rest. I know this post comes way too late to critique, and I'm curious how things are going for you in the... Army?