Military branch

Military branch (also service branch or armed service) is according to common standard the subdivision of the national armed forces of a sovereign nation or state.

Branches

Classical branches

In classical NATO terminology, the three basic environmental commands military branches are the Army, Air Force, and Navy.^[1]

Army
Air Force
Navy

Specialized branches

Countries which do not have access to any of the brown water, green water, blue water or any oceans generally do not have a national navy.

In some countries there might be other military branches. In addition to the above-mentioned military branches, examples are:

In Argentina the National Gendarmerie and the Naval Prefecture
In China the Rocket Force and the Strategic Support Force
In France the National Gendarmerie and the National Guard
In Germany the Joint Medical Service, the Joint Support Service and the Cyber and Information Space Command
In Italy the Carabinieri
In Norway the Home Guard and the Cyber Defence Force
In Poland the Special Forces
In Russia the Airborne Troops and the Strategic Missile Troops
In South Africa the Military Health Service
In South Korea the Marine Corps
In Taiwan the Military Police
In the United States the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard

Emblems of some countries

Italy
Carabinieri
Norway
Home Guard
Poland
Special Forces
Russia
Airborne Troops
Russia
Strategic Missile Troops
Republic of Korea (South Korea)
Marine Corps
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Military Police
United States
Coast Guard
United States
Marine Corps

Historical development

Unified forces

The Canadian Armed Forces is the unified armed forces of Canada. While it has three environmental commands - namely Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force - it remains a single military service.

NATO definition

Branch of service (also branch of military service or branch of armed service) refers, according to NATO standards, to a branch, employment of combined forces or parts of a service, below the level of service, military serviced or armed service.^[2]

References

^ STANAG 2116: NATO Codes for Grades of Military Personnel. NATO. 13 March 1996.
^ MILITÄRISCHES STUDIENGLOSAR ENGLISCH Teil I, A – K, Bundessprachenamt (Stand Januar 2001), page 226, definition: branch of service.

[1] STANAG 2116: NATO Codes for Grades of Military Personnel. NATO. 13 March 1996.

[2] MILITÄRISCHES STUDIENGLOSAR ENGLISCH Teil I, A – K, Bundessprachenamt (Stand Januar 2001), page 226, definition: branch of service.

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