Air Services
United States of America
The United States Armed Forces
Consisting of 5 branches (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard) the United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States of America with the President of the United States being their Commander-in-Chief. Together they form military policy with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The history of the U.S. Armed Forces dates back to 14th June 1775 when the Continental Army was created. The Continental Navy (established 13th October 1775) and Continental Marines (established 10th November 1775) were created by the Second Continental Congress in order to defend against the British Empire in the American Revolutionary War. These forces demobilized in 1784 after the Treaty of Paris ended the War for Independence.
The current United States Army was created by the Congress of the Confederation on 3rd June 1784.
The current United States Navy was created by the United States Congress on 27th March 1794.
The current United States Marine Corps was created by the United States Congress on 11 July 1798.
The United States Coast Guard traces its origin to the founding of the Revenue Cutter Service on 4th August 1790, which subsequently merged with the United States Life-Saving Service on 28th January 1915 to establish the Coast Guard.
The United States Air Force traces its origin to the formation of the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps, established 1st August 1907 as part of the Army Air Forces. It became an independent service, as per the National Security Act of 1947, on 18th September 1947.
The National Security Act of 1947 created the modern U.S. military framework. Headed by the Secretary of Defense, the Act established the National Military Establishment, creating the Department of the Air Force and the National Security Council.
It became the Department of Defense in 1949 when the cabinet-level Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force were merged.