The Structure of the Military: How are the branches organized?

I'm just a bit confused by the structure of the US military. I've heard people talk about different 'branches', but what does this mean exactly? How are these branches organized and how do they interact with each other? Any insights would be much appreciated!

Sure, I'd be happy to outline the basic organization of the U.S. military!

The U.S. Armed Forces are split into six branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and the newly formed Space Force. Each branch has distinct roles and responsibilities. For example, the Army is responsible for land-based military operations, the Navy oversees sea-based operations, and the Air Force handles operations in the air. The Marines, a component of the Department of the Navy, conduct amphibious and expeditionary warfare. The Coast Guard, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime, performs maritime security, search, and rescue, while the Space Force, a space-domain focused branch, falls under the Department of the Air Force.

In terms of organization, each branch is structured roughly along three levels: operational, administrative, and tactical. The operational level focuses on the broad strategic goals and includes all the high-ranking officers. The administrative level handles the logistics, training, procurement and other non-combat related areas. The tactical level involves direct combat and tactics, and includes most enlisted service members and lower-ranking officers.

As for interaction, while each branch functions separately, they often work together. This is organized under a unified combatant command structure. There are 11 Unified Combatant Commands globally, each with a specific mission and geographical or functional mandate. Each command is headed by a four-star general or admiral who reports directly to the Secretary of Defense.

Finally, the civilian leadership of the military includes the President (Commander-in-Chief), the Secretary of Defense, and individual Secretaries for each branch (except for the Marines). They have the ultimate authority over all branches of the military. I hope this overview helps clarify things!