New branches in American military

Hey, lately I've been hearing a lot about new branches being added to the American military, but I'm not sure what that's about. Can anybody shed some light on it? Specifically, I'm interested in learning about their roles and recruitment processes. Thanks so much for the help!

Absolutely! While the core five branches of the American military are the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, the most recent addition is the United States Space Force, which was established in December 2019.

The Space Force's primary mission is to organize, train, and equip personnel to protect the U.S. and allied interests in space, which include monitoring ballistic missile launches, tracking space debris, and maintaining satellites that allow the other branches of the military to communicate.

The recruitment process for the Space Force is currently still being defined, as much of its structure is being populated by transfers from the United States Air Force. As it's a fairly new branch, the specifics of recruitment are subject to change and evolution. However, it typically includes an application process (like any other branch of the military), which can involve meeting physical fitness standards and undergoing a thorough background check, among other criteria.

There's also the established Army National Guard and the Air Force National Guard, although these aren't separate branches. They are reserve components of their respective services and operate partially under the authority of their respective states.

Lastly, one interesting point to note is that the creation of the Space Force mirrors the development of the Air Force, which began as part of the Army before becoming a separate branch of the military in 1947. The hope is that the focus on space will enable the U.S. to better respond to threats and opportunities in this evolving arena.

I hope this gives you a solid start on learning about the new developments in the U.S. military structure!