Defining 'Branch' in Military Context

So, I'm kind of new to all this military jargon. Can someone please break down exactly what a 'branch' means in the context of the military? Are branches about the services (like Army, Navy, etc.) or are they about specific roles within these services?

In the military context, a 'branch' usually refers to the distinct divisions or components of the Armed Services. Each branch typically has its own unique mission, training protocol, and chain of command, so they certainly are about the different services like the Army, Navy, etc.

In the United States, there are six main branches of the military: the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force. Some people may assume the National Guard is a separate branch as well, but it's actually not. The Army National Guard and Air Force National Guard are reserve components of their respective services and operate in part under state authority.

Each branch of the military has different methods to accomplish their missions. For instance, the Army focuses on land-based missions, while the Navy is charged with the protection of the seas. The Marine Corps, a component of the Department of the Navy, is a mobile, highly-trained combat force. The Air Force, as the name suggests, concentrates on air and space supremacy, and the Coast Guard, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security in peacetime but can be transferred to the Department of the Navy during times of war, provides maritime law enforcement and search and rescue.

As of 2019, the United States also has a sixth branch known as the Space Force, which is tasked with organizing, training, and providing personnel to protect U.S. and allied interests in space.

Specific roles within these branches, on the other hand, are usually referred to as 'jobs' or 'occupations', or in military speak - the MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) for the Army and Marine Corps, and AFSC (Air Force Specialty Code) for the Air Force. The Navy and Coast Guard call them 'rates' or 'ratings'. While branches represent the broader capacities for defense, the roles within them allow that capacity to be divided into specific tasks and responsibilities.