BASICS OF ARMY SERVICE
Learn What the Army is All About
On this page, we’ve compiled the basics of the U.S. Army structure and values to help you understand what the Army is about.
WHAT IS THE ARMY?
Predating the American Revolution, the Army is the largest and oldest military service branch in the United States. The Army’s primary mission is to provide a sustained force of men and women to defend the country in times of need.
Organization of the Army
The Army is composed of three components: active duty (sometimes referred to as the active Army), the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard. Each component is made up of dozens of branches and commands and each has a specialized mission.
The Army Values
Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage are the values held, observed and lived by every single Army Soldier. Each Soldier is instilled with these values during Basic Combat Training (BCT) and they use them throughout their careers.
Learn more about each Army value
The Soldier's Creed
I am an American Soldier.
I am a warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.
WHO IS IN THE ARMY?
More than one million Soldiers serve on active duty, in the Army Reserve and in the Army National Guard. These men and women come from a variety of backgrounds. Click the following link to view a demographic breakdown of the Soldiers in the Army.
Download this pdf to learn more about active duty and Army Reserve demographics
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ‘ACTIVE DUTY’ AND ‘ARMY RESERVE’?
An active duty Soldier lives on a military installation at home or abroad and is actively involved in a full-time Army mission.
Army Reserve Soldiers serve only one weekend a month and two weeks a year, including training. While on duty, they work an Army Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), but while off duty, they are welcome to live and work where they please, following their career and family goals.
Learn more about the differences between active duty and Army Reserve
RANKS
In the Army, a Soldier’s rank determines his or her pay grade and level of responsibility. Enlisted Soldiers, officers and warrant officers each have different ranking structures.
ARMY CAREER FIELDS
The Army is made up of dozens of branches, each with its own mission and set of careers. By visiting this page, you can get an explanation of all those branches, their insignia, and view a list of careers associated with each branch.
Adjutant General Corps
Air Defense Artillery
Armor
Cavalry Scouts
Aviation
Army Music
Chaplain Corps
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN)
Civil Affairs
Cyber
Electronic Warfare
Engineers
Field Artillery
Financial Management
Infantry
Judge Advocate General (JAG)
Military Intelligence
Military Police
Ordnance
Psychological Operations (PsyOp)
Public Affairs
Quartermaster
Signal Corps
Special Forces
Transportation