Military

A military, also known as armed forces, is a group of people who are trained and equipped to fight in wars. They wear special uniforms and are organized into different parts, such as an army, navy, air force, space force, marines, or coast guard. The main job of a military is to protect their country from attacks by other countries or groups.

Armed forces are usually controlled by the government of a country. Sometimes, they can help with other important tasks, like keeping order during big events, helping in emergencies, and supporting reconstruction after disasters. The military can also be part of a special community with its own schools, housing, and services.

The idea of soldiers and armies has been around for a very long time. Ancient people, like the Ancient Romans, wrote about warfare and built monuments to show their military victories. Even today, militaries play a big role in keeping countries safe and strong.

Etymology and definitions

The word "military" was first used in English in 1582. It comes from a Latin word meaning "soldier." Today, "the military" usually means a country's armed forces or the leaders who command them. It can also describe anything related to soldiers and their work, like training, equipment, and history.

The military includes people, tools, and the places where they work. Over time, the word has come to cover all activities done by armed forces.

Main article: Royal Military Academy
Main article: United States Military Academy
Main article: Napoleonic Wars

History

Military history looks at all kinds of conflicts, not just those involving armies. It studies the people and groups involved in wars, rather than just how wars change with new tools or places.

One goal of military history is to learn from what worked and what didn’t, so future conflicts might be handled better. It also helps build strong feelings of unity within armies. Finally, studying military history can teach us ways to avoid wars whenever possible. Most of what we know about military history comes from written records and stories passed down about past wars, the soldiers who fought in them, and the ships and planes they used.

Organization

Personnel and units

See also: Military reserve, Military service, and Women in the military

Militaries need people to work well. Even with great tools, people are key. For example, in 2000 the British Army said, "People are still the most important part of war."

Rank and role

The military has a clear way to show who is in charge. People have different levels, like leaders (called officers, such as a colonel) and others who follow orders (like soldiers, sailors, or airmen). These levels help everyone know their job.

People in the military also have different jobs. Some fight, some help with support, and others manage supplies and services.

Recruitment

People join the military in different ways. Some choose to join, while others are required to join by their country. Most are men, but women also serve, though in smaller numbers. Some countries also have young people join, though this is changing.

Obligations

Being in the military means following many rules. It usually takes several years to serve full-time. There are also part-time options where people keep a regular job but train and help when needed.

Training

Training gets people ready for the military. It is tough and helps them learn to work together and follow orders.

Intelligence

Militaries need to know about possible dangers. They use special teams to find out about threats and plan how to respond. This work is secret and needs careful handling.

Budget

Defense economics looks at how money is used for militaries and their actions.

Capability development

Creating military strength is very complex. It needs planning for many levels, from big strategies to small battles. It also needs training, equipment, and support to work well in real fights.

Science

Militaries do lots of research to make better tools and ways to fight. This includes studying how people handle stress and making new weapons and technology.

Logistics

To use military power, it needs good planning for supplies and support. This includes moving things by truck, ship, or plane, and setting up places to fix equipment and keep people supplied during operations.

In combat

The main job of a military is to fight when needed for a country's defense, and to win. This is the main goal of any military, and it has been a focus throughout history. There are three main ways to think about winning: big picture goals, middle-level plans, and direct fighting methods.

Strategic victory

Main article: Strategic victory

Military strategy is about how leaders plan and use big groups of soldiers, ships, and planes in wars and campaigns. It looks at the bigger picture, like planning and resources, rather than just fighting on the ground. Strategic planning can take weeks, months, or even years.

Operational victory

Operational mobility is about planning battles and activities that last from a week to a month. These plans are made by groups like armies and their navy and air force teams. This way of thinking was developed by the German army before and during the Second World War.

Tactical victory

Main article: Tactical victory

Military tactics are about how small groups of soldiers fight the enemy in direct battles. These tactics are used by teams that can last for hours or days. One of the oldest books about war is The Art of War by Sun Tzu, a Chinese philosopher. It has influenced military ideas for many years.

The Classical Greeks and Romans also wrote a lot about military campaigns. Two important Roman books on tactics are Taktike Theoria by Aelianus Tacticus and De Re Militari by Vegetius. These books helped shape military tactics for many years.

As new weapons like artillery and guns changed how battles were fought, military tactics evolved. Later, scientists began to study military operations more carefully. Carl von Clausewitz, a Prussian expert, said that military strategy should focus on achieving political goals through battles.

Military tactics have changed over time. Today, they include ambushes, surrounding the enemy, bombing, and surprise attacks. Air warfare also has its own tactics. Tricks like hiding soldiers or using decoys are also used to confuse the enemy.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, trench warfare became common, especially in World War I. Soldiers would dig trenches to protect themselves, and attacks across open ground often led to many casualties.

Technology

Since ancient times, soldiers have used special tools called weapons and equipment to help them in battle. The very first weapons were made from stone, like spears with sharp points. Over time, people learned to make stronger weapons from bronze and iron, such as swords and shields. These tools made soldiers much better fighters.

On land, early soldiers used tools like slings and bows and arrows to attack from far away. Later, they began riding horses, which let them move faster and carry supplies more easily. The invention of the wheel helped soldiers travel and attack cities with special machines called chariots and siege engines. Bows became even better with new designs that could shoot farther and hit harder.

In medieval China, people discovered gunpowder, which changed battles forever. Gunpowder led to new weapons like muskets and cannons. These weapons could be used by anyone with just a little training.

As technology grew faster, soldiers got new tools that changed how battles were fought. Machine guns and repeating rifles made soldiers much more powerful, leading to many casualties in wars like the American Civil War. New types of cannons that could load from the back and smoke-free powder improved how far and accurately soldiers could shoot. These changes also changed how ships fought, with new weapons and engines that didn’t rely on wind.

World War I brought new inventions to break stalemates, such as tanks. Airplanes were used widely, and bombers became important in World War II, a time of very fast weapon development. New ideas and improvements were made every year between 1939 and 1945.

World War II saw big steps in communication with radios, finding enemies with radar, and medicine with penicillin. New flying machines like missiles, jet planes, and helicopters appeared. Nuclear weapons were created, though their full effects weren’t known until later. Vehicles replaced horses in the military.

After World War II, the Cold War began, and both sides kept making new and better weapons. This continues today, with big tanks, armoured vehicles, military planes, and ships being common in armies.

Guided missiles became very important for all parts of the military. Recently, technology like computers and watching from space have become key in military work. Fighting by attacking communication systems and using robots, like drone planes and driverless cars, has also grown. There is also a push to use cleaner energy, like renewable fuels, for military vehicles, which can be made in any country, giving an advantage. The U.S. military aims to get half of its energy from these alternative sources.

As part of society

For much of history, armies were used by leaders of societies, often kings or queens. Today, in democracies where leaders are chosen by the public, the military is a public force meant to serve everyone.

The way a military fits into a society can change. Sometimes, when there is a danger or war, people see the military as very important. Other times, when things are peaceful, people might think spending money on the military is not needed.

One big challenge is making sure the military is controlled and open. In some places, people do not get much information about what the military is doing or how money is spent. But, it is important for the military to be open to help stop unfair actions, like stealing money.

Armies sometimes act like small societies of their own. They have their own ways of living, jobs, schools, and even doctors. Armies are not just for countries; sometimes private groups hire people to protect them when normal police or armies are not around.

Ideology and ethics

Main article: Militarism

Some people believe that a society works best when it follows ideas from the military, like strong leadership and clear rules. This idea can come from a country’s history or the fear of possible dangers.

Most countries have special laws for the military. These laws help decide what is right and wrong in war and peace. After 1945, rules were made to protect prisoners and civilians during wars. There are also international agreements that stop the use of very powerful weapons.

Sometimes, military actions are taken to help people, like giving aid after a disaster or protecting those who need safety. These actions are called humanitarian efforts.