United States Army, military force of the United States with the chief responsibility for land combat. The U.S. Army includes the active-duty Army, the Army National Guard, Army Reserve, and civilian employees, all under the direction of the Department of the Army. The Army provides the forces stationed at permanent bases around the world and maintains combat-ready troops for deployment anywhere in the world. The Army National Guard and Army Reserve train units to provide emergency disaster assistance, to serve on active duty during wars, and to reinforce the main Army.

The Army protects American interests by maintaining its standing force of about 487,000 soldiers, backed by about 200,000 troops in the Army Reserve and 350,000 in the Army National Guard. These troops are trained and equipped to destroy enemy armies and occupy other countries if necessary. Because of the Army's ability to attack and control large geographic areas, it often becomes the decisive force in conventional (nonnuclear) conflicts.

The Army works in concert with the three other major branches of the U.S. military—the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Air Force. Navy ships transport Army troops, equipment, and supplies to bases overseas. The Navy also assists Army operations with air support, reconnaissance, and naval bombardments. Marine units conduct amphibious landings against defended shorelines and carry out conventional ground combat operations. The Air Force provides airborne transportation for Army units and offers other types of air support as necessary. The Army assists the other three branches by establishing and defending ground bases, communications facilities, and supply lines.

Source: MSN Encarta

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