Service Branch Introduction
The U.S. Military has six Services: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard. With the exception of the Space Force, each Service has an active-duty and Reserve component. Additionally, the Army and Air Force have Guard components that are controlled by state governments, unless they are called upon by the federal government to serve during emergencies or support military objectives.
Current career tracks can include:
- Academic (e.g., faculty, program director)
- Research (e.g., physician scientist, research director)
- Operational (e.g., military unit-specific positions)
- Command (e.g., military units or hospitals)
- Leadership (e.g., chief medical officer [CMO])
Get to know the different components of the Service branches, which includes things to consider when choosing between active-duty, Reserve and Guard options.