Nyssa+T’s+2015+OpEd+Article



= = =** "Look Mama, it’s a soldier!" **=

=** A couple of weeks ago my friend asked me what I wanted to do after high school and I replied that I wanted to join the Navy, she responded “what does the Navy even do?” **= = = =** My first thought was, “are you even an American??” However, most Americans can’t comprehend the difference of each branch, some don’t even know that the military branches off into different military services’, and most can’t distinguish the types of uniforms each branch proudly wears for our country. But of course they are out wearing their crop top shirts that have an American flag on it or their Military-style jackets and shout, “land of the free, because of the brave,” not knowing what the brave actually do. The United States Air Force, United States Army, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, and the United States Coast Guard, are all branches of the American armed forces. **= = = =** The United States Air Force was primarily created to support the Army from above but then it was realized during World War II that it was more tactical to attack quickly from the air. The U.S. Air Force supports, protects and defends with its Attack aircrafts, Bombers, Gunships, Cargo aircraft, passenger aircraft and many more aircrafts. The reference name for military men enlisted in the U.S. Air Force is Airmen, for both genders. Only 4 percent of Airmen are pilots and the other 96 percent work on science and engineering, such as military satellites and nuclear missiles. The U.S. Air Force working uniform is dark green camouflage; it is the darkest of all the uniforms. Their motto is “Aim high.” **= = = =** The United States Army is the largest U.S military service; it protects and defends the main ground-force. They are second to deploy out after the U.S. Marines for land combat. The correct reference to someone in the Army would be a soldier. Just because a man/woman is wearing a uniform does not mean they are a soldier! THIS TERM IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE ARMY! Soldiers are the ones that uniforms consist of light green/grey camouflage with tan military boots. Their commercial famous slogan is “There’s strong. Then there’s Army strong.” **= = =
 * It’s kind of funny how everyone in the Marine Corps think they are badass and better than every other branch because they are “The Few. The Proud.” when they really are just a smaller branch off of the U.S. Navy. The Marines were established to act as a landing force for the U.S. Navy and their main mission is amphibious operations. Their uniform is light tan camouflage and tan boots to blend into their environment which mainly consist of sand and desert. Oh yeah, is the Marine Corps really the toughest branch? Hmm, I wonder why they rely on the U.S. Navy for logistical and administrative support. I wonder why they have Navy medics accompany them into combat—oh yeah that because they don’t have any! And who transports the Marines?—that’s right, the Navy. The Marines motto is Semper Fidelis, meaning “always faithful” in Latin. **

=** Not only does the United States Navy aid the Marines but they also help the Air Force! Shocker, the Navy has more aircrafts than the actual Air Force! The U.S. Navy ‘maintains the freedom of the seas.’ They consist of aircraft carriers, ships, and submarines. Aircraft carriers to transport other aircrafts to areas where the Air Force aircrafts cant land, ships to attack from afar and submarines for stealth attacks. Because the Navy’s primary mission is successfully accomplished aboard sea, their uniforms are a blue digital camouflage with black boots, however, not all sailors will go serve upon a ship. Both Males and Females enlisted in the Navy are called sailors. The Navy’s old motto used to be “a global force for good” but it was recently changed to "To get to you, they'd have to get by us: America's Navy." **= =**The United States Coast Guard has many operations but have 3 main missions: Maritime Safety, Maritime Security, and Maritime stewardship. They help prevent sabotage, subversion and terrorism, and also act as a law enforcement agency. During peacetime the U.S. Coast Guard operates under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security but can be transferred to the U.S. Department of the Navy by the U.S. President at any time and by the U.S. congress during war. The official term for a Coast Guard member would be a Coast Guardsmen. There uniform is a blue jumper with black military boots and their motto is Semper Paratus, meaning "Always Ready." **= =**Airmen, soldiers, Marines, sailors and Coast Guardsmen all take a risk when it comes to roadside bombs, enemy attacks, explosives, suicide bombers, and being shot at. Although they work together to protect and defend all corners of the Globe, they are not the same thing! It is not that hard to remember that: **=


 * Air Force= Dark green**
 * Army=Light green/grey**
 * Marines= Tan**
 * Navy=Blue digital**
 * Coast Guard =Blue jumper**

=** GET IT RIGHT AMERICANS!!! **=