原文如下：
U.S. Military 101
The "Basics" of the United States Military Our present military organizational structure is a result of the National Security Act of 1947. This is the same act that created the United States Air Force, and restructured the "War Department" into the "Department of Defense."
The Department of Defense is headed by a civilian; the Secretary of Defense, who is appointed by the President of the United States. Under the Secretary of Defense, there are three military departments: The Department of the Army, the Department of the Air Force, and the Department of the Navy. Each of these military departments are also headed up by civilians; the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Air Force, and the Secretary of the Navy. These "service secretaries" are also appointed by the President.
There are five military branches: The Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. The Army is commanded by a four-star general, known as the Army Chief of Staff. The Army Chief of Staff reports to the Secretary of the Army (for most matters). The top military member in the Air Force is the Air Force Chief of Staff. This four-star general reports (for most matters) to the Secretary of the Air Force. The Navy is commanded by a four-star admiral, called the Chief of Naval Operations. The Marines are commanded by a 4-star general called the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Both the Chief of Naval Operations and the Marine Corps Commandant report (for most matters) to the Secretary of the Navy.
Note how I said they report "for most matters" to their respective service secretaries. These four "flag officers" also make up a group called the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JSC). The Joint Chiefs of Staff comprise the four Service Chiefs, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Chairman is nominated by the President and approved by the Senate (as are other general and flag officer positions). For operational matters (such as war or conflict), the JCS by-passes the individual service secretaries and report directly to the Secretary of Defense, and the President.
That leaves the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard does not fall under the Department of Defense. Until recently, the Coast Guard was under the Department of Transportation. Recent legislation has move the Coast Guard to the newly created Department of Homeland Defense. However, the Coast Guard is considered a military service, because, during times of war or conflict, the President of the United States can transfer any or all assets of the Coast Guard to the Department of the Navy. In fact, this has been done in almost every single conflict that the United States have ever been involved in. The Coast Guard is commanded by a 4-star admiral, known as the Coast Guard Commandant.
So, what are the different functions of the five branches of the military?
Army. The United States Army is the main ground-force of the United States. The Army's main function is to protect and defend the United States (and its interests) by way of ground troops, armor (tanks), artillery, attack helicopters, tactical nuclear weapons, etc. The Army is the oldest U.S. Military service, officially established by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775. The Army is also the largest U.S. Military Service. There are approximately 76,000 officers and 401,000 enlisted members in the active duty Army. The Army is supported by two Reserve Forces which can be tapped for trained personnel and equipment during times of need: The Army Reserves, and the Army National Guard. The primary difference between the two is that the Reserves are "owned" and managed by the federal government, and each state "owns" it's own National Guard. However, the President of the United States or the Secretary of Defense can "activate" state National Guard members into Federal military service during times of need.
Air Force. The Air Force is the youngest military service. As mentioned in the beginning of this article, the Air Force was created in 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947. Prior to 1947, the Air Force was a separate Corps of the Army. The primary mission of the Army Air Corps was to support Army ground forces. However World War II showed that air power had much more potential than simply supporting ground troops, so the Air Force was established as a separate service. The primary mission of the Air Force is to defend the United States (and its interests) through exploitation of air and space. To accomplish this mission, the Air Force operates fighter aircraft, tanker aircraft, light and heavy bomber aircraft, transport aircraft, and helicopters (which are used mainly for rescue of downed-aircrew, and special operations missions). The Air Force is also responsible for all military satellites, and controls all of our Nation's strategic nuclear ballistic missiles. There are about 69,000 commissioned officers on active duty in the Air Force, and about 288,000 enlisted members. Like the Army, the active duty Air Force is supplemented by the Air Force Reserves, and the Air National Guard.
Navy. Like the Army, the Navy was officially established by the Continental Congress in 1775. The Navy's primary mission is to maintain the freedom of the seas. The Navy makes it possible for the United States to use the seas where and when our national interests require it. In addition, in times of conflict, the Navy helps to supplement Air Force air power. Navy aircraft carriers can often deploy to areas where fixed runways are impossible. An aircraft carrier usually carries about 80 aircraft. Most of these are fighters or fighter-bombers. Additionally, Navy ships can attack land targets from miles away (with very heavy guns), and cruise missiles. Navy submarines (fast attack and ballistic missile subs) allow stealth attacks on our enemies from right off their shores. The Navy is also primarily responsible for transporting Marines to areas of conflict. The active duty Navy has about 54,000 officers, and 324,000 enlisted personnel. The Navy is supported in times of need by the Naval Reserves. However, unlike the Army and Air Force, there is no Naval National Guard (although a few states have established "Naval Militias.")
Marine Corps. The Marines are often referred to as the "Infantry of the Navy." Marines specialize in amphibious operations. In other words, their primary specialty is to assault, capture, and control "beach heads," which then provide a route to attack the enemy from almost any direction. The Marines were officially established on 10 November 1775 by the Continental Congress, to act as a landing force for the United States Navy. In 1798, however, Congress established the Marine Corps as a separate service. While amphibious operations are their primary specialty, in recent years, the Marines have expanded other ground-combat operations, as well. The Marines are generally a "lighter" force when compared to the Army, so they can generally be deployed fast (although the Army has been making great strides in "rapid deployment" in the past few years). For combat operations, the Marines like to be self-sufficient, as much as possible, so they also have their own air power, consisting primarily of fighter and fighter/bomber aircraft and attack helicopters. Even so, the Marines use the Navy for much of their logistical and administrative support. For example, there are no doctors, nurses, or enlisted medics in the Marine Corps. Even medics that accompany the Marines into combat are specially-trained Navy medics. With the exception of the Coast Guard, the Marines are also the smallest service. There are approximately 18,000 officers and 153,000 enlisted personnel on active duty in the Marines. Like the Navy, there is no Marine Corps National Guard, but Marines are supported in times of need by the Marine Corps Reserves.
Coast Guard. The United States Coast Guard was originally established as the Revenue Cutter Service in 1790. In 1915, it was reformed as the United States Coast Guard, under the Treasury Department. In 1967, the Coast Guard was transferred to the Department of Transportation. Legislation passed in 2002 transferred the Coast Guard to the Department of Homeland Security. In peacetime, the Coast Guard is primarily concerned with law enforcement, boating safety, sea rescue, and illegal immigration control. However, the President of the United States can transfer part or all of the Coast Guard to the Department of the Navy in times of conflict. The Coast Guard consists of ships, boats, aircraft and shore stations that conduct a variety of missions. The Coast Guard is the smallest military service, with about 7,000 officers and 29,000 enlisted on active duty. The Coast Guard is also supported by the Coast Guard Reserves, and a volunteer "Coast Guard Auxiliary" in times of need.
Organization/Chain of Command
Each of the services have their own unique organization. The Army is organized in Squads, Platoons, Companies, Battalions, Brigades, Divisions, and Corps. The Air Force is organized in Flights, Squadrons, Groups, Wings, Numbered Air Forces, and Major Commands. The Marine Corps is organized in Teams, Squads, Platoons, Companies, Regiments, and Divisions. The Navy has a somewhat complicated organizational structure.
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译文如下：
我国现行之
军事组织架构乃基于1947年通过之《国家安全法案》所建立，该法案亦推动空军之建立，且实现合并
战争部于国防部之重组。
国防部主官，即国防部长，需由
美国总统委任之文官担任。部下设陆军部、空军部及
海军部三军部，各军部亦需由文官主持，分任陆军部长、空军部长以及海军部长，其任命同样由总统指派。
我军共计五大军种，其分别为：陆军、空军、海军、海军陆战队及海岸警备队。陆军参谋总长为陆军最高指挥官，当由四星上将军衔之将官担任，并向陆军部长报呈军政；空军最高军事主官为空军参谋总长，需空军四星上将军衔之将官担当且向空军部长报呈军政；海军最高军事长官为海军作战部长，海军四星上将军衔；海军陆战队最高长官为陆战队四星上将军衔，称海军陆战队总指挥。海军作战部长及陆战队总指挥二者，均需向
海军部长报呈军政。
凡寻常军政者，各军种最高军事主官只需向各自所属之军部部长呈递。另，以上四位最高军事主官亦可谓之曰“掌旗官”，共同参与构成参谋长联席会议（JSC，简称参联会），该机构之组成如下：参联会主席、副主席及以上四军种最高军事主官。参联会主席以降之参联会成员均需由总统提名，国会审议获得通过者充任之。如战争或地区冲突之类军情事宜者，不属常务，无需由各军种军事主官单独按级上报所属军部部长，而当以参联会共同直呈总统及国防部长。
以上叙述未及之海岸警备队者，向来不在国防部统辖之下。而由最近之立法决定，将海岸警备队由原属之交通部转隶新建之国土安全部制下。但无论统属权在何部门，于海岸警备队之服役仍然视为兵役，此乃出于美国总统于有事（发生战争或地区冲突之军情）之一旦，可将海岸警卫队部分或全部编制整合并划入海军部调度之考量——而据实例而言，此种情况几乎于历次美国介入之单一地区冲突时均有发生。海岸警卫队最高指挥官乃海军四星上将军衔将官所担任之海岸警卫队司令。
如是，则何谓此五大军种职能之区别乎？~~~(*^__^*) （拽文拽得正美呢~~~）
陆军篇
美国陆军，乃美国地面武装之主体，其首要职能乃以其步兵、装甲兵、炮兵、陆军航空兵以及
战术核子
武器等力量保卫美利坚合众国及其切身权益。陆军始建于1775年7月14日之大陆会议，乃合众国最为悠久之武装力量。陆军现役序列拥有大约76000名各级军官，募兵约401000，亦属合众国最为庞大之军种。此外陆军尚有陆军预备役以及國Ｍ警卫队两支后备武装力量以为支撑，以供所需之时以训练有素之兵员及装备可资投入。上述两支后备武装与正规陆军首要之不同在于，尽管总统及国防部长可于当用之时调度其编入联邦
军队现役，但陆军预备役
部队平时之所属权及管理权属于联邦政Ｆ（而非军方），而各州亦拥有对各自國Ｍ警卫队之所属权。
空军篇
我军最为年轻之军种当属空军。此篇叙述之初，当需强调，空军之建立源于1947年成典之《国家安全法案》。1947年以先，空中力量乃陆军之一分支武装力量。陆军航空队之首要任务乃支援陆军地面部队，然而第二次世界大战期间空中打击力量彰显其在单纯支援地面部队任务之余颇具潜力，因而空军得以独立成军。空军之首要职能，乃以拓展空、天之手段捍卫合众国及其切身利益。为此，空军积极运转其战斗机加油机、轻重轰炸机、运输机以及直升机（通常以营救陷身险区之航务人员等特种任务为己任）等诸航空兵部队以求不辱使命，此外我国所有军用卫星以及
战略核子武器亦由空军负责运作。现役中并已获委任实务之空军军官约计69000名，另募兵约288000人。如同陆军，空军亦拥有空军后备役以及空军國Ｍ警卫队以为后援。
海军篇
海军一如陆军，于1775年大陆会议决议成军，其
第一要务乃维护我在海洋之自由权益，使合众国在所需求之各处海洋谋求国家利益成为可能。另外，每当发生地区冲突之时，海军可向冲突地区协助增补空中打击力量，经常于缺乏适合战机起降场地之区域部署航空母舰以应对。每艘航母通常载机80余架，以战斗机以及战斗轰炸机为多数。此外，海军舰只可使用超大口径舰炮由数英里外轰击地面目标，或使用巡航导弹进行攻击。海军潜艇（快速攻击弹道导弹潜艇）可以从其海岸之外对我军之敌发动攻击。海军亦担负向冲突地区输送海军陆战队之要务。现役海军军官约54000名，募兵324000人。所需之时，海军可得到海军预备役之支援，但与陆、空军不同，尽管少数州有建立州属“海上國Ｍ自卫队”，然海军并无海军國Ｍ警卫队可供调用。
海军陆战队篇
陆战队常因专门遂行两栖行动之任务而被冠以“海军之步兵”，意即，其首要专职乃攻击、夺占、掌控“滩头”，并击溃各个方向敌军之反击。1775年11月10日陆战队循大陆会议之决议成立，以担当合众国海军之登陆部队。随后于1798年，海军陆战队由议会决议独立成军。近年以来，在担负两栖行动首要专职之同时，陆战队亦扩展其行动范围以参与其他地面战斗。对比陆军，陆战队常常以轻装出战，因而得以被迅速部署（过去数年以来，陆军亦在“快速投放”方面取得长足进步）。陆战队在其战斗行动中更倾向于“自给自足”，因而拥有其专属之空中力量，包括战斗机、战斗轰炸机、以及武装攻击直升机等航空部队。尽管如此，陆战队仍旧在后勤及行政支持方面倚仗海军多矣。例如，海军陆战队并不具备医护人员及授权医师，即使编入陆战队战斗序列之军医，亦为经过特种训练之海军医师。除海岸警卫队之外，海军陆战队乃编制最小之现役军种，现役军官约18000名及募兵153000人。与海军相同，陆战队并无國Ｍ警卫队支持，所需之时可以调用陆战队预备役以为补充。
海岸警卫队篇
1790年，海岸警卫队之前身“协税缉私巡逻队”始建，并于1915年改组为海岸警卫队，统属于财政部治下；1967年，调归交通部管辖。2002年经立法决议将海岸警卫队调入国土安全部。和平时期，海岸警卫队主职监管执法、船务安检、海上营救以及非法移民监控；然而当发生地区冲突之时美国总统有权将部分或全部海岸警卫队编制调入海军部统辖。海岸警卫队装备船只、快艇、飞机以及海岸哨站以应付多样性任务之遂行。海岸警卫队乃现役中最小一支，现役军官约7000名，募兵29000人，并拥有海岸警卫队预备役以及一支名为“海岸警卫队辅助队”之志愿服务队以为所需时之增援。
军队组织架构/指挥系统篇
美军各军种均有其独特组织架构。陆军以班、排、连、营、旅、师以及军（集团军？）为基本架构；空军架构为飞行小队、中队、大队、联队、Numbered Air Forces（这个不知道具体的意思）以及最高指挥部；海军陆战队架构为小队、班、排、连、团以及师；海军之架构为一套相当复杂的组织系统。
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[ 此帖被鬼瞳ghostv在2008-09-06 16:46重新编辑 ]
