About This Quiz
The brave men and women who have joined the ranks of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard have one thing in common. They risk their lives to keep us safe. They are heroes, no matter their rank or station. But once you've joined one of the branches of service, there is specific nomenclature that is unique to each branch. For instance, in which branch would you find a Gunnery Sergeant? It happens to be in only one. Then take your knowledge and apply it to this quiz. You may be pleasantly surprised at how well you do. Carry on!
You'll find when reviewing each branch of service there are generalities, too. For instance, do you know the two branches that share the same rank names for Commissioned Officers? It only happens during a time of engagement and war when one branch becomes engulfed in another. Whereas, the Army, Air Force, and Marines share their own set of commissioned officer ranks. Do you know the lowest officer rank in the Army? How about the highest rank? Most branches are different and it can become confusing. Will it be easy for you? Test your service savvy by taking the quiz right now. Just click the button below. Dis...missed!
The President of the United States is the head of the military. Even the highest ranking person in the military is under the President in rank.
In the Navy, the term "rank" is reserved for officers. "Rate" is used for enlisted members.
A non-commissioned officer (NCO) rises through the ranks without a Presidential appointment. However, the top ranks of the NCO hierarchy are limited by Congress to only 2.5% of all the enlisted members of that branch, which makes upper level ranks competitive positions.
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October 13, 1775, is recognized as the foundation of the Navy when the Continental Congress ordered two ships outfitted to intercept enemy ships. On December 22, 1775, the Continental Congress increased the number of vessels and appointed commissioned officers to oversee their operation.
The Coast Guard becomes a part of the Navy in times of war. The Army, Air Force, and Marines share their own set of commissioned officer rank names.
The Aeronautical Division, Signal Corps (precursor of the United States Air Force) was created August 1, 1907. Its primary duties during its early years and World War I were to research and develop aviation and to provide the Army with tactical support.
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"The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army… We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer or die." –George Washington, July 2, 1776
The Marine headquarters in Arlington, VA, is known as Disneyland East to Marines. Semper Fi is the shortened version of the Marines' motto, "Semper Fidelis," which means "always faithful."
George Washington was commissioned as the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army June 19, 1775. He was one of the first revolutionary leaders in history to resign his commission instead of taking control of the government at the end of the revolution. He resigned his commission December 23, 1783, and became the first president April 30, 1789.
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"Semper Gumby" is a play on Semper Fidelis. It means "always flexible."
The United States has almost 14,000 aircraft (including helicopters) in operation across all branches of the military. There are currently about 1.5 million members of the military with an additional 800,000 in the reserves.
George Washington was a Major General during the Revolutionary War and promoted to Lieutenant General (a three-star rank) afterward. Gerald Ford addressed the problem of four- and five-star generals out-ranking him by posthumously promoting Washington to General of the Armies and declaring no other officer should ever outrank him.
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"And then, when I thought about joining the Air Force, flying seemed like a natural extension of the motorcycling experience. You're going faster, higher. You're operating a machine that's a lot more powerful than you are." –Duane G. Carey
Commissioned officers receive their commission from the President. They rank higher than Non-Commissioned Officers and Warrant Officers and can achieve higher ranks than Limited Duty Officers.
A Captain for the Army, Air Force, and Marines is an O-3 pay grade. A Lieutenant in the Navy or Coast Guard is an O-3 pay grade.
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Enlisted soldiers perform most of the tasks and duties in the military. Commissioned Officers are troop managers and assign the soldiers to tasks, plan missions, and give orders.
The word "ensign" means "flag bearer." Initially, bearing the flag was the ensign's job for both land and sea troops.
"We have only one mission to perform—that is to fight and win. And we must do it better than anyone else." –Lieutenant General Leslie E. Brown (U. S. Marine aviator in WW II)
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SOWTs (Special Operations Weather Teams) are one of the several special operations units within the Air Force. In addition to general reconnaissance missions, they collect weather-related data in hostile environments.
Twenty-six of the 44 presidents served in the military of which they became head when taking their Presidential oath. President James Buchanan was the only president to be an enlisted soldier; he obtained the rank of private in the Pennsylvania State Militia during the War of 1812.
Submarine warfare was first attempted during the Revolutionary War with the invention of the submersible, Turtle. The Turtle was David Bushnell's attempt to aid the war effort by planting bombs on the undersides of harbored ships. Although he made several attempts in the machine, none of them were successful.
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Actor Jimmy Stewart was drafted into the Army during World War II but failed to meet the requirements. He later enlisted in the Army Air Corps and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross. His performance in "It's a Wonderful Life" was his first after the war.
As of 2017, the Army has about one million soldiers (including reserves). Its colors are black and gold.
The Continental Congress established the Continental Marines in 1775 shortly after the creation of the Continental Army and Navy. Congress created the United States Marine Corps July 11, 1798 to develop forces that would be used in the War of 1812.
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Unlike the National Guard which is a reserve unit of the Army that answers to both the state (militia) and federal military, the Coast Guard is an active duty unit. Those in the Coast Guard are employed every day instead of once a month.
In the Air Force, you visit the DFAC (Dining Facility) to eat as opposed to a Chow Hall or Mess Tent. You "pull the chocks" when you are ready to leave a place.
"A good Navy is not a provocation to war. It is the surest guaranty of peace." –Theodore Roosevelt
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Although the Air Force requires the highest ASVAB score with a GED (65) in order to enlist, it requires the second highest score with a high school diploma (36). The Coast Guard requires the highest diploma score (40).
The Navajo code talkers of World War II were recruited by the Marines to communicate for troops in the Pacific. Prior to the war, other American Indians had been used to create codes, but the Navajo language remained virtually unstudied. Navajo's were incorporated and could transmit a coded message in a few minutes as compared to the hours it would normally take.
The first modern Naval submarine was the USS Holland (SS-1), which launched May 17, 1897. The Navy currently has 70 submarines in service.
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Many famous people made time to serve their country in the military. Some of them include: Kirk Douglas (Navy), Montel Williams (Marines), Charlton Heston (Air Force), Jesse Ventura (Navy), James Earl Jones (Army), Nathaniel Dwayne Hale "Nate Dogg" (Marines), M. C. Hammer (Navy), Ice-T (Army), Johnny Cash (Air Force), Mel Brooks (Army), Morgan Freeman (Air Force), and Orville Richard Burrell "Shaggy" (Marines).
Limited Duty Officers are used by the Marines and Navy and are the only officers not required to have a bachelor's degree. Limited Duty Officers have all the same responsibilities and authority of regular officers, but they cannot achieve a rank higher than O-6 in the Navy and O-5 in the Marines.
Enlisted personnel who want to become officers after obtaining their college degree can choose to become Warrant Officers or Commissioned Officers. Warrant Officers are considered experts in their fields and may train others.
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Currently, the biggest helicopter used by the U. S. Army is the Boeing CH-47 Chinook. It can hold 33 fully equipped soldiers and carry a sling with 26,000 pounds of cargo in it.
The latest Ford-class aircraft carriers are estimated to cost between $12 billion and $15 billion (USD). Congress has mandated the U. S. maintains at least 11 operational aircraft carriers.