• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

US Military

  • Branches
    • Army
    • Navy
    • Air Force
    • Marine Corps
    • Coast Guard
    • National Guard
    • Air National Guard
    • Find A Recruiter
  • Find A Recruiter
  • Military Benefits
    • GI Bill
    • VA Loans
    • Military Scholarships
    • Military Friendly Colleges
    • Money
  • Jobs
    • Military Pay Chart
    • Veteran Jobs
    • Civilian Jobs
  • VA Loan Rates
  • Military News
    • Top News
    • Benefits
    • Careers
    • Education
    • Featured Columnists
      • Larry Fowler
      • Scott Ostrow
      • Kim Lengling
      • Dr. Sasha Toperich
      • Rick Stewart
  • USM Shop
  • GI Bill
  • VA Loans
  • Military Scholarships
  • Top Military-Friendly Colleges and Universities in America

What Military Branch Sees the Most Combat?

October 6, 2020 By Kevin

There are a few different factors to consider if you want to know which military branch sees the most combat. Technically, it’s going to be the US Army, but that’s just by the numbers.

Military Branches by the Numbers

In total, there are 1,359,685 active duty personnel in the United States armed services, and 799,845 in reserve — this is as of the 28th of Feburary, 2019.  In the US Army specifically are 471,513 persons.

In contrast the Marine Corps has over 180,000, the Navy has 325,000+, the Air Force has 323,000+, and there are just over 42,000 in the Coast Guard. Meanwhile, the National Guard has 336,000+, there are over 190,000 in the US Army Reserves, 38,000+ in the Marine Corps Reserve, 57,000+ in the Navy Reserves, 106,000+ in the Air National Guard, 68,000+ in the United States Air Force Reserve, and just 6,000+ in the Coast Guard Reserves.

Infrastructure, Support, and Combat Units

By far, the biggest branch of the military is the Army. They’re going to be involved in the majority of land-based operations, so the infantry often sees combat. However, the majority of military positions have nothing to do with combat–an organization so large requires operational infrastructure and specific support. Specific divisions are often organized into combat units, some quite elite.

For example, consider the Navy SEALS. What the military does is refine human resources into defense and combat personnel that effectively accomplish larger goals. Specific combat units take multiple roles in battle. There’s land, air, and sea support, and there are special forces units that will prepare the way for infantry in a combat zone. Essentially, ten wings of approach represent primary initial combat:

  • Marine Raiders
  • Green Berets
  • Delta Force
  • Navy SEALs
  • Army Rangers
  • Force Recon Marines
  • Carrier-Based Aircraft
  • F-22 Fighter Wings
  • Naval Ships
  • 509th Bomb Wing

Marine Raiders

Reconnoitering, direct action missions, and counterinsurgency are chief duties of the Marine Raiders. With lineage stretching back to WWII, this branch of the Marine Corps has deep history conducting raids, leading beach assaults, and conducting guerilla operations against the Japanese during that profound conflict. 

Green Berets

Green Berets are known as the Army’s special forces. These were some of the first in Afghanistan, riding horses to meet the enemy’s challenge. The Green Berets guarded then-unknown politician Hamid Karzai. Later, this politician would put together a militia to help aid American invasion.

These special forces operatives have been involved in many conflicts the world over, though often this involvement receives no publicity. 

Delta Force

The best of the best operators in the DoD (Department of Defense) and Green Berets become Delta Force. This military “A-team” leads missions with the highest stakes, and go far in advance of the military. Delta Force hunted through the mountains of Tora Bora in 2001 hunting Osama Bin Laden.

Navy SEALS

Delta Force hunted Bin Laden, the SEALS got him in Pakistan. The SEALS have a venerated reputation since they were “frogmen” in WWII. Remember the Somalian pirates who captured Captain Richard Phillips? SEALS saved his bacon. Chris Kyle, legendary sniper, was a SEAL. When it comes to ground-related combat, the Navy’s best men are SEALs. But these skilled men are also exceptionally capable underwater.

Army Rangers

Army Rangers have a history stretching back to 1775. When D-Day hit during WWII, the Army Rangers were in strategically necessary positions. During Operation Just Cause, Army Rangers led the way to Panama. During the Somalian conflict, they also played a huge role, and have conducted operations throughout Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Force Recon Marines

Force Recon Marines go ahead of commanders on the ground. Getting beyond other forces, these specially trained soldiers provide eyes-on intelligence into any area where those needing information aren’t able to look. There’s a miniseries that got some level of popularity called “Generation Kill”, and it followed Force Recon Marines through the Iraqi invasion as they fed Mad Dog Mattis and other senior leaders key data. 

Carrier-Based Aircraft

Carriers in the Navy are little cities on the sea that act as airports for fighter jets launched to defend America. Air strikes come quick and hard, and have been conducted in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. The Navy Super Hornet and Marine Corps Harriers often fly missions. 

F-22 Fighter Wings

This group hasn’t been the front wave of an invasion, but they’ve been exceptionally integral in Syria. They hit the fight a month after airstrikes to stop ISIS began. Slipping past the defenses of the enemy, these skilled pilots took out key targets. When not doing this, F-22 fighters escort jets through enemy air defenses. 

Naval Ships

The Navy launches many of the starting blows that make up a conflict with cruise missiles designed for long-range targets. Destroyers, cruisers, and submarines have been involved in such launches. Notable missions include action in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Sudan.

509th Bomb Wing

America’s B-2s and stealth bombers are part of the 509th Bomb Wing. These stealthy bombers sneak through the airspace of the enemy, destroying runways, defenses, and strategic targets before those threatening America’s interest even realize what hit them. Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo missions are notable to the 509th. Many missions started in Missouri and ended there, taking approximately 30 hours. 

The Highest Combat

Certainly, in sheer numbers, the Army sees the most action. But owing to the way combat works, there are units steeped in combat across all branches of America’s armed services. It just depends on the military situation requiring armed services intervention. 

Filed Under: Military Careers

[related_posts_by_tax format="thumbnails" limit_posts="100" image_size="sidebar-thumbnail" public_only="true" posts_per_page="6"]

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Geordie Shivow says

    January 9, 2020 at 10:04 pm

    This is a bull** write up. Delta: “the best of the best operators in the DoD”. Ok. Then why did DG get the call after Delta “hunted down Bin Laden?”

    • Jason says

      August 11, 2020 at 7:30 pm

      Different missions, different capabilities, different tactics, maybe even more to it than just that too. Kinda like Mech Infantry having different capabilities than Airborne Infantry and vice versa.

    • FRANK says

      September 6, 2020 at 5:38 pm

      100 percent right!

    • FRANK says

      September 19, 2020 at 10:04 am

      RIGHT! TANKS NEVER SEE THE ACTION THAT A FOOT SOLDERS SEES!

  2. Jacob Washington Jr says

    January 20, 2020 at 4:43 pm

    I love the army and I which to join when I am grown up

  3. Dale Smith says

    March 27, 2020 at 2:44 pm

    US NAVY SEABEES ARE NOT MENTIONED

    • NTB says

      June 25, 2020 at 12:47 pm

      Lol!

    • FRANK says

      September 6, 2020 at 5:44 pm

      The ONLY BRANCH TO WIN WARS ALONE IS THE ARMY ALL OF THE REST HAVE NOT ! FACTS COUNT!

  4. Benjamin says

    March 29, 2020 at 11:20 am

    To whom…,
    What about Air Force PJs; are they not. considered special forces operators? Talk about saving the bacon…

  5. Joseph Anthony Bartolotta says

    April 7, 2020 at 11:51 pm

    Looking to apply to receive military pay.

    Intelligence Department request, specialization: Defense Specialist.

    The theory of acquisition exists to obtain, and embargo planning accomplishes both sides of the borderlines. A transfer and an acceptance of services . This will benefit our efforts through tactical rankings worldwide, and strengthen trust to attack pending ‘improper business’ attempts of US goods.

    Logically…
    Maybe.
    But borderline crazy is better to determine a faceoff from a repeated encounter.

  6. All American says

    April 12, 2020 at 3:26 pm

    The 82nd Airborne jumped in WITH the Rangers during Just Cause. I should know, I was there. I jumped into Torrijos Airport. And if it wasn’t the enemy shooting at us during descent then it was the Rangers. Which do you think is most probable?

    – B/4/325th AIR, 82nd Airborne

    • Howard says

      June 8, 2020 at 8:18 pm

      I was an Airman already on the ground as I was stationed at Howard AFB and it is most likely your own troops were nervous and firing. In fact the assaulters who parachuted hours before you were waiting patiently as the fighting was over and you had been cleared to land. They were conducting priorities of work while watching your late arrival hours after their fighting was over. Although the airport was secure senior leaders were concerned there was too many airplanes to land so it was decided it would be quicker to have you parachute. Once you assembled those awaiting your arrival could move out and conduct operations in other parts of the country,
      Thanks you for your service! Airborne all the Way!

Primary Sidebar

USMilitary.com Career Guide

Sign up to receive USMilitary.com email updates and to hear what's going on with all military branches!

Featured Columnists

Larry Fowler

Larry Fowler is the publisher of USMilitary.com Network one of America's premier privately owned

Autobiography Compares Christian Living With Navy SEAL Training (BUD/S).

Scott Ostrow

Lt Col (Dr.) Scott A. Ostrow retired from the Air Force in September 2005 and has been teaching

Must Read: The Truth About The ASVAB Test Prep From The Man Who Wrote The Book

Kim Lengling

Kim Lengling is a Air Force Veteran whose passion is to help support veterans and their

The Moving Wall: Women Who Paid The Ultimate Price For Their Country

Dr. Sasha Toperich

Dr. Sasha Toperich is the Senior Executive Vice President at Transatlantic Leadership

Sarraj’s Dangerous Dance With Power

Rick Stewart

Rick Stewart is a former United States Air Force Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE)

Announcing American Patriots Unsung Magazine

Nathan B. Nelson

Capt (ret) Nathan B. Nelson is the Director of Military Affairs for the 1st Congressional district

Three Critical Considerations for Every Veteran Prior to Leaving Active Duty

Laquan Daniels

Laquan Daniel is a military recruiting expert with over 17 years of specialized experience in the

Important News For Military Transitioning Veterans

Veteran Buzz

Hire Military Veterans

Which Companies Are Most Likely to Hire Military Veterans?

July 30, 2018 By Ben Ehinger

High-Paying Jobs for Military Veterans

5 High-Paying Jobs for Military Veterans

July 2, 2018 By Ben Ehinger

High Paying Jobs Not Requiring a Degree

June 28, 2018 By Ben Ehinger

Footer

  • Advertise With Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Write For US
  • Link to Us

Recent

  • Autobiography Compares Christian Living With Navy SEAL Training (BUD/S).
  • Apache Attack Helicopter Pilot: To Maintain a Watchful Eye, “Above the Best”
  • Peering Into The Future: NATO 2030 Initiative Announced
  • What Military Branch Sees the Most Combat?
  • From Belarus “With Love”, Yet Again

Search

© Copyright 2021 USMillitary
Web Design by Goebel Media Group


THIS IS A PRIVATE WEBSITE THAT IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, U.S. ARMED FORCES, OR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE NOT REVIEWED THIS INFORMATION. THIS SITE IS NOT CONNECTED WITH ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY.

​Tips
Discounts
News

​

​

Join the USMilitary.com Newsletter Today!

By subscribing you agree to our terms & conditions

x