1_Army.pdf

U.S. ARMY The US military protects the country and its citizens. The Army’s main job is land warfare. They also help keep the peace in other nations. They stop violence and deliver food and medicine to those in need. The Army was established in 1775, before the United States was ev...

U.S. ARMY The US military protects the country and its citizens. The Army’s main job is land warfare. They also help keep the peace in other nations. They stop violence and deliver food and medicine to those in need. The Army was established in 1775, before the United States was even formed. The Army’s headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia. There are Army bases all around the world. The Army has more than 500,000 active personnel, making it the largest branch of the United States Armed Forces. Its motto is “This We’ll Defend.” TRAINING New members of the Army are called recruits. They attend a week of orientation, where they receive their uniforms and equipment. Then they must finish nine weeks of basic combat training (BCT), also known as boot camp. The U.S. Army has five locations where recruits can complete their basic training: Fort Benning in Georgia, Fort Jackson in South Carolina, Fort Knox in Kentucky, Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, and Fort Sill in Oklahoma. Recruits learn combat skills as well as Army history and values at basic training. They are divided into platoons, each of which has about 35 members. Platoons are then assigned barracks where they sleep. They are also given a drill sergeant who manages the group for the next nine weeks. One of the drill sergeant’s jobs is to get the platoon into top physical shape. Recruits wake up before dawn each day and begin physical training. They also are trained in hand-to-hand combat. Recruits also receive training in using dangerous combat weapons, such as bayonets, grenades, and rifles. They prepare for battlefields by training on obstacle courses. Recruits face one big final test in the eighth week of basic training- a field training exercise. Platoons start by marching six miles (9.7 km) in heat that can be more than 100° F (38° F). Each recruit must carry about 50 to 60 pounds (23 to 27 kg) of combat equipment along the way. After their march, the recruits enter a warlike setting in the woods. They must navigate through the area using only a map and compass. Recruits who pass all the parts of their training graduate and become soldiers in the U.S. Army. After graduation, soldiers move on to advanced training for Army jobs of their choice. JOBS There are more than 150 different Army jobs. Soldiers may learn advanced infantry skills, how to operate high-tech missile systems, or maintain weaponry systems. They may choose jobs in areas such as medicine, science, technology, engineering, and construction. All these jobs are necessary to make the Army run smoothly. A soldier must have a college degree to become an officer in the Army. Officers may command a group of soldiers. Others train to become doctors or pilots. MISSIONS ©Teaching to the Middle Army missions take place all over the world. Soldiers often join allies in other countries and work with the other U.S. military branches. The Army helps rebuild towns and cities after war. The Army also helps after disasters such as floods or storms. Soldiers also help to keep people safe from future disasters. VEHICLES The US Army uses many powerful, high-tech vehicles. Soldiers rely on state-of-the-art vehicles to carry out missions around the world. Army soldiers operate tanks and other combat vehicles in battle. Tanks have large guns and are covered in armor to protect soldiers. The M1 Abrams Tank is the main tank used by the Army. It provides firepower on the battlefield. Bradley Fighting Vehicles protect and transport soldiers. Strykers are fast, armored vehicles that deliver troops to the battlefield. Army helicopters are used as a part of air assaults, to spy on enemies, transport troops, and carry supplies. The AH-64 Apache Longbow is the main attack helicopter. It can fly during the day or night in all weather conditions. The UH-60 Black Hawk transports troops. It is also used for air assaults and medical missions. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones, are the latest and most secretive military vehicles. They fly without a pilot on board. Instead, they are controlled remotely by pilots from the ground. UAVs can fly into areas that are too dangerous for pilots. They can also spy on enemies or drop bombs while keeping soldiers safely at a distance. The Humvee can travel over difficult terrain, so it is used to carry troops, weapons, and shelters. They are also used as ambulances, missile carriers, or scout vehicles. WEAPONS AND GEAR Army soldiers use some of the most high-tech gear and weapons in the world. Global Positioning System (GPS) Locators use satellites to find a precise location and figure out how close soldiers are to their units and targets. Soldiers on a mission must blend into their surroundings. Their clothing is camouflaged so the color and patterns match the landscape. Ghillie suits sometimes cover soldiers from head to toe in synthetic vegetation to conceal them during top secret missions. Soldiers wear night-vision goggles to see targets in the dark. Remote-controlled robots carry heavy equipment and explore dangerous areas to keep soldiers safer. Army soldiers use powerful weapons in battle. They are highly trained in safety and accuracy. SPECIAL FORCES The Army has special forces. Army Rangers to carry out special operations, dangerous military missions, for the Army. They are one of the best light infantry forces in the world. They are often the first soldiers into battle. The main mission for Army Rangers is direct action. They perform quick attacks on the enemy. They often seize enemy airfields and then use them to launch attacks. The Green Berets are elite soldiers who fight terrorists and collect enemy information. They were established in 1952. The Green Berets carry out some of the Army’s toughest missions. There are about 5,500 Green Berets in the Army. They must speak at least one foreign language. The Green Berets often help train other countries’ armies. The Delta Force is a top-secret group in the Army. They call themselves The Unit. They were established in 1977. Their main job is covert operations, or top-secret ©Teaching to the Middle missions. They must blend into their surroundings, so most wear civilian clothing and use civilian vehicles. The Night Stalkers are a highly trained team of helicopter pilots. They were formed in 1981 to take on dangerous missions. They fly their helicopters fast and low to the ground. Most of their missions take place at night to help them hide from the enemy.