Proud to be an American

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is a branch of the United States armed forces and one of seven uniformed services. The USGC is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission (with jurisdiction in both domestic and international waters) and a federal regulatory agency mission as part of its mission set. It operates under the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime, and can be transferred to the Department of the Navy by President or Congress during time of war.
To check out USCG careers, click here. Semper Paratus!

The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. The National Guard of the United States is a joint reserve component of the United States Army, United States Air Force and maintains two subcomponents: the Army National Guard of the United State for the Army and the Air Force's Air National Guard of the United States. The state National Guard serves as part of the first-line defense for the United States, is divided into units stationed in each of the 50 states and US territories, and operates under their respective state governor or territorial adjutant general. The National Guard may be called up for active duty by state governors or territorial adjutant general to hep respond to domestic emergencies and disasters. The National Guard of the United States is administered by the National Guard Bureau, which is a joint activity under the Department of Defense.
To contact the National Guard, click here. Always Ready, Always There!

The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare service branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The USN is the largest in the world and its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The USN traces its origins to the Continental Navy, which was established during the American Revolutionary War; the United States Constitution provided the legal basis for a military force by giving Congress the power "to provide and maintain a navy." The USN is administratively managed by the Department of the Navy, which is headed by the civilian Secretary of the Navy. The Department of the Navy is itself a division of the Department of Defense, which is headed by the Secretary of Defense.
To check out US Navy careers, click here. Honor, Courage, Commitment!

The United States Air Force (USAF) is the lead aerial warfare and space warfare service branch of the United States armed forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the US Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947. The USAF articulates its core functions as Nuclear Deterrence Operations, Special Operations, Air Superiority, Global Integrated ISR, Space Superiority, Command and Control, Cyberspace Superiority, Personnel Recovery, Global Precision Attack, Building Partnerships, Rapid Global Mobility and Agile Combat Support. The Department of the Air Force is headed by the civilian Secretary of the Air Force who oversees all administrative and policy affairs. The Department of the Air Force is a division of the Department of Defense, headed by the Secretary of Defense.
To check out USAF opportunities, click here. Aim High ... Fly-Fight-Win!

The United States Army is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the US military, and is one of the seven US uniformed services. The modern Army has its roots in the Continental Army which was formed on 14 June 1775, before the establishment of the United States, to meet the demands of the American Revolutionary War. The primary mission of the Army is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities ... in support of the National Security and Defense Strategies." The Army is a military service within the Department of the Army, one of the three military departments of the Department of Defense, and is headed by the Secretary of the Army.
To check out Army careers and opportunities, click here. This We'll Defend!

The United States Marine Corps (USMC)  is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for providing force projection from the sea, using the mobility of the USN to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. In the civilian leadership structure of the United States military, the Marine Corps is a component of the United States Department of the Navy; however, in the military leadership structure, the Marine Corps is a separate branch, and the Marine Corps is the smallest of the United States armed forces in the Department of Defense.
To join the United States Marine Corps, click here. Semper Fidelis!

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps (NOAA Corps) is a federal uniformed service of the United States which operates under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a scientific agency within the Department of Commerce. The NOAA Corps is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States, has over 300 commissioned officers, though it has no enlisted or warrant officer ranks. The NOAA Corps traces its roots back to the former US Coast and Geodetic Survey, which dates to 1807 under President Thomas Jefferson. Coast and Geodetic Survey officers were commissioned so that under the laws of war, they could not be executed as spies if they were serving as surveyors on a battlefield.
For information on the NOAA, click here. Forward with NOAA!

The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC) is the federal uniformed service of the United States Public Health Service (PHS) and is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The PHSCC is one of two uniformed services that only consists of commissioned officers and has no enlisted or warrant officer ranks, although warrant officers have been authorized for use within the service. Officers of the PHS are classified as noncombatants, unless directed to serve as part of the armed forces by the President or detailed to a service branch of the armed forces. Members of the PHSCC wear the same uniforms as the USN with special corps insignia and hold ranks equivalent to those of naval officers. Officers of the PHSCC receive their commissions through the PHSCC's direct commissioning program. The PHSCC is under the direction of the US Department of Health and Human Services, is led by the Surgeon General who holds the grade of vice admiral. The Surgeon General reports directly to the Assistant Secretary for Health who may hold the rank of admiral if he/she is a serving member of the PHSCC.
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For over 234 years, the United States of America has been protected and guarded by our brave military men and women. They have dedicated and donated their lives in service to our country, and they have not been afforded the proper respect. They have been spit on, yelled at, accused of evil acts, and disrespected. On this Veteran's Day, we must all remember and honor those who have been there for us - those who have voluntarily and involuntarily, directly and indirectly (including families), performed the most noblest deed of all: military service. Let us all restore this day to what it should be. It's never too late; patriotism has no expiration date.

Every day our military puts themselves in harm's way, at home and abroad, to guarantee the freedoms and rights enumerated in our Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution). Men used to be drafted and today join the selective service, and now, both men and women voluntarily sign their name on that dotted line. Once they do so, they are dedicated to each other, watching each other's backs. They are dedicated to us, the 300 million Americans who forget how lucky we are and take for granted this greatest country on earth.

Our soldiers are vanguards and protectors of our amazing Bill of Rights. No one but a soldier can understand what they go through, what they have experienced, what they feel for each other and for our country. No one but a soldier can know what dangers exist, both visible and hidden, and those dangers are present, especially today. We cannot simply pretend that the threats are not there; we must face them head on. We must support our troops, financially, emotionally, and physically.

Know and remember that our troops are human beings, still Americans, still someone's child, sister, brother, mother, father, cousin, co-worker... Know and remember that no one is perfect and they do the best they can. Know and remember that our military is doing their job when they guard us, when they go where Uncle Sam instructs them to go, when they die for us. Know and remember that they are still scared when they get deployed, when they serve, and when they hear about their fellow soldiers fighting on the battlefields of Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere.

Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared. -Edward Vernon Rickenbacker

Courage is what preserves our liberty, safety, life, and our homes and parents, our country and children. Courage comprises all things. -Titus Maccius Plautus

The men and women of our military are the most courageous people in our country. These are the most honorable. They put our country before themselves, they put us before themselves, and they put our liberties and rights before their own lives. They do what the rest of us are unwilling, or unable, to do.

So please, on this Veteran's Day, and on every day thereafter, please thank a soldier whenever you see one. Shake their hand. Tell them just how indebted you are for their service, and ask them what you can do for them since they have done more for you than you ever could. Make a donation or volunteer at the VA, the USO, your local VFW. Join a veteran's organization and support them - be there for them as they have been there for us. Let them know that we appreciate and love what they do and who they are. Remember what they stand for and who they stand for.

They have lived and died for us.

The least we can do is honor and respect them.