Interested in becoming a member of AUSA? Join online at: www.ausa.org/membership Profile of the United States Army is produced for you, and we value your opinion about its appearance and content. Please send any feedback (positive or negative) regarding this edition of Profile to Ellen Toner at:
[email protected] Developed by AUSA’s Institute of Land Warfare RESEARCH AND WRITING EDITING Ellen Toner Sandra J. Daugherty GRAPHICS AND DESIGN TECHNICAL SUPPORT Kevin Irwin Master Print, Inc. Photographs courtesy of the United States Army and the Department of Defense. ©2016 by the Association of the United States Army. All rights reserved. Association of the United States Army Institute of Land Warfare 2425 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22201-3385 703-841-4300 • www.ausa.org CONTENTS F FOREWORD v 1 NATIONAL DEFENSE 1 2 LAND COMPONENT 9 3 ARMY ORGANIZATION 21 4 THE SOLDIER 31 5 THE UNIFORM 39 6 THE ARMY ON POINT 49 7 ARMY FAMILIES 55 8 ARMY COMMAND STRUCTURE 63 9 ARMY INSTALLATIONS 85 G GLOSSARY 93 M MAPS 95 III FOREWORD hroughout its 241 years, the United States has maintained its Army as the world’s most Tformidable fighting force. Under General George Washington, the Continental Army fought for the independence and rights of a fledgling nation. This first American Army— primarily made up of ordinary citizens with little or no warfighting experience—comprised Soldiers who held a zealous desire for independence. Their motivation for freedom ultimately led them to defeat the well-established and well-trained British army. This motivation and love for country are instilled in today’s Soldiers as they continue to fight for and defend freedom from oppression for all.