A military branch (also service branch or armed service) is a first level subdivision of the national armed forces of a state.
Types of branches Type Role Example Air and space force Air and space warfare French Air and Space Force Airborne forces Paratrooper operations Russian Airborne Forces Air defense force Air and missile defense Egyptian Air Defense Forces Air force Aerial warfare Army Ground warfare Border guard Border security Vietnam Border Guard Coast guard Maritime security United States Coast GuardCommand and controlReconnaissance, Communication, Surveillance, Information warfarePeople's Liberation Army Information Support Force Cyber force Cyberwarfare Digital and Intelligence Service (Singapore) Emergencies service Disaster relief and emergency management Military Emergencies Unit (Spain) Engineering service Military engineering Construction and Engineering Forces (Mongolia) Gendarmerie Military and/or public policing National Gendarmerie (France)General Staff Command and controlStrategic Command Operations (Venezuela) Logistics service Military logistics Joint Support Service (Germany) Marines Naval land force United States Marine Corps Medical service Medical service Belgian Medical Service Military police Military law enforcement agency Republic of China Military Police Military reserve force National reserve and auxiliary service Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Forces Navy Naval warfare Strategic rocket force Operation of land-based strategic missiles People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (China) Royal/Presidential guard Protection of royal families / presidential offices and ceremonial duties Saudi Royal Guard Regiment / Republican Guard (Algeria) Space force Space warfare United States Space Force Special forces Special operations Polish Special Forces Unmanned systems forces Drone warfare Unmanned Systems Forces (Ukraine)
Unified armed forces The Canadian Armed Forces is the unified armed forces of Canada. While it has three distinct commands – namely the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Canadian Air Force – it remains a single military service.
NATO definition Branch of service (also branch of military service or branch of armed service) refers, according to NATO standards, to a branch, employment of combined forces or parts of a service, below the level of service, military service, or armed service.
See also List of militaries by country Military organization
References