Military branch
Military branch (also service branch or armed service) is according to common standard the subdivision of the national armed forces of a sovereign nation or state. In classical terminology, the three basic military branches are the Army, Air Force, and Navy.
- 
 Army 
- 
 Air Force 
- 
 Navy 
Specialized branches
Countries which do not have access to any of the high seas or any oceans generally do not have a national navy.
In some countries there might be other military branches. In addition to the above-mentioned military branches, examples are:
- In China the Rocket Force and the Strategic Support Force
- In France the National Gendarmerie
- In Germany the Joint Medical Service and the Joint Support Service
- In Italy the Carabinieri
- In Norway the Home Guard and the Cyber Force
- In Poland the Special Forces
- In Russia the Airborne Troops and the Strategic Missile Troops
- In South Korea the Marine Corps (Haebyeongdae)
- In Taiwan the Military Police (Xiànbīng)
- In the United States the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard
- Emblems of some countries
- 
 France 
 Gendarmerie Nationale
- 
 Italy 
 Carabinieri
- 
 Norway 
 Home Guard
- 
 Poland 
 Special Forces
- 
 Russia 
 Airborne Troops
- 
 Russia 
 Aerospace Defence Forces
- 
 Russia 
 Strategic Missile Troops
- 
 South Korea 
 Marine Corps
- 
 Taiwan 
 Military Police
- 
 USA 
 US Coast Guard
- 
 USA 
 US Marine Corps
Unified forces
The Canadian Armed Forces is the unified armed forces of Canada. While it has three environmental commands - namely Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force - it remains a single military service.
Historical development
The military branches came into being in line with military technical progress and have been developed permanently. With that background, the air force was established early in the 20th century as one of the latest armed service.
The army is traditionally the oldest – and in many countries the biggest armed 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 serviced or armed service.[1]
References
- ↑ MILITÄRISCHES STUDIENGLOSAR ENGLISCH Teil I, A – K, Bundessprachenamt (Stand Januar 2001), page 226, definition: branch of service.