Army
What branch of the U.S. military was established first?
The army. The Continental Congress established the Continental Army on June 14, 1775
What animal is the mascot of the U.S. Naval Academy?
Bill the Goat. The U.S. Naval Academy was established in 1845 in Annapolis, Maryland. Notable alumni include professional athletes David Robinson (basketball) and quarterback Roger Staubach as well as Senator John McCain and President Jimmy Carter. Actor and TV host Montel Williams is also a graduate, with a degree in engineering.
In 1962, this former Marine Corps colonel became the first American to orbit Earth. Can you name him?
John Glenn. Prior to his service as an astronaut, Glenn flew combat missions in World War II and the Korean War as a Marine Corps pilot. In 1957, he set a speed record as a Marine Corps test pilot
True or False? The Coast Guard operates all lighthouses dotting the shores of America’s most dangerous waterways.
False. Though true in the past, today the only U.S. lighthouse manned by the Coast Guard is Boston Light, the oldest lighthouse in the United States, located near Boston, Massachusetts.
True or False? The U.S. Air Force was originally part of the United States Army.
True. In 1907, the Army Signal Corps formed the Aeronautical Division, which later evolved into the U.S. Army Air Force. The National Defense Act of 1947 created an independent air force. It shares a birthday with the CIA—both were founded September 18, 1947
This famous founding father was named commander of the Continental Army the next day, June 15, 1775. Who was it?
George Washington. Washington was chosen over other candidates, including John Hancock, based on his previous military experience and with hope that a leader from Virginia could help unite the colonies
What does the term anchor aweigh mean?
It means the anchor is home or back to the ship from the sea floor. The term is often misspelled as anchor away, creating confusion that the anchor is away from the ship when the opposite is true. “Anchors Aweigh” is the fight song of the United States Naval Academy and the unofficial march song of the U.S. Navy.
What animal serves as the unofficial mascot of the U.S. Marines?
The English bulldog. The Corps adopted the bulldog mascot during World War I when German reports called the attacking U.S. Marines teufel-hunden (TOY-ful-HUN-den). Teufel-hunden, also known as “devil dogs,” are vicious, wild, and ferocious mountain dogs of Bavarian folklore
On average, how many lives does the Coast Guard save each day?
Fifteen. And it helps more than 100 individuals in need of assistance. The U.S. Coast Guard is responsible for 361 ports and more than 95,000 nautical miles of coastline
What is the motto of the U.S. Air Force?
“Fly, Fight, Win.” When World War II began, there were fewer than 30,000 U.S. airmen. During the war, the force grew rapidly, and by 1945, more than 2.2 million men and women were employed by the air force
What is the highest rank an enlisted member of the U.S. Army can achieve?
Sergeant Major of the Army (E-9). Created in 1966, this position is held by the highest-ranking non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Army and serves as a spokesperson to represent concerns of enlisted soldiers to all officers
What do the letters USS before a navy ship’s name stand for?
“United States Ship.” Other countries use similar abbreviations. In Great Britain, the navy ships have HMS before their names, which stands for “His/Her Majesty’s Ship.”
What does the U.S. Marine Corps Latin motto Semper Fidelis mean in English?
“Always Faithful.” Semper Fi is yelled, cheered, or used as a greeting and embodies the Marine Corps’ forever commitment to the United States and fellow marines. It’s not only a motto—it is a way of life.
What is the official motto of the U.S. Coast Guard?
Semper Paratus, which is Latin for “Always Ready.” The only service under the Department of Homeland Security, the Coast Guard is charged with keeping domestic waterways safe, performing rescues, law enforcement, and drug prevention. Every day, the Coast Guard seizes 169 pounds of marijuana and 306 pounds of cocaine, worth approximately $9,589,000
What is the insect-like name of the World War II Air Force division staffed by female pilots?
WASPs, or “Women’s Air Force Service Pilots.” Colonel Jacqueline “Jackie” Cochran, director of the WASP program during the war, helped pave the way for women in aviation. In 1953, she became the first woman to break the sound barrier
In Basic Combat Training, recruits learn the Seven Core Army Values. Can you name them?
Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. Soldiers are expected to practice these values every day in everything they do—on the job and off. These Core Values define what being a soldier is all about.
True or False? In the U.S. Navy, there are no windows, walls, or bathrooms.
True. Ships don’t have walls; they have bulkheads. They also have no windows; they have portholes. The bathroom is known as the head. Your left side is your port side and the right is starboard. You eat in the mess deck and walk on the deck. Above you is not a ceiling but an overhead, and the rack is where you sleep!
Can you name any of the symbols on the Marine Corps emblem?
Eagle, globe, and anchor. The symbols on the badge represent the Corps’ air, land, and sea capabilities. The Marine Corps is an elite, all-purpose military unit trained to mobilize quickly and attack aggressively. These values are captured in the rousing official song, “The Marines’ Hymn.”
Coast Guard vessels include boats and cutters. How many feet long does a vessel have to be in order to be called a cutter?
65 feet. Cutters are large ships that a crew can live aboard. High Endurance Cutters are 378 feet long, large enough for a helicopter to land. The Coast Guard’s largest cutter is a 420-foot icebreaker, the USCGC Healy, designed to crack through polar ice more than four feet thick
Two U.S. presidents served in the air force. Can you name them?
Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. Reagan served as a captain in the U.S. Army Air Force. He helped make more than 400 training films while assigned to the 1st Motion Picture Unit in California. He was discharged from active duty in 1945. George W. Bush is the only president to have served in the modern-day air force as a pilot in the Texas and Alabama Air National Guards
What is the official song of the U.S. Army?
Known since 1952 as “The Army Goes Rolling Along,” “The Caisson Song” was originally written in 1908. It was transformed into a march by John Philip Sousa in 1917 and retitled “The Field Artillery Song.” The current lyrics reflect the story of the army’s past, present, and future.
Navy SEALs are the U.S. Navy’s primary special operations force. What does the name SEAL stand for?
“Sea, Air, and Land.” Navy SEALs conduct small operations missions. They are ordered to capture or kill high-level targets or to gather intelligence behind enemy lines.
As the smallest branch of the Department of Defense’s armed forces, how many U.S. Marines currently serve?
One of the world’s most elite fighting forces, the Marine Corps has 185,000 active-duty personnel and 35,000 reserves. To put the numbers in perspective, the army has more than 541,000 personnel; the navy has more than 317,000; and the air force has 333,000.
Where is the Coast Guard Academy located?
New London, Connecticut. The smallest of the five U.S. service academies was founded in 1876 and educates future Coast Guard officers. The Coast Guard Academy is the only service academy that does not require a congressional nomination for admission
True or False? The official song of the United States Air Force is the result of a songwriting contest.
True. “The U.S. Air Force,” written by Robert Crawford, beat out 800 other entrants in a contest to choose a song for the air force. It was introduced September 2, 1939. Some airmen took the “live in fame” lyric literally and went on to celebrated entertainment careers. Johnny Cash, George Carlin, Willie Nelson, Morgan Freeman, and James “Jimmy” Stewart are just a few celebrities who were airmen. Stewart flew missions in World War II and Vietnam and rose to the rank of Brigadier General while still working in Hollywood.
What is the name of the military academy that trains leaders for the U.S. Army?
The U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Established in 1802 in West Point, New York, the school focuses on teaching leadership skills. More than 50,000 officers have graduated from the academy, and many of the army’s highest-ranking officers have been West Point graduates. Famous alumni also include four astronauts: Frank Borman, commander of the first circumlunar flight; Edward White II, first American to walk in space; Michael Collins, Apollo XI command module pilot; and Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin, a participant in the first manned lunar landing and the second man to walk on the moon
The Continental Congress established the Continental Navy in October of 1775 to help supply the army. The first U.S. Navy was disbanded in 1784. Do you know why?
The Revolutionary War ended. U.S. cargo ships quickly became prey for pirates, so the government ordered six new ships in 1794. In 1798, the U.S. Congress created the Department of the Navy and further expanded the fleet.
U.S. Marines are sometimes referred to as “Leathernecks.” Do you know how they got this nickname?
Early in their history, marines wore a tall leather collar as part of their uniform. This collar served two purposes: to hold the neck erect in proper military bearing and to protect it against sword slashes.
True or False? The U.S. Coast Guard has two official flags.
True. The land standard is white with a dark blue Great Seal of the United States. All inscriptions are in dark blue lettering: United States Coast Guard, the Coast Guard motto, and the year the service was founded (1790). The Coast Guard Ensign is flown only on ships and designed to be easily recognized as a symbol of law enforcement authority
Can you name the famous airman who first broke the sound barrier?
Captain Chuck Yeager. In 1947, he became the first to break the sound barrier in his Bell X-1 rocket-powered aircraft. Other test pilots followed suit competing to outdo each other, eventually leading to outer space travel and a man on the moon.