Draft:Outline of armed forces

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to armed forces:

A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable by a distinct military uniform. They may consist of one or more military branches such as an army, navy, air force, space force, marines, or coast guard. The main task of a military is usually defined as defence of their state and its interests against external armed threats.

In broad usage, the terms "armed forces" and "military" are often synonymous, although in technical usage a distinction is sometimes made in which a country's armed forces may include other paramilitary forces such as armed police.

Armed forces can be described as all of the following:

• Armed services – military branches
  • Army
  • Air force
  • Navy
  • Marine Corps
  • Coast guard
  • National Guard
• Military units
  • Military units, by type
    • Special forces
    • Specialized forces
      • Gendarmerie
  • Military units, by service and size
    • Army units
      • Region
        • Army group, front (military formation)
          • Field army
            • Corps
              • Division
                • • Brigade
                  • Regiment
                    • Batallion
                    • Squadron
                    • Cohort
                      • Company
                        • Platoon
                          • Section
                          • Patrol
                            • Squad
                              • Fireteam
    • Naval units
      • Navy – all the vessels in a navy
        • Fleet
          • Battle Fleet
          • Task force
            • Task group
              • Squadron
              • Task unit
                • • Flotilla
                    • Task element
    • Air force units
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    • Coast guard units
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    • National guard units
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History of armed forces

• List of militaries by country

• List of air forces
• List of armies
• List of navies

• List of militaries that recruit foreigners
• List of countries by military expenditures
• List of countries by number of active troops
• List of countries by size of armed forces
• List of countries without an army

• Outline of military science and technology

[[Category:Military| ]]
[[Category:Outlines|Armed forces]]