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 an armed forces, are 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.

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
      • [[]]
      • [[]]
      • [[]]
      • [[]]
      • [[]]
      • [[]]
      • [[]]
      • [[]]
      • [[]]
      • [[]]
      • [[]]
      • [[]]
      • [[]]
      • [[]]
      • [[]]
      • [[]]

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]]